Who is ready for 2026?
Not me.
Nonetheless, here we are.
Year in review (bucket list and BIG things only):
- Celebrated 25 years of marriage
- Did the sunrise/sunset challenge in Florida (one coast to the other in the same 24 hours)
- Taught weekly co-op classes
- Cast and recast and recast again for Immortal (15 cast members -- from across the country)
- Scheduled & ran 3 weeks of rehearsals (booking venues, tech, rearranging schedules due to sickness -- kill me now!)
- Produced a professional staged reading of IMMORTAL the Musical
- Took an EMERGENCY trip to England to pick up our daughter up from her mission -- who had wasted away due to health issues (a three-day whirlwind - Iceland, Ireland, Bristol England, London England, Columbia, and home)
- Discovered our daughter's two-hundred-fifty+ food intolerances, hypoglycemia, and worked to get her calorie and energy levels up while she completed a service mission locally
- Started treatment for my faulty hip
- Went on an unplanned 2 week road trip to see historical sites (and ran into my brother...surprise!)
- Planned and ran activities for 15-20 girls twice a month
- RETURNED TO BLOGGING (could you tell?)
- Welcomed our oldest and his wife back to Florida (after they both graduated with their degrees)
- My youngest got baptised
- Hypoglycemic daughter finished her service mission, got a near-impossible-to-land job and got into a near-impossible-to-land university
- Built a video recording studio and started a YouTube channel and major social media campaign with daily video content
- Bypassed one potential trail date for defaulty construction on our house (3 years in the works now) and began negotiations again (undergone mold treatment, structural engineer investigation, and had WAY to many people telling us our house is trashed)
- Led a choir & performed in so, so many venues
- Homeschooled the kids - including challenges like dysgraphia
- Read approximately 100 novels (this doesn't include children's books and study materials...of which there were many)
Nonetheless, we will brave forward with 2026.
Because we must.
Because there is no other choice.
And while we're at it, we're going to have a good attitude -- because life just goes smoother when you see the bumps as growth opportunities.
To start this year right, I'm on a cruise (which was almost free so don't get too jealous). I'll be around next week to say "Hi" and share some virtual cheese.
Here's to an epic one! Wishing you the best 2026.
Thank you to our awesome co-hosts Shannon Lawrence, Olga Godim, Jean Davis, and Jacqui Murray!
What's the craziest thing you did this last year? What are you most looking forward to in 2026?
I am exhausted just reading that list! What a year. And awesome your your youngest got baptised.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely a year, but aren't they all? LOL!
DeleteYou accomplished so much in 2025. Have fun on your cruise.
ReplyDeleteThank you! It was awesome. Totally worth it.
DeleteThat is a lot. Really sucks about the faulty construction of your house.
ReplyDeleteYou're telling me. One of these days we'll get through it and repair everything though. I keep that shiny hope at the back of my mind.
DeleteHoly Moly! That's a lot--I'm glad your daughter is better.
ReplyDeleteI'm ready for 2026. I dunno what to do with it, but I'm glad it here. 🤣
LOL! I'm glad it's here too and I hope whatever you do with it, it's epic.
DeleteWow, what a year! I hope 2026 brings even more awesome things your way (let's bypass the medical stuff, LOL).
ReplyDeleteRonel visiting for IWSG day An Author’s Goals for 2026
Agreed. No more medical stuff. I'm all for sitting on the beach and chilling this year. Haha! (Well, I can dream, right?)
DeleteI'm wondering how much coffee you had to drink to do all of those things? :o
ReplyDeleteAnd this is something I need to work on - "...because life just goes smoother when you see the bumps as growth opportunities."
Enjoy that cruise!
Well, if I drank coffee... LOL. I think cheese accomplishes the same thing. As well as the optimism. Here's sending both your way!
DeleteYour pace is exhausting and with a hip that's cranky, too! Once that's fixed, you'll burn up this blog! Happy 2026! Pass the cheese, please.
