My 2025 Year in Review

Written on 09 January 2026.

Remember: words, especially those written, are immortal. Sometimes, the easiest inroad is to begin with a thank you, for a gift or a kindness or a letter, you know, and then take it from there. Answer every question they’ve asked, and ask your own, and you will have created a never-ending circuit of curiosity and learning. (The Correspondent, Virginia Evans)

It’s unseasonably warm as I write to you; sitting at my desk with the windows open on Christmas Eve. Charlotte and Isaac are at the movies with their Oma. Stephen is at church doing all.the.things to prepare for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services.

And I’m here writing.

The church bells are tolling to remember the life of a member of the community who died the other night. One toll for each year of her life. Two sisters in red velvet dresses with white ruffled socks are at the park holding their ears to the gong of the bell. From the screen door in the dining room I can hear three brothers playing football, tackling and cheering for one another.

I didn’t send Christmas cards this year. I needed to take something off my plate with so much work finishing my book manuscript. I adore sending Christmas cards. I love dressing up and getting a family picture. I love finding the perfect card that leaves me just enough room to write notes by hand to friends and family. I love the touchpoint of sending cards to people from all seasons of my life.

So consider this my Christmas card for the year. A chance for me to reflect on the year and give thanks with a round up of my favorite experiences, people, and things from 2025.

I read and wrote a lot. I continue to write a monthly column, Growing Together, for Living Lutheran online. I contributed devotions for The Message Women’s Devotional Bible and will have a blessing and benediction in the forthcoming Coffee + Crumbs book on food, friendship, and hospitality. And of course I wrote another book (more to come in the new year with a cover reveal!)

Speaking of writing, I kicked the year off with a trip to California with my writing group.

And not to miss out, the kids and I started a family book club that is a bit louder and involves more crafts. The books we’ve read together with our friends: Hatchet, Holes, Pax, and Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus.

I start (almost) everyday with quiet time to read, write, and journal. The kids know that this time is for me. Sometimes Isaac will bring Legos and play with them on the floor while I write. Other times he listens to an audiobook.

Charlotte loves to text family on my phone with good morning and good night texts. She remembers small details about people’s lives and will be the one to check in when someone hasn’t been feeling well or had surgery. One of her favorite things to do after school is head to the daycare at church and play with the younger kids.

Isaac loves to read and build with Legos. You can hardly move in his room with all the Legos and creations. His best buddy lives down the street and watching their friendship brings me such joy. Isaac is a voracious reader and it’s a fun stage to be in where he’s reading whole series of books that I haven’t yet. And my favorite part of the day is buddy reading a chapter book every night in bed.

I met Gary Schmidt at the Children’s Literature Festival and loved listening to him talk to upper elementary students about the power of story. I also heard Taylor Jenkins Reid speak at the Heartland Book Festival in KC. Atmosphere was one of my top books for the year.

I still sub at the school. I’ve grown quite fond of some of the classes and also enjoy the time subbing for the school secretaries. This year Stephen started substitute bus driving for field trips. The kids have loved having him as their driver. “It’s Isaac’s dad driving the bus,” screamed a group of second graders on their way to a play.

Our summer vacation took us to South Haven, Michigan where I read Ann Patchett’s Tom Lake. Nothing like reading a book set in the area you’re visiting.

We also splurged on kayaks for the family which definitely upped our camping experiences.

We attended all the festivals our town hosted and I logged so many miles walking the city streets.

Monthly, Stephen and I go out for trivia with friends. Our team name: Parents Night Out. We haven’t gotten first place in a while, but we sure have a lot of laughs.

Stephen continues to pursue woodworking in his spare time and made a log cabin photo scene for the community. 

“It is so difficult to be alive. It is so difficult, it is so beautiful…Listen. I need you to tell people this: I need you, when you go back, to tell them: the brutality is terrible. And yes: the chaos is very great. But tell them: greater than the world’s chaos are its miracles.” (Impossible Creatures, Katherine Rundell)

More nights than not, the four of us find ourselves around the dinner table, together. We read bible stories or nonfiction books. We leave technology out of sight. And we’re present to one another.

What a gift, friends. To connect with you. To be here in this world loving one another and being loved in return.

I don’t mean to be vague about my upcoming book. I’ll have plenty of time to share with you in the new year (and I don’t want you to get tired of hearing about it too early!) What I can tell you right now is that this book feels like such a snapshot of who I am as a mother, pastor, and walker. During the writing of this book, I went back to some of my work from seminary and saw the same themes woven through my writing. Blessings and pilgrimage have been close to my heart for years and in my upcoming book, I bring both together. Stay tuned!

*But you can already save the date for Friday, May 1st at WAM for a book launch right here in Cole Camp, Missouri!

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