2023 was an incredibly full year, yet it was not my best as far as sharing here on the blog. I was so immersed in living life, buying a house, moving from Germany back to the US and getting my oldest girls started in college that I did not have the capacity to blog in real time.
Now that life has settled down quite a bit, I am looking forward to blogging more consistently in 2024, but first I want to share and update some things here. The opportunity to review the past year while also planning for the year ahead is one of my very favorite things about the month of January. I’ll be leaning deep both of those things over the next few weeks.
January
January was all about hanging with friends! My friend Kristen started having Girls Nights at her home and it was so fantastic to get some girl time in.
February
In February, we were deep into the house buying process–making offers on houses in El Paso and NOT having those offers accepted until we found our forever home at the end of the month.
Also, in February I visited the Allendorf winery with friends from the spouses club and we went on a fun day trip to Idstein as a family.
March
Jenny and I went on a trip to Venice in March that was magical–we explored the city, took a gondola ride, went to a concert (Four Seasons at Vivaldi’s Church), and went on a three island tour.
Keith and I also went out to celebrate closing on our new home in El Paso!!
April
In April, we had our household goods packed up the day before I traveled to El Paso to start setting up our home in El Paso. After I returned, Keith and I went on a much needed weekend getaway to Rudesheim.
May
In May, we celebrated EA and MC’s high school graduation and wrapped up life in Wiesbaden, Germany and moved to El Paso!!
June
June was all about setting into our home in El Paso and receiving our household goods. We also attended new student orientation with EA at NMSU.
July
In July, Keith and I visited South Carolina to see our families and drive his truck back to Texas.
August
In August, everyone settled back into work and school (homeschool for Will & Jenny and college for EA & MC).
September
In September, our family visited the Hatch Chile Festival and I went to a wine festival in New Mexico with a friend.
October
In October we visited one of our favorite events in El Paso–Chalk the Block!
November
We visited EA at New Mexico State University for family weekend and attended a football game. I also started volunteering at the El Paso Migrant Center in November.
December
MC and Jenny participated in the Living Christmas Tree production at church. We also visited Winter Fest in Downtown El Paso.