It's going to Be Epic.....

Saying goodbye to 2023 and hello to 2024 adventures!

Like many individuals on the eve of the New Year, I am reflecting upon all the things the current year brought me and taught me. There were ups & downs. There were hard times and joyful times. A big "ah ha" moment I had during 2023 was in a random conversation regarding my name. You see, I have always been addressed by my middle-name, Amy. As a child, I HATED my first name (Frances) and would shrink in embarrassment when the substitute teacher called that one outloud (all middle-namers know what I'm talking about). Anyway, as I have moved into new seasons of life, I've grown quite fond of it. So fond, in fact, I said in conversation "When I retire, I'm going to start going by "Frankie". Doesn't that just sound like a FUN and adventurous person?!"

But, why can't I be a FUN and adventurous person NOW? Don't get me wrong. I've had fun in the past. I've done things. But, have I been intentional about doing new things? The answer is simply, No. But.....I can be! Thus the notion of AmyFindingFrankie began to take hold.

Bob and I went to Rocky Mountain National Park in 2022. It was an AMAZING vacation and we had a blast exploring. I went on a couple short solo hikes and remembered how much I loved being out in the woods hearing the serenity of nature. The picture above is one of those moments. Isn't God's creation just amazing? We were also able to find accessible trails that would allow us to enjoy it together. On that trip, we started to think how we could try to visit all the National Parks and I got so excited! (Yes, that sounds like old people talk. And guess what, we aren't getting any younger!) As we started planning for more parks, I kept coming back to 3 things: 1.) Can I physically hike to the epic places those parks have to offer? 2.) If I go solo, am I comfortable in doing so? and 3.) How can Bob have an epic experience as well?

For 2024, I am focusing on all 3. I want to document it all through this blog (mostly for Bob and myself), but eventually to inspire others to do the same. I know it's going to be an epic journey in AmyFindingFrankie and I cannot wait to experience every bit of it!