Hello there, friends! It’s been a while! I can’t believe 2019 is coming to an end! 2019 was a weird year, it was one of the best and worst years of my life. There were amazing times- all the wedding celebrations, marrying the love of my life, and graduating with my BSN. However, the ending has been full of sadness and hard times, so I am ready to see a new year and fresh start.

Here we go, a quick look back at 2019!

Marrying my best friend

The biggest (and happiest) thing to happen this year was definitely our wedding! Marrying Bradley and celebrating with family and friends filled my heart with so much joy. Our fur baby, Southpaw, was the ring bearer and dog of honor. He stole the show and looked so dapper in his tux. The day was just perfect. So many happy memories (I may have to do a more detailed blog post on the wedding celebrations 🙂

Honeymoon

Our honeymoon was BY FAR one of the BEST vacations we have ever been on! Seriously. I don’t know it was the newlywed bliss, or that we just can plan a great vacation ;), but Bradley and I have never had such a fun and relaxing trip! We took a cruise to Grand Turk and Amber Cover- which was simply AMAZING! We snorkeled, sailed the Caribbean on a catamaran, went to a private beach and resort, enjoyed amazing food and drinks, days on the beach and nights on the deck in the hot tub. We then returned to Florida and stay at a condo on the beach for 3 nights. Seriously, the best honeymoon with the best husband.

BSN Graduation

Megan Weaver (errr… Culbertson), BSN, RN looks and sounds SO GOOD! I started this journey TEN years ago when I graduated high school. I graduated MUSC’s RN to BSN in August with a 4.0 (Magna cum laude!)

Good Music

Bradley and I love to go to concerts together- it’s one of our favorite weekend getaways and date nights. This year we saw Mumford & Sons (and got to spend the weekend at the beach!), Vampire Weekend, and Sublime with Rome. It was a great year for concerts, can’t wait to see what concerts we see in 2020!

Our first kayaks

Bradley and I purchased our first kayaks this summer and it was a worth while investment so far! We are still new to the kayak life but we enjoyed taking them out on the lake this summer and look forward to many more water filled adventures as a couple and with friends.

Time with Friends & Family

I was able to see my friends and family SO much this past year and it literally meant the world to me. I had people travel 500 plus miles for dress fittings, bachelorette parties, bridal showers, and the wedding. It just meant so much to me to have them here and spending so much time with them was such a joy. I am so blessed to have so many wonderful and beautiful people in my life.

First tiny home experience

In January I surprised Bradley with a trip to our first true tiny home for his birthday! We stayed in a Tumbleweed tiny home in a local tiny home community. Bradley and I have dreams of someday going tiny to travel so this was such a fun experience!

Ran a 5k

I haven’t ran an (official) 5k in a looonnnggg time. Probably since early college. Bradley and I have been saying we were going to run one for a long time but never did. In May, we finally stepped up and took the plunge. We had a lot of fun and I hope to run some more in the coming year together.

Southpaw

I hate to end the post on a bitter note, but it just doesn’t feel right not to mention one of the biggest and most heartbreaking parts of the year. Our sweet fur baby, Southpaw, was diagnosed with a mast cell tumor (cancer) in August. After a four month battle with an aggressive cancer that included four different chemotherapies, radiation, hospitalization, aggressive medication regimens, and surgery- he passed peacefully in Bradley and my arms with the assistance of our amazing oncology vet.

Our hearts are broken and the pain can feel unbearable at times. I hope to write a post with more details of his journey and as a memorial to the sweetest, most loved pup. The past four months were so sad and stressful (for us, Southpaw was a trooper and kept his happy spirit until the end) with all the treatments and vet visits, but also full of happy times. Southpaw enjoyed walks, car rides, treats, and lot of time with the people he loved. Bradley and I loved Southpaw more than words can say. He left his little paw prints on not only our but so many peoples’ hearts. We love you Southpaw, I know you are running free of pain and disease, and eating all the burgers, ice cream, and puppocinos.

That wraps up the highs and lows of 2019. I am spending today reflecting on the love and loss of 2019, and looking forward to growth and clarity in 2020. What was the highlight of 2019 for you? I would love to hear!

And friendly reminder, as you peruse IG stories and FB post, remember people typically like to relive the highlight reel of the year. If your year feels gloomy in comparison to others, know that we all have hard times. Some years it’s just more than others. Sending everyone hurting this New Years Eve lots of love.

Have a safe and happy new year, cheers to a new decade!

*If you are local and looking for an amazing photographer- check out Kylie Marie Photography ! We absolutely loved her. She was professional, had a fun personality, and delivered AMAZING photos we will cherish forever.