Lessons Learned from 2024

Dearest Readers,

After a long, much-needed hiatus… I am back! This time away from writing and developing content has been refreshing, and I have stored up some amazing ideas for the coming months. It seems surreal to me that we are already starting a new year. I have given myself a pat on the back for writing/typing 2025 at work, but I have yet to hang up my calendar for the new year, and I need to do that pronto! I can think of no better way to kickstart my blog than to reflect on the lessons I learned from 2024.

Never take your health for granted.

Praise be to God, my husband has recuperated from his ACL injury and repair surgery (thanks Wolf Creek, CO, ski slope). They said it would take nearly a year to heal fully, and sure enough, they were right. Even more so, we have had several family members and close friends start a battle with serious health problems. It is amazingly evident how often I take my health for granted. No day is promised. Love your people well, and be kind to everyone you encounter.

Take time to celebrate the little things.

My tagline has forever been, “It’s the little things in life.” That it is! I look forward to celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, and the St. Feast Days of those I love. One of my favorite Christmas gifts was the book, “Drinking with the Saints,” by Michael Foley. I have done an inventory of dates that are important to us, family, and friends. It will bring me such joy to share these with those we love on a day that is special to them.

Here’s mine for my birthday - January 27. Woot Woot!

Linked Here (Currently half off on Amazon!)

He has added a Dining with the Saints version, which looks amazing! https://a.co/d/g0DHwzw

Mine is the Drinking with the Saints Book https://a.co/d/1I1sVuc

Patience is a virtue for sourdough bread-making

Happy Anniversary to me - 1 year of making sourdough bread, and I have learned so much!

Don’t be afraid to invest in yourself.

(And laugh at yourself every once in a while, bug eyes and all)

After 17 long years in glasses and contacts in this dusty, dry Texas Panhandle climate - I had a LASIK procedure done to restore my vision. 2 months in, and I am loving the procedure so far. I would be glad to give my honest perspective if you want to learn about my experience with LASIK.

My yard is incredibly suitable for growing flowers… vegetables - not so much.

Being a continuous learner has its perks. The vegetable-turned-flower stand my husband and in-laws helped me put together is amazing (checkout the blog titled 'Custom Clue Board Game' to check out the flower stand!) I look forward to using it again this Spring! We live in an old neighborhood with established trees (yes, there are some trees in the Panhandle). Combine that with the direction our house faces, my vegetable garden did not get enough full sun to sustain and grow veggies well. Flowers were a sure success and brought me so much happiness to make mini-bouquets.

Encourage your mind to look at things from a child’s perspective.

We are in a season of life when many of our dear friends have added to their families with children that bring us (and everyone they encounter) great joy. We became Godparents this year and were humbled and overjoyed to take that responsibility on with pride. I see lots of Lady K kids-themed sewing projects in the future!

Friendship is truly precious.

I could write six pages on this topic alone. We have experienced a bounty of answered prayers in this area. Navigating good, true, virtuous post-college and into married-life friendships is challenging. This guide from the Families of JPII has been a gift to us:

https://www.nool.us/families-of-jpii - Click Download “rule booklet”

Quote on friendship written by Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati to his friend.

In all things, have Hope!

Yes, you guessed it! My word of the year for 2025 is hope. Having the frame of mind “delight” in 2024 was transformative. Let us be a people of hope in 2025!

Isaiah 40:31

They that hope in the LORD will renew their strength; they will soar on eagles’ wings; They will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint.