From 2025 to 2026...

2025 was a lot of things for me personally.

It was a year of deep growth where I learned true forgiveness. And I found that in forgiving, I had given myself the best gift of all.

This is the year where I read the bible, cover to cover. I was in the word daily. Not just scripture, but reading, researching, understanding. And it was transforming in ways I cannot put into words. I would say to anyone who wants to know joy, open your bible. Don't know where to start? The beginning! It is the living Word and needs no prep, no prerequisites.... it will do for you what nothing else is capable of.

I hit my reading goal of 75 and kept going! 

I found a new favorite author, actually several: Eowyn Ivey & John Mark Comer. These are my favorite books from the year and I would argue all of these authors could be a new favorite of mine:

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand

Jaws by Peter Benchley

Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer

Salem's Lot by Stephen King

The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey

Mere Christianity by CS Lewis

The Noticer by Andy Andrews

I let go of things that stole my energy. I embraced being at home with an empty schedule and accepted it as maybe not an intermission, but maybe the lifestyle God has intended for me all along.

Going into 2026, I want to seek discernment, His discernment, and I want to cultivate what He has given me. I want to push myself to read even more... setting a goal at 90 books, but really pushing to hit that 100 mark. 2026 will have me celebrating 20 years of marriage, it will take us out of the country with 20+ of Micah's family, and it will no doubt be sprinkled with blessings, memories and room for more growth. I want to be intentional about exercising my creative juices every single day. I want to learn something new, and want to learn it well.  I love the idea of a brand new year, a blank canvas, ready to be painted!

So, heres to it..... 2026 is gonna be a good one!

A Wrap on December...

It was the month that lasted forever, while simultaneously, speeding by in a busy blur!

An ornament exchange at church (this first picture represents so much of what 2025 was to me personally), catching Remi and Scout knocking out some homework, Roen, Reese and Easton making late night s'mores, what my little engineer brain looks like at 16, Scout keeping a close eye out for the minute her daddy pulls into the driveway from Elle's house, Roen making his Argentina street nuts for a class project, me catching the boys in Remi's bed and not being quite quick enough to get a good picture before they hid from my camera, a youth group night, Roen and Brynlee on their one millionth movie date night of the year, Remi getting to triple date with some of his closest friends, a Favorite Things party for me, an ice skating date for Remi, Six Flags for Pearson's birthday, and one last youth camp fire night before the New Year!

And now, on to a brand new year, full of a million possibilities!

Christmas in San Angelo...

This one went by too fast! 

It was just a little blink and then it was all over! We played so many games, no puzzles this trip, but we did squeeze in Franco's for Micah! We got to all sit on one pew at Church, which rarely happens and the weather allowed for some outside time too! Of course we opened lots of presents and fought over who got Anne's couch! The matching sweatshirts were adorable, though a bit toasty for the warm temps, and we even got to see uncle Stan when we got into town! We bundled a lot into our small amount of time and I left feeling grateful and full. 

Being together hasn't always been easy to make happen this past year, and so more than anything, I am grateful that I got time with all my people, at one time!

Christmas Day...

After stockings, I cozied down on the couch and started It's a Wonderful Life.... a movie I am sad to say I have never watched, and even sadder to say I never got to finish! Maybe when the boys go back to school I can watch the ending! Anyways, while I rested, Micah got busy on breakfast. It was absolutely beautiful, so we opened the big doors and spent the afternoon out on the patio, eating and relaxing. If you can't have snow, I supposed runnerup is sunshine!

After we ate, we opened presents! We don't get the boys much from just us, but they did have a small stack to open and then Micah and I opened from each other too! After presents, we hit up the Par 3 course to soak up the day's last dose of sunshine. Then Remi and I finally got to make our Christmas cookies before bedtime. 

It was a sunshiny Christmas and perfect in every way! I love this quite little life we have built and days at home, just being together, are my very favorite!

Santa Came to Town....

Roen was first up this year and I didn't get a call until 8:20. But that boy was ready and was not one bit happy that our two hibernating bear residents weren't feeling the Christmas magic quite as early. 

But, I did what mama's do. I made the coffee and got everyone up and eventually there were smiles on all the faces! One thing is for sure, no matter how old these boys get, the smile on their faces as they come running to see what Santa brought is just as big at 14 and 16 as it was when they were elementary babies! Those smiles melt my heart!

Remi got subs and new tires for his truck and a giant rolling toolbox! Roen got boujee cologne, a Turtlebox and some Meta glasses! They, of course, got the other stocking musts like socks, chapstick, toothbrushes, and Santa even threw in some breath mints for those girls they like kissing so much *wink*. This age is so fun and really I had so much fun with the boys this holiday season. They may be in and out like little tornadoes, leaving trails of food wherever they go, but their company is my favorite!