This past year has been one of the hardest—and most beautiful—chapters of my life. It was a year filled with seismic shifts: the dismantling of USAID as I knew it, the uncertainty of unemployment, a pregnancy that tested every part of me, and the fear of stepping into motherhood without the stability I had once counted on.

What I didn’t expect, though, was how deeply I would come to value the community I’ve built here in Washington, DC. Between my USAID family and my Brentwood family, I don’t think I would have made it through this year with my sanity—or my spirit—intact.

The Unexpected Gift of Showing Up

My baby shower was the first moment it truly hit me: I am loved. Deeply. Fully. And by more people than I ever realized.

People showed up—despite many of them navigating their own layoffs, transitions, and uncertainty. They brought gifts to help me prepare for motherhood, offered rides, meals, advice, and emotional support. And just as importantly, they offered their presence.
They made sure I knew I wasn’t alone—financially, emotionally, or spiritually.

That day became a turning point. A reminder that community isn’t about perfect timing or consistent stability. It’s about choosing each other when things are messy.

A Holiday Season I Thought I Would Dread

A few months ago, I was dreading the holiday season. The thought of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and even my own birthday felt heavy—like reminders of everything I had lost.

So I made a conscious choice:
I showed up.
To every Friendsgiving. Every invite. Every small gathering.

I wanted to start the holiday season—and my birthday month—in high spirits, knowing I didn’t want to sit alone in grief any longer.

On Thanksgiving, I felt overwhelming gratitude as I sat with my beloved Brentwood neighborhood crew. These were the people who checked on me after USAID fell apart, who walked with me through morning sickness, OB appointments, housing stress, and emotional breakdowns. They fed me, laughed with me, and reminded me that community is built in tiny, daily acts of love.

A Birthday That Surprised Me

My birthday took me by surprise.
People showed up again—ready to bowl the night away with me (even though my bowling skills remain… questionable at best). Their laughter, generosity, and genuine care hit me hard.

It was another reminder that I wasn’t just surviving this year. I was held by people who believed in me even when I was struggling to believe in myself.

And Now… A Christmas I’m Actually Looking Forward To

Not long ago, the thought of Christmas filled me with dread.
Now?

I’m looking forward to the F45 ugly sweater party.
I’m looking forward to Christmas Day with my companion, our neighbors and our two feisty, amazing dogs.
I’m looking forward to entering motherhood surrounded—not isolated—by the people who have carried me through every twist of this journey.

Gratitude, Rewritten

This year could have broken me.
Instead, it revealed what I didn’t know I had:
a community that loves me fiercely, and a chosen family that refuses to let me fall apart alone.

As I prepare to step into motherhood—and into whatever comes next—I’m holding tight to the lesson this year taught me:

Even when life collapses, community can rebuild you.