2019: A New Year

So the entries are going back in time to the 1st of this year. I started this on OneNote, not really sure I wanted to go public (its very intimitating), but here I am! So here goes nothing…

January 1st, 2019

My Husband and I have been married for 3 years as of December. We live on my small family farm in a 480 square foot house; the house may be tiny, but the land and view make up for it. My husband is self employed, making one of a kind workout maces and clubs. He also runs a small Jiu Jitsu gym and is a Combat Engineer in the Army Reserve. I work as a receptionist/vet assistant at the local veterinary hospital in town (I absolutely love my job). We just recently became parents to the most precious baby boy there is, Jasper Dale. We were never the type of people to really talk about having/wanting kids until recently, and let me tell you it was the best decision I have ever made. I never thought I would love being a mom so much; he is the most perfect thing I have ever seen.  Along with our small human family, we also have a circus of animals: 4 dogs Dixie (Lab/German Shephard), Tucker (German Shephard), Renzo (Cane Corso/Pit), and Petey (your guess is as good as mine, he’s white/brown); 2 cats Rooster and Dobby (plus a few barn cats); 5 potbelly pigs Napoleon, Elmer, Chubbles, Maui, and Nobody; and lastly our 3 horses Star, Sugar, and Oakie. We have big plans in the up coming future for our little family and farm and I can’t wait to share it along the way! We’re living the dream on our little slice of heaven!

I want to start keeping track of my years better, not only for myself but for my now 5 week old baby, Jasper. The last 5 weeks have flown by SOOO fast, hopefully by starting this Journal I’ll be able to look back and remember all the good times we had! Eventually Jasper will be able to look back as well and really get a sense of how crazy (and awesome) his parents are/use to be.

And don’t be fooled this isn’t the first journal I’ve started, life just always seems to get in the way and after a few days they start to collect dust. I’m not a “new year, new me” type person, but I do like to set goals for myself and family and what better time to set goals for yourself then the first of the year. One of my goals this year is to keep this journal going!

This first entry, I want to use as a recap of 2018 and also my new goal list for 2018. Let’s start with 2018 (they’re listed in no particular order).

• We welcomed our first child into the world on 11/26/2018, Jasper Dale McNally! This was by far the worst pain a have ever went through but it was the best day of my entire live; I can’t get enough of this sweet baby boy!
• In March, I had been an employee at Redland Vet for 1 year! This is by far the best job I’ve ever had and my bosses are awesome bosses/people.
• Pake was able to quit working for other people the first of July and focus solely on his new business, Become Stronger Industries. Business has been going extremely well, and I don’t see it going anywhere but up! He’s shipped items all over the world and has been able to support our family while I’ve been on maternity leave.
• In August, we adopt are fourth and final dog (for awhile…), Petey. He is the mouthiest little dog I’ve ever owned and he fits right in with our crazy gang. I can’t imagine not having him. He’s also very taken with Jasper. I think the two of them will find plenty of mischief to get in to together.
• We went on several trips this year.
  • I tagged along to Colorado with Pake. He took part in a ruck march while I went to Barnes and Noble. I was already pregnant by then, so it wasn’t as fun as it could have been, not saying I can’t have fun without drinking, but it helps.
  • Again, I stowed away on a trip Pake was taking. First stop was Topeka for a Jiu Jitsu tournament, and he also had a booth set up. Then we were off to Emerson, NE  to deliver a cemetery sign Pake made for his good friend Eric. It was a long trip with lots of  road time but it was fun spending time together. We also had Renzo and Petey with us so it was a full car!
  • Then there was the Branson trip….. This time it was my mom, my nephew, and I. The plan was to spent a long weekend with family, go to Silver Dollar City, see the sites, etc. It turned in to the week from hell! Our car broke down on the way to Silver Dollar City. It took us until Tuesday to get our car fixed and get home. I now despise that town…
• We had plans to add on to our 480 square foot, one bedroom house but being owned by multiple members of my family, we ran in to some issues so we’ve had to delay the addition.

Now on the my personal and family goals for 2019:

• Start a Journal/Blog: I would like to make daily entries, but lets be realistic, I’m going to shoot for weekly entries.
• Start running again: I would like to participate in one or two 5k’s this year.
• Continue making improvements to our house and land.
• Get a chicken/turkey coop made.
• Buy chickens/turkeys for said coop.
• Be more active in Pake’s business: I would like to start helping more with advertising, invoicing,  really anything that’s not making the actually equipment; even though, I do help hold handles occasionally.
• Start a garden and learn to can vegetables.
• Breastfeed Jasper until he’s at least 6 months old.
• Make more of an effort to get together with family and friends.
• Start back to work on a part time basis, so we can keep Jasper out of daycare until he’s older.
• Be the best possible mother I can be.

I’m sure there will be more to add to both list over the next week, but this is a good start. So, here’s to the new year!