I usually send a Christmas letter by mail, but this year and last, I didn’t get around to it. BUT, I did write a letter, and I still wanted to share it, so I’m using this platform instead. It’s a simple reflection on our year, what mattered most, and what we’re carrying forward. I also included the photos we would’ve sent if our Christmas card were sent via snail mail. Merry Christmas! I hope this finds you and your loved ones well.

2025 was filled with camping, Silverwood (of course), the fair, numerous trips to the west side, writing, creating, and basketball. Quinn is in 3rd grade, is 8 years old, and loves basketball. She also plays piano, loves to read, and loves school! She is very responsible, taking care of chores, such as caring for the animals or keeping her room clean. Currently, she aspires to be a Zookeeper. She loves animals, and you can often find her reading nonfiction books about various animals. She does extra work at school where she researches different animals and presents to her class. She is always teaching us different facts about animals. Her favorite is a giraffe.

Jordan has been coaching Quinn, navigating the sale of Silverwood to Herschend (which we are very optimistic about), and working diligently on our new adventures, Cloudle: Nature’s Canvas, and a couple of games that will be released in the new year (so stay tuned). He has found a great love in creating; it comes naturally to him. He found an author he loves to read, and now I’m trying to get him to read other books in the same genre. He still loves his job at Silverwood, and he’s very excited about the changes ahead, although he has some apprehension due to the unknowns. He is thankful for the years of a small, family-owned theme park, but he’s excited to see what Herschend does to expand the park.

I started a podcast, Stay Planted, with my cousin, self-published my first children’s book, Shine Bright, Little Light (available on Amazon), and cheered on Quinn at her basketball games. I spent most of the year sending revisions for my book and carefully reviewing the illustrations. I also started watercoloring a lot more. With the creation of Cloudle, I have started drawing a lot more for social media posts. Redeveloping my creativity and art skills has been rewarding, and it’s definitely a skill that becomes stronger when exercised.

It’s been a big year full of new ventures, learning curves, and waiting. We continue to wait for a referral in our adoption process. We’ve really taken the time to listen to the Holy Spirit’s voice and make way for Him. We’ve learned He is always speaking to us, but are we always listening? We have recently heard from our agency that there is movement in the process, and we are continuing to be cautiously optimistic as we await a referral or guidance to take a different path.

For now, we are called here, and being obedient in the waiting reminds me of the Israelites waiting in the wilderness. They complained, they compared, they idolized, and they doubted – things we’ve done in the waiting – out of exhaustion, mere humanness, and not being able to see the other side, just like the Israelites. However, we hope to look at them as an example and continue to walk forward in our true identities, not being plagued by fear that will keep us from where God wants to lead us. The Israelites were grasshoppers in their own eyes – not God’s. God saw them for who they really were and wanted them to move forward, take possession of the Promised Land as He had promised. However, their fear became their identity, stopping them from receiving what God had promised. Jordan and I continue to listen to what God is saying to us. He specifically continues to speak to me, “My word holds true.” And isn’t that the truth? When He makes a promise, that promise will come to fruition. He doesn’t go back on His word. He is faithful. He keeps His promises. He makes a way. In this Christmas season, when we are reminded of the most significant promise made, may we make way for the Lord in 2026. Just as the Israelites followed the pillar of cloud or fire when it moved, let’s follow when God moves.