2025 was a doozy to say the least, and more than anything, writing is how I cope. So I've been feeling a pull back to this creative outlet for some time now, and the start of a new year felt like the right time.
First of all...can we talk about the fact that we've officially completed a quarter of this century? Or should we not?
I'll start simple. A bit of the good from 2025 (we can leave out the doozy part) and some hopes for 2026.
When I think about last year...well honestly...I try not to think about it. And I feel sad and bad about that. I was trying desperately not to waste away this season. I don't want to drown the beauty of my life right now in the ache for what I long for it to be. Because it is beautiful and full here--I know that. But when the ache for something that always seems out of your reach and out of your control is so sharp and so deep, it's just hard to stay present.
My husband and I spent the last few days of 2025 at a cozy little cabin on the Olympic Peninsula that our dear friends were kind enough to let us use. I set myself up in front of the floor to ceiling windows overlooking crystal clear Lake Cushman and those layered evergreen tree lines that the PNW is so famous for. And there, I dared myself to reflect on a year that I would rather leave far behind. And I worked hard to see past that all consuming ache and to remember that there had been so much more.
So here are a few things that happened in 2025 that I'm really proud of <3
1. I completed A Beautiful Year in the Bible
2. I celebrated even when celebrating felt really hard to do
3. I was vulnerable with my people and I let them show up for me and love me even when I wanted to hide.
5. I did my best to be present and enjoy the goodness and beauty of my life right now. Mostly my darling husband and my pup <3
6. I hosted more friends and filled our home with joy and celebration.
7. I spent two entire months with my mom this year--one in Ohio helping her recover from hip surgery and celebrating her 70th and one here in Seattle for my birthday :)
8. I read 9.5 books + the entire Bible. Some of my favorites were Waymaker, Remarkably Bright Creatures, and Sunrise on the Reaping.
9. I went to see the flowers because flowers bring me so much joy.
10. I kept important and meaningful traditions. We go back to the place we were engaged and married every single year <3
11. I took big (sometimes scary) steps towards our dreams.
13. I made some progress with my Malayalam. I need to stress that it was a very small amount of progress, but in a year like 2025, it counts.
14. I planted my first garden and made a dear friend while doing so.
They may not seem like huge accomplishments, but for me, reflecting on these things makes my heart so full. On so many days, I felt like I was simply surviving, and barely doing that. It brings me a lot of joy to look back and see that I really did keep living and loving and celebrating and searching for hope amidst so much pain and heartache. I often think about the current season I'm walking through, and I've shared with those closest to me that I don't want to look back and be disappointed with myself for how I showed up. Making these lists and seeing these photos encourages me that I wasn't trudging through as much as I might have thought and also inspires me to keep showing up like this for as long as I'm called to carry this cross.
And on that note, we'll save 2026 for next week since it seems I packed more into 2025 than I realized :)
