2020. A year that literally rocked the entire world. When I started this website in March of this year I knew that I would want to include yearly reviews, however, I never expected that the first one would be quite this eventful. 

2020 included…

-My 23rd birthday 

-Welcoming my brother home from his mission in Madagascar

-Sending that same brother off again to serve in the Iowa City, Iowa mission

-Celebrating our 1st wedding anniversary

-An anniversary trip to Zion and Las Vegas

-A trip to Florida to visit my family

-Sean’s 27th birthday

-The SLC Parade of Homes 

-Finishing my 1st school year as an SLT & beginning my 2nd

-Apple picking 

-Pumpkin picking 

-Thanksgiving and Christmas in Idaho with Sean’s family

-Trying lots of new recipes, baking lots of yummy treats

-Trying many new restaurants 

-Time spent with friends at the Midway Ice Castles, Sundance’s Car Cafe & Halloween Lift, TopGolf, mini golf, and lots of dinner dates

-Watching a lot of new shows and movies from the comfort of our couch

-Taking the GRE and applying to graduate schools

-Testing positive for COVID but thankfully, making a full recovery

That list is full of all of the fun, positive events from this year, of which I am so incredibly grateful. However, I am definitely not ignorant to the many, many hardships that we all faced this year. From the uncertainty and fear of a worldwide pandemic, lockdowns and quarantines, political strife and conflict, social injustices, economic/financial struggles, and many, many more personal trials that I’m sure I am missing – 2020 was HARD. But, I think despite all of the tribulation of the year, we all became more aware, more compassionate, more involved, and in a way, more connected, despite the social distancing. On a global level, we were able to understand one another just a little bit better, since the pandemic affected all of us in (relatively) the same ways. 

The two words I picked for myself at the beginning of 2020 were Present & Intentional. Little did I know that the events of the year would allow for a lot of time to reflect, be present, and make more intentional decisions. To dig deep within myself, to dig deeper in my relationships, and to truly cherish the time spent with others. 2020 may have been difficult, but I still feel extremely blessed and just thankful.

The start of a new year always brings hope. It is a time to set new goals, align our priorities, and widen our perspectives. It is a time where I feel the most motivated to make changes and improve myself. 2021 may still be hard, but just like in 2020, there will be good in it, we just have to look for it and be grateful when we find it.  I pray that all of you may start this new year feeling refreshed and renewed, despite any challenges you may be facing. There is always much to be grateful for. Find the joy in the journey, be intentional, be present. As we have learned this year, life is too short and precious to take anything for granted. 

All my love, 

Elizabeth