OK SO I have done these before but it’s been a while. I am going to try to detail at least 2 or3 things each month that were of importance; maybe more if I have them. Here goes:

January: Cold, slow

We had an ice storm! While places west got actual snow, ours was snow then turned into ice. It looked like snow but was hard, crunchy, and slippery.

A local beerfest returned and we served at it.

Februrary: More cold, more blah

We got a new couch.

Everyone got sick

March: Things ramped up, as they do this time of year

We took a weekend trip to Decatur, just for fun

We ramped up our bike training

We met my son’s current girlfriend for the first time.

Served at another beerfest

April: Careened towards the end of the semester

I was frazzled and worried, though reading helped

I did the A to Z challenge and coerced myself into being grateful. It was cathartic!

Ash and I took a weekend trip to Jacksonville

May: BUSY

We went to a charity event and also, helped sort bottles for a beer competition

Job stresses were really coming in and I mused about my own future

We finally started biking outside, but it ended in an injury

My oldest graduated high school (after my middle’s soccer team came in 2nd at a tournament), then we went to Gainesville for a beer competition and had our annua family beach day!

June: Biking, biking, and more biking

More outdoor cycling and got new phones

I had my first cycling accident, though it wasn’t too bad

I did the Everyday Images challenge

My husband and middle left for a long trip and I took a weekend trip to my parents’ with my daughter

July: Busiest month ever

This Currently post sums up how July began

I savored the summer, a time I love

We rode 65 miles and I had a promising job interview

I got the job! And we won the Italian Pilsner in-club competition

We rode about 400 miles across the entirety of Iowa for RAGBRAI

August: ch-ch-ch-changes

Began the month by reflecting on the bike ride

Started orientation at the new job

Began teaching, ran a beer mile, then served at our largest fest

The month flew by and I began blogging less, due to time constraints

September: Busy and left for Germany

With all the bad stuff and busyness, I had to do more recap type posts

October: Returned from Germany and hit the ground running

Recapped our trip to Europe

Took a quick Jax trip to serve at a homebrew fest

We won a Halloween costume contest

November: Cold and costly

We blasted into the month, getting more diligent about working to tear down the deck

It got cold and we got a new AC unit

My dad came into town and we were all training to run the annual Turkey Trot

December: Fun and reflective

Still missing posts due to being busy but I recapped

It rained for an entire week, then we had another brew club party, where we took home 2nd in the Dry Irish Stout competition

We threw our 5th annual Christmas party, which was a success. I was sick soon after.

School Secret Santa threw me a curve ball and we went to Christmas trivia with friends

Christmas was a success but we also had strife

All in all, a good year. As they always tend to do, the year brought ups and downs and many changes to our family. But through it all, I think I gained quite a bit: this new job, some good coworkers and friends, more faith in God. I am worried that 2026 will be difficult, in terms of our country’s economy, but I am going to try my hardest to stay positive. We have some upcoming beer fests, a family vacation already planned where we’ll visit Boston, Philadelphia, Mount Vernon, (some cities in between), then end in Savannah. I am excited to see what we’ll experience in 2026.