Day 11 - Kick out 2025 | GAME

[KimPay]

Well 2025 certainly didn't go as planned. It's been 6 years since I fell & badly broke my leg. Getting back to walking and moving without pain has taken years of exercise & hard work but finally I was feeling back to normal. And then came August....I took a nasty fall in a supermarket parking lot. A broken arm, torn ligaments in both knees & a grapefruit sized hematoma sidelined my walking tours & doing much of anything else too. I'm grateful for a wonderful medical team which has me able to walk albeit slowly. The ground here is covered in ice & snow which has me a little scared of walking even with walking poles. So I've mustered the courage to join a walking group at a gym with an indoor track where I can also continue physio treatments. Most of the other walkers are half my age but they've been incredibly welcoming & are encouraging me to keep going. I'm looking forward to 2026 & getting back to walking on the river paths & even some venturing out on new paths with some of my new walking friends.

 

[Su_Sanne]

2026....i would want the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change those I can and the wisdom to know the difference. People can only take my happiness if I allow them to do so. Sometimes people we know and love cease to exist as the people we knew and even though their body is walking the earth, there is no morale compass left within them. I cannot relinquish my power over my happiness. My life is the stuff reality shows are made of, with hubs warring family, while reality isn't a Hallmark movie, I want serenity of spirit and soul and that is something I have to get for myself. I've gotten lazy about the gym, I've gotten lazy about most things other than scrapping. In 32 days I'm leaving the frozen tundra or Minnesota and going to my little piece of paradise where I can breathe, and stress floats away and I can stare at the beauty of the ocean, and that is the serenity I'm going to hang on to in 2026 because there are some things I just cannot change. This is a bunch of rambling and not uplifting, but it will be again, still rambling no doubt, but lifted higher than it is now.

Hello, my Dear!
First of all, a big hug.

Where do I know this mantra from? I did autogenic training when I was younger and also read books about serenity and letting go. The books are still somewhere in the house.

I'm so sorry that there's no peace in your family. You always wonder why it's like this? You don't even want it. It doesn't feel right. Why do you still meet up if it only hurts, if you can't be happy and peaceful together?!? You suffer again and again, and it drains your energy and nerves. Your escape seems to be to retreat to your paradise. Luckily, you can find confidence there again and hope for the inner peace you so desperately desire and that we all need.

I truly hope that you find a way to understand each other and that you can at least be peaceful together when you meet. We have such huge problems in the world! How can we be role models if we can't even understand each other within our own families?

All the best, dear Jeanne! I'm so glad that despite your problem you can still radiate so much joy and cheer.

 

[carrie1977]

2025 has been a rough year. My marriage is falling apart and life has been a struggle in many ways. I've put on a lot of extra pounds this year due to added stressors. I'm working on myself and what makes me happy. Hoping 2026 will bring the changes I need to make me happy with life and with myself.

One thing that did bring me happiness this last year though was watching my daughter really blossom. She really struggled for a few years but she's been working for a year now. She bought her first car. She's getting out of the house more with her friends and not just hiding in her room. She's laughing again. Her laugh makes me so happy. I just love watching her come back to life.

OK...off to wipe the tears from my face....

 

[biche57]

So, I'm going to be honest, but I don't want any tears or pity, that's not my goal, but the one thing I never want to experience again is this. My husband was diagnosed with polycythemia vera in October 2025. He was visibly wasting away. Finally, he was given medication. I thought, great! He'll finally get better. Well, no... barely 10 days later, he became a complete vegetable... I had to carry him to bed, etc... uh, I've never had any training for this, have you ever tried lifting and moving a 50 kg person who's a rag doll but looks like they weigh 100 kg??? Ugh, I was furious, I screamed, I cried, but I never gave up. I kicked up a fuss at the hospitals, I said "enough" to the "more or less" and the doctors' astonishment! And finally, they acknowledged that he was having a very bad reaction to his medication (very rare). Now, thank goodness, he's slowly regaining his strength, thanks to another medication (very expensive, so no wonder they never give it first, phew!!)... I'm still standing (and so is he), but I really don't want to go through anything like that again!...

 

[Amandajk]

I'm ready to leave 2025 behind!... I was helping an organization that assisted legal refugees--that program has been decimated.

