2025 was one of the best years of my life, albeit also one of the most exhausting years of my life!!!!! With a competitive dancer, a job and family that take me across the globe, homeschool activities, and now gymnastics – we stay BUSY!!!!!!!! In the fall all 3 children were homeschooled!!!! I knew it would be the end of an era so I gave it my all and enjoyed every single moment. And by the holiday break I was so tired I started to worry that I was sick again!!! (see my story about overcoming HPV naturally, against, doctor’s orders!!!)

Word of the Year: Satisfaction

Countries & US States Visited:

1. Paris, France 1/2025 (Whole Family)
2. Istanbul, Turkey 1/ 2025 (Whole Family)
3. Missouri 2/2025 (Mom and Brood)
4. Acapulco, Mexico 2/2025 (Mom and Moon Child)
5. Oklahoma 3/ 2025 (Mom and Brood)
6. Amsterdamn 4/ 2025 (Mom)
7. Serbia 4/2025 (Mom)
8. San Antonio, Texas 6/2025 (Whole Family)
9. Boston Massachusetts 6/2025 (Mom and Moon Child)
10. Maine 6/2025 (Mom and Moon Child)
11. New Hampshire 6/2025 (Mom and Moon Child)
12. Missouri 7/2025 (Mom and Brood)
13. Arkansas 8//2025 (Mom and Brood)
14. Athens, Greece 8/2025 (Mom and Girls)
15. Budapest, Hungary 8/2025 (Mom and Girls)
16. Serbia 9/2025 (Mom and Girls)
17. Paris France 9/2025 (Mom and Girls)
18. Switzerland 9/2025 (Mom and Girls)
19. Italy 9/2025 (Mom and Girls)
20. Peru 10/2025 (Paolo)
21. Kansas City, Missouri 11/2025 (Mom and Stara)
22. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico 11/2025 (Whole Family)

Books Read

(notice how many are INCOMPLETE) I really struggled to get into any books I read this year. But I did manage to finish a few (in gold):

1. Weyward (Emilia Hart)* – this was my FAVORITE book of 2025. I really should write a review.
2. The Voyage Home (Pat Barker)* – another GREAT one I’d love to write a review about – its part of a trilogy and I would like to review the whole series!
3. The Silence of the Girls (Pat Barker) *– same trilogy
4. The Women of Troy (Pat Barker)* – same trilogy
5. To Kill a Mockingbird (By Harper Lee) (incomplete)
6. Own the Day, Own Your Life. (Aubrey Marcus) (incomplete)
7. Sophie’s Choice (William Styron) (incomplete)
8. Fast Like a Girl (Dr Mindy Pelz) (incomplete)
9. The Empowered Wife (Laura Doyle )(incomplete)
10. Desert Notes and River Notes (incomplete)
11. Diana (Andrew Morton) – I always enjoy anything about the British Monarch
12. Spare (Prince Harry) – see above!! This Book was PHENOMENAL – he is seriously the black sheep of the family and I’m proud of how he stood up for himself!
13. Hijacking Bitcoin (Roger Ver) (incomplete)
14. The Fifth Sacred Thing (Starhawk) (3rd read, incomplete, still so good)
15. Take me Home (John Denver) (incomplete)

Major Changes & Accomplishments

1. We became DEBT FREE!
2. We rehomed the goats!
3. I officially became pain free in my body for the first time in YEARS!
4. I dropped my Italian language course (I just couldn’t find the time or brainpower)
5. The big kids came back to homeschool for one final semester.
6. Moon Child added gymnastics to her routine
7. I started Teaching Game of Village and Good Citizenship at Greenbriar
8. The Entire Family became Residents in Mexico

Live Music / Theater

1. Romeo and Juliet, Ballet Austin
2. Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan (4th of July show!)
3. Beatles, Candles in the Dark
4. Queen, Candles in the Dark
5. Grim Tales, Ballet Austin
6. Nutcracker, Ballet Austin

I really had a lot more to say about this year, but its March of 2026 and I’m going to post date this to the date I finished the above draft. It was a REALLY GOOD YEAR and I feel so blessed to have experienced a semester of life how I feel it was truly designed to be.