Best Surprises of 2024

I’m bringing back this tradition simply because the end of the year tends to unearth melancholy and sketch sadness around its borders. We are ready to toss out the old year and put all our hopes in the new. Yet, it’s good to take a moment and look at how the past year surprised and delighted us. Every year brings joy and sorrow, but for today, let’s focus on the joy.

1. First and BEST, Heather and Stefan, Sammie, and Ben surprised us with the news of new babies expected in 2025! Heather and Stefan offered their good news on Thanksgiving (June 2025), and Sammie and Ben announced a baby arriving in August 2025 on Christmas Eve. Both announcements were met with tears, laughter, and predictions. More boys? A girl? One of each?

2. Nothing can compete with new babies, right? So the rest of the list will proceed in no order whatsoever. One of our best discoveries this year was The Ancient Tradition podcast. To call The Ancient Tradition life-changing is no exaggeration. The Ancient Tradition explores the spiritual and historical threads that connect ancient teachings with modern faith traditions. The episodes delve into universal truths found in sacred texts, archeological discoveries, and shared symbols. Also, their incredible website houses photos, reading lists, in-depth show notes, and lists of scholars. They have a YouTube channel and a sister podcast with recordings of ancient manuscripts. The Ancient Tradition generously provides this wealth of knowledge at no cost, with its podcast meticulously researched and hosted by Dr. Jack Logan (a pseudonym). I admire how she shares such valuable information selflessly, seeking neither monetary gain nor personal recognition. If anyone knows her, please extend my thanks.

3. We were unprepared for the breathtaking majesty of Notre Dame de Paris reopening. The ceremonies, available to watch on YouTube, begin with two hours of sweeping drone footage of Paris and glimpses of notable figures. Then, at the 2-hour-and-15-minute mark, Paris Archbishop Laurent Ulrich approaches the cathedral doors, wielding a staff carved from fire-scorched beams, and strikes them three times. It’s an extraordinary moment. As the doors swing open, Notre Dame stands transformed—gleaming in pristine white, every detail meticulously restored, and alive with music. For members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the scene resonates with temple symbolism, adding yet another layer of reverence to this remarkable event.

4. As you might imagine, I’m eager to return to Paris to see the newly restored Notre Dame Cathedral in person. But 2024 surprised us with an unexpected trip to the City of Light. Madi—our queen of budget travel—discovered $600 non-stop flights to Paris during the Olympics. We also snagged an unbelievably cheap Airbnb in the heart of the city (granted, Erik couldn’t stand up straight, but the rest of us managed fine as long as we kept our elbows tucked in). We splurged on tickets to exactly one event—the least expensive and most readily available: Women’s Rugby 7s. To our delight, we were completely swept up in the beauty of the game, joined Ilona Maher’s fan club, and even chatted with Spiff Sedrick’s aunt shortly before her game-winning sprint earned the U.S. Women’s Rugby team a bronze medal.

To make the trip even more incredible, Madi witnessed her junior high friend, Haley Batten, win a silver medal in mountain biking. Everything about the trip felt extraordinary.

5. Although we’re huge fans of the Olympics and enjoy many sports, you might be surprised to learn we’re not really a football family. So, we’ve all been taken aback by Wellsie’s intense passion for the game. He insists on hours of throwing, kicking, running, and tackling. We all find it hilarious, and I can hardly believe I’m now searching Amazon Prime for football games to watch with him.

6. It shouldn’t be surprising that Fritzie is eager to read, sound out words, and write sweet little notes with his four-year-old spelling. But is there anything truly ordinary about watching a child learn? It’s marvelous to witness.

7. When Ben and Sammie started planning a November trip to Disneyland, they were surprised to find that flights to Copenhagen were actually less expensive. Seizing the opportunity, they spent a magical week in Denmark, exploring the Christmas markets, eating pastries, visiting Grandma Maria’s former homes in Odense and Copenhagen, and soaking in the twinkling wonder of Tivoli. The trip was unforgettable for everyone, but if you watch the video, you might agree that Lars, visiting the homeland of his namesake, seemed to savor it the most.

8. Erik surprised us all by getting even stronger and earning multiple PRs at the gym. As Mary says, “It’s amazing what the elderly can do these days.”

9. After decades of chasing the endorphin rush from cardio workouts and dabbling in weightlifting, I finally took the advice of experts: eat more protein and lift weights consistently. And guess what? It works!

Yes, I made my own meme just for this.

10. A Gentleman in Moscow was hands down the best movie/TV series I watched this year. As a devoted fan of the book, I hesitated to give it a try, knowing some plot points had been changed. Yet, it exceeded my expectations and proved to be well worth the watch.

