It’s been exactly a year since Ron and I began our 5-Week Epic European Excursion, traveling through Switzerland, then hopping on a Viking river cruise that took us along the shores of France and Germany all the way down the Rhine River to Amsterdam in the Netherlands.

Then we train-tripped down to Belgium (think the world’s best beer and chocolate), and then to France—first to Bayeux and nearby Pointe du Hoc where the Allies scaled the cliffs under fire during WWII. After that, we headed to Paris where we hung out with street artists in a spot overlooking the entire city and later visited an underground jazz club. We concluded the trip with a cooking class taught by the Frenchiest chef you can conjure.

For this trip, think Castles, cobblestone streets, historic WWII sites (including the Anne Frank House), precious Piccasos and Van Goghs, hiking in the Swiss Alps accessible only by gondola, and enough cheese and coffee in all five countries to make us ponder why gold is the measure of wealth.

When we returned, we immediately began caring for my father-in-law (Pa to me) who had just been diagnosed with terminal cancer. We stayed with him every single day—from the hospital to the acute care center to his home. We moved in with him and cared for him until he passed. I feel honored to have been by his side.

Through grief, we handled his financial tasks, spent months repairing and prepping his house for sale, sold it, and just this week, finalized his affairs.

The year gave us the highest of highs and the lowest of lows.

So, here I am—here we are—Ron and I—beginning a new normal.

Life goes on.

Here are five things I’m looking forward to this summer.