Well, I think it’s safe to say I thought this post would be a lot different when this year started. Nonetheless, I think this year has made me realize more than ever, the things in life to truly treasure.

1. God and Faith-This year brought some scary and uncertain times to our family, with job loss or change that really made us realize how important the basic necessities of life are. In some of these challenging moments and even during the times of extreme sadness and loneliness during the initial lockdown, God is where I turned to pray and journal and try to remain faithful through it all.
2. My Husband and Kids-The initial lockdown brought so much change for all of us, going from being a busy, on the go family, to all of us trying to navigate work and school from our house. My kids had to face the reality that they would not be going back to school at the end of the year, finishing their sports seasons or participating in special events like middle school graduation. Yet, despite it all, my kids were more resilient in some ways than we were but we managed to come together and learned to adapt. We reinstated things like game night and movie nights to try and keep ourselves busy and uplifted. With my kids getting older and busier with lives of their own, it was time that we wouldn’t normally have had.
3. My Family-I have always been a big family girl so when we couldn’t see each other on Easter or for our regular Sunday night dinners, I realized how much I truly need them around me. Thankfully, we kept in touch via phone calls and virtual parties and then eventually through socially distanced dinners. My sister-in-law and best friend was going through some of the most difficult times in her own life and yet, always checked in on me so we could try to support and uplift each other through each day and passing week. I am incredibly grateful for her and every member of my family.
4. My Friends-Ironically, most of my friends are my family too but I have some incredible friends with hearts of gold who consistently checked in on me and offered to help get groceries and just support each other in any way possible. I thank God for them everyday.
5. My Co-Workers-Overnight our business was shook like most by the lockdown. We had to make some difficult decisions but through it all, we were supportive of one another and weathered through some challenging months to come out stronger on the other side.
6. My Home-Prior to this year, I enjoyed my home and loved opening it up at the holidays to everyone. I valued my weekends at home since I didn’t spend much time there before. Cue March of 2020 and that all changed. Most days and weeks, I can go for stretches at a time where I realize I haven’t even set foot outside or gone anywhere. I’m so grateful to have a home to enjoy during this time.
7. This Online Community-With so much sadness this year, there were times where I wondered about the direction of this blog and my IG account. I didn’t want to overlook what was happening but I started both with the idea that I wanted to inspire not only myself but others as well everyday. What I quickly realized is that it’s okay to be real and have those moments of sadness, but this online community has introduced me to some amazing women just trying to live their lives in the most positive way possible, just like me. I’m so grateful for all of the people who follow me each day and support me on this blogging journey.
8. Health-While this is always something I am grateful for, this year it came to the forefront more than ever. Not only did we have to prioritize our health and safety in unprecedented ways but we also saw health take the life of my father-in-law this year. It was a reminder that we just never know what tomorrow holds so we need to tell our loved ones how we feel when we have the chance.
9. Traditions and Memories-With so much of our normal lives gone, I had a new found appreciation for our family traditions and all of the memories they have given us over the years. While we found new ways to adapt and make memories, it will be a year we never forget because so many of our normal traditions just weren’t possible. Looking back on photos of previous years, I’m so thankful we created those. They are more precious now than ever before.
10. Love-It comes in all forms, from our spouse to our kids to our family and friends and even our sweet pets, but it is such a vital part of who we are as humans and a critical part of our wellbeing. There are so many times I can reflect on where a simple “I love you” made a difference in my day. It sounds so simple but if we all stopped and shared more love with each other instead of judgment, maybe the world would be a better place. For now, I love everyone who took the time to read this and love and support me this year. It means the world to me.