Monthly Highlights
Today, the Lens Artists Photo Challenge is hosted by John at Journeys With Johnbo. While these are not necessarily my favorite photos stylistically, they do tell the story of my favorite experiences throughout the year and that makes them favorites. The interesting thing about this recap is that all of the photos fit into just two categories – travel and family – definitely favorites.
January
Highlight: Celebrating Malcolm’s birthday with a five-night stay at Montage Palmetto Bluff in South Carolina.
Related Post: January in Review – 2021
February
Highlight: A four-night trip to Jekyll Island, GA to hunt for Island treasures and celebrate Valentine’s Day.
Related Post: Treasure Hunting – A Valentine’s Day Tradition
March/April
Highlight: Two nights in Miami attending the Miami Open tennis tournament. The weather was great and the tennis was exciting.
Related Post: Looking Back, Moving Forward
Highlight: Easter with the family at my MIL’s house.
May
Highlights: We moved out of my MIL’s house and into an apartment. We took a ten-night Caribbean cruise and we celebrated my birthday.
Related Post: Moving Day
I crossed off a bucket list item when I took a scuba diving lesson in the Caribbean.
Related Post: From Ordinary to Extraordinary
Spa treatment, champagne cocktails, dinner, and an overnight stay in a luxurious room – feeling spoiled.
June, July, August
Highlight: Achieving weight loss goals. The summer seemed like a blur as we settled into our new apartment, met new friends, and prepared for a wedding trip. Travel details, wardrobe planning, exercise, and healthy eating dominated these months.
September
Highlight: The wedding. This long-awaited event was not only the highlight of the month but also of the decade. Meticulous planning paid dividends and we enjoyed six perfect nights in Tuscany vacationing at the beautiful Borgo Santo Pietro and celebrating our daughter’s wedding.
Related Post: Under the Tuscan Sun, A Wedding Story
October
Highlight: A five-night stay at Chateau Elan in Brazelton, GA to enjoy a bit of fall foliage.
Related Post: A Taste of Fall
November
Highlight: accommodating alternative traditions and giving thanks. Hosting Thanksgiving a week early enabled our kids to take a vacation to Paris (a much better use of their time, in my opinion). We staycationed at their place in Miami for three nights.
Related Post: Thanks and Giving
December
Highlight: Decorating for Christmas and celebrating in our new apartment. December was a busy month, but we organized the chaos and kept it fun.
Related Post: More December, a Literal Translation
Now that I have officially retired more as my WOTY, I don’t know what I’ll choose next, or even if I will choose a word of the year. Right now, I just want to slow my pace a bit, bask in the sunshine of the year we had, and look forward to the one ahead with anticipation and gratitude.
Picture Retirement 
Hi Suzanne – it was certainly a busy and full-on year for you! Loved how you broke your re-cap up into little snapshots of each month with the explanation to go with the highlights. And I totally understand why you’d be looking forward to a quieter year in 2023 – maybe we’ll both be gliding through the year ahead instead of limping – (me) or running at full speed (you). Happy New Year!
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Hi Leanne, the year was fun and manageable until December and then things got a little hectic. After a few days of downtime (and dry January) I am already feeling rested and ready to jump into the new year. Still haven’t decided on a WOTY, but I have given it some thought. Happy that you are once again gliding along, pain-free.
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I think you would win the prize for the busiest year of all – whew! Loved your approach to the challenge and enjoyed all of the images. Happy 2023 to you!
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Hi Tina, it does look like a lot but it was quite manageable. In fact, I was just lamenting to my husband that we were only away from home 35 days this past year. We plan to step that up in 2023. Happy New Year!
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Wow! You had a full year, not to mention the wedding highlight of the decade. I love the pictures of you two. Always looking cheerful. I especially love the black and white image of Malcolm on his Here’s to a wonderful 2023 and l hope it’s full of more travel. I know you’re chomping at the bit :-).
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Hi Kem, only 35 days of travel this past year, so yes, I am ‘chomping at the bit.’ We will go back to Europe this year and stay longer since there will not be a wedding to focus on. Before that, we will kick off the new year with our annual trip to Jekyll Island for Valentine’s Day and treasure hunting.
I’m looking forward to seeing where the new year takes you and Fed. Happy travels. Wishing you all the best in 2023.
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Oh my, such lovely photos!! And I love the way you’ve done your year in photos. I think I will do mine similar for 2023. Thanks for the inspiration!
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Thank you for the compliment. I’m sure I borrowed the idea from someone who did it this way last year. Enjoy!
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A lovely wrap up to your year! Looks like 2022 was very good to you and yours. Here’s to more of the same for 2023 🥂
Deb
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Thank you and same to you!
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Lovely photos to remember a busy but much accomplished year. Now, on to 2023 adventures!
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Judy, we are grateful for the year we had and looking forward to 2023. Best wishes to you in the new year.
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Hi, Suzanne – I love your 2022 Photo Review. It looks like a very good year with a very busy December. Wishing you a fantastic 2023 ahead!
