Farewell, and Hello

Another year gone, another year to come. -Mae Blackwood

It’s here. The day we look forward to, the day we anticipate, the day that comes much to fast every single year. The day that we stay up late into the next, and the day we come together, and celebrate. The day that we prepare to leave our mistakes in the past, and to start fresh. (I know one of the reasons that I look forward to the new year so much because I love starting fresh, and this is the best chance I get.) It’s so very hard to believe that 2025 has already come to an end. It feels like it was just yesterday that we were entering into it. This year has passed in such a blur, time just slipping through my fingers, but here I am, another year older, and, hopefully, wiser.

This year has been so life changing. I’ve had so many different experiences, some absolutely AMAZING, others, not so much… :/ I’ve met so many people, and made so many new friends this year. I’ve had amazing times, and difficult ones, but all of them have shaped me into a better person. I had my first serious crush, I won ribbons with my dearest baby, Violet, I started high school, I went to a ball and met some of the most amazing people, and I’ve started to really invest myself in my relationship with someone who will always be there for me, God. I know that as I enter 2026, I’m entering it with some of the best, kindest, most loving, and just plain amazing, people that I will ever know.

Speaking of God, I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned it or not, but back in August I got baptized. I think it might have been the best decision I made all year. I still struggle in my relationship with God -everyone does-, and sometimes I let the darkness in life pull me under, but God is amazing, and he put the most wonderful people in my life who always mange to pull me back into his light. I’ve had some really difficult moments this past year, and sometimes it’s felt like the world was ending, and that I just couldn’t continue, but now, as I sit here writing this post, I know with 100% certainty that things have greatly improved. 💕

“Alright enough of this sappy sh- shoow of affection” -Buzz from Home Alone 2: Lost in New York

Now let’s get into the many lists I’ve made for you to read! XP

Last year I made five big goals for 2025 (Ha! Look at that, five, 2025, I didn’t even notice till just now. XD). I think I did a pretty decent job with some of them, but others, sadly not so much. But I will not let it discourage me! If I didn’t do it this year, then it just gives me the chance to do it next year! I hope all of you will do the same with your own goals. Do not let a little bit of failure drag you down, instead, let it strength your resolve for the next time.

#1 Pay better attention to my school books. The first part of the year was a bit of a failure in this goal. I paid minimum attention, and was scraping by with the least amount of effort I could give. If you asked me to tell you about one of the books, I’d probably only able to give you a short general account. Then came September, and the start of high school. Y’all, I was determined, I wasn’t going to fail high school, I was going to give it all I could, and I still am trying! I didn’t succeed every day, and there where some days when all the reading felt very overwhelming, but this fall was the most effort I’d ever put into my school work. I plan to keep this goal with me as I enter 2026. (:

#2 Spend more time with my family. This one I’m not sure where I stand. I think it might be a better question for my family. Did I spend more time with them? I know there were some days/weeks where I did, but I also know there were those where definitely did not. It pains me to say that while my screen time might have improved a bit, it’s not where I know in my heart it should be.

#3 Exercise more. This one was a pretty big failure. I don’t think I really did anything to improve the health of my body. I stayed inside so much, that there where days when I only saw the sky through a window. You guys have no idea how much this hurts me. Because it does, deeply. I hate the way I treat myself, and I want to change, but I always make the stupidest excuses, which ends up making me feel even worse. This was really a big thing I struggled with this year, and it was the cause of many dark shadows and tears. I hope that I will be able to improve it next year.

#4 Try and eat more balanced meals. I did good at this for a few weeks -more towards the end of the year-, but then it just kind of stopped. I understand so much more of my mom now. XD Meal planning is HARD. It takes so much planning, and effort. I myself am exhausted from school, and just going through life, meal planning is just another burned. I can’t even begin to imagine how my mom must feel.

#5 Train Violet at least once every day. I did pretty good with this one while I was participating in 4H dog training, and agility (did I mention that she is a reserved grand champion!), but once that ended, so did the training that I was already barley doing. And now, well, Violet is kind of a bad dog. Nothing to horrible (well, except for one thing…), but she runs away almost every day. She’s not all bad though. I’ll write be writing a post on her soon!

So, there it is, my failed, and, accomplished goals. I know that I will be taking a fare few of them with me into the new year, and thankfully it doesn’t it bother me to much. They will not be alone though, new goals will be joining them! Not only will I have a list of goals though, but I am also have a list of things that are a bit more frivolous that I want to do! A bucket list of sorts. 🙃

I’ll start with my goals.

#1 Write a novel. I have been trying to do this for ages, but nothing has worked, and I just keep not finishing things. It’s really discouraging, and I can’t decide if I want to continue trying to finish my story -Unwanted Forever-, or start a new one. I’m terrified that if I start a new one, that I’m just going to continue not finishing my stories.

#2 Get my permit. This is something I am over the moon to do! I’ve wanted to drive for as long as I can remember, and now I’m so close. This is what I will be doing on my birthday next year. XD But that is sadly not until September. Meanwhile, I’ll be learning everything I need to know for the test over the summer. It will most likely be through my parents, and not an actual class.

#3 Exercise a lot more. I think that I need to set myself specific goals for each day instead of this big one. That way it’s easier to think about and complete. I did try this a bit in the recent months, but nothing I’ve done yet has worked. Hopefully with a bit more work, I’ll eventually get to where I want to be!

