It’s 2025! I can’t believe it. This summer will be 30 years since I graduated from high school; 25 since graduating college. But mostly I’m excited for a new year of life and adventures. And I’ll be praying for our country and world.
The last few months were fast and furious due to work (we call it “Busy Season” or 4th quarter) and holidays. We got to do some fun things, though.
I’ll try to do a fuller post soon with some trips and tips from the rest of the year. But for now, family photos from the year. Our Christmas card photo was from playing in the mountain snow way back in February, because it’s not easy to get 5 kids in a picture at a time with no one scowling. Next, the only other family pic with all of us (not scowling) for the year, which took place in October at the coast right after my previous blog post. That was a nice day trip with the kids’ relatives on their mom’s side. We went to the beach that I’d tried to take them to on 4th of July weekend but was too packed then, the Heceta Head Lighthouse beach. They loved it! It’s small, which is nice so our teens don’t disappear 2 miles down the beach like they usually do at the South Jetty Beach. And it’s small because it’s surrounded by cliffs and a lighthouse. Beautiful! Lastly, our fun new experience for Christmas 2024 was to go see the film “Elf” at the historic Elsinore Theatre in Salem. I’ve been there before, but Chris and the kids hadn’t, and I knew they’d love it. It’s the most beautiful theater I’ve ever seen, built nearly 100 years ago in a Gothic style. Our family photo is from a high walkway in the lobby by stained glass (the artwork is all Shakespeare-themed). One kiddo isn’t in the picture because she wasn’t feeling well that day, but she is off to the side and enjoyed seeing the theater.
For more about our experience seeing that movie there, check out my husband’s movie “non-reviews” website at https://popinjaynonreviews.wordpress.com/2024/12/31/elf-at-the-elsinore-theatre/.
It’s getting late and I need to work in the morning, so I’ll leave off with a list of 10 (plus one I added later) things I hope to do in this new year:
- Travel & hike more. 2024 was busy with fixing up and selling the old house; plus we couldn’t go far since we’re stuck driving two vehicles to fit everyone.
- Buy a new house and van (okay, then we’ll be fixing up that house, so we’ll see how much traveling & hiking I get to do)
- Take Chris & the kids to Crater Lake National Park for their first time
- Host a monthly write-in with friends
- Work out more. I got a small stair-stepper for Christmas so I can watch hiking videos and pretend I’m hiking while it’s raining outside! Not nearly as fun, but helpful in Western Oregon, which has been extra grey and rainy this year.
- Take the kids to visit relatives in Idaho while Chris and I (and my Dad if I can get him to come) visit my relatives in Utah and Nebraska
- Get back into practicing my guitar
- Hike Broken Top with friend Jas, plus places she hasn’t hiked yet like Smith Rock
- Finish reading some books I started about step-parenting and other needed themes
- Play video games with the kids more because they love it
- Adding this one late because I forgot it: Take the family to Portland by train and visit Powell’s! We can do this one even before we get a new vehicle that fits us all, which is another goal for the year. Oh, and maybe go ice skating this winter? Our oldest loves it.
What do you hope to do in 2025? I’d love to hear your ideas, dreams, and resolutions in the comments! I hope you all have a good 2025, despite the difficulties and challenges of life and in our world.
The Compass Rose Queen 