2025 was a significant year for Jordan and me. I started an intense counseling stint with Rockhouse in April and just finished this week. It was the best counseling I have ever been a part of. It focused on heart transformation rather than behavior because as our hearts transform, our behavior will naturally follow. As believers in Jesus, our life goal is to transform our hearts every day to be more like Christ’s. I also self-published a book called Shine Bright, Little Light. My cousin and I also started podcasting! This year, we also adventured into the world of entrepreneurship. We created Cloudle: Nature’s Canvas, a creative art doodle book, to grow and stretch your creativity. Jordan is also (with me as his support to make things simpler) working on games that we hope to release in 2026. So stay tuned!

I can’t believe it’s the end of 2025 and that I’m doing yet another look back. It was a FULL year, and I learned a lot. Let’s get started!

What I Learned:

Starting the year off with a new tradition, we don’t stay up late on New Year’s Eve; instead, we spend the day relaxing, playing games, watching movies, and enjoying good food. It’s honestly the best.

It’s hard for me to choose a favorite of anything. However, this year, I discovered that my all-time favorite meal is a classic crockpot roast paired with broccoli and mashed potatoes. You can’t forget the gravy from the drippings. When I take that first bite, I audibly say, “Mmm,” it’s that good. Unfortunately, our crockpot insert fell off the counter, and I had to make the Christmas roast in the oven. But it was even better than in a crockpot! So maybe, just maybe, it wasn’t so unfortunate.

The Bible is not an end-all, be-all; it’s a means to an end. Examining Bible stories as case studies is helpful when reading the scriptures. Knowing the Holy Spirit’s voice, listening to His voice, and obeying His voice is where we truly experience who God is, what He has for us, and the peace that is preached in the Bible. Now, when I read the Bible, pairing it with the Holy Spirit’s voice, the stories, verses, wisdom, and so on, begin to take root more deeply in my Spirit, where I remember scripture, verses, and stories far more than I did before.

We usually get dry snow, but we sometimes get wet snow, and you can bet we are making an awesome snowman when we do. With Susan’s smile, you would think she built it!

Rewearing your prom dress and your winter ball/homecoming princess dress that was also borrowed and worn by your cousin is so fun. Honestly, I can’t explain how funny and fun it was to wear two dresses this year that I wore in high school. Those dresses have had the privilege of seeing two very different times in my life. I got to relive memories and make new memories in dresses that I had put away with the thought, “maybe my daughter or I will be able to wear these again someday.”

From when I was a little girl, I have always loved musicals. We went to see Wicked and sparked that first love, and now I can’t stop listening to musicals. I sometimes laugh out loud at the lyrics, specifically in Hairspray. There is so much story in the songs, and it’s a real pick-me-up.

Watching sports where history is being made makes me incredibly invested, even when I have no personal connection or previous stake in the teams playing. If history is made, I am choked up and tearing up, no doubt.

Podcasting is FUN. So fun that when I was invited to join Jordan on the Silverwood Podcast, I thought: “What could I podcast about?” and Stay Planted was born. My cousin, Emilee, and I talk about life, faith, and adoption. Listen Here!

I lived in The Dalles, OR, for half of my childhood. We made some of the closest friends there and are so thankful that we get to still be in a relationship with them, let alone hang out with them! It’s the best group. But it reminds me every time we hang out with them how important community is.

Speaking of The Dalles friends, I got to join the moms at a conference in Portland this year. I grew up with my mom spending a weekend in Portland with her best friends, and I got to experience that for the first time. It was incredibly special and a lot of fun. It’s essential to have women in your life to cry with you, laugh with you, and encourage you.

His presence is in the present, so staying present keeps me in the spacious place.

Listening to the Amazon playlist, “Oldies Hits,” is a complete vibe. If I could live in the ’50s and ’60s for a week, I would. The outfits, the cars, the homes, the kitchens. Ahh, it calls my name.

When you ride a watercoaster with a grandpa that is not your grandpa, it could be awkward. But this specific grandpa is the grandpa of some family friends, and now we have a special relationship whenever we see each other… and it’s not awkward!

As you get older, you like more things because your taste buds become farther apart, so not all tastes are as extreme as they were when you were younger. Case in point – I now add pickled jalapenos to sandwiches, salads, baked potatoes, and enjoy the rare pickled jalapeno they place on top of the salsa at our favorite Mexican restaurant.

Podcasting made me realize that I say “like” way too often. Like…all the time. Like…a ridiculous amount. That’s something I’m still trying not to say, but it’s such a habit to use it.

A marmot can take your dream of your second year of your seasonal flower farm away in one night. Those little critters have big teeth, make a piercingly loud noise, and we caught the one who ate all my flowers. Just took all the tops off my seedlings. But they are pretty cute, just not in my garden.

A sheep getting sheared is the saddest, funniest, most vulnerable situation I’ve seen for an animal.

Snoring becomes increasingly common as Jordan and I age.

Knowing your true identity and knowing who you belong to changes the game when you are faced with someone who puts you down, questions your character, or feeds lies about you to others, because you know what they are saying is a false narrative and a false identity, so you can let that go and claim your true identity.

An Earl Grey Tea Latte is a chef’s kiss and a warm hug. Add some lavender, and it gets THAT much better.

A day-old duckling sleeping in your hand on the way home from the farm store is quite possibly the cutest thing.

Forgiveness is not dependent on the other person, nor is it dependent on the other person asking for forgiveness OR realizing the hurt they have caused.

Speaking of forgiveness, when we choose to forgive quickly, we deny the devil’s power in our lives, which causes torment and suffering.

Dancing on our island is the best way to have a dance party.

An adult beverage + preparing the meal is the way to go.

When it starts to pour down rain, it’s invigorating to run outside and enjoy the rain.

Experiencing God is what causes heart transformation. Having more knowledge doesn’t necessarily cause heart transformation, although it doesn’t hurt. Having an experiential relationship with Jesus is what leads ot transformation. That’s why it’s crucial to recognize the voice of the Holy Spirit. Two easy questions you can ask the Holy Spirit are “What do you want me to know and What do you want me to do?”

Our experiences with the Lord are how we become witnesses for Him. When we share what has happened in our lives, that’s when we become witnesses for His Kingdom.

Bora Bora is more blue in person. I know, it’s hard to believe.

God is the only being or thing that can give me complete assurance.

When I partner with God, His good plan will work together for my good.

Your creativity grows when you exercise it. Cloudle has helped this. Practice being creative, and it will grow.

Life isn’t about doing more to be like Christ. It’s about receiving what God has for me.

Cutting your dog’s hair around their eyes makes them 10x cuter.

Knowing who God calls you to be, your true identity, gives your life so much purpose, brings peace, and allows you to live fearlessly and courageously. Get the book that changed our lives. Book & Workbook

I hope this made you laugh, relate, and feel encouraged. Cheers to 2026!