I can understand that - our DD has spearheaded the ONLY program for Burmese Rohingya peoples, and now their families cannot be united. I have my own thoughts on this from both perspectives and I believe it WILL get sorted out soon, but not "soon" to those directly involved. Just wanted you to know someone else gets it, Merry Christmas and Hope for the New Year.

 

[Su_Sanne]

L'année 2025 a été gratinée, comme l'on dit chez nous en France, nous avons hâte qu'elle disparaisse.
Les désagréments :
Un mur de 18m de long de + de 100ans d'âge s'est effondré et du côté rue bien évidemment, j'ai eu peur , j'en ai pas dormi pendant plusieurs jours, tout ça dû à la pluie qui est tombée pendant des jours.
Quelques jours plus tard, dans la même semaine, mon lave-line qui nous a dit j'en ai marre, le téléviseur nous a dit bye bye ainsi que le micro-onde, on s'est posé des questions??????
Et au début de l'été un blaireau est venu saccager la nuit une partie des arbustes de notre jardin. En parlant poliment que des m.....
La partie positive :
J'ai assisté avec ma petite sœur à deux concerts, celui de Sting et de Simple Red du pur bonheur et une bouffée d'oxygène.

Merci pour ton message, Hildy !

Ce sont exactement ces petits et grands soucis du quotidien qui peuvent parfois nous épuiser. Tout s'accumule, et puis on se dit : « Ça suffit ! » Je pense que nous sommes tous soumis à une forte pression à cause de la situation mondiale. Nous ne sommes plus aussi résistants ! Ce n'est pas étonnant. Je m'emporte plus souvent ces dernières années, ce qui ne me ressemble pas du tout.
Quel était ce mur qui s'est effondré chez toi, et pourquoi s'est-il effondré ?
J'aime tous les animaux, tant qu'ils restent dans leur habitat. Les blaireaux peuvent être assez désagréables et causer des dégâts. Personne ne souhaite cela.
Tout ce que nous pouvons faire, c'est espérer qu'un jour nous serons capables d'affronter les défis du quotidien avec plus de sérénité.

Bien à vous de notre pays voisin.
PS : J'aurais adoré voir et entendre Simply Red et Sting !!! ♥
P.S. J'espère que Google a bien traduit le tout, car mon français n'a malheureusement jamais été très bon et on oublie tout avec le temps !

 

[Su_Sanne]

I will not miss the 5-hour plane rides back and forth to do respite care, the narrow, crazy Honolulu streets on which you always have to be in the correct lane or you'll end up somewhere you don't want to be or the poorly-maintained old family car that breaks down repeatedly while I'm driving on said streets. I've got two more trips in Jan and Feb 2026 and then I catch a break (I hope) for a few months. OTOH I am grateful for the amazing people who have been helping my dad out.

Okay, that sounds like pure stress!
Thanks for your contribution to our game, which is really getting intense. I can barely catch my breath...

How is your father doing now?
Honolulu? That sounds so wonderfully exotic, far away, beautiful sea, palm trees, and a relaxed vibe.

In any case, you now have a few days over Christmas to recover and recharge.

Merry and peaceful Christmas to you and your family!

 

[Su_Sanne]

I'm agreeing with Ginette @Wimmeke and want to kick out negativity and hateful feelings among peoples. Ok... it's a pipe dream, but wouldn't it be wonderful if everyone was a little kinder with one another? I love our scrapping family for many reasons but the big one is this: we are all creative. I believe just the act of creating makes this a better world. We are all adding beauty to it.

You're so right, Diane! It could all be so simple!
I also think this is a great place to unwind and create something beautiful.

Thank you so much for participating in our game!
Wishing you and your family a wonderful Christmas Time

 

[Su_Sanne]

I am throwing out my debt. I closed out an annuity and paid off all of my credit cards and car loan. When I paid the last one, I felt such a large weight lift off my shoulders. So no more debt!

Wow, if that's not something to celebrate...

Then you can leave 2025 with peace of mind and start the new year debt-free.
That's truly fantastic.

All that remains is to wish you and your family a wonderful Christmas!
Stay healthy!

