What I Learned, Loved and Let go of

2024 in review: favorites, new obsessions, a few lessons, and my highs & lows

As the year winds down, I’ve been reflecting on all the little moments that made 2024 special. It was a year of growth, surprises, and more than a few lessons. From new routines to unexpected joys (and some challenges too) it feels like the perfect time to take stock of it all.

This post is my way of wrapping up the year—sharing my favorite things, the highs and lows, and some of the most memorable moments. Think of it as a year-end review but with a little more heart and a lot less pressure.

A few of my favorite things:

Favorite creative project: Hands down my new podcast “Holy Labor.” Every episode was special but the episode I recorded with my husband will hold a special place in my heart forever.

Is there anything I can do to help?

Favorite Song: Hard Fought Hallelujah by Brandon Lake

Favorite read: Strong Like Water by Aundi Kolber

Favorite Outfit: Gap tennis skirt + nursing friendly athletic top. This was my uniform for the summer I bought each item in multiple colors!

Favorite family memory: Our long beach trip was nothing short of perfection. We made our way around the beach town by golf cart, stayed up late on the screened in porch while Ira slept, my husband did all the cooking (lots of grilled meals) and we had dreamy weather.

Unexpected Obsessions:

• These sticker nails! They look like gel and are easy to apply. They’ve saved me so much time and make me happy.

• Emeals! An app that lets you meal plan in the app and then takes your recipes and makes your grocery order for pickup or delivery all in a few minutes. A major time saver and a fun way to find new seasonal recipes while still using old favorites.

Rituals I fell in love with:

• Starting an audio journal with the app Untold

• Daily drive thru runs to Dunkin’ after a morning workout

• Listening to an audio book while I go for a walk or take a shower #selfcare

• Saying hi to God at random times throughout the day without asking for anything. Just acknowledging His presence for a brief moment.

Highs:

• My son has a secure attachment (yay for psychology)

• I launched a podcast!

• Invested a lot of time in building community with other moms (:

• I lost all the baby weight, reconnected with my body after trauma, and feel strong again 💪🏻

Lows:

• My recovery felt incredibly limiting & frustrating for the first half of the year. PPD & mental health challenges from birth trauma felt like they derailed my life for a while.

• Shifting friendships as I transitioned into motherhood was hard. I hoped some friendships would “make it” but not all of them did.

Top Substack Moments:

Most popular post of the year:

Giving up the life I thought I wanted

My personal favorite post:

Please Keep Checking in on Me

My biggest writing lesson of the year:

I started to identify less with “writer” and more with “storyteller” in any form that takes.

“Jesus was not a theologian. He was God who told stories.” Madeleine L'Engle

Biggest surprise of the year:

The joy I found in giving up my office so that it could become my son’s playroom.

I turned my dream office into a playroom

Finally, a few shoutouts:

• To my podcast guests: the project would not have been possible (or good) without you. Thank you for taking the chance to be on a new podcast and for trusting me with your stories.

• To my long distance friends: your voice messages were like a lifeline to me. I spent more time alone this year than ever before but often found myself feeling surrounded by women who see me, even from far away.

• To You, reader! I really can’t say thank you enough. For me, art is all about communication. Having people read, reply, and care about the things I make is something I will never get over. It’s one of the greatest joys of my life. Thank you for being here. For sticking with me or for jumping on board. I’m so glad you’re here and can’t wait for what 2025 has in store. (: