As I say farewell to another year, I always like to reflect back on it. I read through my journal, look at pictures and am reminded of many things I’ve forgotten. I am one who always gets excited for a new year- lots of possibilities ahead and I tend to get a little pep in my step as the new year begins. Looking back at my previous year helps me discern what goals I want to focus on for the year ahead. I almost didn’t write this post, but I am one who loves tradition and it’s been a tradition for me to write a New Years blog post for years, so here I am.

Looking Back

2024 was full of change, as most years are. But the changes this year felt different, more permanent and defining. At the beginning of the year, we opened up a new Jimmy Johns in another town, our third one. Anytime we’ve opened up a new store, it’s been hard and this time proved to be the same. Matt was gone a lot more and I truly felt like a chicken with my head cut off trying to keep up with everyone and everything. A chicken with it’s head cut off who definitely failed in some areas but I’m also giving this chicken some grace. I’ve never thought of myself as a perfectionist because I never do anything perfect and I think, if I was a perfectionist then things would BE DONE perfectly. Is that the definition of a perfectionist? I’m not sure. Any-who, the first part of the year was not easy, but I can look back at my tired chicken self and give her grace and a pat on the back and say, “you did your best and it’s ok that things weren’t perfect.”

Parenting this year was a doozy. SO much change with parenting older girls. I find I enjoy parenting little ones, who still run into my arms, want me to read them a book every night and snuggle into their covers as I tuck them in. Those are the easy years of parenting (besides the lack of sleep and tantrums and old sippy cups of milk lying around). As my girls get older, I find myself deep in the trenches of parenting. Phones and social media DO NOT make parenting easy. And whether I like it or not, I’ve come to find out it’s now a part of our world. A few years ago we started on the journey of cell phones in our daughter’s hands- Jayde started out with a flip phone which proved to be an issue all in itself. But nonetheless, there are many lessons I’ve learned throughout this last year. Flip phones are not cool. Phones are how kids communicate with one another. Period. Your kids will make mistakes and mess up. Period. And it’s ok. Really, I promise- it’s ok and part of life and learning and maturing. (I’m speaking this to myself as much as you.) Better to have my girls make mistakes now and learn from them while they are under my roof than when they are out on their own in my opinion. Also, I must give up control or I will drive myself crazy. Literally crazy.

Parenting teens this year has really made me look at my own hangups and fears. At times, I put those hang ups and fears onto my girls and after realizing what I’d done- had to do a lot of introspection and see where those things were coming from.

Acceptance was a big word for me for the year 2024. “Accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Amen.”

The summer was full of lots of noise and lots of people. We added on our dream addition to the back of our home!! This was a dream come true and we are SO SO SO happy with it! I was surprised with how well I handled all of the constant construction. I mean it wasn’t necessarily fun having constant people and noise, but the excitement of the new space overshadowed the overstimulation. I learned a lot about design and construction and overall, just feel so grateful we were able to do it this year! We love the space so much.

This year also stamped the end of an era. Emersyn started Kindergarten. All my girls in school, full time. I honestly don’t think I had much time to process it because our addition was in the last month or two of getting done when she started school. So, any extra free time I had went to that space. I’ve found, now that the living room is done, I am a little lost to be honest. For fourteen years I have had littles at home and my days looked somewhat the same. I am mourning no more babies or toddlers. It’s a weird place to be in- on one hand I treasure the time I have at home but on the other it’s not what I expected it to be. It’s all very new and I’m still processing it all.

This year, very recently actually, I’ve also accepted that one of my dreams will not come true. I’ve really gave a lot of thought, time and energy into my Instagram account, hoping to grow and create my own “job”. Accounts like “Nesting with Grace”, “Pure Joy Home”, among many others, have inspired me. I’ve thought, if they can do it, so can I. But, recently I have come to accept that Instagram is very over saturated with people just like me, looking to do the same and the odds of it happening are extremely slim. On one hand, it sucks because I really wanted it to work out and I feel like I failed. But on the other hand, I feel a sense of relief. All of the striving and trying to come up with content sometimes was exhausting. I’m not going anywhere by any means because I do still love to share my ideas, oils and thoughts on the platform. But I might not be on there as much and I’m lowering my expectations with it. I’m now pivoting on which direction to go with what I love to do. A luxury that I have the option, I know.

Looking Ahead

My bible verse for 2025 is:

2 Corinthians 17 For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

My word is peace.

There are a lot of things I want to focus on and do in the year 2025. I feel like this blog post is already quite lengthy so I will summarize what those things are:

Re-focus on my relationship with God. I feel like this year I was distracted by everything else going on and I haven’t done a good job of staying in communication with Him.

Expect greatness. I tend to worry that bad things will happen but I want to reframe my way of thinking and expect good, not bad.

Peace. Internal peace. Which will then lead to freedom.

Spend less frivolously. Those dang Instagram influencers get me.

Ride horses more at my mom and dad’s farm. Something I loved to do as a kid.

Create a cozy dining space. This is in the works as we speak and I can’t wait to show you all!

Play with makeup.

Read more books. The first half of the year I did a good job of this- the second half, not so much.

Yoga. Pickleball. Walking. I want to play LOTS of pickleball this year.

Spend more time with friends.

Rise early. I will FOREVER be trying to do this. I’m a chronic snooze button hitter.

Have fun. One of the perks of having older kids is it’s easier to do fun things together!

Be a vendor at some markets. I want to try and see what happens!

Be happy. Happy, joyful, whatever you want to call it- I want to wake up and feel excited for my day and what’s to come.

Jeez, if you read this all, thank you so much. And thank you for being here. For taking the time to read my blog posts, my thoughts, my ideas, my struggles and joys. I feel so thankful to have this little outlet and writing has always been something I’ve treasured.

Here is to 2025!