#4 Meal plan. I’m am definitely going to need my moms help a bit more, and I’m going to need to really commit to this one. Meal planning is hard, and takes a lot of time, and effort, but I know that I can do it if I put my mind to the task. With a bit of commitment, and a more open diet, I’ve got it in the bag!

#5 Get a summer job. This is something that I will really need to talk over with my parents. Living in the middle of nowhere I don’t have many choices, and everything needs to be driven to, which I can’t do yet. I know my parents say I can do chores around the house for money, but that is still using their money. I would like to be able to buy things I want without taking their money.

It seems that I am again stopping at five. Hmm, or maybe I should add one more, then I shall have a 6 big goals for 2026! You know what, I think I’m going to do that. Here it is:

#6 Quality time. I don’t spend nearly enough time with my family and dog. Talking to my friends is the best, but I just do it to much. I need to let go, and hang with the people I live with, who matter more. (sorry guys XP) I know that I don’t get along the best with my family, but that can be changed. I just need to actually do it.

Now here is what I have for my bucket list! I will definitely add more things to it as time passes, but here is what I have so far. It’s mostly places I want to go. XD And some are expensive too, so I need to start saving… 😬

Bucket List

1 -Go to the Celtic ball again ( I had SO MUCH FUN the first time)

2 -Go karaokeing with friends (singing is the best!)

3 -Go to a school sports game (being homeschooled I’ve never been to one)

4 -Go the the Voices of America Country Music Fest (country + music = awesomeness)

5 -Attended a book signing (I’ve never been to one, and I love reading so much)

6 -Start a podcast with my best friend (we’ve been wanting to do this for ages)

(Look at that, I have six of those too!) Well, that is it. All my goals, and my bucket list, all to be completed in 2026. I really hope that I will be able to complete most, if not all, of them! I look forward to telling you guys about all my amazing experiences that I am sure to have!

Not a very big goal, or place I want to go, but I do hope to again start posting every week. If not on Sunday, then hopefully some other day. My life is busy, and I have so many things to do, but I love writing, and I don’t want it to be pushed out. I also hope that you guys will continue to read my posts, and leave comments!

Now to continue on. XP

Before I give you another list to read (my TBR -to be read- list is next!) I have a little, slightly random, thing for you. I wrote this song when I was really into the piano, and I suddenly remembered it when I was thinking about how so much has happened this year. Don’t judge it to hard, I was like 10 when I wrote it. XD But I actually relate to it a lot. (:

The piano is a bit loud, but I think it’s a pretty good recording! I hope y’all like it. I think it’s one of my best songs I’ve written, even if it is a bit simple. You know, I think the year I wrote that song was when one of our dogs, Rory, died. I’m not positive, but I think that’s it. 💖

Now here is another list for you! These are the books that I really want to read in 2026. Some I’ve had on my want to read list forever, but others are new additions. I love reading so much, and I’m really excited to start some of these.

Kiss of the Rose Princess by Aya Shouoto I found this one while I was sick. I wanted to read it, but it had a hold of like 2 weeks. 😭 So, now I’m going to read it in 2026!

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Loin by Beth Brower This is a very recent addition. Some of my friends couldn’t stop talking about it recently, and now they’ve hooked my attention. There are a lot of books in the series, so we’ll see how far I’ll get. My friends say they’re addicting, but I tend to get bored with long series.

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens I’ve wanted to read this one for ages. I saw a trailer of the movie, and it hooked my attention. XD I think this is the first time I’ve ever voluntarily wanted read a Charles Dickens book… They are usually school assigned books, and are always so long. I really want to read this though, so I’m over looking the length. XP

My Happy Marriage, Vol. 6 by Akumi Agitogi This is another manga I found while I was sick. I got really into it, but then I got to the end of volume five, and discovered that six wasn’t out yet! I was heartbroken, because it was the one time the author had ended on a big cliffhanger…

The Alcazar by Amy Ewing This one is the second book in The Cerulean Duology. I put it on hold because I only wanted to read Christmas books in December. 🤗 So now we shall experience it in this next year.

And last, but certainly not least!

A Dance of Silver and Shadow by Melanie Cellier This is actually the first book that’s in a series that relates to The Four Kingdoms series. It starts off with two characters form thar series, but introduces more in the other books. I’m supper excited to read this one!

Guys….there were six of those too…. I promise this was not intentional. XD I’ve been plagued with the number six. Six goals, six things on my bucket list, and now six books on my TBR list. This is crazy. I have a post full of sixes for 2026…

I was going to post photos next, but there are just so many that I think I’ll make it a photo recap instead! So keep an eye out for it. It’s mostly dogs, but I took all of them! And some of them are just beautiful.

Wow. We made it. The end of this post. I think this might be the longest one I’ve ever written. 2,646 is the word count, crazy I say. I hope I didn’t bore anyone to much, I tend to go off on trails. XP I tried my best to keep on my main thought!

I’m so glad that I started my blog, and I’m more than ready to dive into the new year with everyone by myside! My readers, my friends, my family, my teachers, everyone I know. I know all of you guys love and support me, and I love you guys back. Whether I just met you, or this was just another year of our life spent together. I know that with y’all by my side, I can tackle anything. There are more hard times waiting for us in 2026, but with love, friendship, and all the wonderful things in life, we can face anything. May you always be blessed, may joy fill your heart, and may you be the light in everyone’s life. Like you’re the light in mine. 💖

-Mae Blackwood