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!