Au fil d’une nouvelle année

Une année de plus autour du soleil 🤍

Oneness, Love, Transformation & Creation.

There is something about birthdays that always makes me pause and reflect. I find myself thinking about the year that just passed, the things that changed, the things that stayed the same, the people who made the year what it was, and even the little moments that I probably didn't think much about at the time but somehow became part of the story. Every year teaches me something different, and this year, more than anything, I think I have learned to appreciate the life I already have while still being excited for more.

One of the things I am most grateful for is my family. Being in the US while the rest of my family is in Rwanda means that distance is simply part of our story, but I am grateful that it has never made us feel distant. If anything, this year has reminded me just how close we really are and how lucky I am to have the family i have

My sister Nabe and I talk almost every day, and honestly, she is literally the love of my life lol. I love her so much. She inspires me in ways I don't always know how to put into words. She is a doctor with a golden heart and a wonderful mum. I admire the way she carries both with so much love and grace. Watching the woman she has become makes me proud to call her my sister, and I hope she knows just how much I admire her.

My sister Maman Manzi and I have also become so much closer this year, and I am really grateful for that. I have loved getting to know her in a different way, talking more, sharing more of life with her, and simply becoming closer as sisters. It has been one of the beautiful surprises of this year.

Maman Gavin is always a phone call away whenever I need advice, and she has also become my go-to person for fashion.  Whether I need an opinion on an outfit or just some sisterly advice, I know I can call her. Maman Brissia is also always just a phone call away and has such a beautiful heart. I love listening to her audios, especially iyo twaburanye, which happens literally all the time.

And then there is my brother Jackson. Honestly, I don't think I would be where I am today had it not been for him. He is probably the person who knows me the most, and whenever I doubt myself, I think about how my brother sees me. He thinks I am an amazing woman, and somehow, just remembering that brings the confidence right back. He has encouraged me, believed in me, and reminded me of who I am when I have forgotten for a moment. I don't know if I tell him enough, but I am incredibly grateful to have him as my brother. And honestly, his future wife is one lucky girl. 

I also cherish the relationship I have with my nieces and nephews. Gavin will randomly message me asking if we can catch up, and those little moments mean more to me than he probably realizes. Manzi and I can spend an entire hour talking about God, faith, and our Bible study journey, and those conversations are some of my favorites. Then there is Messi, who has his own very special way of keeping in touch. He will randomly send me "Hi" or "K," or say, "Hi, call me when you are free," as if he is a very busy man who simply does not have time to call. I finally had to tell him that he is no longer allowed to say "K" to me and that he needs to say "OK Tantine" instead.  These little things make me laugh, but they also mean so much to me. I am so grateful to be an auntie to Manzi, Gavin, Gwiza, Brissa, Brissia, Bruni, Messi, Honor, and Nissia. Being their Tantine is something I cherish so much, and I feel incredibly blessed to watch them grow and be part of their lives, even from a distance.

I am also grateful that this year I have had the opportunity to contribute towards the education of children who I am not related to. It may seem like a small thing, but it means a lot to me to know that, in some way, I can be part of a child’s journey and future. It has reminded me that the blessings in our lives can also be an opportunity to pour into someone else, and I hope I never lose sight of that.

This year has also reminded me just how much I love reading. After many years of collecting physical books, loving my bookshelves, and convincing myself that I absolutely needed every book I bought, I finally invested in a Kindle. I have heard that you can finish more books with a Kindle, so this year I am going to mix it up between my physical books and my Kindle. I am definitely not giving up my bookshelves though. There is just something about seeing your books sitting there and knowing that each one holds a different story, season, or lesson.

I have also continued to love my little walks around the neighborhood lake. There is something about walking without having anywhere urgent to be, listening to music, thinking, praying, or sometimes just looking around and being outside that clears my mind. I think I have learned to appreciate these quiet moments more because not every meaningful moment has to be big.

I also love fragrances. I love having a perfume collection and how certain fragrances can immediately remind you of a particular season, place, or version of yourself. I think fragrance is one of those little things that quietly becomes part of our memories without us even realizing it.

And playlists. I will probably never stop making playlists. I love putting songs together and creating a little story with them, almost like each playlist captures a mood or a season of my life. One of my favorite things is seeing people save my playlists and actually listen to something I put together. There is something so special about knowing that something that came from my little corner of the world has become part of someone else's day.

I am also grateful for my career and for the growth that has come with it. I have learned so much this year, and I am grateful for how much I continue to grow professionally.

And then there is graduate school. I am so excited to finish. It brings me so much joy to think that by this time next year, I will have a master's degree. I am already thinking, who knows, maybe I will start looking into getting a doctorate right after.

Most of all, I am grateful for another year of life and for the person I am becoming through all of it. I don't have everything figured out, and honestly, I don't think I am supposed to. There are still chapters I haven't read, places I haven't been, people I haven't met, lessons I haven't learned, and experiences I haven't even imagined yet.

So, as I step into another year, I want to remain open—to God, to growth, to love, to learning, to giving, to new experiences, and to all the little moments that make an ordinary life feel extraordinary.

I am simply grateful to be here, grateful for the people I love, grateful for the life I am building, and grateful for what is to come.

Quand Dieu charme le cœur d’une femme,
sa douceur devient une force,
son attente devient une école,
et sa foi devient sa beauté.

Siri, play “Lelo Lelo” by Dany Kasongo. (Dancing Emoji)