Thursday, January 1, 2026
2025 brought some big life changes for me and I plan to stop talking about them in 2026!
My mom passed away suddenly January 28th and I retired July 1st. I lost my last living parent and my beloved career of 31 years (by choice, but it’s still been an adjustment).
January brought so much snow and snow days! I got to work from home several times in January!
It was so fun to get to see The Bachelor that we had spotted being filmed while in Madrid in September! We saw him playing soccer with his date in a plaza in Madrid while we were eating!
And, then the wheels fell off. We had such a nice Christmas 2024 with my mom, and she was doing really well health-wise. She was living alone, driving, going to lunch, playing bridge, making her crafts, making plans for trips, and then she was gone.
So many people supported me through the loss of my mom at the end of January and into the spring and I am so grateful for the love and support that I was shown. Even a text meant so much to me. I then had friends continue to text me on significant days like Mother’s Day.
Look at these beautiful flower cupcakes from my friend Beth:
My sisters and I made several weekends happen to work together on my mom’s estate. We didn’t fight once. That is a testament to my parents. We looked at each of our strengths and divided the work accordingly. Then, I offered to do all the business of the house and the sale since I was retiring. I had known all year in the back of my mind it might be my last year but made the decision firm shortly after my mom’s passing. I cried when I told my principal. I was there 25 years; it would be weird if I didn’t cry! I made him super uncomfortable. Maybe that was payback for all of his Sunday morning emails.
While in my hometown working on my mom’s house, we always got coffee together (chai for one sister) and we developed a love for Culver’s grilled chicken sandwiches for lunch. We did a scavenger hunt one night that we were together for my sister’s 50th birthday and that was really fun! I will forever remember that time as a beautiful blessing to get to have with my sisters.
The surprising thing that happened during that time is that we re-opened the wound from our dad’s death, too. We weren’t just clearing out our mom’s things.
I am so proud of the work we did together and how we handled it. Maybe it’s wrong to be proud? I have learned so much about myself. I have learned that you can love or see someone more clearly after their death.
I was super busy at work and tried to do my best. My students were so sweet. I finally told them I would be retiring at the end of the year right after spring break. One boy said, “the other teachers who are retiring have been phoning it in all year. You aren’t acting like that at all!”
That made my day because I have always taken pride in my work. My Dad told my sisters and I that our 75% is other peoples’ 100% because we are not your average teachers. He was such a cheerleader and supporter of us. He loved that we all became teachers!
I got to host my friends from Spain in April, and it was really special! I hadn’t seen my buddy Rafa for 18 years! It was like no time had passed and his wife and I were instant friends, and his son became besties with Eddie Otis!
I really enjoy hosting on my patio!
I also enjoyed making things for the blog ladies. I brought wine and appetizers for Friday night and some breakfast items for Saturday.
My department celebrated me at the end of the school year with a surprise lunch! They should have told me to dress up a bit!
I had so much fun this summer seeing various friends! But it was a hot one! We didn’t boat as much as usual because of the crazy weather but I visited my share of pools.
I’ve had a really good reading year!
I think my favorite books were by Kristin Harmel…
and The Academy.
Goodness – I loved having time off in the fall when we have such gorgeous weather! I was on my patio or a patio and I soaked it all up!
I fell into a Love is Blind hole and loved Gilded Age for my tv viewing!
I’ve been learning to slow down, be thoughtful, figure out my new schedule, and more. Thanksgiving was hard but I got through it, and it helped me craft what I wanted and needed for Christmas, if that makes sense.
Most of the kids at Christmas:
I am definitely blessed. Thanks for being on this ride with me! I’ve really enjoyed my blogging life this year and that is because of you!
Amy
Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa 
You really did have quite the year of changed and while I am sure it was not easy you handled it all so well. I definitely think it’s okay to be proud of how you and your sisters came together to handle your parents estate. Your hear so often of families that are split and fighting. I hope that 2026 goes really well for you!
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Thank you! I am ready for a fresh year! I hope you are, too. You have big changes coming, too, with your last child finishing high school!
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Two huge changes for you but I wouldn´t necessarily plan to not talk about them in 2026… The changes were still huge; the passage of time isn´t going to diminish the fact that 2025 was a big year for you life change way and there´s no reason not to continue to reflect on that and mention it in in posts. Just my 2 cents!! I´ve enjoyed following along and of course I enjoyed meeting you in April. You have a way with words and a great way of living life to its fullest. Who wouldn´t want to follow along? Here´s to an amazing 2026!
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I just feel like a broken record/ruptured cd/streaming service that keeps spinning. I’m sick of myself! Thank you for your kind words, though. I need to put on my big girl pants and talk about something else! Lol! Puzzles?
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That was a great post! You have been through so much this year! Have a great New Year and I can’t wait to read all your blogs!
Cheers!
Missy
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It has been quite the year for you. Big changes and you have handled it all so well. Fantastic recap and photos!
Happy New Year! Wishing you all the best for 2026.
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I agree with Maria – our pasts form who we are today! If we didn’t reflect on how we got HERE we could make mistakes and/or waste time trying to figure things out that our past seasons could tell us 🙂
What an amazing thing, to uncover who your sisters are to one another through your mother’s death. And it was better and stronger than you might have thought, right? And I love that your students realized that every minute in the classroom with them was important to you, despite the administration’s best efforts to discourage, bury, or just diminish your most important role in their lives. You are special.
Looking forward to spending 2026 “with you” and following along on your adventures. You inspire me to slow down and read more, you also inspire me to find new things to do in my own town.
Here’s to 2026 – and hopefully a better boating year 😉
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It was a roller coaster of a year for you! You really made our blog gathering extra special – thank you! Happy 2026!
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Loved reading this look back on 2025…I know it’s been a difficult one…but also full in so many ways too. Here’s to a great 2026!
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Happy New Year, Amy!! I pray that 2026 has more happy times for you. I know 2025 was rough. I’m hoping to have more time to read blogs! It has been very hectic November and December with my niece getting married and my daughter graduating with her master’s degree. Mostly happy events but I have some family and friends going thru some really difficult times. They are always in my thoughts and I have been a little down at times this season. I’m hoping 2026 brings some good health to everyone!!
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What stands out to me in this post is the great love and connection you and your sisters have. That is such a gift. I have two sisters and wish we were that close. I also realize you all worked at creating that connection. I still talk about my mom’s death (and her) and my retirement. Both were very big things in my life so please don’t feel like you shouldn’t continue to talk about it. I think teaching is one of those occupations when you truly are what you do…and it really never leaves. I, too, was determined to not be known as the teacher who took it easy the last year she taught. Here’s to 2026 and new beginnings!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
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What a year you’ve had. It’s okay to keep talking about things here if you need to do that, friend. That’s the beautiful thing about this community! We’re here to love and support you all that we can. I don’t know where I’d be without this in my life! I hope to also do way less talking about things like that on my blog this year. It’s time to suck it up and move on. Maybe some counseling with help me with that? I’m so glad we got to be a part of each other’s 2025. I hope that we get to do it again in 2026! You are loved, my friend. HNY!
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