We made some memories in 2024. ♥️ And, we are all so excited for this new year and exploring even more in our new town. Here is a bit of our year in review (since we  didn’t do Christmas cards this year!).

Last year included lots of fishing, baseball, kayaking, paddle boarding, crabbing, sunsets, bike rides, as well as moving boxes and getting settled in our new home. We are grateful for many adventures and time learning together as a family. Boy, have we learned a lot about new ways of living in a beach town here on the Gulf Coast. Everything has felt new and exciting and sometimes unexpected! (Still in that honeymoon phase!)

As many times as we have visited here for vacation, we still have learned so much. We have been surprised to find a crab crossing our street and even seeing things like an alligator and armadillo! We saw just a few bushes with fall colored leaves and that was all (in December!). We have cooked our own fish caught for dinner and all love gumbo, especially the boys. Last week we went a few miles down the road to catch a glimpse of the sperm whale who washed up on the shore and saw some Portuguese man-of-war too!

We moved in July, the absolute hottest time of year and sweat for days on end. I swore we would never feel cold or wear a jacket or sweatshirt ever again. In fact, I laughed as I unpacked my closet with sweaters and wool socks! However, the 8 PM summer sunsets have turned to 5 PM sunsets this winter and we observe the levels of the lagoon rise and fall. It can actually get cold here. It is unusual, but the lows will be in the 30s a couple of days next week with the polar vortex sweeping the country! (We are learning how to care for our palm trees when it gets this cold!) Jumping fish, squaking herons, and huge bald eagles are right in our backyard. Josh is learning how to fix dock posts (a necessary fix), and we have both pulled more vines out of our landscaping that we could ever imagine. Our dogs love swimming (which isn’t new), and it’s an everyday obstacle to keep them from hopping the fence into the lagoon. 😅 A new way of life down here in so many ways.

We are also grateful for family and friends who have visited us down here on the Gulf Coast. (Come visit!!) Boys are settled in their new school, are getting good grades, had a great fall baseball season, and have now started both basketball and flag football. Josh assistant coached all 3 in baseball and will also be helping with flag football. He has taught the boys more about fishing and kayaking and crabbing, Wyatt’s absolute favorite. And also, our new church feels like home.

I continue to work from home and visit our home office in Bloomington about once a month or two. I love my work and colleagues and am glad to continue this role in my third year now. I also recently became a fitness instructor. I spent quite a bit of time training this fall and have a whole new appreciation for barre now as an instructor. I am so grateful for the community at our studio and new friends I have met.

This wasn’t necessarily an easy year for us. Moving a family is incredibly difficult in so many ways and it continues to be. It’s a lot of work too! The big move has been bittersweet as we miss family and friends so much. But we experience and learn more every day about how this is a fine place to raise our boys.

As I reflect on the past year, I think a lot about family time. The 5 of us have had a lot of quality time together. Yes, we are busy and have school, work and sports schedules, but we have been able to prioritize time together that we will never get back. It isn’t always easy but we have found it to be worth it to make choices with our family in mind, whether that is career or extra curriculars. (Certainly not an expert here but lots of trial and error and life lessons over the years!) We have family dinner together at the dinner table, and take the time to thank God for our many blessings and to be examples to others. I’ve read about the significance of family dinners together at the table over and over again and while the world pulls you in different directions. And Josh and I can each say that a good example was set for us when we were growing up as well. ❤️

Some references-

Benefits of Family Dinners

https://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/family-dynamics/Pages/family-meals-eat-together-thrive-together.aspx

As the boys grow, I know this time is fleeting, and we cherish it so much. It won’t always be like this. It is constantly on my mind what things will be like just 8-12 years from now when the boys are older and not necessarily under our roof. Also, we like the pace of life here. Slowing down and enjoying our time together, it suits us.

As always, thank you for reading.

Xoxo

Kim