I got hit with the lonelies today.

I’m not sure completely why. Partly is that I’m going to spend extra time this weekend alone, reading.

Partly was still the aftermath of some public accusations on Facebook.

Partly was something or other got me missing being married.

Anyway, I did get some reminders that the Lord is still with me and life is still good.

One was talking with an acquaintance and sharing our stories — and how much God has showed up for each of us.

Another was remembering how friends rallied round and affirmed me after the accusations.

Another was looking at the visual mission statement I made and put on my computer, reminding me who I am.

Another was singing some songs at church that have been meaningful for a long time.

God is good, and He surrounds me with His love.

Okay, this is a nice big, general one. But as I was walking by my lake the other day, I realized I no longer think of myself so much as a divorced woman, but as a single woman.

In other words, I don’t think of myself so much as what I once had, but what I do have.

I’m a children’s librarian who’s on the Newbery committee!

I get to spend my time reading and writing – posting blog posts, writing emails to friends, connecting with people.

I have friends who mean a lot to me, from work, church, family and my gaming group.

I contribute at church and feel God’s hand on my life.

And life is very good. I’m blessed in the big picture, as well as the little things I usually mention.

This year, I’m reading my Project 52 posts one year after I wrote them.

Tonight I read about the year I was 19, and I was reminded of my Sparkle Theory. Basically, the Sparkle Theory is that each one of us desperately needs sparkles. It’s tempting to try to find them in romance. But there are plenty of other ways to find them – and if there’s not romance in your life, you need them all the more.

Tonight I’m sitting here alone on Friday night – and it’s just lovely to start remembering all the many sparkles in my life right now.