On a recent New Year’s Eve, the Sutter kids sat on the floor facing the TV, waiting to meet a version of their parents they’d never seen before.
On screen, it was Mom and Dad in a small apartment, newlyweds, talking straight to a camera about the life they hoped would come next – kids, a farm, animals, the whole “someday” list.
But the family had a rule. They filmed a message every New Year’s Eve, but they weren’t allowed to watch anything back until a full decade had passed.
And when they finally pressed play on that first video.
Sarah Beth said: “As we watched that first video back, it was very moving to hear ‘younger us’ talk about the things we hoped would be in our future – from children…to farm animals…to living in the country.”
Sarah Beth, now 36, said the idea came naturally because she’s always been the family documenter. “I’m a very sentimental person, and I document everything. I have been journaling daily since I was 16)!” she told Happilynews.com.
That love of memory-keeping has been a constant in their relationship.
So when the couple recorded their first New Year’s Eve message in 2014, it felt like another meaningful ritual.
They were “newly weds looking for new traditions that first Christmas season,” Sarah Beth explained.
They’d previously made a “talking to the camera” video for their wedding, and she liked the idea of returning to that style at the end of each year – only this time, the payoff would come later.
“Creating suspense and excitement, as well as something priceless for our family!” she said.
A New Year’s Eve Message Tradition You Can’t Fast-Forward
Part of what makes it special is the commitment. There are no shortcut and no instant results.
“In a fast-paced world full of instant gratification and immediate results ….this is something that cannot be accelerated in any way and encourages patience and commitment,” Sarah Beth said. “I have learned that sticking with something and pouring love and patience into it is absolutely worth the payoff.”
In that very first 2014 clip, the couple talked about future kids, farm animals, and the kind of life they dreamed about one day living.
A decade later, they decided it was finally time.
By then, the “someday” life had names and faces. Sarah Beth and Scott, 35, are parents to five kids –Ford (10), Flynn (8), Zion (6), Selah (3), and Jireh (1) – and they’ve continued filming every year since they started.
And now, they’ve added a new layer to the tradition. Each New Year’s Eve, they record a fresh message – with the kids – then watch one from 10 years earlier together.
“It Was Very Moving” To Hear Their Younger Selves
When they finally pressed play on the 2014 clip, it didn’t land like a throwback.
“It was very moving to hear ‘younger us’ talk about the things we hoped would be in our future – from children, to farm animals, to living in the country. Then to look around and see how the Lord had provided and blessed us with so much that we had hoped and prayed for ten years before!” Sarah Beth said.
The moment was emotional, but it was also grounding – like a forced pause to actually take stock of what had changed.
“So many times in life, we are surrounded by the answered prayers of our past – and we forget to recognize them,” she said. “Doing something like this allows us to stop and reflect – both when we film and when we watch it back 10 years later.”
And for their kids, it was a rare glimpse of their parents before parenthood.
“It was fun for our kids to see ‘Mom and Dad’ before they were around and see the apartment we started out in,” Sarah Beth said. “They mostly just sat and listened to what we said because they were curious!”
The family shared only a short snippet publicly – just enough for viewers to feel the contrast between the early clips and the present-day watch party. Sarah Beth said she didn’t expect the reaction to be so big.
“I was honestly surprised by how positive the response was for most people!” she said. “It went viral both times.”
Some people told her it had a “How I Met Your Mother” vibe. Others admitted they teared up when it cut to the kids watching. And plenty of viewers latched onto one specific detail from the dream-life list.
“So many people asked if we had gotten the goats yet!” Sarah Beth said. “No goats yet! We bought the farm in 2024, so hopefully some goats soon, but we do have other farm animals like pigs, chickens, and ducks.”
The Tradition They’re Keeping For Life
The Sutters have no plans to stop filming.
“We would love to have it be something that we eventually add the grandkids in on if they want to be a part of it some day.”
As for what she hopes other families take from their New Year’s Eve message tradition, Sarah Beth put it simply.
“All good things take time. Doing something very intentional like this helps us take a step back to reflect and recognize what we have now that were once prayers and dreams.”
