I laughed typing out the title of this post, because at times this year, it felt like the year would never end, much less with notable highlights. But then I quickly realized that this was actually a brutiful year, filled with both beautiful peaks and brutal valleys; one capped with moments of pure gratitude for the many blessings in my life and also filled with tears and anxiety and stress. But most importantly? One where stillness and clarity arrived. So, I will remember 2020 for what it was: the year where everything slowed down and I began to see more clearly.
A look at the highlights of our year:
January. We kicked off the year by celebrating our January birthday girl turning 8 (which included ear piercing and a gymnastics party), cheering on our Tigers in the college football playoffs, going on our annual iceskating Momma Date, celebrating Chinese New Year, bridal shower-ing my cousin, and supporting a cause close to our hearts: Lily Pad Haven.
February. February entailed the end of rec basketball for my two sons, a quick girls trip to Greenville, our annual Momma/Daughter Red Carpet Viewing Party, surprise snow tubing, Daddy-Daughter Dance, and Mother-Son Game Night, to name a few.
March. This month will always be known as the one when the world got still. The start of quarantine and e-learning, the cancelling of so many things and the beginning of a new chapter. But before and amongst all that, there was fun to be had, including our favorite night of the year in Fort Mill (the gala!) and the completion of our home renovation.
April. Quarantine continued and so did our family fun! We enjoyed Spring Break and Easter and, most importantly, celebrated our little Dennis the Menace, Harrison ;), turning 6 this month.
May. May is always a busy month for us with two birthdays + Mother's Day, but this one was especially fun because my hub turned the big 4-0!!! We also went on our annual Memorial Day beach trip and closed out the crazy school year, virtual style!
June. We kicked off summer with looooots of days at the pool and hanging with friends as well as our annual BLOMPS Beach Trip, Father's Day, and a trip to Blowing Rock to celebrate 16 years of marriage (while secretly scouting out potential mountain houses). ;)
July. We had a fantastic 4th, teared up through Bella's first dance recital, went under contract on our mountain home, I re-started playing tennis after a 3-year hiatus, had a wonderful time at the beach with our Luton family, and celebrated Bella's 3rd Gotcha Day.
August. We closed out summer with some family fun. Banks started travel baseball and Bella, her second year of dance. Raleigh and I headed to the mountains with mommas/daughters we love dearly for our own version of Camp Crestridge, AND at the very end of the month, my four little Lus started back to in-person school: kindergarten, 1st grade, 3rd grade, and 5th grade!
September. This month was jam-packed with big, fun things! After well over a year of planning, it was time for "Lutonpalooza," a big beach weekend celebrating our 40th birthdays! Harrison and Raleigh began flag football and aerial arts, respectively. We closed on our mountain home and spent the next 23 days getting it ready for rentals (and snuck in a weekend with friends before we started renting it). We closed out the month by celebrating Banks turning 11!
October. We slowed down a little in October after a crazy few months prior, closing out two flag football and one travel baseball season. We also celebrated Banks' 11th birthday a la a father-son mountain weekend with some of his buddies. Finally, we managed to sneak in some Halloween fun, before the big night of trick-or-treating to end the month.
November. During November, we took a trip up to the mountains with both sets of grandparents and had such a wonderful time. We also managed some new fun activities with friends before heading to Aiken, South Carolina, for Thanksgiving #1 with my hub's "side" of the family before hosting Thanksgiving for the first time ever for my "side" of the family back at home. We ended the month with our annual Black Friday shopping and then found our 2020 Christmas tree.
December. My favorite month of the year! Christmas is here! We saw Santa, made special family memories, had two cancelled trips (Boo! Covid) but didn't let it steal our Christmas joy. We also ventured up to the mountain house with friends and snuck in our ice skating afternoon. Oh, and I turned the big 4-0 with the most wonderful day planned entirely in secret by my hub. It truly was such a wonderful month full of the ones we love and the One who loves us most.
And now, we leave 2020 behind and enter 2021 as a closer family who are so thankful for one another and the wonderful people we have in our lives. Wishing you all the happiest of New Years and a 2021 that is filled with health, happiness, love, joy, authenticity, and gratitude. Cheers to 2021 - be kind to us! <3