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Hi Donna, it was a great year and we are feeling good about our plans for 2023. Wishing you all the best.
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Lovely photos. What a busy year you had. I hope 2023 is all that you want it to be!
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Thanks Ally, I have high hopes for the new year. No WOTY yet, but high hopes!
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This is wonderful to see the year in review like this! So hard to pick the pictures, I imagine, though for some months it was probably obvious. You had a glorious year! It’s a lot of work to dig this all out, so cool!
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Hi Dawn, I had fun pulling this together from our year and being reminded of all that we accomplished. Looking forward to 2023. All the best.
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Lots of nice photos of you two. Happy New Year!
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Hi Tracey, wishing you a wonderful new year also.
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You took some terrific photos and so varied. Great photos 😀
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Hi Cee, chronicling our retirement in photos is kinda my thing, so yes, they are all over the place. That’s life, I guess. Thanks for stopping by and have a Happy New Year.
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I’ve enjoyed following your adventures this year! Hoping for many more to come!
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Hi Jan, hopefully, there will be many new memories to record in the new year. Wishing you the same.
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Hello Suzanne and thank you for starting my Monday morning with joy. 2022 was a wonderful year for you. You enjoyed so many different experiences and really lived your life well. Photos tell such a wonderful story don’t they? Happy New Year to you and your husband and I look forward to reading more of your experiences during 2023. xx
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Hi Sue, thank you for your kind words. It has been a beautiful year. We are all healthy and happy and looking forward to the new year. Wishing you the same.
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Great recap of your 2022, Suzanne. Family and travel – they would be my two priorities as well. And good health. I love how you celebrate special events by going on a trip. The wedding was a super highlight, of course. And, moving into your own place again. I’m curious about what 2023 will bring for you both.
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Hi Liesbet, we are curious to see what the new year brings our way as well. Wish I had a crystal ball, but absent that, we will do our best to continue enjoying life. Yes, good health is the key to it all. Wishing you well.
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Suzanne, What a wonderful 2022 you’ve had. Thank you for sharing your highlights and beautiful photos with us. I’ve been enjoying following along. Wishing you and Malcolm a healthy, joyful and fulfilling 2023!
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Natalie, thank you for following along on this crazy journey. I really appreciate your comments. Good wishes for the new year.
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That’s a fabulous re-cap of your year! Great photos of fabulous, fun times. Tell Malcolm – from one January baby to another – Happy Birthday!
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Hi Janis, it was a good year. I’ll pass on your birthday wishes to Malcolm.
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Great selections. Quite a year!
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Thank you for the comment and Happy New Year!
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You’ve clearly had a great year filled with fun family times and travels, and the photos show exactly that 🙂
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Thanks Sara, not my best photos, but clearly my best moments!
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A beautiful year in pictures, Suzanne! Not much else to life than family and travel (except fitness, LOL)!
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Terri, absolutely! Feeling healthy makes everything possible.
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Suzanne, what a wonderful year! A dream wedding, lots of travel and family time – it doesn’t get much better than that.
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What a wonderful way to remember the highlights of this past year. And a big YES to family and travel! Here’s to 2023 being just as memorable!
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Thanks, Christie, hopefully, 2023 will send more goodness to us all. I see no reason why we can’t make it the best yet!
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What a fun way to look back – using a few key photos.
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I love your annual treasure hunt. Its around the corner.
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Yes, we have our hotel booked and are ready to go. It is a beautiful place to enjoy nature. Finding one of the treasures would be a bonus.
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What a wonderful post highlighting all of your monthly joys. Travel and family, that’s definitely the best combination. Wishing you more of the same in 2023. 💗
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Thank you, Miriam. It was a wonderful year and we too are hoping for ‘more of the same.’ Best wishes.
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Happy New Year, Suzanne! You make a great point how sometimes the best photos are the ones that tell a story. Your photos are infused with your beautiful essence, Suzanne. 💕The love for your family always leaps from the pages. You and Malcolm look amazing, healthy and happy. I appreciate your closing paragraph and looking forward with “anticipation and gratitude.” Thank you for sharing an inspirational post.❤️
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Hi Erica, so nice to hear from you. I hope all is well in your corner of the world. The new year is starting out slow for us, which is a good thing. We needed to catch our breath. I miss your presence in the blogosphere and hope that you will consider jumping back in one day soon. In the meanwhile, I’ll keep up with you on Instagram. Thanks for stopping by and Happy New Year.
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A lovely selection of photos. Your portraits are clear and attractive photographs! Enjoy some basking in the sunshine and enjoying a slower pace of life.
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Thank you for somehow finding my blog and leaving me a comment so that I could discover yours. Enjoyed your 2022 recap and photos. I find the thought of moving most distasteful but sounds like you have gotten situated and are enjoying your new home. I was a military wife for years and moved far too many times for my liking.
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Hi, I can’t recall exactly how I discovered your blog but I’m glad that I did. I am generally attracted to lifestyle bloggers who radiate positivity and you seem to have that quality. I look forward to reading more of your posts. Thanks for dropping by and for leaving a comment.
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