50 Things That Made My Year (2024)

who doesn't love a list? (if that's you... I apologize) 🌱

I usually don’t like to write and share posts based on someone else’s (like this one) because it feels like I’m copying and unoriginal. But Austin Kleon doesn’t know me from Adam, so I feel less weird about it. Austin made a list of 100 things, but either my life isn’t as exciting as his, or I have a terrible memory (that’s likely the case), so I shortened my list to 50. At first, I started this as an exercise in just getting my butt in the chair to write, but then I started remembering things that happened in 2024 that I had already forgotten about—so it ended up being a fun exercise in remembering the good stuff, big and small.

These are some of the things that made my year:

1. In November, we hosted our second StrongHer Together: A Conference for Women in Agriculture. It’s wild to me that a few gals with big ideas could host this event. I still feel like we needed permission to dream so big, but I guess we forgot to ask anyone for that.

2. Checking a new state off my list—Missouri! In June, we flew to St. Louis and spent one night in the city before heading to Illinois for a week of orientation with UnCommon Farms. (I also remembered that I’m not built for humidity.)

3. The inflatable hot tub (which we treated like a pool) that the kids spent hours in last summer in the backyard.

4. Turning 40 in March! My mom, sister, and I flew to Phoenix for a girls’ weekend, where we stayed with a friend of my mom’s and spent time with one of my best friends who lives there, too.

5. My essay was accepted for publication in a book! As I write this, an early copy is on its way to my house before the book's release on March 4th (!!). Even though my name is not on the cover, seeing it in a book is still a dream. And as someone who has loved books my whole life, getting a copy before it’s released is exciting.

6. After 11 years of marriage, we upgraded to a king bed. 🙌🏻

7. Wearing lipstick, just because.

8. Stopping to take photos of sunrises and sunsets.

9. Tailgating with friends. This still makes the list after all these years.

10. Getting a puppy. This is probably the most surprising thing to make the list. I’m not a dog person, and I still don’t consider myself to be one. But I love our puppy (even though she smells like a dog). She’s been a fun addition to the family. I was worried the kids’ initial obsession love for her would wane, but it’s still as strong as ever.

11. Seeing Ian Munsick in concert! He was so good.

12. Getting dressed up and attending a gala with Rich and friends.

13. Completing 1,400 barre classes online! This took roughly 10 years to accomplish.

14. Monthly flower bouquets arranged by one of my best friends, who is a florist.

15. Coffee with half & half + honey.

16. Running a tractor for a few days last spring. I don’t think I want to be a full-time operator, but it was a fun change of pace. (And I was able to listen to a lot of podcasts.)

17. Seeing the Northern Lights for the first time right out my back door.

18. Finding time for play in the summer is challenging between haying and harvest. But we did get in one lake day with the boat (it's a bummer we didn’t get to go more) and one night of camping with friends.

19. Walking to the shop with the kids, with them riding their bikes or driving the toy Gator, to see what the crew is up to.

20. Growing zinnias. Full stop, highly recommend.

21. Having all of Rich’s siblings and their families at the farm in June (he’s one of four).

22. Ordering a fancy birthday cake for myself.

23. Attending a conference with Rich in San Diego but skipping out on part of it to meet up with a friend from college for shopping, happy hour, and dinner.

24. Listening to podcasts while cleaning the house.

25. Having one of my essays published in a beautiful print magazine. This was a highlight of the year, especially when all of my other essays were rejected in 2024 (for online publication).

26. Homemade mini pizzas on Friday nights. (Or any other day of the week.)

27. Butter shaped like turkeys and Christmas trees. IYKYK.

28. My grandpa giving me some of my late grandma’s Christmas village when we were in Wyoming for Thanksgiving. I loved having them in my house during the holidays.

29. Watching Rhett run a combine during harvest.

30. The relief and excitement I felt on our last day of harvest.

31. Allie starting and loving the Little House on the Prairie series.

32. The essays/stories/words I wrote but have yet (maybe never?) to live anywhere other than my computer/notebook.

33. The month of June. Especially the evenings, when the temperature cools down and the sun stays high for hours. I love the green grass in our yard and the green wheat fields. It feels like a slice of calm before the storm of harvest.

34. The handful of days I was home alone when all the kids were in school. I cried when Nora started Pre-K in August (see #32), and I’m still not ready for her to go to kindergarten. But there’s something magical about being in a quiet house, even for just a few hours.

35. Picking Nora up from school, and as soon as she gets in the car, she takes off her pants. I’m just happy she keeps them on while she’s at school. 😂

36. While driving home after Thanksgiving, Rich went to pass a car but quickly realized the lane wasn’t clear. He veered back into our lane, and without missing a beat, Nora yelled from the backseat, “Geeeeez, Rich!” She never calls him by his first name, and the timing of her comment was impeccable. We all burst out laughing.

37. Mowing the lawn.

38. Baking pumpkin chocolate chip cookies.

39. Getting a facial.

40. Getting my nails done. I love how my nails look with shellac polish.

41. This song on repeat.

42. Watching Despicable Me 4 in the theater with the kids. We rarely go to the movies (this was the first time all five of us saw a movie together), so it felt like a special treat.

43. Taking a last-minute overnight trip to Alberta, Canada, in August when we were rained out during harvest. We only live a couple of hours from the border, so it’s not a huge trip for us to make. For weeks afterward, Nora would randomly say, “Thanks for taking us to Canada; it was so fun!” Months later, she still says, “Remember when we went to Canada?” It’s a good reminder (to myself) that trips and experiences don’t have to be huge to be meaningful.

44. Group texts with friends. IRL friendships.

45. I purposefully don’t monitor my subscriber list, but I think this post probably lost me subscribers. But it felt so good to write.

46. Finding cute & comfy clothes at Sam’s Club. #thisis40

47. Starting a new journal. The sound of a mechanical pencil scratching across the blank page.

48. The naps I snuck in were rare but amazing.

49. Wearing new makeup.

50. Meeting one of my best friends for dinner when we were both in the same state. Even though we live states apart, we always pick up right where we left off.

That’s all I’ve got. What made your list for 2024? (And tell me if you make a post like this!)