Word Of The Year

"A new year is a gift. A small piece of infinity, to do with as we will. Things happen.  We grow (we hope) and we learn willy nilly.  Live moves around us, life moves through us to others, and the year gradually accepts its pattern.  We give, we take, we resist, we flow.  Our reachings, acceptances, rejections, our hesitancies, courage, fears and our loves all of these form the shape of the year for each of us as individuals, as part of a family, as part of a community."

~ JEAN HERSHEY

The Shape of a Year

Good Monday to you, my friends, and a rather belated Happy New Year!

We’re only 12 days in, and I would have to say that 2026 is already shaping uo to be an interesting year, perhaps a year in which I need to keep my expectations low and hold my time loosely because so far nothing has gone according to plan. 

My word for 2026 is STEWARD which I’m discovering early on includes stewarding my time. The Lord has graciously shown me already, that while I am over here making my plans and desperately trying to hold on to some symblance of tradition, He is doing a new thing, “can you not perceive it?”, and the truth is, I’ve been trying to ignore it because well, I liked my life just as it was, thank you, but before I dive too heavily into uthat, I want to take a few minutes to look back on 2025, as it holds much encouragement for the coming year, and I am already feeling the need for that!

For over a decade now, usually around mid-autumn, I have prayed and asked the Holy Spirit to speak a word over my life for the coming year, and in 2025 that word was QUIET.

It’s never what I expect it to be. I commonly have other words in mind, but He is always faithful to confirm, and this year, as with every other, when I reflect back on the passing year it is obvious and evident.

This year it started off rather tangibly. In January when many in our area got just a dusting to an inch of snow, we got about 5-6 inches. Not much by some standards, but on top of that was a thick layer of ice, and because our property is so heavily wooded, we were stranded for several days. A week later we got another round which added about another 3 inches, and extended our adventure….the world literally, grew very quiet. Though we never lost power, being physically cut off from society and unable to leave home strengthened our dependance on Him and each other, which unbeknownst to us at the time, we would desperately need just a few months later.

By now most of you know that in April of this past year our daughter, Katelin Sayles and her now husband, Cooper Sayles were involved in a near fatal car accident. Cooper sustained some physical injuries, though thankfully they were not life threatening, but Katelin’s injuries were significant.

Nothing prepares you for a moment like that. Prior to that day as similar stories would often cross my social media feed, I often thought that if that ever happened to someone I loved, I might die on the spot. I remember standing on the side of that rural country road. The sheriff wouldn’t let us come any closer, but I could see enough to know what the outcomes typically were. In that moment, I cried out, in a voice I didn’t recognize, originating from a place so deep within me I didn’t know it existed. I bonded with the Father heart of God in a way I had never experienced and heaven answered with . . . quiet. 

- A quiet peace that suddenly filled me, not even with the assurance that Kate would live, but knowing that regardless of the outcome, He was a good God and He was and would continue to watch over us.

- A quiet confidence, that He had forseen this moment since the foundations of the earth. I fully related to my Lord as my shepherd, as He faithfully lead us “through the valley of the shadow of death”. I instinctively knew to follow close and keep my eyes on Him, as He led the way. Even when I initially questioned her being taken to Roanoke instead of Charlottesville, it quickly became evident this was the perfect path.

- A quiet strength. Words cannot convey how greatful we were and still are for our community and for the million tangible ways they held us up in that season. Where to sleep, what to eat, how to take care of Kate’s beloved dog, Bandit. If we entertained a question for a second, someone was already there with the answer. Even the simplest thing like when my phone wouldn’t quit going off as we were sitting in the ER, and my beloved Juanita Cook took it and managed, somehow, talking to people she didn’t even know, discerning the sudden uptick in friends requests on FB, to quiet the noise. I will NEVER be able to repay any of them for the ways they ministered to us in that season and continue to do so to this day.

- A quiet season. And this, even now I find it hard to express. I had read in the word about the Holy Spirit interceding for us, but in those days I lived it. From the moment God reached down from heaven and tucked me beneath the shadow of His wing, my soul grew quiet. You don’t know what to think in moments like that, how to pray. You know the outcome you desire, but do you dare to hope? What if that is not God’s plan, what then? My heart and my mind were so jumbled with racing thoughts, I was initially filled with so much fear. . .I couldn’t form the words. And then I felt it, and the only way I can describe it is that it felt like, and I suppose was, a transfer of energy. I couldn’t make sense of anything, all I knew was what was right in front of me, all I heard was whatever the next doctor or nurse was telling me, and if not for the power of the Holy Spirit it would have overwhelmed me. But He took it, all that tangled mess, and He made it make sense, He interceded for me. When I couldn’t pray….He did. What was happening in the spiritual, physically manifested in my body but even now I cannot find the words to convey. All I know is that in those days and weeks and months, and at times, even now. . .in the midst of all that noise, my heart was . . . quiet. You can’t think? You don’t know how to pray? You can’t read? You don’t understand what you are being told? It’s ok, He whispered, I can, and He did.

