Hi and happy Christmas Eve! Here is this year’s alphabetical year in review.
Atlanta
We drove into the city for a number of psychiatry appointments, for Joshua and Samuel this year. Surprisingly, the traffic has stopped bothering me. Maybe it’s all the other stress distracting me, lol.
Beach
We went back to Tybee Island in September with all the kids and had a great time. Elizabeth had so much fun riding the waves with Joshua, and my heart was full having them all together.
Cracker Barrel
They changed the CB logo and we paid the price at the store! Haha We had such negative responses come at us because of the changes corporate made. It didn’t take long before it all went back to normal. Crazy stuff.
Depression
Samuel really, really struggled with depressive drops this year. It was extremely hard. He was diagnosed with major depressive disorder and treated for a mood disorder.
Eminem
Samuel started listening to Marshall (haha) a few years ago but this year he brought it into our lives more, lol. The girls started listening to the clean versions of certain songs, and I admit that I even like a few of them, ha!
Fernbank
We had a Fernbank membership again for much of the year. It was nice to visit so many times but now I am genuinely tired of it, lol.
Gallbladder
In April, I had to have surgery to remove my gallbladder. It was a really painful recovery but well worth it. I have way fewer episodes of digestive issues.
Hotel
We traveled to Pigeon Forge a few times, staying at our favorite hotel in Sevierville. The kids love to swim, and we visited some new places while there, as well as some old favorites. I just wish Joshua and Stephen could have come.
Inheritance
Stephen’s sister’s house sold, and we got some of the proceeds from it which helped us finish paying off our credit cards. That was exciting!
Joy
I actually have felt some joy through this year when we had small wins. When everything seems very hard, anything that goes well is joyful.
Kindness
I’m having to learn to forgive myself for not handling everything with the kind of patience and understanding that I want to have. This year was incredibly hard, and I am trying to extend kindness to myself and remember I did the best I could.
LOL dolls
Elizabeth and Izzy love these little dolls! We obtained probably ten or twelve more this year.
My Boys’ Minds
I started a blog about what we are/have been going through with mental health this year.
Neurodiversity
Samuel was assessed for autism this year, making him the third child to be identified as autistic in our family.
Overwhelm
I think it goes without saying that I was very stressed and overwhelmed this year because of the boys’ mental health struggles.
Pharmacy
Maggie has worked at two pharmacies the whole year and became a certified technician, woo hoo!! Also, our family spent more time and money getting medications this year than ever before!
Quick
Samuel was able to get in for his autism assessment with a preferred psychologist because I reached out in a vulnerable and personal way.
Red Lobster
We went to our favorite restaurant in Dalton a few times and boy, did we enjoy it!
Snow
It snowed twice at the beginning of 2025! I was thrilled until we lost power.
Trader Joe’s
They built a new one in Peachtree City, and we were so excited! I took all the kids there and the vibe was really nice.
Uncertainty
I had so much fear around the future for so much of this year. I am beyond thankful that things are smoothing out now.
Visual merchandising
I really enjoyed setting up the displays at Cracker Barrel this year; I got significantly better at it and learned how to do makeshift setups when needed (i.e. the clearance section)
Workers Comp
I had a whole year of appointments, therapy sessions and MRI’s for my wrists, shoulders, and neck.
Xanax
Joshua found relief with Xanax this year. He started on .5mg as needed for high stress/anxiety/emotional flooding, and he moved up to 1mg when his psychosis returned late in the year.
YouTube
I listened to so much music this year, and I also learned a lot about mental health in the last part of the year with YouTube.
SchiZophrenia
I’m cheating with this one, but the Z is such an important letter in the word schizophrenia. Joshua was diagnosed at the end of October. It was pretty scary, but we are learning more and more about the condition, and how to help him. It’s gonna be ok.
Thanks for reading! Here’s to hoping that 2026 is more peaceful than 2025!
Together in Atlanta 