{2024} A Year In Review

Another year for the books. I know I said something similar last year, but this one was pretty top notch!

Seems like most of the year was consumed by softball and then wedding/honeymoon prep, but there was a whole lot of fun in between.

At the beginning of the year, we won a 7-day trip at the GTS dinner auction.  We have 18 months to get that locked down, so we are exploring all of the places where we can stay, trying to get that narrowed down. I don't think we have ever won something that big, so it's pretty exciting!

We traveled with the softball team to Kennewick for a tournament and had a great time. My parents were able to make the trip with their trailer, so it was really fun to have that true travel ball experience a little further away from home.

We are big fans of Dave Fenley, so when we heard he was coming to the Sapphire Room, it was a no-brainer to go see an acoustic set. It was amazing!

Every single poker night...that goes without saying.

Carter was asked by Faith to go to his first prom.  While it was not his favorite social experience in the world, the process of getting his tux, watching him get ready with Randy's help, and doing pictures was definitely something a mom will forever remember. Time sure doesn't stand still, so watching these high school memories is bittersweet.

Kendall's softball journey came to an end this year. It was tough watching her every at-bat, play, pitch, steal, etc. knowing we were ticking down to the very last one. Thankfully my sunglasses are very dark and easily hid the tears that slid down those last few games.  I am beyond grateful that I got to coach Kendall for her entire softball career.  While my own dreams of watching her play at a high level were cut short, I am so thankful for the time we did get to spend together and for that front-row, bucket set to everything she accomplished.  I still honor and respect her decision, but it's still pretty emotional to think we are done - her playing and me coaching. There are days where I feel lost without that outlet for my passion, but all great things do come to an end and we have a million other adventures still to come.

These girls will forever hold a place in my heart. If you zoom in, you will see puffy eyes and tears because that last day was just HARD. Knowing them, learning them, coaching them, raising them.....they are family in a way that only sports people will understand. 

Camping!  We did a bunch of camping and day-trips this year, which is just what my heart needed following the end of such a huge chapter.  The mountains healed me, as they always do. I experienced such profound moments in the mountains this year.  I think my second favorite moment of the year was just a quiet scene after we had set up camp. The four of us were sitting around the table...Randy and Carter were playing chess, and Kendall and I were just sitting there watching them. We had great music playing, and Danny's Song came on, which has always been a song near and dear to my heart. The sounds of the forest and that song were the only noise and out of nowhere, as the chorus came on, all three of them started quietly singing along to one of my favorite songs ever. It was such a moment...I was all up in my feelings, my chest swelling with pride as three of my favorite people were disconnected from the world, completed enveloped in the moment of good music. It moved me. I leaned back in my chair and just soaked up the moment. Nothing else in the entire world mattered anymore; no bothers, no worries. Just my three people, that song, and the sound of the river. It was utter perfection.

This picture below is one that set a lot of things in motion for the second half of the year. 

I love the picture, and when I posted it on FB, a close friend of mine reached out to ask about Dana.  With a little match-maker luck, Tess and Dana hit it off immediately and I could not be happier for them.

The wedding prep and wedding for sure have to take the top spot for the year. The deck was sure stacked against us with the two wildfires raging all around us, but we are a strong-willed bunch and the day was going to happen no matter what. And it did, and it was magical. The weather ended up being just perfect, we had our most favorite people with us, all camped in on Matt and Lori's property. It was a labor of love, and it all turned out exactly how we envisioned it. We got to sleep under the stars in the mountains, and I truly just can't imagine a more perfect day or setting. 

My absolute favorite moment of the year, however, was after the wedding. We were all sitting around the campfire that night...everything from the wedding put away, everyone changed into their normal camping clothes. The lawn area was still aglow with the garden lights hanging overhead. I had thought to myself a couple of times that Randy and I didn't get the chance to dance to our song, but I quickly dismissed it as there was so much great conversation going on around us. Randy walked up to me at some point, and held out his hand and asked if I would take a quick walk with him. So we started walking towards the cabin, and then he started to pull me towards the lawn and those garden lights. Just as we got to the grass, our song, "Stuck on You" by none other than Mr. Dave Fenley, came on. I had no clue Randy had tipped off Brian to queue up the song. So we did get our first dance after all, out there under those garden lights and the night sky. 

We had originally decided on a trip to Ireland this year, but the planning was rather intense and we decided to shift gears and try something more tropical, and new to both of us. While Hawaii was never on my short list of places to travel, it's what we landed on and I am so glad we did. I was pleasantly surprised and we had the time of our lives exploring Kauai and Maui.  We did so many things, it's hard to keep the list short. Kauai itself is magical. Small, quiet, and GORGEOUS. The chickens were a hoot, and we actually missed them when we went to Maui.  The Hawaii Grand Canyon, every sunrise and sunset, the beaches, the doors-off helicopter ride! I simply can't pick a favorite from Kauai. 

Maui also came with its own adventures - driving up to Haleakala for the sunrise, out to Molokini to snorkel in a partially submerged volcano, the Road to Hana. It was truly a perfect vacation.

We took a really fun trip to Jackpot for my birthday.

Carter passed his driving test and just bought his first car!  I am super proud of all of his hard work this year - both at school and at work. He raised all of the money he needed, and landed a great car. 

Addie had another dynamite year with sheep showing. She and Poppy really knocked it out of the park with their winnings.  They are now two-time national champions.  Super proud!!

I smashed my reading goal this year - a few duds here and there, but mostly some excellent reads!

And rounding out the year, we had Randy's girls in town for their Christmas break. While it has been hectic having two more bodies in the house, it was been a fun time and I really love watching Randy get to be with his girls. 

I always try to find a word that resonates with me for the year to come. A month or so ago, I landed on "cozy". I am really looking forward to digging into that, and exploring all the ways we can make all aspects of 2025 cozy.

Happy New Year!