2024 in review

  1. What did you do in 2024 that you’d never done before? Started perimenopause. Not too exciting but here I am. 

2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?  I made progress towards them and I'm good with that. I will make more and keep progressing. 
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? My sister, Lindsey, had her son, Malaki. He's really cute. 
4. Did anyone close to you die? No, thankfully. 
5. What countries did you visit? None
6. What would you like to have in 2025 that you lacked in 2024?  At least one family yearbook printed out and print a book of letters for Josh. 
7. What dates from 2024 will remain etched upon your memory and why? None that are too memorable. 
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Seeing Zach progress with emotional intelligence. It's the long game for all of our kids but it's amazing to see progress along the way.  
9. What was your biggest failure? The times I lost my patience with my kids and yelled at them.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Nothing serious. 
11. What was the best thing you bought? I didn't buy either but our new printer (with ESA funds) and a free tall floor lamp on the side of the road that I really love so much. I also like the coat / backpack organizer I purchased. It helps a lot.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? All of our kids are improving with emotional intelligence to some degree. 
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? People who make selfish decisions that negatively affect others (drunk driving, sex trafficing, abuse, etc). It's heartbreaking.
14. Where did most of your money go? Definitely groceries and consumables. Also rediculous things like memberships I didn't utilize and things I subscribed to that I should've cancelled long ago. We want to be much more intentional with our money this yera. 
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? That we're getting new flooring put in our downstairs. Ruth (Dot's mom) is helping us with this and I couldn't be more grateful and excited! 
16. What song will always remind you of 2024? The songs I worked out to, the word "skibity" that kids say all the time. 
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Just as happy. 
b) thinner or fatter? Fatter but only by about 10 lbs. Staring Weight Watchers with Wendel soon and excited to have my clothes fit better. (Perimenopause isn't my favorite.) 
c) richer or poorer? The same. Blessed immensely, both financially and with a beautiful family.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of? I think I'm doing the best I can with the time I have but I would like to set up systems and time blocking to really tackle decluttering more.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Raising my voice at my kids. I try not to but still did at times and that's not the way I want to show up.
20. How did you spend Christmas? We went to our friend's cabin a few days before Christmas and found some snow for sledding. that was fun family time. We spent Christmas at home, which was great. 
21. Did you fall in love in 2024? With our three new kittens, Bear, Gracie and Precious. They are adorable. Definetly toddlers and we coulnd't put up a Christmas Tree this year because of them but they're s sweet and fun.
22. What was your favorite TV program? I really liked My Life with the Walter Brothers. Also Man on the Inside and Virgin River. I enjoyed watching Stranger Things with Oliver and Emmerson. I also enjoy watching re-runs of Gilmore Girls - still and always.
23. What was the best book you read? I listened to Bridges by David B. Ostler and really loved the message of building bridges of love and connection with members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who are no longer active. I want to buy the book so I can make notes and highlight. There were so many great insights and quotes that I want to reference. I think every member of the church should read this book. 
24. What was your greatest musical discovery? I really like the song Exile by Taylor Swift. I heard it on the radio and fell in love and listened on repeat for about a week. I'm not even a huge Taylor Swift fan but that song is moving.
25. What did you want and get? Peace during times of difficulty - same as in years past. Also moving forward with our flooring project.
26. What did you want and not get? Nothing comes to mind. 
27. What was your favorite film of this year? Wendel and I rarely see movies in the theater but we saw Fall Guy during our anniversary weekend getaway (to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary) and we both loved it. It was funny, touching and other than a few swear words, it was surprisingly clean. There was action, suspense, love and comedy. It had it all. Great movie! 
28. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I turned 45 this year! Hard to believe! I can't remember what I did on my birthday, other than buy myself a fruit bowl from Nekter in the morning for breakfast and we had a RS activity that evening and my friend, Carrie Goettl, made me an amazing chocolate cake. 
29. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Less fighting between our children. 
30. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2020? I'm often in comfortable leggings and a tshirt. I really like being casual and comfortable. I only wear makeup for appointments and church for the most part. - (same answer as years ago)
31. What kept you sane? Same as last year with the exception of exercise because I'm not able to do it as much now and I really miss it. Wendel, my dance classes for sure, the scriptures and daily spiritual nourishment, podcasts and audio books, good friends (Emily Hamblin definitely). 
32. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? None really. 
33. What political issue stirred you the most? It was an election year and it got pretty heated in our country. Lots of division. I think the biggest issues for me were securing the border and not supporting abortion. 
34. Who did you miss? My mom and sister at times. The Acords living in Maricopa. 
35. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2024: I learned that research shows that some people with ADHD will medicate through conflict and drama. When the ADHD brain doesn't have enough stimulation, it looks for ways to increase activity. Being angry or negative has an immediate stimulating effect on the brain. When you get upset your body produces increased amounts of adrenaline, raising the heart rate and brain activity. Adrenaline can calm focus. - Wow! This was such a huge epiphany for me regarding our kids and why there is so much contention among them. It brought tears to my eyes.
36. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year: 

For a while there, it was rough
But lately, I've been doin' better
Than the last four cold Decembers
I recall

Oh, I'll tell ya, I know I've got enough
I've got peace and I've got love...

Beautiful Things by Benson Boone 

37. Share some meaningful scriptures and what you learned from them.

I've been sharing a lot on my other blog where I share about personal revelation.

38. What are your resolutions for 2021? 

Declutter. Implement time blocking and systems. Incorporate weight routines. Try a yoga class.