2014

In these first few days of 2015, I can't help but feel excited. I am so looking forward to 2015 and all its unknowns. When I think about being excited about the unknown, I cannot help but reflect on what a monumental 180 that statement is from my mentality of just a few years ago. 2014 was a big year for us with big changes and topped 2013 in our quest to follow our dreams. We can see these dreams that we've talked about for many years finally coming together. Being able to really move forward with them is very exciting and rewarding.

The beginning of the year was spent still getting settled and enjoying our new home in Nashville, TN. In the first few months, Adam settled into his new position and proved himself as a valuable asset to his company in their busiest time of the year. I proved to myself that leaving “safe and comfortable” was so much better than always wondering “what if”. I may not have moved up the ladder in 2014, but what I did obtain was so much more important.  Early on, we  enjoyed Landon’s third birthday with an extended visit back to Louisville to celebrate with everyone. Landon wasn't the only birthday we celebrated then either. One of the most amazing people turned another day older and we were so fortunate to be a part of Noni’s 90^th birthday celebration! One of the top events for me in 2014 happened early on as well, getting to meet one of the most influential people in my life, Dennis Prager.

In the Spring, we celebrated the warmer weather by exploring a number of areas in and around Nashville. We checked out a number of state parks and beautiful Tennessee waterfalls. We also began the process of teaching Landon to enjoy hiking. Our goal this year was that he be able to hike at least his age and we've gotten to the point that even a moderately strenuous 3-4 mile hike is doable with the right amount of snacks and breaks. We've made a lot of effort and taken on a unique parenting style in not allowing Landon to have electronics and watch little TV. Instead, we are trying to expose him to nature in the hopes of fostering a love of the outdoors and creating a more active and healthier adult. We've spent a lot of time outdoors this year together as a family. One of the most special holidays, Easter, also called for another trip to Louisville to celebrate with family. Easter is one of the most welcomed holidays and we had a great time enjoying it with Landon this year.

Over the summer, Adam and I celebrated 5 years of marriage and took a small trip to the Smokey Mountains to celebrate with just the two of us. 2014 brought on a lot of changes to our lives and it took some adjusting for us. Adam's seemingly constant travel in the first few months was the most strenuous thing we've faced thus far in our marriage. For two people who do better together, the adjustment wasn't a welcomed one and it took a lot of communication and work to get to 5 years happier than ever. If anything, we proved that working together and learning to give AND take means we can overcome anything together. While on our little getaway, we conquered a physical goal together by climbing to the top of Mount LeConte. It was also over the summer that a real possibility began to open up for us in San Francisco. As we began looking for a more permanent rental in Nashville, fate intervened and we put everything on hold at a small possibility of a big move.

As summer came to an end and fall began, that small possibility quickly turned into an amazing opportunity and, taking a cue from our successful leap of faith in 2013, we decided to go for it. On September 5^th we put our entire lives into a trailer, loaded it on to the back of the Touareg, and drove almost 3,000 miles on the road trip of our lives. Along the way, we introduced Landon to some amazing sites and a number of National Parks. With no TV or electronics to occupy a three year old strapped into a car for 8 plus hours a day, the most hated word of the trip became “Mommy” and I, at one point, briefly contemplated jumping out of the moving car. But at the same time, it was the most fun we've ever had as a family. Once in our new city, I was fortunate to quickly land a job and we settled into an amazing downtown apartment for a month while we found a place to live long term.

It wasn't long before we were moving into our permanent apartment, Landon started a new wonderful daycare, I started a new job and we found a new normal. We quickly started exploring all parts of the Bay Area every chance we got and have all fallen in love with our surroundings here in California. While we miss our family and friends and the distance seems so vast, we've been so fortunate that a number of people have already been out to here to visit. Every visit has been amazing and we've cherished every last second of them. After all, people are always the best parts of life. 

I'm sure when 2014 rolled around, I had a number of New Year's Resolutions, but I can't seem to think of them at the moment. For 2015, I have one resolution and that is to make a photo album for 2014, 2013, 2012, and 2011. That way, when 2016 rolls around I only have one album to make. We take so many pictures ever year, many of them are wonderful thanks to Adam, and I really want to easily look back and reflect on our years as a family (especially Landon growing up). Other than that, I'm slightly behind on all of my personal goals for myself that I made on my birthday HERE, so I'd like to regain focus and get back on track. I wasn't expecting to move when I made them and everything else went on the back burner when it happened. But now that the move is over it's time to make myself a priority again. I have a new goal of climbing Half Dome on my 30th birthday, but I won't know until April if I won the lottery for the opportunity to do so.

While, I am more excited than ever to see what the next year brings, it isn't without a bit of saddness that I say goodbye to another year gone by. In a final farewell, here's a compilation of our favorite moments and pictures from 2014. Happy New Year Everyone!