 

[Jagruti Patel]

Oh so many things, but I don't know if I can, will be hard! Kicking out being hard on myself, feeling bad about how I think I look, feeling guilty for not doing more, feeling guilty for resting, just guilt in general...lol! I am my worst critic!

 

[Celestine]

I am kicking out estate problems! My relatively healthy step-father died very suddenly this year in an accident, leaving behind a complicated financial mess, debt, and a very large, very unorganized barn building stuffed to the rafters with mostly broken equipment, ten versions of every tool imaginable, and found "treasures" from who knows where. Then we walked back into the property and found more hidden "treasures" hidden in the brush and woods. It has taken teams of family members hundreds of hours to cull, sort, clean and prepare for auction and to sell the property. We still have a little more to go, but I recently learned that a nephew is very interested in buying the incredible house my step-father built for my long-deceased mother. Such wonderful news! We will treasure the family legacy on this beautiful land and remember the happy times with our missing loved ones.

 

[Su_Sanne]

I'm ready to leave 2025 behind! It was a tough year starting with the sudden death of my big brother. My 90-year old father had to be put in a memory care facility and we sold the last of his beef cattle herd--he'd been farming for more than 60 years! My husband's job (self-employed) took a very unexpected hit and since I'm also self-employed we may not be able to afford healthcare next year. I won't even get into my feelings about what has been happening in our country this year. I was helping an organization that assisted legal refugees--that program has been decimated.

SO...2026. My daughter is getting married! My goal is just to spread love and kindness in my small part of the world. Other than that everything is up in the air.

First of all, thank you for sharing your worries and troubles with us.
This is the place.

My deepest condolences on the loss of your brother. When this grief is compounded by the worry about your father's dementia, you've long since reached the limit of what's bearable. I can well understand that you want to put this year behind you. Then there's the political situation, about which I unfortunately can offer little insight. And of course, the loss of life as you've always known it. There are times when you can only survive by pushing yourself to the limit without succumbing to despair.

I hope and wish you and your loved ones a peaceful Christmas filled with renewed hope and small, positive events that lift your spirits. All my love ♥

 

[JeanneMN]

Hello, my Dear!
First of all, a big hug.

Where do I know this mantra from? I did autogenic training when I was younger and also read books about serenity and letting go. The books are still somewhere in the house.

I'm so sorry that there's no peace in your family. You always wonder why it's like this? You don't even want it. It doesn't feel right. Why do you still meet up if it only hurts, if you can't be happy and peaceful together?!? You suffer again and again, and it drains your energy and nerves. Your escape seems to be to retreat to your paradise. Luckily, you can find confidence there again and hope for the inner peace you so desperately desire and that we all need.

I truly hope that you find a way to understand each other and that you can at least be peaceful together when you meet. We have such huge problems in the world! How can we be role models if we can't even understand each other within our own families?

All the best, dear Jeanne! I'm so glad that despite your problem you can still radiate so much joy and cheer.

It's from the serenity prayer that they use at various support groups, but it's a good mantra for all of us. Sometimes you just have to cut the weeds out of the garden so the flowers can thrive, someone who lies to children, punishes them for loving those who love them, and using them as weapons no longer has a place in my life. I find my joy among those who do love me, hang on to every precious moment I do have, and I LOVE this group because it's like a warm cozy spot in front of the fireplace. The world needs us, we spread joy together.

 

[zlemon]

Hi Christy,
Thanks for your post, even if it might not be welcome here. I promised this is a place to vent!

I understand your frustration very well, especially since we in Europe have our own opinions about your government. And it saddens me that the world is becoming so deeply divided because of it. America was our reliable ally for many years! Please don't be offended if I leave it at that! I really like the women here because we share a hobby, and sometimes—that's how I feel—so much more! I don't want to jeopardize that.

We can certainly discuss this further in a private message if you like!
In any case, I admire your commitment and your willingness to take action instead of just watching. Bravo!!
As I've always said: The world needs committed women!!

Thank you so much for your wise words. I 100% agree, the world definitely needs committed women.

 

[JeanneMN]

Oh so many things, but I don't know if I can, will be hard! Kicking out being hard on myself, feeling bad about how I think I look, feeling guilty for not doing more, feeling guilty for resting, just guilt in general...lol! I am my worst critic!

