One of my favorite months of the year is February.

It’s the final full month of winter as we wait for a glimpse of spring. When the flowers once again start to bloom and the sound of birds fills the air. When the sun starts to peak from behind the clouds more often.

To me, the month of February represents hope.

My stepdad had a heart attack on February 23rd.

I’m crying now just remembering the panic and the unknown in that moment, desperately crying out for the Lord to save him and to keep him alive until I could get home.

There was no hope in those moments. Everything I had come to believe about the Lord flew out the door. I claimed He was a healer, but was mentally preparing for the moment He wouldn’t heal. I claimed He worked miracles, but was mentally preparing for the moment our prayers would go unanswered.

How thankful I am that my stepdad’s healing and miracle didn’t depend on my little faith.

Looking back on those moments, it’s so evident how the Lord was with me and my family throughout the whole day. For weeks He’d been preparing and orchestrating for us to all be in the right places at the right times.

I’m an introvert through and through – hence the blog name.

I spent that day with my friend Beth, first going to church in the morning before she took pictures of me for my blog relaunch. By the time we were done, my social battery was at a complete zero. Beth asked if I wanted to go somewhere with her, and despite wanting to go home and curl up on the couch, a little nudge told me to stay a little longer.

When we returned back to her home, I was surrounded by even more friends, Chim and Shaunie. And despite wanting to go home and curl up on the couch, a little nudge told me to stay a little longer.

It wasn’t long before my mom called and broke the news that my stepdad was fighting for his life in the hospital.

At that moment, the only thing I wanted to do was stay strong for my mom, to be a solid rock she could lean on. That job was never meant for me.

My friends immediately started uplifting my stepdad and family in prayer, interceding on his behalf and praying for comfort for his loved ones. I can’t imagine how hard it would have been to be alone when I heard the news, but God kept me surrounded by people who love me, prayer warriors, all day. He knew what was coming.

Beth and I weren’t even supposed to be together on Sunday, but my new schedule forced us to take the pictures a day earlier.

God was just as evident in my mom and stepdad’s story.

My stepfather had been dealing with chest pains throughout the weekend, but they chalked it down to a pulled muscle from yard work.

My mom decided to sell her third child (her Volkswagen Beetle she’s had for the last 15 years). She was meant to meet the buyer on Tuesday, but they decided to meet a few days early.

Instead of an hour away from the hospital, they were now just five minutes down the street from the emergency room.

I have a lot more faith now than I did before February 23rd.

My stepdad is doing well, preparing for a second surgery later this month. But he’s still cracking jokes, telling me to keep it under 100 mph when I make the drive between Tennessee and Alabama. I unfortunately broke that promise when he was in the hospital.

I know this blog is supposed to be about careers and advice, but it’s also about the moments I and others have seen God in our stories. I couldn’t make another post without talking about one of the biggest moments I’ve seen Him throughout my own.