ReplyDeleteWell, you might have a few years on me. A decade ago, this pace seemed slow. LOL! Have the cheese. :D
DeleteYou could try jumping over the small bumps and sliding down the other side of the bigger bumps like I've seen otters do. Attitude is everything. You're so right about that. :-)
ReplyDeleteI love it! Yes. Let's do this rollercoaster joy thing.
DeleteEnjoy the cruise! If it's to Bali, say hi to my daughter!
ReplyDeleteNah, it was Caribbean, but it wasn't so much about the destination -- more about the company.
DeleteWow, you did a lot this year! It is a challenge juggling family and writing and homeschooling. Enjoy your cruise!
ReplyDeleteYou're not a kidding. Always been a struggle. I suppose that's why I've scaled back -- as one does if they wish to survive.
DeleteYikes, that's quite the year. Your daughter's issues sound scary.
ReplyDeleteYeah, they definitely had us worried for a while, but it's given us greater insight into those with permanent medical conditions and dietary troubles.
DeleteWow! What a year! Hopefully, the next year will leave you some free time to write.
ReplyDeleteHAHAHA! ... HAHAHA! ... Yes, hopefully. I mean, I am writing -- every day -- promotional material, video scripts, newsletters, social media posts -- just none of it is what I used to write.
DeleteHey there!
ReplyDeleteA bit late to comment but what can I say...I had school:)
I read the entire list and OMG THAT'S OMG.
Wishing you a great 2026!
Aw, same to you! You know, this was actually a slow year for me. I wish you could have seen the two or three previous.
DeleteThat's a hell of a year. I guess we all have our ups and downs, and you never know what someone is going through. You seem to have survived and come back stronger, and here's to wishing 2026 is a little less crazy!
ReplyDeleteWell, that's what we do, eh? Surivive or die? LOL. It's when we thrive despite or because of our circumstances that we really have reason to rejoice. I'm aiming for that bent.
DeleteWhat a full year! I'd love to try that sunrise/sunset challenge. I'm glad you also discovered your daughter's food intolerance. Onwards to better food choices. Hope you have an epic year ahead.
ReplyDeleteWishing you the same! Yes, it was rather amazing doing the challenge in the same 24 hours. A little mind bending. Highly recommended.
DeleteThat was quite the whirlwind of a 2025! Good luck with 2026. I feel like we all need it already.
ReplyDeleteToo true! Luck and cheese. Here. For you. 🧀
DeleteCongrats on 25 years together and here's to a kickbutt good 2026!
ReplyDeleteSeconded! We're going to kill it, eh? In a good way.
Deletelol Crystal on your comment about the noodles. I promise you can work and still make them. They are easy to do and soooooo soooo much fun. Good craft with kiddos too and all kinds of fun veggies to add to the pasta dough to make green, yellow and all kinds of stuff.
ReplyDeleteLife ambitions. Yes, let us slow down enough to get there and I think it would be quite the adventure.
DeleteThat sounds like quite a year! Congrats on all your accomplishments!
ReplyDeleteYou're not kidding! But also a good one full of epic memories and major accomplisments. Can have one without the other, eh?
DeleteThat list of accomplishments is impressive. What stands out to me the most is 25 years of marriage--happy anniversary! That's rough about your daughter's health issues and the frustrations of your home's problems. Here's to a great 2026!
ReplyDeleteThank you. We're about to hit 26. 😁 It's going to be a great year, eh?
DeleteCongrats on 25 years! You have been super busy with everything you have going on. I hope you get lots accomplished in 2026 and also find time to rest. All the best!
ReplyDeleteYour list sounds exhausting but productive. I wish you a fabulous and happy new year.
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely day.
Wow you surely had a productive year but also many challenges. I know all about learning disabilities My son had dysgraphia which was part of his dyspraxia. I hope you have a peaceful 2026
ReplyDeleteJust reading your list gave me anxiety. That was a lot of heavy stuff to deal with!
ReplyDeleteYes, I noticed you were back and I am so happy for it!!