I think we are related. I listen to Helen Reddy "I Am Woman" when I need some good speak for myself. You are beautiful and talented and my first thought was "Catholic" LOL because I have more guilt than you can shake a fist at.

 

[nobles]

During a training week with my dog in the Flumserberg, I took a trip up into the mountains. After a cable car ride, I went for a walk with my dog Josie on her leash. The view from the top was fantastic. I took several photos, letting Josie off her leash each time. Shortly before the end of the walk, I wanted to take a picture with a mountain restaurant in the background, which we often visit. As usual, I removed the leash for a nice picture. Suddenly, a whistle blew, and Josie was gone. She ran down the slope, and I saw two marmots disappear into their burrows. Calling for Josie was no use; she ran crisscrossing, following all the marmot tracks. As Josie started to come back up to me, another whistle sounded farther away. So Josie abandoned her return route and followed the whistle. In total, I waited for over 20 minutes until my dog happily came back to me on the path. Since I had tried to lure her with treats earlier, she now asked for one.
... I refrained from scolding her, as it would have been pointless; instead, I praised her for happily returning to me. The whole situation was dangerous, as there were rocks and holes everywhere, and I was worried something might happen to Josie. In the future, I won't let Josie off the leash if there might be marmots in the area.

Fotos of the complete area and Josie chasing marmots (without success)

 

[Wimmeke]

L'année 2025 a été gratinée, comme l'on dit chez nous en France, nous avons hâte qu'elle disparaisse.
Les désagréments :
Un mur de 18m de long de + de 100ans d'âge s'est effondré et du côté rue bien évidemment, j'ai eu peur , j'en ai pas dormi pendant plusieurs jours, tout ça dû à la pluie qui est tombée pendant des jours.
Quelques jours plus tard, dans la même semaine, mon lave-line qui nous a dit j'en ai marre, le téléviseur nous a dit bye bye ainsi que le micro-onde, on s'est posé des questions??????
Et au début de l'été un blaireau est venu saccager la nuit une partie des arbustes de notre jardin. En parlant poliment que des m.....
La partie positive :
J'ai assisté avec ma petite sœur à deux concerts, celui de Sting et de Simple Red du pur bonheur et une bouffée d'oxygène.

Ma soeur et ma maman habite aussi en France, A Hyères. Oui, quand tout commence à dérailler, ce ne sont généralement pas un seul appareil électrique, mais plusieurs qui tombent en panne. Ça m'est arrivé aussi, surtout quand on est presque à sec. Quelle chance tu as eue de découvrir Sting en concert ! J'ai aussi vu Simply Red au festival de Bruges – c'était absolument magnifique ! J'ai assisté à un concert de Patriek Bruel cette année, un artiste que je voulais absolument voir depuis longtemps ; j'étais ravie. J'espère que ces petits tracas vont bientôt s'estomper, et je te souhaite un joyeux Noël et une excellente année !

 

[Su_Sanne]

Well 2025 certainly didn't go as planned. It's been 6 years since I fell & badly broke my leg. Getting back to walking and moving without pain has taken years of exercise & hard work but finally I was feeling back to normal. And then came August....I took a nasty fall in a supermarket parking lot. A broken arm, torn ligaments in both knees & a grapefruit sized hematoma sidelined my walking tours & doing much of anything else too. I'm grateful for a wonderful medical team which has me able to walk albeit slowly. The ground here is covered in ice & snow which has me a little scared of walking even with walking poles. So I've mustered the courage to join a walking group at a gym with an indoor track where I can also continue physio treatments. Most of the other walkers are half my age but they've been incredibly welcoming & are encouraging me to keep going. I'm looking forward to 2026 & getting back to walking on the river paths & even some venturing out on new paths with some of my new walking friends.

Oh no!! Are you at least pain-free?
Couldn't you try using a walker while you're recovering? Do you have those where you live? Please don't take any risks with that hiking group in the winter when there's snow and ice. If you fall again, you might not be able to walk at all.

You've really been through a lot, Kim! It's hard to believe when you see your beautiful layouts.
But it's like my mother always said: There's always a problem under every roof!

So all that's left for me to do is thank you for participating, wish you a speedy recovery,
and a Merry Christmas!

