I Am Thankful For:
Intentions for the new year
Days filled with creativity
Starting a new planner
Waking up early
A new book
Packing for the first trip of 2025
Early morning flights
Early check-in
Football games in the cold
Exploring Baltimore
Seafood dinner by the harbor
Late evening flights home
Snow flurries
A hot cup of tea
Trying a new soup recipe
Greek yogurt and berries
Volunteer opportunities
Here we are at the end of another year. And, as always, I find myself looking back over the past year. What was good about it? What did I learn this year? What do I want to carry with me into the new year and what things do I want to release and leave behind with 2024?
I started attending a monthly book club at the local library this year and I have enjoyed it very much. This is definitely something I will continue into 2025. I've read some books that I never would have given a second look which I ended up enjoying very much! And it has been nice to get out of the house to talk books and meet some new people.
2024 was a year of medical appointments, tests, and procedures. At the beginning of the year I started having some stomach problems. Mostly consistent, painful heartburn that was not getting much relief from over the counter treatments. After being on prescription medication and having an endoscopy things have improved, but I still have to be careful about what I eat and take my medication.
One morning in July, I felt a pop in my knee and I couldn't put weight or walk on it for a while. Until I felt another, smaller pop. After that I could walk on it, but it was still painful. A trip to Urgent Care, xrays, an appointment with a sports medicine doctor and an MRI later - I was referred to an orthopedic surgeon. October brought knee surgery to have "floating bodies" removed from the knee and clean up some cartilage damage. The rest of that month and much of November was spent recovering and getting back to my normal activities.
We didn't do much traveling this year. Not as much as last year by any means. But we did spend some time at Folly Beach just outside of Charleston, SC - including a weekend with our kids and grandkids. The Man of the House and I also visited the Outer Banks twice this year. Traveling is something I want to see more of in 2025.
I had some wonderful visitors this year. My cousin in Canada surprised me with a visit during the summer. And my baby sister came to visit a couple of times which is always one of my favorite things. I could definitely use some more of that in 2025
The election. Well, what can I say? I really don't want to get into it. The one thing I will tell you is that it has encouraged me to think about what issues are most important to me and looking into ways I can volunteer or get involved to support them.
One of the biggest memories from 2024 will probably be Hurricane Helene. She tore through our area of North Carolina, causing devastating floods and mud slides. Power, internet and cell service was knocked out and remained spotty for weeks. Our power was out for most of two weeks, and other people had to wait even longer. We are on a well, so once our power returned we had water. But people on the local water system didn't have drinkable water for almost two months! The area is still trying to recover, and will be for a long time.
I have some exciting new things planned for the blog in the coming year. I hope you'll stick around for that. And definitely leave a comment or send me a message if there's something you'd like to see more of here in 2025.
I hope that your 2024 was filled with more highs than lows. More joy than sorrow. And more abundance than lack. And I wish great things for you in 2025.
I Am Thankful For:
Foggy mornings
Warm December days
Laughter
Christmas music
Talks with my dad
Planning for Christmas with my husband
Seeing deer outside the window as I make my tea
Snuggling under a cozy blanket
Wishes for the new year
Summer pots
Candlelight
Baking cookies
Cozy Sundays
Sparkly nail polish
Being productive
Getting an early start
Immune supplements
Audio books
Christmas eve
Soup simmering on the stove
I Am Thankful For:
Tiny cinnamon brooms
Chores completed
The neighbor kids calling "Hi, Ms Beckey" from their trampoline
New little dog jackets
Errands done before the rain starts
Dog Advent calendars
Morning sun making the frost sparkle
My grandson's little grin
Christmas movies
A change of plans
Seeing my grandsons
Our next trip is booked
Christmas cards
Vanilla ice cream with caramel sauce and sea salt
Relaxing on the couch
The full moon
Getting stuff done despite feeling sick
Leftovers - so I don't have to cook
Presents wrapped and shipped
I Am Thankful For:
My husband
New slipcovers
Candy canes
Lunch with my husband
New throw pillows
Hershey Kisses
Christmas shopping with my husband
Time in a bookstore
Important conversations
My husband's chili for Sunday dinner
Getting back to bookclub
When someone gifts me homemade treats
A surprise shipment of Laura Geller makeup
Shrimp tacos
I Am Thankful For:
A day spent with my daughter
A little treat for myself
Thanksgiving leftovers
A brand new month
My rice cooker
Christmas decorations
A crockpot full of homemade soup
Books as presents
Car rides with my husband
A light coating of snow
Here we are. The last month of 2024. December is the time to look back at the year we've been through. Take a moment to savor the memories of the good times. Learn a lesson or two feom the not-so-good times. And begin to dream, hope, and plan for the year to come.
One of my beautiful nieces is celebrating het 26th birthday today. It's hard to believe that little blonde child who grew up alongside my son is now a grown woman with a masters degree. She's pretty amazing.
I'm hoping to get out one evening to see one of the light displays near here. There are two to choose from. One is at the North Carolina Arboretum. The other is at a local park. We usually go to the smaller one. We used to get hot cocoa for the whole family, get in the car and go enjoy the light show almost every year. Even though our "children" are now adults, I still enjoy going to see the lights. Heck - it was probably even more for me back then! 😁
Christmas is going to be a little different this year. Less family at our annual Christmas eve dinner. Not for any bad or sad reasons. Just because of circumstances and other plans. But we'll make the most of it and enjoy a quiet holiday.
The Man of the House usually has the week from Christmas eve to New Years off from work. But this year their production demands are such that the company will need to be open that week. That's going to feel strange only having him home for a couple of days at each holiday. But it might help to decrease that sense of lost time for that last week of December.
This month I am reading "West With Giraffes" by Linda Rutledge for book club. I am also reading "The Invisible Hour" by Alice Hoffman and whatever else strikes my fancy. Maybe I'll sneak in a holiday themed book.
My goals for December are simple:
Whoa. Just... whoa. November felt like the longest, shortest month in the history of months. One minute I was celebrating my birthday on the first, and now - in the blink of an eye - we're here at the end. With so much happening in between that it must have been longer than a few quick weeks.
This month was crazy busy.
My birthday was nice. Didn't get up to too much celebrating since I was barely 2 weeks out from my knee surgery. I had hoped to go for a hike somewhere, but between the area still recovering from Hurricane Helene and my knee - that wasn't happening.
My sister came to visit and it was such a comfort having her here and getting to hang out and catch up. I miss her all of the time, but especially now that she's on the other side of the country.
My daughter started having a lot of stomach pain and nausea one weekend. She went to the doctor and they discovered that her liver enzymes were through the roof, causing her to end up in the ER. That resulted in four days, one surgery to remiver her gall bladder, and and endoscopy procedure to clear stones from her bile duct. Fortunately she is recovering well and felling better.
The Man of the House headed to Hatteras Island on the Outer Banks for the week of our anniversary. We relaxed on the beach and did some fishing, reading, and general unwinding. One day we took the ferry over to Okracoke Island where we rented a skiff and spent the day exploring a deserted island and fishing in the sound.
The month wound up with Thanksgiving. The kids and grandkids were here. It was loud and wonderful. And of course, there was too much food. On Black Friday, the Female Offspring and I hit the stores early and spent the day getting some of our Christmas shopping done.
I would like to hope that December will be slower and less hectic. But let's be honest - it probably won't.
How was your November?
