But don't worry. This blog post isn't going to be full of empty promises and resolutions. I'm not going to promise to change the way I eat, lose 10 pounds, or walk 2 miles each day (because, let's be honest...I can't guarantee any of that will ever happen). What I will do, however, is reflect upon this crazy year and the many things that have happened.
January 2015 - I met my nephew. My puppy-nephew, that is. (Got a few of you there, didn't I?) Chelsea introduced us to Hawkeye in mid-January, and he's spent quite a bit of time at the farm since then. I'd say it's safe to say that he's wiggled his way into this family, and while he may be super obnoxious at times, he's also got this super cute puppy look about him that gets him out of trouble often.
In mid-February, Chelsea and I left Hawkeye with Mom and Dad, in-between winter storms, and took a road trip to Manhattan, Kansas to visit KSU. Little did I know that this trip would help decide part of my little sister's career. We drove over 1,200 miles, across 5 states, and spent 4 days together without killing each other. It was quite an experience.
April/May 2015 - These months brought lots of rain and mud. The horses stayed muddy, fields were slop, and as usual, we had our fill of flooded stalls.
Towards the end of may, I also had the opportunity through work to visit an Icelandic horse farm in Shelbyville, KY and ride an Icelandic Horse. These fuzzy little horses are just as awesome as they look!
Chelsea also graduated from the University of Kentucky with a degree in Agricultural Education, and began pursuing job opportunities in Kansas.
Along with preparing to move her, I also found time on the weekends to work a few horse shows and attend a concert here and there.
And let's not forget witnessing American Pharoah win the Triple Crown. I wasn't a fan of his in the beginning (and my sister will testify to that because we argued over him several times), but when he won the Belmont Stakes and became the 12th Triple Crown winner in history, I think he won us all over.
In August, we made it to a few open shows and an ApHC show with our show string. It wasn't the same with our third musketeer gone, but Mom and I managed.
So what's the point of this wrap up? Well, for one, we wouldn't know where we stand if we never look at where we've been or what we've accomplished.
This year I've learned that I can handle quite a bit of responsibilities and change all at once. Granted, I don't always like these "opportunities" at the time, but I've come to realize that they all happen for a reason. Because of some of these challenges, I've picked up new skills online, in various computer programs and within different forms of technology.
I've learned that I can, in fact, drive 12 hours straight, get a few hours rest, and then make it back home again. It's not something I'd recommend, but it's doable.
I've also realized that when family and friends become spread out geographically, it's important to keep the lines of communication open, and talk often. Tools like Facetime, Skype, and SnapChat become even more valuable.