At least for me it has.

I am not fair-weather fan, which means I have endured many losses and disastrous seasons with the teams I support. I don’t know much about stats besides total wins and losses. I just watch to see a good game and to cheer on my teams. With the joy of seeing this year unfold, there have been many heartaches getting to this spot.

I am a Royals fan.

I am a Chiefs fan.

I am a Clemson fan.

These are underdog teams that many people have not seen coming this last year. You can tell by the commentators on ESPN and sportscasters during games. Underestimating!

This year, my teams are killing it! All of them!

So this is what it feels like to be a winner?

I think I like it here!

The Royals won the World Series! I still get tickled saying that.

The Chiefs won their first playoff game in 22 years this weekend. They dominated that game really.

True story, my undergrad band played a halftime show at a Chiefs game. So much fun!

And my Alma mater Clemson is going to the National Championship tonight! (Also a long time coming since the last occurrence was in 1981.)

To see all of my teams on the big stage in playoff territory has been incredible. I have loved watching them for years, but to see them get these accolades is amazing.

I also am slightly obsessed with Dabo. I super fangirled out both times that I have met him (Seriously, I practically jumped over tables and tackled him to get a picture). I was attending Clemson when he started his head coaching career, and it has been amazing to see him do what he does and how far he has come.

I didn’t miss a home game during my time at Clemson. Some of my favorite memories were in that stadium rooting on the Tigers.

I can hardly believe this is all happening. I love being a sports fan of all these teams! This year has been extra special for all this to happen at the same time!

Taking a cue from my friend and fellow Tiger (and KC fan), Dan, this is how I feel about this year.

Here’s to the underdog! It’s our year to shine!

Can I get a Cadence Count?

Are you watching the game tonight with Clemson/Alabama? Who are you rooting for?

It’s a new year, and new things to mark off the list hopefully.

1. Crochet something else besides blankets or scarves at least once a year (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020)

2. Do a photography challenge (Took pictures once a week George’s first year)

3. Visit 5 cities I have never been to before (8/5)

• We went to Columbus, Ohio last weekend for the wedding.

4. Tour at least one a winery, brewery, or distillery

5. Send at least 5 snail mail a month

6. Become a “professional” photographer

7. Run at least 10 races (any distance) (5/10)

• I have several races picked out for the year! Here’s hoping for some good training!

8. Go camping with Tom

9. Pay for the car behind me in a drive through

10. See Tyrone Wells live as many times as possible

11. Tour Fort Defiance here in Clarksville

12. Water ski with my dad

13. Do a 5K with my mom

14. Take a swing dance class with Tom

15. Read at least one fun book a month and one professional development book every three months

16. Take a pottery or stained glass class

17. Do one new recipe each month

• Mac and Cheese bites-I combined two recipes, which I need to write down because they were delicious. I made them twice for the holiday festivities. And they heat up nicely as left overs as well.
• Potato Rounds-I made these for our appetizer Christmas meal with my mom and brother. They were pretty easy to make!
• Pancakes-Tom and I want to start a tradition of making a huge breakfast on Christmas day. This year, I made pancakes from scratch. They were pretty delicious if I do say so myself.

18. See both a Clemson and UCM football game live

• Clemson is playing Monday for the national title! Wahoo, waa-aa-aa-hoo!

19. Find a place to volunteer on a regular basis

20. Go hiking

21. Ride in a hot air balloon

22. Go to at least 20 “new to me” restaurants. (29/20)

23. Stay at a bed and breakfast

24. Spend a day without electronics (phone, t.v. and computer)

25. Do something unique and new for my birthdays

26. Explore Nashville while we live here

27. Watch at least 10 movies that I have not seen before that won Best Picture at the Oscars and at least 20 documentaries (not necessarily Oscar winning) Movies (3/10); Documentaries (7/20)

• The Greatest Show on Earth won best Best picture in 1953, so the filming was outdated. I love old movies so this was right up my alley. It wasn’t the greatest movie, but it was cute. There were some fun cameos in the circus audience like Bing Crosby. It had an element of a documentary with a fiction storyline under it.

28. Sew an item of clothing from scratch

29. Do a personal devotional/bible study on my own

30. Be a mascot for an event

31. Go on our honeymoon (preferably somewhere tropical)

32. Host an annual NCAA Basketball Tournament Championship game party

33. Go on a mission trip

34. Be on a recreation volleyball team

35. Become a mom

Not too many things, but progress is progress.

This is the first year since I graduated high school that I don’t have an impending move looming over one of our heads. With that in mind, I really want to become more settled this year. Because of that settling and not waiting on the change, I want to experience more. I want to live my life not just survive it. I am hoping that this will mean that I will have more time to do things with the family, for myself, for fun, etc.

So here is my attempt to do monthly goals to be more intentional with my time and space.

image via

• Fitness-Do 1500 squats this month. I love squats, so I figure this is a good one for me to challenge myself with. I made a chart to go in my bathroom so hopefully I will remember while I am doing my nighttime routine.
• House Tasks-
  • Take down Christmas decor
  • Organize/Put away George’s clothes he has outgrown (We have at least 4 boxes I have been throwing stuff in for the past few months in his closet that are just screaming to be sorted and taken down to the basement.)
  • Sort/Donate toys (This kids just has too much already. Some of it needs to go!)
• Something with George-Do finger-painting
• Something with Tom-Start watching Parks and Rec
• Something for me-Do a mommy and me photo shoot with George trying out my new camera remote

I like doing these short goals better than a year long resolution. That is too long of a time for me to get lazy, forget about it, and not follow through.

I am really excited for this year, and I have high hopes that it will be one of our best years yet.

Do you have things you want to accomplish this month/year? Do you do resolutions?

Seeing as it is the last day of 2015, there is a lot of reflecting that is occurring. (Was it a good year? Will 2016 be even better? 31 seems like such an odd age? What adventures will we find ourselves in? Will Ben really find love on the Bachelor?)

For fun, I thought I would share what my most read posts were from 2015.

1. Life

2. It Must Be Easy

3. When Love Gets Comfortable

4. It’s Not “Mom” Hair

5. Mom Confessions

6. Your Questions Answered Round One

7. Home

8. 4 Years

9. A Baseball First Birthday Party

10. I Must Confess

It was fun to look back at these. Some made me weepy and some made me laugh at myself all over again.

As usual, a lot happened in the last year. George has grown into a little boy, and my momma heart just can’t take how small he looks in some of these pictures. Tom and I have also grown a lot and overcome some big things. Now we are sitting pretty in one of the best seasons of our relationship.

I am pretty excited about 2016! I can’t wait to share more with you. Thank you for reading about our life.

 What are you excited about for the new year?