What pops into my mind as a major highlight of the year is all the small visits and time spent with family. Lots of watching swim lessons, some babysitting, little Grandgirl hugs, getting closer to DIL and son, meals together and, yes, even the Grandgirl’s grumpiest times and meltdowns. Hosting our other son and DIL for multiple enjoyable visits. Getting to know now our DILs family better too.
Enjoying our now adult very sweet dog a lot. We weren’t sure getting a puppy was the best idea but it has turned out to be a very good decision and he is a great dog.
Then there is getting over my resistance to freeway driving by my solo road-trip to S Cal to see family and dear friends. The hug from my closest friend when I arrived and catching up in person was so emotional.
Hubby has had a couple of visits here by his best friend and traveled to see him as well.
Deciding the group I had joined here was not for me. Persisting with Pilates sessions.
Going to the city summer festival, a local artist group show, a minor league baseball game, brunch in Sonoma with extended family and the gorgeous drive there.
Our nephew who lives in Taiwan visiting as part of a work trips. Hadn’t spent time with him in many years.
We were in the position to be able to make generous gifts to our sons, DILs and grandgirls.
Getting the heat and AC for the upstairs sorted out with a mini-split heat pump installation. Deciding to switch from a Windows desk top to a Mac laptop - certainly still in transition but I did pull the trigger.
Generally feeling more at ease living here and having nice friendly acquaintances both as neighbors, dog walking encounters, and library.
My biggest “I actually got that done” moment was switching our health insurance to Kaiser Sr. Advantage. It was complicated and required LOTS of frustrating or follow up phone calls due to our particular combo of Federal retiree insurance plus Medicare. Everyone I talked to was nice and tried hard to help but it took a long time to get to the right people. I felt so relieved once it was done and knowing it will be effective January 1st.
It's amazing how days go by and feel like nothing is accomplished, but then you see a list like this and realize you did a LOT!
ReplyDeleteI sat down with the 2025 reading challenge last night, and I have twenty books (presently unread on my Kindle) that I have selected for reading next year. Probably will add some others as well, but I had to work today, and stayed up WAY too late last night having fun planning. I was wondering if you could help me out with #37 A GENRE CHOSEN FOR YOU BY SOMEONE ELSE. I feel pretty safe asking for a recommendation, since we seem to read a lot of similar things. :)
Oh, and I wasn't going to, but while I was up late last night I ordered the 2025 Challenge Journal from Amazon. I have a rule that I'm not allowed to place orders between midnight and 6 a.m., but obviously I don't abide by my own rules.
Yeah for doing the challenge too! I got a different reading journal for Christmas and haven’t really planned my reading but I did start early. I’m going to give you a choice of genres: science fiction, science and technology or graphic novels. I don’t reach for any of those typically so they would stretch my reading.
DeleteOf those three, graphic novels would be my least likely to gravitate to. So I feel like I should give it a try. Thx!
DeleteLet me know heat you choose? My DIL challenged me to read one of the books she owns that is not my usual do I am going to have her pick 2 so I have a choice.
DeleteI was impressed with the way your backyard came together. But was that this year or last? Time is flying and days just run together for me now. Interested in your discussion with Kath about journals. Need to check out the challenge journal. I have so many journals but wind up keeping up with life on my longwinded sentences each day on my silly blog. Need to get back to writing in a real journal again.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you enjoyed making memories with your children and their children. That is exactly why you moved. Now to find you a great reading group or gaggle of gals to pal around with for an occasional brunch or movie.
Wish you and yours a healthy, happy 2025.
I hope to see your usual ambitious list of seasonal goals. Always inspiring. A gaggle of gals to have fun either is exactly what I am missing terribly.
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