It's wild that every year I start out remembering I need to do this post but overwhelmed with the idea of putting it all back together YET... EVERY. TIME. I am absolutely thankful to relive so many memories and moments. Candidly, I even forget some of these that were so important yet time and life just moves forward. Thus, I guess if others are seeing this and appreciating it or not, I'm blessed beyond measure and need this time of reflection often to remember. Thank you, God!!
So let's get into it...
Honorable Mentions:
*) Dallas Cowboys (I believe the Cowboys have made the list every year since I started this tradition of making a top 10 list... Why you ask, because I have been a fan my entire life and EVERY time I get the opportunity to go to a game... ESPECIALLY with my Dad AND MY SON, I'm reminded that all of it is so much more than a silly game, it's tradition, it's legacy. I don't know how much longer Dad is going to have season tickets but every year, I am reminded how special these times are... even if they (Dem Boyz) continue to hurt my heart - HA!).
*) Jock (Honestly, if you know me, this is a pretty strange one... Don't get me wrong, I do like dogs a lot and have even shed a tear or two over the years for my pets BUT I think this is the first time I have felt like one was part of our family. This stinkin' dog is just not normal! From how excited he gets to go on walks with me, to always needing to cuddle with whoever is near the couch, to only eating dinner when we do... it's truly weird and funny at the same time. I've never seen a dog have such a specific personality).
*) Weddings (Not sure why that is plural... Only officiated one wedding this year and it was so fun and special. Also had a range of emotions when I saw this picture, as I had accidentally grabbed my son's button-up shirt and didn't know until we were 30 minutes from ceremony time and a suit jacket that I hadn't worn since college. So ridiculous but still a blast to not only get to be invited to a wedding but the blessing of being in the best seat "in the house" as the minister for your little sister. So good.)!
Top 10 Moments of 2024:
10) Work (It's always nice when work makes it to the list, however, it's making the list this year not because everything is amazing but because it's been such an impactful item in the year of 2024. My first trip to Canada happened this year because of one of our clients, lots of transition has happened this year for all the folks I work with AND my oldest daughter even got to go with me on a super fun work trip which lead us to the Museum of Play in Rochester, NY! **Way more work news happening but will probably land on the 2025 calendar!).
9) Senior Pics... AGAIN!! (It's wild that last year, we were doing senior pics for our first child and I think at some point I forgot that the next kiddo was RIGHT BEHIND him. How did she get this old... I can't believe it and am so thrown back by the fact that I see so much of Courtney in her... she's so beautiful in countless ways!!).
8) Teenage Employment (Both big kids are now officially employed. The middle found a great job at Chick-fil-A and is really enjoying it. I have loved hearing her talk about their values and the reasons they do what they do. So many great things for teens to learn from getting a job, even if they're a straight 'A' student that plays HOURS of volleyball. Of course, the oldest has been mowing for years and even worked at two other businesses in the past but I believe his newest job will become an incredible career and love the fact that there's a photo that popped up in my wheelhouse of him working at Walmart!).
7) Kid's Sports (There were so many pictures to pick from to add here as both girls have school ball and club ball now in two different sports. The youngest has got back into soccer this year and not only made a great club team but also the freshmen team at BWHS. The middle has also decided to play her final season of club volleyball but also just wrapped her senior season at BWHS. However, the most exciting moment was her signing day, as she's been given a scholarship to play at MidAmerica Nazarene in Kansas!)
6) 1st Dances (Though the older two have been to several and even the youngest has been to the middle school dances... This year was the first HS Homecoming dance for the freshmen and she was BEAUTIFUL!! Yet, also a first, both bigs had High School Prom and though they went with others, we were able to snag this amazing pic of them both AND Papa John came over with his Rolls Royce SilverCloud III to take them... WHAT!!)
5) Board Games (Board games continues to make the list year after year and I hope it is something my kids pass on to theirs... We have had friends join us, grandparents and even dates but this core continues to crush games and as always: no matter what, the winner puts their name in the box!!)
4) Dates & Man Time (SO MANY to choose from and for that I am forever grateful! From jumping in the car last minute and going to a Battlehawks game with my son, to breakfast buffet with my oldest daughter and even visiting "Stars Hollow" with my youngest... we crushed some dates and man time this year. But SmashLab was a pretty epic fun night for all of us on Mom's birthday... You should see the video!!).
3) Family Roadtrips (With the most epic trip this summer, we have officially crossed off 49 or the 50 states. We were able to take a cruise in and around Alaska, docking to take some epic hikes and amazing crab. We road-tripped from the needle in Seattle, to the rose garden in Portland. Then from the Crater of the Moon, Inspiration Point and Old Faithful in Yellowstone... It was a trip of a lifetime for sure!! **And if you're wondering our 2025 is booked up all year for at least one of our crew, so we're making plans to finish out in Hawaii in 2026.)
2) The Last Marble (How do you even start to write something about this as it has brought so many tears this past year. For over 15 years we have had three jars full of marbles in our entryway... each week we move one marble from each jar into the big vase. This year, we moved the final "blue" marble, our oldest's, into the vase. No, he's not dead!! But it has been a great reminder daily to cherish our moments before graduation. Of course, the last marble brought on graduation and now "move-in" day at college. Man, that big vase is beautiful and forever cherished!! **Recently been thinking of adding a marble BACK every time he comes home... what do you all think of that!?).
1) This Woman (I'm sure to many, this will seem cliche or even sappy but the truth is... 23+ years later I am literally MORE infatuated with this woman than the first day I met her. She is my rock in hard times, my excitement on most days, the person I think about anytime I have something to share and I can't wait to spend, God willing, our "older years" together. **Love doesn't feel like a strong enough word when I think of you baby.)!
The craziest part of this list is the fact that lately, I have been pretty down, yet when I can take a step back and see all the smiles, memories, and moments... I remember what all of this is really about. **God is good... ALL THE TIME!!**
