Today is the beginning of a three week past/future/present series. It’s nothing big or grand, but I think it’s a good way for me to wrap up one year while preparing for the next. So today, next Wednesday, and two weeks from today I will cover:
- Reflections on 2015
- Goals for 2016
- My word for the New Year
(Is it a sign that I’m already writing “2016” when I only mean ’15?)
We didn’t experience much change this year, but I think there was a lot of growth. Our best friends grew their family by one (actually, they adopted a dog, too… so by two!), K’s business really took off this summer (huzzah!), and my brother proposed to his girlfriend, adding another permanent member to our family.
K and I didn’t travel much this year. We spent our anniversary at Niagara Falls and we went to Tennessee for the NASCAR race. I took a beach trip with some wonderful gals to South Carolina and he spent some time in Texas on business. At home we finished the basement bathroom and put central air conditioning in (praise the LORD).
Career-wise, I didn’t make any changes but K’s company has tripled in size and we’re now moving into a new office/warehouse space. (I’m so proud of my husband.) My thought have officially turned to nonprofit & dogs so I’m hoping to make progress in the years to come.
So what can I say about 2015…
This year K and I found that tough conversations about money and the future and children and goals became a little easier. We tend to be on the same track as far as 5-, 10-, and 20-year goals go. When you’re starting and growing a business a lot of time and energy gets put into that… so this year it was amazing to see the efforts pay off. I think that next year we will have a little more balance.
Our dogs kept our hearts full and glowing. Our family stayed healthy and happy. Our troubles were minimal. It was a very low-key year.
2015 was my first year of consistent blogging. I used this space every week and met amazing people through the blog world. It’s really been life changing for me. (So thank you! ❤️ )
I’ve tried to be more self-reflective and aware. I’ve tried to avoid drama and excuses- if I wanted to do it I did it and if I didn’t want to do it I declined (tactfully). I took a few Facebook/news hiatuses because the violence and hate in this world is crippling. I’ve focused on faith and healing and the encouraging grace of others. I’ve tried to lessen the sarcasm and up the genuineness. Overall, if I were charting this past year, I would say that I’m a little higher on the graph than I was on January 1st.
And now I think this is good place to stop. Next week I will talk about my goals/resolutions for the new year.
What did you think of 2015? How would you sum up the year in review? Was it a year of change or growth? Maybe it was a year of exploration or discovery? I want to know!
-Louise
Life as Louise 
It’s always a great year when everyone stays happy and healthy! So exciting that the business is doing so well. I can only imagine how big of a commitment that has been. Aren’t dogs the best!? I don’t know what I would do without my girl. We moved from Canada to Charleston, SC this year, so that was definitely the biggest change for us. Dogs make moving easier too since you always have a friend!
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Thank you, Brooke! That’s DEFINITELY a change for you! And dogs definitely make life easier (and also harder? lol)! If it were up to me we would add another one or two to the mix in 2016… but it’s not totally up to me. Haha! The business has been a challenge and a blessing and an adventure and a project… but it’s nice to see growth and progress 🙂
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your 2015 sounds like overall it was a win! I’m still processing my year, it was quite the blur, especially at the beginning when I started back at work in a new job after maternity leave.
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I think 2015 was a pretty good year 🙂 I’m sure heading back to work was definitely challenging! It’s so weird to sum up 12 months but I feel like I always seem to do, whether I plan to or not.
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It sounds like you had a pretty amazing year. That’s awesome. 2015 was … interesting for us. We will say that! LOL! It had it’s good moments and then it had some not so great. lol. I’m looking forward to 2016!! 🙂 Can’t wait to hear your goals! Blogwise it was a fab year for me.
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I would say that 2015 was much better than 2014 for me. There aren’t any major moments that stick out this year, but when I think back on the last 11 and a half months I feel very positive. I’m so glad you had a good blog-year! (I really think “After I Do” is an awesome way to enter 2016, too!) I’m so glad to have “met” you and connected this past year!
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Looks like a pretty good year.. & love you already have visions of the future in sight. That’s how you end a year successfully 🙂
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Thanks, Rebecca 🙂 I think it was a pretty good year. I’m going to try to set a few personal (self-improvement) goals for 2016. If I don’t reach them I won’t beat myself up, but I really like the idea of following through with some workouts and reading!
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It looks like you had an awesome day!
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Oops I meant year
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Haha, we did have a pretty great year 😀 Thanks for hosting the link-up!!
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I can’t believe we’re all starting to reflect on 2015 as the year that was! It seems like we were just celebrating it as a new year. Cheers to 2016 being just as good if not better!
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I SWEAR we were just ringing in the new year! I can remember sitting around on the floor playing Cards Against Humanity, laughing and drinking, and waiting for the ball to drop! (Well, my best friend was nearly 8 months pregnant so she wasn’t drinking 😉 ) I hope 2016 slows down a little… ha!
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great post idea lady!! what a year for you and YAY loved that you included a link to the biz – looks fantastic! can’t wait to see what else you have in store for 2016! crazy that you are already writing – ha. i am a little bit in denial with how fast this year has gone!
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Ummmm, maybe this year went so fast for you because you Carmen Sandiego-ed that sh*t and toured the whole damn world!! I can’t wait to see what you and your fella’ have in store for 2016! 😉 I’m pretty excited for the new year, too!!
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Words…recaps…goals…this is so my love language!! Looking forward to your posts!!
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Haha, thanks, Amy! I’m happy to speak your language!! 😀 It seemed easiest to break everything up into 3 posts instead of one big, long, wordy, confusing post! Haha!
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Looks like you had a great year with a lot of growth!
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All in all, I’d say you’re right! 🙂 I hope you had a great 2015 looking back!
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Sounds like a pretty fabulous year, and a great way to start 2016!
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Thank you, Emma! I hope someday my year is packed with as much travel as yours! 😀
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