H E L L O , H E L L O!

2020 was a doozy. Global pandemic, the election, isolation, civil movements, and lots of uncertainty. Like the rest of the world, we went through quite a few ups and downs. We had lots of exciting moments throughout the year, while also navigating some rough waters. The year tested our sanity and strength but somehow we all made it through!

While it is easy to get caught up in the hardships of the year, I can’t help but look back at 2020 and be grateful for all the things we’ve gone through. It might not have been sunshine and rainbows everyday, but it was certainly times I will look back on with a thankful heart. We celebrated lots of exciting milestones like Ethel joining our family, Emmie turning 1, and Oliver turning 3. Even more exciting was Emmie learning the word “no” and some spontaneous potty training. We got to celebrate 3 years of marriage and so much more. However with all that, came a few struggles that certainly made an impact. While going through the pandemic, we were trying to navigate life with 2 toddlers being cooped up inside for months, add that to AJ working from the kitchen table for the better part of a year, and the stress of the pandemic as a whole. There were plenty of tantrums (thanks Emmie), lots of sleepless nights (again, thanks Emmie), and isolation from family and friends. To top it all off, we unfortunately experienced two miscarriages. After months and months of pushing through and running on empty, the weight of everything was too overwhelming and I realized it was time for a break. I needed to step back to give myself some time to process everything that had gone on and allow myself to mentally recover from such an overwhelming year. 

With a lot of self-reflection and quite a few breakdowns, I was able to start moving forward and accept the events of the past year. I can’t say it was easy, but it was worth it. I didn’t actually realize how much everything was impacting my day to day life and mentality. Looking back at everything that we’ve experienced in 2020, I can honestly say the good times out weigh the bad and that has helped us get through it all. While this “recovery” is still a work in progress, I am hopeful for a healthy and exciting year to come. It’s time to close this chapter of our lives and move on to something new! 

With all that being said, I can’t wait to dive back into this adventure and I am excited for all the new content to come! Thank you so much for being here and I hope you enjoy the ride!