I woke up this morning and the first thought I had was thankfulness. Ten years ago, New Years Day found me in a very different situation.

If you know us, or you’ve read this post , and the two posts following it, then you know about our New Years Adventures in 2015/2016. And you understand why waking up on New Year’s Day and seeing Cory’s dear face, fills me with gratitude.

New Years Eve/Day is a special time for many people, to reflect on what God has brought them through in the past year. For us it is that too, but it’s also an anniversary of that life changing event, and it’s always sobering to think how things could’ve gone. I could have woken up this morning, mourning the tenth anniversary of Cory’s tragic death, but somehow God spared him from the many dangers that surrounded him that night, and brought him all the way to this New Year.

What a mighty God we serve.

I’m thankful to be embarking on a journey through another year with such a God to lead and protect us, and so many wonderful friends to support and encourage us. Last night, Cory was standing for a long time, studying the wall where our Christmas cards from our friends are hanging, and after awhile he said to me, “I can’t believe we have so many nice people for friends.”

I feel this a lot, just so grateful for/unworthy of the network of community that we enjoy here in the valley, but it’s always special to hear him echoing my thoughts.

I’m not really a New Years Resolution type of person but I have a few goals I’d like to aim for this year.

The first one is most eloquently written by Charles Spurgeon. I came across this in a book I was reading last night, and I thought he perfectly articulated my wish for myself this next year!

“Let us be on the watch for opportunities of usefulness; let us go about the world with our ears and our eyes open, ready to avail ourselves of every occasion for doing good. Let us not be content till we are useful, but make this the main design and ambition of our lives.“

This explains very well my wish to give back, this year. I feel like I/my family have been so blessed and supported, and our life is settling into a rhythm that doesn’t feel chaotic and crazy, so maybe this is the year I can reach out and bless others again. I feel like I used to be someone who saw others needs and tried to meet them, but somehow life and motherhood moved the scope, and suddenly I saw only the immediate needs of the precious little ones that were given to me.

I recognize that my little family is the most important thing for me to pour my attention into, but they’re getting bigger, and my heart is burdened that I’m not modeling for them the importance of reaching outside of the normal comfortable circle of home, and touching the lives of others.

So that is my main goal for 2026. That my little family can reach out and be a blessing to some of the people who have helped us along in the crazy years.

(And speaking of the crazy years, if you’re young, and you thought it was a good idea to have 3 babies inside of four years, and now it feels like you might not survive the tornado you created… hang on. Love those babies, call your Mama to please come and wash some dishes, and just hold on to Jesus. I promise it gets better. Three under 4 was the hardest stage of our life. )

I thought we couldn’t handle another one, and when sweet Elizabeth came along, Anna Grace was 5 and SOOO MUCH HELP! I still can’t believe how much easier it was. Elizabeth and Harrison just seamlessly found their spot in the family, and life has settled into a much more manageable pace, and while I wouldn’t maybe recommend having 3 babies so close together, I love that they’re all so close in age. While part of me wants to keep them little, I also can’t wait til they’re all teenagers/young adults at the same time. 🙂

Aside from my goal of giving back, blessing others, my other goal is pretty lame, but I want to limit my sugar this year. My children will think I’m lame, but I did a no sugar October this year, and that turned into a No Sugar November, followed by a very sugary December… I don’t think a no sugar December is humanly possible but… I discovered my ADHD is worse when I’m consuming sugar.

So the kids might think mom is lame and boring, but I think it’s worth it. Housekeeping, homeschooling, caregiving, you name it, it goes better when my brain is not bouncing off the walls like a hyperactive toddler.

So here’s to less sugar in 2026, and I’m off to pack away all those Christmas cookies into my deep freeze where I have to make an effort to get to them. Who knows, maybe they’ll still be there and I won’t have to make any next Christmas. 😂

May your year be blessed with everything you need. May God walk close with you and yours through the hard days and the good ones too.

We’re going to have both kinds, but what a blessing that He’s there, and He’s got the whole world in His Hands.

Hallelujah. Happy New Year. Hang on to His Hand.