 

[CathQuillScrap]

I don't have a problem with 2025... it's been a good year when I look back on it. The one thing I hope does change from this year is weather delays for my son's flying (it's been a very wet summer here)... praying very hard for everything to line up for next year so he can complete his CPL training... good weather, no maintenance delays and a big bank balance to pay for it all.

 

[AK_Tracy]

I have actually liked 2025. It was a good year for me with many blessings. If I had to kick something out with 2025 I would say my own self criticism. I am too hard on myself and never give self grace. So I will attempt to kick it out. But 2025 was a great year for me with many new and fun adventures.

 

[JoanK]

As I read the concerns of so many of my fellow scrappers, I am reminded that I am incredibly blessed.
So ..... I'm going to keep it light and say that I am kicking out my Diet Coke habit. A while back, I cut out all soft drinks for several years, so I know I can do it again! Now coffee - that's a whole different story!

 

[Su_Sanne]

2025 has been a rough year. My marriage is falling apart and life has been a struggle in many ways. I've put on a lot of extra pounds this year due to added stressors. I'm working on myself and what makes me happy. Hoping 2026 will bring the changes I need to make me happy with life and with myself.

One thing that did bring me happiness this last year though was watching my daughter really blossom. She really struggled for a few years but she's been working for a year now. She bought her first car. She's getting out of the house more with her friends and not just hiding in her room. She's laughing again. Her laugh makes me so happy. I just love watching her come back to life.

OK...off to wipe the tears from my face....

Oh Carrie, it sounds like you need a big hug, a tissue, and a shoulder to cry on!
This is the place for that!

As we're all reading here, it seems 2025 hasn't been a particularly good year for most of us. So many fates, sad occasions, and tough challenges! I'm sure you'll overcome your crises too and emerge stronger. Your daughter is leading the way with greater self-confidence. And you'll do it too. And if this marriage doesn't last, then you'll have to find new paths. So many possibilities, so much still to experience. I find that in critical situations, we often rise above ourselves and are amazed at what we're capable of. I wish you strength and confidence for that!

All the best, and despite everything, a happy and healthy Christmas.

 

[Su_Sanne]

So, I'm going to be honest, but I don't want any tears or pity, that's not my goal, but the one thing I never want to experience again is this. My husband was diagnosed with polycythemia vera in October 2025. He was visibly wasting away. Finally, he was given medication. I thought, great! He'll finally get better. Well, no... barely 10 days later, he became a complete vegetable... I had to carry him to bed, etc... uh, I've never had any training for this, have you ever tried lifting and moving a 50 kg person who's a rag doll but looks like they weigh 100 kg??? Ugh, I was furious, I screamed, I cried, but I never gave up. I kicked up a fuss at the hospitals, I said "enough" to the "more or less" and the doctors' astonishment! And finally, they acknowledged that he was having a very bad reaction to his medication (very rare). Now, thank goodness, he's slowly regaining his strength, thanks to another medication (very expensive, so no wonder they never give it first, phew!!)... I'm still standing (and so is he), but I really don't want to go through anything like that again!...

Oh my God! That's truly awful! I'm so glad you're both on the mend, because this situation must have been unbearable for both of you. It's wonderful that you had so much anger and strength to stand up to the doctors. It's such a shame when something like this happens! Yes, side effects can always occur, but so suddenly and without warning?

I wish your husband a speedy recovery and hope you get some peace and quiet now!

Thank you for your honest words!
Wishing you both a merry Christmas

 

[easyeyes4you]

2025 Has been mostly a good year, and certainly a busy one. At the beginning of the year, I was involved in a new relationship that was totally unexpected, and I had great hopes for the future, even though we were polar opposites in lifestyles and histories. He flew me to Hawaii in February for what I thought was going to be an amazing adventure... It was there, I began to realize who he actually was and vice versa... While still there, we agreed, we were not going to be able to make it work... As Garth says in The Dance... If you don't give it a try, you will never know and even knowing how it ended, I would jump at the chance to do it all over again... I have missed what we had terrribly, but I know it was for the best that it ended, and I have filled my life since with as many activities as I can... It was a great adventure and I learned so much about life... Trying to apply what I learned as I move forward as a different person. Looking forward to slowing my life down a bit in 2026. Who knows what new adventures await????

