It’s hard to fathom that in a few days all of our calendars will read 2026.
Two Thousand Twenty Six?!
I’m able to recall years, events, concerts, trips, and memorable moments with ease - but something about 2026 just seems far-out. Time can’t be moving that fast.
Here’s an all-to-real, simple slap to the face you may need to hear again - it is. Time. Life is fleeting. I hope you’re making the most of yours.
I didn’t think anything could top 2024 in my eyes, and holy smokes was I wrong. No, not every year is “the best year yet” - but hey, 2025 sure was! Wow was that fun! In other words…
It was one for the ages.
In March, we had nearly the entire Kneeland crew at the farm in Summit for our Grandma Myla’s 95th birthday celebration. Nine-Five. We sent out a “Card Shower” invite and had 95 roses spread throughout the dining room as we laughed, ate some cake, and listened to Grandma’s stories. Then, over 150 birthday cards showed up. She was shook with gratitude!
Becca and I snowboarded with her Dad at the end of March, and a week later we were having ice cream with Austin and our crazy, loving Sutton on B&G’s patio. We met with a wedding planner in April and searched for Easter Eggs in Bowdle. In May we flew to Austin, TX to meet the newest member of the Martin Clan - Emmie Jo! She made 2 sounds all weekend as we swam in the pool with Ellis and grabbed food truck fuel at The Crossover.
I spent a weekend at the farm for Mother’s Day and flew out to Las Vegas the following for a whirlwind weekend with Becca, Jordan & Kaylor, The Lang Gang, and our favorite musician - Kygo. Talk about positive vibes.
The Kneeland - Martin - Lake clan soaked up the rays on the river for July 4th. We lost our vocals singing to Nickelback in Sioux Falls and I was able to witness two of the very best get married in August. A group of my closest yahoo’s took me out to Austin for my Bachelor Party where we laughed until our faces hurt, watched Mitch ref a wrestling match in the backyard, and of course debated every sports-related conversation we could think of - old and new.
Like I said, one for the ages.
And we aren’t even to the best part.
First off, I’d like to ask a rhetorical question - WHO KNEW that wedding planning took so much… planning?
As an old school, go-with-the-flow kind of guy - woof. Not my cup of tea. Thankfully, my wife Becca and our planner Loghin took the details head-on and crushed it. Absolutely crushed it. THANK YOU.
A Fall weekend in September took the cake, easily. Every single piece of advice I heard about “just simply slow down and enjoy the day” - I put to use. It worked.
Sure, there were a lot of moving parts. A lot of pictures. No, really. A lot of handshakes and a lot of yes’s, no’s, be here’s, be there’s, and read the interary’s. A lot.
But, at the heart of it all was pure joy. Presence. Love. I was grinning from ear to ear, all day and night. Being surrounded by your people, while you marry your person, is something I don’t have many words for. I can walk through every moment, every conversation, every dance, and all the moments in between and smile with ease. Simply put - September 26th was the BEST DAY EVER.
A few years ago I made a pact to myself to live with Intention. My conversations, questions, decisions, and experiences - intentionally. I live my life with a certain energy and curiosity about it, and it has served me well. I am not bragging, I am simply grateful for the people and experiences that I’ve been able to enjoy - and I think the intentionality, confidence, and Faith behind it is the reason why.
You have that same power.
It’s 2026. Take a LEAP! Stretch yourself and get out of your comfort zone. Whatever you want in life, GO FOR IT. Why wouldn’t you?
You have the power. You have the fuel. Your thoughts, your words, your actions - all intentional. Backed by Faith and a certain belief that you can. Because I mean it, you can.
And make sure that in 2026, you DO.
Thank you for being here. Thank you for following. Thank you for reaching out.
2025 is in the books. We’re on to a new year. The best year yet.
Make It Count.