Happy New year to you!!
2022 has been a year of great joy and a year of deep sorrow. Throughout the journey of life, there are moments of unspeakable joy and crushing heartache and pain. This past year we experienced both.
May this year, we welcomed our greatest gift, baby Chase. The most beautiful gift we could ever receive. It was a joyous season of celebration with family and friends. Then, three months later we found ourselves in deep sorrow. During this time we received a call that my beloved Nanna had passed away after a long and difficult battle with cancer over the course of sixteen years. The day's, weeks and months after saying goodbye to her were filled with grief and tears and overwhelming heartache.
This year, for the very first time we found ourselves in a season of sorrow and in a season of joy. It has been a difficult journey learning how to navigate through both of these seasons. How can we be happy when something so sad has just happened? I (Gem) had just lost one of the most important individuals in my life who I loved more than words can express, someone who had selflessly contributed in raising me, the one person I shared everything with and vise verser. I had lost my best friend.
But yet, in front me lay the most precious gift, an innocent little boy who's smile made me beam from ear-to-ear; how lucky I was to be in that moment. My world was up side down and something that brought so much joy to my life felt trivial.
What have we learned from these last few months?
We have learned that sorrow very much gives way to joy and how to direct gratitude in the most difficult moments; practicing daily gratitude each day has helped us see the bright spots in Nanna's life instead of feeling the pain of her loss. Our mind and body has started to adjust to our new reality and we have started to really appreciate those small meaningful moments, while stumbling on simple pleasure. Happiness is part of the human experiences, just as grief is.
As the year draws to a close, we have received, wins, rewards, losses and lessons. We are so grateful for the support we get from our family and dear friends. As the pandemic waned, there were more opportunities to enjoy travel and spend time with those we love. We had the chance to travel overseas twice for Chase to meet his Welsh family, we vacationed with friends at Walt Disney World, and went to New York to visit family, so in that regard, 2022 has been a blessing.
The biggest event this year was welcoming baby Chase into this world and becoming parents. You often hear parenting is the toughest job, and it's true! A 24/7 job where there is no punch out at the end of the day. Although, many minutes of the day you share a moment with your child that proves parenting is the best job of all! Chase has been so fortunate these last six months, he has traveled to two different states and across the Atlantic Ocean twice, where he traveled all over the UK meeting new family and friends. He also visited Walt Disney World for the first time, a place that holds many cherished memories for Dan and I. He also paid his first visit to Santa, which went surprising well.
Every day we hold on to the precious moments that Chase encounters and engrave them into our memory, because we know we will never have a chance to revisit these days. So, we take our days, weeks and months slow and steady, finding joy and happiness in the smallest things that Chase encounters. There are so many place's we look forward to taking him in 2o23, as well as welcoming all his new milestones along the way.
New Year Goals - 2023
We're not big new year's resolution kinda people. However, we love to set realistic goals that are achievable, although, this year goals have been cranked-up a notch and we have a tiny bit of doubt whether we can reach them... this is why we have decided to put it in writing and share them with you! Someone has to hold us accountable. ;)
Each year we typically set an individual personal goal and a professional goal that we can collaborate on.
Gemma's Goal: This year, I have set my personal goal to run a half marathon for Charity - Note, I'm a terrible runner, my body is still recovering from a C-section, and I loose interest after two miles, so this will be a huge challenge for me mentally and physically. Runners, I welcome any tips.
Dan's Goal: This year, I have set my personal goal to do my very first Iron Man! This is a race I have wanted to take part in for several years, and finally feel the time is right. I'll begin my training shortly, but I know it's going to be the toughest training I've ever had to undergo. Wish me luck! For anyone out there who has participated in an iron man feel free to share any training tips - I need all the help I can get ;-)
Chase's Goal: This year, I have set my personal goal to learn how to walk! This way I can start to join in on all the fun with Mom and Dad.
What about you?
How was your year? Did you learn anything new? Did you explore somewhere you hadn't been? And what are you planning to do differently this coming year?
New Here?
Every week moving into the 2023, we will publish a new blog post on family travel, travel tips, family life and much more. We hope our family adventures inspires you to take adventures of your own, whether it be in your own backyard or around the world.
Subscribe to our email list and be the first to see posts, giveaways for subscribers, and our new weekly videos.
Happy New Year, friends! May you all find 2023 to be a great year!
Love,
Gem, Dan, Chase, Chance & Summer
P.S This year we got to celebrate Christmas at home in, Florida. Check out our new video to see Chase's reaction on Christmas morning.
Comments