2016 was tumultuous for a lot of reasons (cough, politics), but personally, it was maybe the best year I’ve spent on this earth. I quit my full-time job, flew alone to the other side of the world, and spent three of the most glorious and hardest months of my life backpacking in Southeast Asia. I found strength and serenity in myself there, and met some amazing people who will be friends for life. At home, I dug into work with New Americans and somehow was able to pay my rent and feed myself in my first year as a full-time freelancer. I spent a month traipsing around Europe with my sister, spent time with my entire family in Ireland, a place that’s very close to my heart, and loved on friends in places near and far. The entire year was a whirlwind that left me exhausted, grateful, and ready for what’s next.

January

• Started life post-full-time-job and became part-time traveler/mostly-full-time-freelancer.
• Skiied for the first time in a few years. On top of the mountain is one of my happy places.
• Did tons and tons of research on Southeast Asia and budget backpacking to prepare for the trip of a lifetime.
• Cooked lots of family dinners with friends. Drank good wine, ate good cheese, learned how to make homemade pasta.

February

• Said some tearful goodbyes and set off for a three-month-long solo journey through Southeast Asia.
• Rode my first motorbike and didn’t crash (but definitely almost did a few times).
• Discovered one of my new favorite places in the world in Myanmar.
• Went on my first multi-day trek. Discovered I really love hiking.
• Cried, felt homesick, actually sick, and scared.

March

• Found joy in revisiting a place I’ve already been.
• Found new parts of Thailand I fell in love with.
• Ate ALL the Thai curry.
• Traveled with my very favorite travel buddy.
• Saw some seriously amazing temples at Ankor Wat.

April

• Made some wonderful friends traveling in Vietnam.
• Hiked a whole lot, and loved every minute of it.
• Met up with friends form Omaha for a spectacular end to my trip in Japan.
• Had the best (and most expensive) meal of my damn life in Osaka.

May

• Made it home in one piece.
• Watched my good friend Maddie marry the love of her life.
• Jumped back into freelance with meetings, weddings, and shoots.
• Flew to Seattle for Sasquatch Music Festival. Saw some of my very favorite bands perform live.

June

• Spent a wonderful week shooting photos and video throughout Nebraska for the storytelling leg of Hear Nebraska’s Good Living Tour.
• Started working with some amazing people on New American Voice to start telling the stories of refugees in Omaha.
• Said goodbye to my childhood home and a lot of memories.

July

• Embarked on a month-long adventure with my sister to central Europe.
• Ate a lot of cheese and drank a lot of wine.
• Watched Erin discover the wonder of traveling abroad.
• Visited both new and old friends living in Germany and Sweden.

August

• Spent a week in Ireland with our new little family.
• Explored old places and some new ones, and had a lot of fun showing my family a country that’s very special to me.
• Did a lot of yoga.
• Took tons and tons and tons of senior photos.
• Had a wonderful day shooting video for Maha Music Festival

September

• Worked remote for two weeks in Spirit Lake, ID.
• Spent time with so many good friends on boats and in the mountains.
• Played Catan more than necessary.
• Rode horses.
• Reunited with college friends on a last-minute trip to Milwaukee.

October

• Photographed concerts again at Lincoln Calling, one of my very favorite festivals.
• Watched my mom get married to a wonderful human, and celebrated with some of the best people I know.

November

• Visited Montreal with Hannah and ate all the food.
• Crossed Vermont off my list of states and enjoyed time in Burlington.
• Voted for a woman to be president.

December

• Hung out with great friends in Chicago.
• Spent time visiting and getting to know refugees in Omaha.
• Attended my first photography workshop.
• Spent lots of time with our new, now bigger family at all sorts of holiday parties.
• Prepared for a great big adventure with Alex and some of our best friends to start out 2017.