Goodbye 2025. Hello 2026!

Happy New Year, friends!

I know. I have been away for far too long (since August 8, 2024, to be exact) without any reasonable excuse other than inspiration and motivation running dry. I did open my laptop with hopes of writing on numerous occasions over the last 16ish months, but I always ended up staring at a blank screen for an embarrassing amount of time before finally giving up. When the writing stopped, I turned all my attention to my social media pages, and even those were inconsistent.

That honestly has been a problem of mine for as long as I can remember. I get really excited about an idea, pour all my time and energy toward it, and then all of a sudden, I stop - reading, writing, coloring, and most recently, embroidery. The only “hobby” that I have been consistent with over the years is making coffee, but that’s partially due to the need for caffeine to function.

Whatever the reason behind this, whether it’s undiagnosed ADHD or a lack of discipline, just know I realize this is an issue and plan to spend 2026 working to fix it.

With that being out of the way, let’s catch up on what’s been going on since I’ve been gone.

The end of 2024 was really fun. At the end of August, my friend Maddie got married. The wedding was beautiful, and it ended up being a small Class of 2014 reunion, which was fun considering my graduating class didn’t actually have a 10-year reunion. Then, I started November by going to The Eras Tour with my other friend Beth and her husband. That concert was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I am beyond grateful that I was able to go. Then the year ended with my husband and I celebrating the holidays with our families.

Now, 2025 was a bit of a roller coaster. The year started with my friend Margo and I getting inducted into our high school’s athletic hall of fame and my brother Ryan moving to Knoxville. Then things took a turn when my mom received the news of another cancer diagnosis after being cancer-free for 7 years. I’m not going to lie, the months that followed were rough. But my mom is, without a doubt, the strongest, most courageous woman I know and she handled everything like a champ! And, I am happy to report, that she is cancer-free for the second time!

But in the midst of all that, there were some fun moments. I celebrated my 29th birthday with my family, went to a fun work conference in Cincinnati, moved my other brother Jake to Knoxville (which doubled as a much-needed family vacation), started playing Pickleball with my husband, ran my first ever 10K, and saw The Jonas Brothers for the third time. This was also the year that my husband’s best friend got married, and two of my friends found out they were pregnant! Then, as in 2024, the year was finished by celebrating the holidays with family.

So, to 2025, while you were fun, I am happy to see you go.

I have a very good feeling about 2026. First off, my two friends will be having their babies this year! This is also a big relationship milestone year for my husband and I. 2026 will mark 5 years married and 10 years together. Also, my brothers and I are running a half-marathon at Dollywood in April, which is something I’ve been wanting to do since running the 10K without any hip pain. I just need this Ohio weather to cooperate so I can train. And finally, my dad and I are celebrating big birthdays this year; he’s turning 60, and I’m turning 30. Those have to be signs of a good year ahead, right? At least, that’s what I’m telling myself.

So here’s to 2026! May this year be filled with love, laughter, and happy memories that we can cherish forever. And who knows? Maybe there will be more blog posts, too. If one of you reading this wants to be the one to hold me accountable, I welcome you with open arms.

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