Happy summer, Millcreekers and Fairviewians! My family was lucky enough to be the featured family last month (and I encourage any of you to sign up—it was so much fun!). You may have noticed there were some important people missing from the cover: our kids!
When we signed up, our son was waiting to receive his dates for Air Force boot camp. As luck would have it, he was called to San Antonio right before our photo shoot. Our daughter had just graduated from high school and had an event come up that conflicted with the schedule. At first, I was disappointed that it would just be me, my husband, and our canine children. I mean, what kind of family photo doesn’t include the kids?
Then I realized how truly blessed we are. If our kids were going to miss our family photo shoot, it was because they were out seizing opportunities and pursuing their dreams. What more could a parent ask for?
Now that our kids are grown and beginning adventures of their own, I’ve found myself thinking even more about dreams and goals. In my March article, I challenged all of us to revisit our New Year’s goals and maybe recommit to them. Setting a goal and making a plan to achieve it can feel intimidating, but the feeling you get when you finally accomplish it is unlike anything else.
I’m happy to say that my husband and I achieved our New Year’s goal of running a half marathon by completing the Gettysburg Half Marathon in April. Crossing that finish line brought an incredible sense of accomplishment. During training, I ran a total of 156 miles, all leading up to one unforgettable moment: crossing the finish line, receiving my medal, and realizing that I had done something I once wasn’t sure I could do.
I look at my kids and hope they experience that same feeling—that they see the value of hard work and the confidence that comes from achieving something meaningful. My son has now completed boot camp and is waiting to leave for technical training. Watching him graduate from Air Force basic training, knowing how hard he worked during those eight weeks, made me incredibly proud. The look on his face when we tapped him out is a memory I’ll treasure forever. There’s something so rewarding about putting in the work, reaching a goal, and discovering you’re capable of more than you imagined. Once you experience that, the world starts to feel a whole lot bigger.
We’re already more than halfway through 2026, but there’s still plenty of time to make those big moves. What do you hope to accomplish before the year ends? And if you’ve already reached your goals, what’s next on your horizon? A new hobby? A new degree? Maybe even a full marathon?
Whatever your next challenge may be, now is the perfect time to begin. The finish line may seem far away today, but every accomplishment starts with taking that first step.
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