2024. Long Post Warning.
What a year. It was a year that certainly tried us on every possible level. January brought us another completed Dopey Challenge. 48.6 miles under my belt for the second (and most likely my last) time. I had the opportunity to see all of my friends from all across the country. Reunions like this always make me realize how lucky I am to be surrounded by such amazing individuals. Our time together might be short, but it brings me nothing but the best memories. The week after Dopey, we returned to Disney World to experience the Festival of the Arts. FARTS (as my fellow Disney lovers call it) is my favorite festival at Epcot. I was worried we would have to postpone this trip because Matthew caught covid as soon as we left from Marathon Weekend. Luckily all was fine. I was most excited to meet Ann Shen, one of my favorite Disney artists and purchase some new prints from the festival. We stayed at the Grand Floridian for the first time. Another bucket list item was checked off. We ended January with Matthew's 40th birthday and Marceline getting her cast removed after she broke her elbow in December.
February was pretty mild. Preston turned fifteen with a surprise party. I learned quickly that Snapchat can easily ruin a surprise (thanks to the location feature) but it was fun, nonetheless. Shortly after, Cathy and I left for Princess Weekend. I met up with my friend, Heather to take some senior portraits of her daughter, Brynn. We had this planned for at least two years. The weather was perfection. The light was stunning. I met up with my friend Whitney as well. We were introduced to one another in 2020 through some pictures I had posted of Disney during covid. We have been friends ever since and have an annual meet up in Disney during Princess Weekend (counting down the days till next time).
March was milder, just the usual school stuff. I did an awesome Flat Stanley project with my students. Again, having friends all over the world made this one of my favorite projects to date. April and May are when life takes a turn into chaos. Charlotte turned seventeen at the end of April but opted to have her party a few weeks later. Henry turned fourteen shortly after Charlotte. The kids had an amazing indoor guard seasons that ended with an absolutely frigid trip to Wildwood, New Jersey. Afterwards, we had Charlotte's first prom. Her dress was just stunning. We had several awards banquets and random events. Who can forget the eclipse and North Lights being visible? Charlotte was elected to the Homecoming Court as well. By the end of May, we were done. When I say done, I mean D.O.N.E.
The summer was a treat for us. We were able to recover from the stress of the school year, take a nice family vacation, and some quick weekend trips. Charlotte finally had her birthday party. We rented a house in Florida to go to Disney and Universal for a few days. I was able to get to the Primark store and snap my first batch of Charlotte's senior portraits at Magic Kingdom. We brought home our new puppy, Indiana Bones in mid- July. I was knee deep in senior portrait sessions throughout the summer and I loved every second of them. It was an uncomfortably hot summer, but we managed. We harvested around 180 pounds of honey from our bees. We had to order Charlotte's court dress, have her portraits done, and her yearbook drape photo as well. In early August we ran the Shawshank Hustle in Ohio. By far one of my favorite experiences of the year. We stopped by the Christmas Story House and the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame since we were so close. Band camp was in full swing and this year, four of the five kids were band or guard members. By the time band camp was over, it was time for back-to-school season.
This is where my anxiety started to creep in. We all started back to school in late August. I had a new classroom to prepare for with minimal time and zero funds. With help and lots of donations from friends it turned into a beautiful space. We made a quick trip to Disney to celebrate Katie's thirteenth birthday. It was a short, rainy weekend but we still loved it- especially experiencing Tiana's Bayou Adventure. I was lucky I was able to start back to my same position at school. I worried myself sick the majority of summer that I might be in a classroom rather than Literacy Lab. While I typically wouldn't mind, what most don't understand is how unfair the pay is for substitutes (yes, I'm still considered a sub even after all of these years). I won't get into that in this post but one day, when I get enough nerve, I will. Band kept us busy all of the fall season. Matthew's drama at Frostburg was brewing adding another layer of stress to an already stressful season.
October used to be one of my favorite months. However, it seems like every October is jam packed to the absolute max. We had to make a float for the Homecoming Court for the Halloween Parade because securing a convertible was no small task. We had to order banners and all of the fluff that comes with the Homecoming season. It seemed like every time I turned around someone needed money for something. Katie was doing both color guard with the high school band and middle school volleyball so we split up time as much as we could. Naturally we had to do locker decorations for Homecoming, buy outfits for the dance, and every weekend it seemed there was a competition for the band and guard on top of attending football games. Matthew was always working concessions. It was a time of unnecessary excess under the bandage of "tradition." We had to pick up the slack for a lot of people. To be frank and probably the unpopular opinion, Homecoming is nothing but a massive, unnecessary show that I truly believe is more for some parents to relive their glory days than it is for the current students. I was working my full-time job, taking photos in the evening, and managing all of the extra events. This on top of all of the household responsibilities was brutal. By the end of October, I was physically ill and so exhausted that I could not keep my eyes open most days. I was constantly on edge and depressed. I was just treading water.
November was the light at the end of the tunnel. Marceline turned eight and wanted a trip to D.C. instead of a party. She and Katie also wanted their ears pierced. The older kids had their final band show in Hershey, PA. This was a very emotional experience since it was the last time that Charlotte was performing with the band. Luckily, I was finished with all of my photo sessions and had a little room to breathe. However, I still was not feeling like myself. The election made my anxiety even worse. I had mentally checked out. I decided that it was time to go to the doctor. I ended up being severely anemic and struggling with depression and anxiety. I started medication for the first time in my life. Thanksgiving was a welcome holiday and much needed break.
December flew by. I loved attending all of the holiday concerts for the kids and was feeling a little better overall. We were still on edge about all that was happening at Frostburg. It was a very scary time not knowing the future of any of the faculty at FSU. The uncertainty took its toll on everyone. About five days before Christmas we learned that Matthew's job was secure, but others were not so lucky. By the time Christmas break rolled around, we were all ready to disconnect from school and work for a little bit. The big kids took over Elf on the Shelf duties and created some pretty magical set ups for Marceline to wake up to. Christmas Day was excellent. The kids enjoyed themselves, had lots of surprises, and seemed very grateful for everything. The day after Christmas, Marceline was ill with an ear infection and strep. We undecorated the house and have since been just basking in the glory of not having to do much of anything.
I needed this break for my mental and physical health. This year was not necessarily a bad year, just a strange year. So many situations were out of our control, so much uncertainty, and we really picked up the slack for a lot of other people. I am still working on myself. Maybe my vulnerability will help someone else or maybe I am ignorant for sharing everything with the world. I do know that I am very much loved and supported by so many but especially those closest to me. They tolerated me when I could barely tolerate myself. They lifted my spirits when I was very low. The messages, words of support and check-ins by friends were so appreciated.
I'm hoping 2025 is a little gentler however, I'm going to accept that there are some things that I just cannot control. I am not setting any photography goals. I mainly just want to feel like myself again. I know there will always be people who gossip, speculate, and really don't want to see me successful and that's ok. I am going to let these people and circumstances go. We only have one life, and I intend to live it fully by standing up for myself a little more and being proactive about what is worth my time and what is not. Here's to a successful and happy 2025.
Cheers and Happy New Year
