Goodbye 2017: The Best Year Yet

December 30, 2017


2018 is just a day away! I've been reflecting on 2017 and feeling SO FREAKING GRATEFUL that my heart could burst. 

There were a ton of HUGE positive changes and lots of incredible adventures. We definitely had some obstacles, but overall the entire year was full of memories we'll cherish for the rest of our lives.

Looking back on 2017, the major theme has been NEW NEW NEW. Expanding our universe, jumping out of our comfort zones! Most of the year was spent traveling to new places, trying new things, getting new jobs, just trying so many things and places for the very first time.

Here are some of our highlights from 2017:

GOT A NEW JOB! Both Zach and I started new jobs in 2017. This was a huge blessing - I was in a terrible work situation at the beginning of 2017 (lots of anxiety, throwing up, hair falling out, an abusive coworker, depression, just constant stress) and being promoted and literally saved from that situation is BY FAR the best thing to happen this year. I can't even describe how much my entire life has changed for the better as a result of this one change! Zach was also in a pretty bad work situation in 2016 and has been MUCH happier with his new company. WE ARE SO THANKFUL!


Learned some major lessons after a failed public music performance with Zach. (post about it here)


Went skiing for the first time....and learned more hard lessons that day about perfectionism, body confidence, and picking yourself up after failure...and some other stuff too :) (post about it here)


Visited the Ice Castles for the first time!

      

Got my first annual National Parks Pass and visited all 5 Utah parks in just 9 months!


Hit a major goal and visited all 16 of the operating Utah temples before my birthday! (recap post coming soon!)

      

We fell in love with Moab, especially Arches National Park (post about it here)

      

And Canyonlands National Park (learned some important lessons there too - post about it here)



Saw Sir Elton John in a private concert in Salt Lake City with the Qualtrics crew.


Visited the Spiral Jetty at the Great Salt Lake.


Lived out of a hotel for awhile when we had no water at home.


Went to St. George and learned some important lessons in the temple down there (post about it here)

     

Spent a spring weekend in awe in Zion National Park (post about it here)



Found a hidden gem at Red Cliffs (post about it here)


The summer was constantly busy with work between all of the City summer events, Adventure Week, and the Sandy Amphitheater.

 

We also had tons of non-work fun over the summer. Both of our families came to visit for the 4th of July weekend - we took them to Snowbird to play and spent the holiday in Sandy (best 4th of July party in Utah for the record...)

     


      

We bought season passes to Lagoon, soaking up the warm summer evenings after work and screaming our brains out on the roller coasters.

     




Visited the zoo, dressed up as Fire for a fire safety video at work, and got Zach in a kayak and conquered his fears!




Spent our 1st anniversary in Park City for an incredible weekend (post about it here)


 

Went back to the Provo City Center Temple (where we were married) for our anniversary to do sealings in the exact same room where we were sealed!

Spent Labor Day weekend in Oregon with our families, making sure to get to Autzen for the first Duck game of the season!

      

Went on our first "real" long trip together, spending 8 days in Southern California! Brought my mom with us and visited my childhood home, the beach...and spent their birthdays in Disneyland!


      

Post about the whole California trip here!


Post just about Disneyland, their birthdays, and Halloween here!


       

Went pumpkin hunting in Salt Lake.

      

Made one of my favorite Halloween costumes EVER as the Cheshire Cat.

      

Ran off on a spontaneous day trip to the Dinosaur National Monument, Vernal Temple, Colorado, Wyoming, and Flaming Gorge (post about those crazy 24 hours here)


      


Spent Thanksgiving hiking in Bryce Canyon National Park (post about it here)




And Black Friday in Capitol Reef National Park, hitting all 5 Utah National Parks in 9 months! (post about it here)

     


Flew back to California for my birthday, ending my 20s and kicking off my 30s in the most magical weekend with Harry Potter and Walt Disney - my favorite trip of the entire year! (post coming soon!)

      
      

Travel tip: Harry Potter World & Disneyland are the BEST at Christmas.




And while we were in LA, we made sure to visit somewhere Zach loves too :)


Now it's the end of 2017 and we're home in Oregon for a super short visit, soaking up all the Christmas we can before we head back to Utah.

      

Looking back on 2017, my heart is SO FULL! I really had idea how much we traveled and all we accomplished until I saw it all in our rearview mirror. Even though 2016 was incredible, getting married and everything, I think 2017 topped it - this has been my favorite year of my life!


I am so thankful to have Zach by my side, always willing to get out of the house, travel to new places, and pushing each other outside our comfort zones. I don't know what 2018 holds - we have no travel plans or major goals (yet!), but I'm excited for all of the memories we'll make together. 


What's been your favorite part of 2017? Let me know in the comments below 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻

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5 thoughts

  1. WOW! All of that in one year!? So fun!!!

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  2. Just WOW! What a memorable year you had, congrats on your many achievements. All the ebst for 2018 :D

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  3. Ahh your travels gives me all the feels. I just moved to Phoenix, and feel like I need to visit Utah stat! Looks like I have many more adventures in 2018, thanks for the Inspo!

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  4. A huge congratulations to you and Zach on your new jobs. And woo-hoo for learning to ski! So long 2017, and hello 2018! There's more great things to come!

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  5. It looks like you really did have an amazing year. Here's to 2018!

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