11. In June, I began a Master of Arts in Constitutional Government, Civics, and Law at Utah Valley University (UVU). My goal is to become an Institute Instructor, ideally at the University of Utah. I was speaking on a panel at UVU the very day they announced this new master’s degree. At the time, I was actively working on reenrolling at the University of Utah, but as soon as I heard about UVU’s program, I knew it was the right path for me. I applied almost immediately, drawn to its promises of being fast, inexpensive, and easy to earn my degree.

Two out of three isn’t bad, right? The program is fast—only 14 months—and inexpensive at $11,000, but it’s far from easy. From the first day in June, I was thrown into the deep end with hundreds of pages of reading each day and seven hours of class. Yet somehow, my cohort of 24 students and I managed to make it through together, bonding over shared complaints, laughter, and a determination to succeed. Most of my classmates are middle or high school teachers, and they are some of the kindest, smartest, and funniest people I’ve ever had the privilege of knowing. They also know far more about constitutional law and civics than I do.

When I applied, I noticed a brief mention of a trip to Oxford, but I didn’t take it seriously. In June, I received an email confirming I’d be spending all of October at Oxford with four classmates, conducting research. That month answered hundreds of questions in my life and fulfilled fifty thousand prayers. I savored walking through the gardens at Christ Church, attending Evensong almost nightly, spending hours in the library, and wondering which fork to use at High Table.

Erik was adorably sad about me leaving for a month, but he joined me for ten days in the middle (and had an amazing experience of his own). This meant we were only apart for ten days on either side. It was hard to leave my family, but the timing couldn’t have been better. When I tried to pursue a master’s degree in 2019, it was too soon—Mary and Gabe were still in high school, and it felt impossible. This time, everything aligned. Even though I’m still struggling through much of the coursework, I’m deeply grateful for this opportunity. If you have even the slightest interest in this program, you should apply immediately.

12. When we received our dates for Oxford, the delightful Ruth from Pembroke College informed us that each student would be assigned a tutor to assist with research. Thrilled by the prospect, I imagined being paired with a graduate student who would guide me through the library and help uncover new insights about religious freedom in the UK. Just days before my departure for England, however, I received an unexpected email from Dr. Andrew Teal, chaplain, fellow, and lecturer in theology at Pembroke College, Oxford. Dr. Teal, who is also a close friend of Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, has cultivated a strong relationship with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You can find his inspiring BYU speeches Building a Beloved Community, A Transforming Excellence, and Jesus Christ: the Complete Self-Expression of the true God in True Humanity. Remarkably, Xander had even written him fan mail in 2021, and Dr. Teal responded with characteristic kindness.

You might think I’d feel intimidated sitting across from Dr. Teal in his glorious office, lined with red bookshelves and once occupied by J.R.R. Tolkien. But his warmth, kindness, and genuine humility immediately put me at ease, and we formed a fast friendship. A true scholar with a vivid intellect, Dr. Teal focuses not on impressing others but on making his work accessible—a hallmark of his Christlike humility. We spent hours discussing Christian theology, temple worship, Anglican traditions, and ways to live as true disciples of Christ. His guidance helped me narrow my thesis to an analysis of the British Coronation and its impact on religious freedom—a topic that beautifully marries my love for theology with constitutional law. Beyond shaping my research, Dr. Teal introduced me to key individuals in Utah who could support my goal of teaching institute.

Whenever I’m tempted to doubt God’s hand in my life, I’ll remember the miracle of Dr. Teal’s timely arrival. His assistance felt as divinely orchestrated for my life as the parting of the Red Sea for the Israelites.

14. The day after Thanksgiving, we all headed up Millcreek Canyon, making our way past the snow gate and then skiing back down—this time with all three babies on skis! We hadn’t expected the 2-year-olds to start skiing for another year, but their determination and excitement to learn surprised us all. After so many years of scrambling to find lost mittens, replacing outgrown boots at the ski swap, and buying yet another set of poles, it felt like a small miracle to have everyone fully outfitted and up the canyon together on the same day. Watching these little boys take their first turns on the snow, it’s easy to imagine they’ll be outskiing us before we know it ❤️

15. I can’t wrap up this list without celebrating one of Erik’s greatest accomplishments of the year: he built a shed and transformed our perpetually cluttered garage space into one that now fits not one, but two cars. Honestly, I didn’t think it was possible. I supported his plans, lent a hand where I could, and even painted the shed green. But even with a charming new shed in the backyard, I couldn’t imagine the garage accommodating his giant pickup truck alongside our little white Volvo. I’m amazed—and thrilled—that he proved me wrong.

We have many prayers, plans, goals, and expectations for 2025. Yet, what excites me most are the miracles we can’t foresee, the new friends who will enrich our lives, the unexpected opportunities, and the days when things go oh-so-right.

Here’s to a joyful New Year—may your prayers be answered, your plans exceed your hopes, and hidden treasures fill your days.

xoxo, m