 

[Su_Sanne]

Oh so many things, but I don't know if I can, will be hard! Kicking out being hard on myself, feeling bad about how I think I look, feeling guilty for not doing more, feeling guilty for resting, just guilt in general...lol! I am my worst critic!

Hi, that sounds simple and not impossible at first. But guilt can be burdensome if you constantly blame yourself and question everything. Let's hope that you can find help with this problem through good conversations and go through life with confidence and self-assurance in the future.

All the best!
Thank you for participating in our game!
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

 

[Su_Sanne]

I am kicking out estate problems! My relatively healthy step-father died very suddenly this year in an accident, leaving behind a complicated financial mess, debt, and a very large, very unorganized barn building stuffed to the rafters with mostly broken equipment, ten versions of every tool imaginable, and found "treasures" from who knows where. Then we walked back into the property and found more hidden "treasures" hidden in the brush and woods. It has taken teams of family members hundreds of hours to cull, sort, clean and prepare for auction and to sell the property. We still have a little more to go, but I recently learned that a nephew is very interested in buying the incredible house my step-father built for my long-deceased mother. Such wonderful news! We will treasure the family legacy on this beautiful land and remember the happy times with our missing loved ones.

A completely different topic in this thread, Celestine!

In summary, one could say, a blessing in disguise! If you can maintain a family estate financially and economically, then that's a stroke of luck.

Thank you for your contribution.
I wish you a wonderful life on the estate.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

 

[Terri M]

I have been president of our local Trails Crew group for 9 years, and while I love it, it's constant thinking and planning and reacting and just being aware. It's best for both the group and for me that leadership changes. So in January, I am turning over the presidency to a very capable (and younger) man who will be great at it. Looking forward to not being the one on call for trail issues!

 

[Su_Sanne]

During a training week with my dog in the Flumserberg, I took a trip up into the mountains. After a cable car ride, I went for a walk with my dog Josie on her leash. The view from the top was fantastic. I took several photos, letting Josie off her leash each time. Shortly before the end of the walk, I wanted to take a picture with a mountain restaurant in the background, which we often visit. As usual, I removed the leash for a nice picture. Suddenly, a whistle blew, and Josie was gone. She ran down the slope, and I saw two marmots disappear into their burrows. Calling for Josie was no use; she ran crisscrossing, following all the marmot tracks. As Josie started to come back up to me, another whistle sounded farther away. So Josie abandoned her return route and followed the whistle. In total, I waited for over 20 minutes until my dog happily came back to me on the path. Since I had tried to lure her with treats earlier, she now asked for one.
... I refrained from scolding her, as it would have been pointless; instead, I praised her for happily returning to me. The whole situation was dangerous, as there were rocks and holes everywhere, and I was worried something might happen to Josie. In the future, I won't let Josie off the leash if there might be marmots in the area.

Fotos of the complete area and Josie chasing marmots (without success)

Oh dear! That could have ended badly!

I'm so glad this story has a happy ending and that no one, human or animal, was hurt!!

Thank you for this adventure story! I've never actually seen a marmots before—only in the movie "Marmots Day".
I shouldn't let my dachshunds off their leashes! They're hunting dogs and can't be lured with treats when they're following a scent.

I wish you, your family, and of course Josie a very Merry Christmas!

 

[scrap-genie]

Something I'd gladly kick out of 2025 is COVID. In early August DH and I both came down with it after all that time. Yuck. Given our ages, that's a little scary, but it wasn't too bad for either of us thankfully. I first had symptoms on the opening day of an exhibit in which I had a piece of my artwork and overlapping the last week of that one I had another piece in a members' exhibit. Amazingly both pieces sold!! So one month with lows and highs. Am hoping the good things continue in 2026.

 

[Su_Sanne]

I don't have a problem with 2025... it's been a good year when I look back on it. The one thing I hope does change from this year is weather delays for my son's flying (it's been a very wet summer here)... praying very hard for everything to line up for next year so he can complete his CPL training... good weather, no maintenance delays and a big bank balance to pay for it all.

Yeah!!! You're the first and so far only one who doesn't have a problem with the year 2025!

All that remains is the hope that your son's wishes come true next year and he can finish his CPL training.

Thanks for participating and Merry Christmas!