Well, 2023 was an awesome year! This post was inspired by something I did a while ago when I made a “When I was 8…” page, sharing the main things we did while I was 8 years old. That was the big things, but it was pretty cool! I thought it would be fun to do again! And then we decided it would be cool to post on here. This is even more detailed than the old one.
This one is a mix between when I was 14 and in 2023, since my birthday is Dec 8th, they’re pretty close to the same thing. There were just a few things on either end that I wanted to include.
I hope you enjoy. 🙂
- Attended the HEARTH Christmas party and went caroling at a nursing home.
- Hosted our Christmas recital and party with friends and played “Joy to the World.”
- Went to a trampoline park for the first time on Ro’s birthday!
- Had our last sleepover with our friend, my Godmom at Sassafras.
- Said goodbye to Papa. ❤️
- Got 300 yellow smiley face cookies from Steve’s for his funeral.
- Went sledding with friends.
- Visited Destin FL for the first time for a family vacation.
- Filmed a bunch of State Farm, Geico and Liberty Mutual commercial reenactments with friends.
- Went to Kalahari.
- Participated in 6 clinics with Elliot +2 lessons (from silent auction wins last year.)
- Painted and redecorated our basement.
- Won a blue ribbon with “Chester’s Angels” at Quiz Rally!
- Saw Ben Rector in Concert.
- Watched the epic battle of Grandpa’s ping pong and playing him during our Easter party.
- Attended the Midwest Horse Fair, with Mom, Ro, and our friend. Watched a Pony Club friend ride twice with Olympic riders. Also slept at Sassafras for the last time.
- Got my brain scanned at Amen Clinic.
- Visited to the Chicago Zoo.
- Attended a spontaneous concert to For King and Country!
- Stable Managed a qualifying team at a Show Jump Rally, thanks to our Pony Club friend.
- Tried Working Equitation for the first time and speared the bull!
- Attended our cousins’s 1st Communion.
- Attended “Potted Potter” at The Weill Center.
- Participated in and performed in our HEARTH “All in a Day’s Work.” I was a mime, participated in rhythm and singing groups, was in the skits: Career Placement Test, Puns Upon a Time, Amelia’s Story Joint, Lobster Bisque/Worst Waiter Ever and Parent Support Group.
- Had an awesome trip with dad visiting Washington DC, Boston and Stockbridge Massachusetts and Portland Maine.
- Visited the Norman Rockwell Museum.
- Saw Neil Armstrong’s space suit, a moon rock, The Wright Brother’s plane, Elmo, Dorothy’s shoes, C3PO and R2D2, Mr. Roger’s red sweater, etc.
- Saw a performance in Ford’s Theatre.
- Fell off Elliot for the first time.
- Hosted a builder day with friends and Grandpa building mini corn hole boards.
- Attended the HEARTH barn dance and danced our hearts out.
- Had an epic water balloon fight with the family.
- Had our first summer in our “new” backyard.
- Went to Medieval Times with the Wonder and Whimsy Society.
- Attended a Cub’s game (we got a foul ball!).
- Hosted our cousins in Sheboygan!
- Greta Coolknight got updated. 😆
- Had a staycation with our friend, my Godmom here in Sheboygan while Mom and Dad went to Mackinac Island.
- Went to the Forth of July Parade with Grandma and watched fireworks by the lake.
- Tried out our BB Guns.
- Had an awesome vacation with our Grandparents and cousin’s family while Mom and Dad were in Orlando and helped build a plinko board with Grandpa.
- Went to the Milwaukee Zoo with WWS!
- Saw Ed Sheeran in Soldier Field!
- Had my first paid baking order!
- Saw “Mary Poppins” with Grandma, Grandpa, Ben and Ro at Fireside Theatre.
- Did beach days and got through the Harry Potter series.
- Had 6 movie nights, 2 family ones, 2 with friends, 1 one Emily and Piper and 1 with the Wonder and Whimsy Society.
- Participated in my first show with Elliot and won a blue ribbon in our equitation ground poles class! 😳 And didn’t fall off in our warm up or dressage!
- Attended the HEARTH Drama cast party!
- Went to the Wisconsin State Fair.
- Started working at Serenity Farm and have gotten to know new people more throughout the year.
- Got a new fire pit in our backyard.
- Passed my D2 Dressage and D3 Flat ratings in Pony Club, and then my D3 Dressage as well!
- Visited Jackson Hole, Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks for the first time.
- Went to The Little Farmer.
- Hosted Wondernite and hosted WWS in our backyard.
- Visited Oahu and Kauai, Hawaii. Stayed in a Crater!
- Dressed up as Amelia Earhart for Halloween, with our friend, my Godmom as a Wright Brother.
- Filmed more reenactments of State Farm and Liberty Mutual commercials with friends.
- Quit my job feeding at the original barn.
- Attended Advent by Candlelight with friends.
- Attended The Nutcracker ballet with Mom, Ro, and friends.
- Attended the HEARTH Christmas party and went caroling at the nursing home again!
- Hosted an epic Christmas recital and party, our best yet. Played “Linus and Lucy”.
What was a highlight of the year (and why)?
Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Park. I’m writing some posts about our time there. But our trip was so cozy, magical, beautiful and wonderful. I loved getting to experience it. I would love to go back and I’m so grateful for all those experiences and opportunities we got there.
Also just riding Elliot. Getting to travel around a bit, learn, grow together and grow as a rider, make progress with him and do our first show. Even just riding out in our outdoor arena those summer afternoons. I’m very thankful for that guy and all the people helping and supporting me, and friends I’ve made.
Another one is being a part of our homeschool co-op drama performance! I built a foundation in friendship with some people and went outside my comfort range on some things! But overall it was a very cool, fun experience. And I loved feeling a part of that group and getting to share it with everyone.
What was a lowlight of the year (and why)?
Maybe all the struggling with my spiritual life and working through mental struggles. But I don’t want to put it just as a low light because so many good things are coming out of it and I know it’s all God growing me and crafting me into the person He wants me to be, which is exactly what I want Him to keep doing. So that is a highlight for sure.
I also struggled with Elliot this year in being too nice of a rider. He’s the kind of horse that will take advantage if you give him room. I struggled with other things too but that can be something to work on. I wish our show and specifically one of our clinics (the one where I fell off- which he wasn’t trying to do that, and it probably wasn’t all him either) would have gone a little better but I know it’s all a part of the story. What comes next will build upon that.
What was something you learned this year?
I learned to crochet this year! So far I’ve only gotten to little projects working in the round. So I have a lot of bigger projects to do, learning some of the basic and complex stitches and then working in rows. Maybe I’ll get to scarves and hats and that kind of thing eventually!
What is something you’re curious to learn more about next year?
I’m hoping to grow as a dressage rider this year, learning more about the discipline and working with Elliot to accomplish even more steps and skills. Hopefully we can get to some shows or testing and accomplish things through that too!
Also I would like to keep growing in my spiritual life, growing closer to and learning more about Jesus. I want to be His student and let Him teach me His ways, what He wants for me and what is true so I can lean not on my own understanding. I also want Him to make me the person He wants me to be and grow me in being humble, joyful, kind, patient and loving Him with all my heart, soul and mind and love my neighbor as myself and as God has loved me.
This was a pretty good year! I’m so thankful for all the blessings, experiences and opportunities that happened this year. And I’m looking forward to the year ahead!
Lucy