I was often reminded in that time of Elijah in 1 Kings 19. Our world was shaken, but God was not in the earthquake. The fierce winds of fear and doubt were blowing, but God was not in the wind. We were being tested by a fiery trial, but God was not in the fire. 

And then….a still small voice.

But to hear His voice, when your foundations are rumbling, the roar of the wind is on every side, and life threatens to consume you like fire…..you must find that place, there in the center…..is the quiet, that is where He is waiting.

He always knows my need, long before I do. Before I even know the question, He provides the answer, and this year that answer was….quiet.

As I mentioned earlier, fir 2026 my word is . . .

STEWARD

and I am curious and expectant! 

All praise to Him, and glory, forever!

2015 - Goodness

2016 - Trust

2017 - Joy

2018 - Rest

2019 - Glory

2020- Dwell

2021 - Seek

2022 - Yearn

2023 - Restore

2024 - Trust (Again!)

2025 - Quiet

2026 - Steward

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Small Things - Last Saturday in January 2025

"Life is not, for most of us, a pageant of splendor, but is made up of many small things, rather like an old fashioned piecework quilt. No two people have the same, but we all have our own, whether it be listening to Beethoven's fifth with a beloved friend, or seeing a neighbor at the back door with a basket of white dahlias. Or after a long, hard day, having the family say, "That was a good supper."

- GLADYS TABER

In no particular order, here are six small things that have inspired me this week.

1. The Christian Heartbeat of Hope

Emily P. Freeman's latest podcast episode, a balm for the soul as all of us, in some form or fashion, are challenged by our fractured political system.

2. Far From The Farm - Lifestyle / Decor / Blogging / Faith

I saved a link on Pinterest this week that introduced me to this website.  There is so much scope for the imagination here! The link I provided takes you not only to the website, but to a page with more ideas for things to do in February than you could possibly imagine!

3. Theology of Homes Winter Guide: A Gentle Winter Light, is a lovely read. 

4. The Best Sandwich In Every State

Who doesn't love a good sandwich? They're actually one of my favorite things, and by sandwich, I mean like the ones featured in this article. We're not talking a slice of bologna slapped on to two pieces of plain white bread with mustard here, in my opinion that doesn't even qualify as a sandwich.  If you happen to homeschool, this would be a fun activity if you are learning about the states. 

5. How To Frost Every Cake

As someone who stuggles, this video gives me hope.

6. How To Make A Personal Retreat, Anytime, Anywhere

Every year for decades now I've observed an evening in early January where I take time to reflect on the coming year, Tabula Rasa (a clean slate). I'm a bit late to the game this year, but this post reminded me that I need to set aside some time.

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Small Things - Third Saturday of January, 2025

"Life is not, for most of us, a pageant of splendor, but is made up of many small things, rather like an old fashioned piecework quilt. No two people have the same, but we all have our own, whether it be listening to Beethoven's fifth with a beloved friend, or seeing a neighbor at the back door with a basket of white dahlias. Or after a long, hard day, having the family say, "That was a good supper."

- GLADYS TABER

In no particular order, here are six small things that have inspired me this week:

1. 5 Habits of People Who Always Have A Clean Kitchen

I'm happy to say, I do all of these, and while my kitchen isn't perfect, it's pretty nearly always tidy, even in the midst of cooking and baking. I attribute that to cleaning as I go, which is something I seemed to have just instinctively learned as a young married wife. I loved my mother, but one thing I do recall (as the one who was tasked with the nightly dishes) is she left big messes!

2. The Faith of Our Grandmothers

"Love flows downhill". Grab a tissue, this one made me weepy. <3

3. Chocolate Sourdough Bread

This year, hopefully, I'm going to master sourdough, and this recipe is on my list!

4. Slow Winter Family Activities

As we've been snowed in for most of the past two weeks and may be again this coming week, we've already checked a few of these off our list.

5. How To Live Intentionally At Home

Sound advice!

6. Elizabeth Goudge

And I'll close with a question? Elizabeth Goudge, her name passes frequently across the screen of the various accounts I follow on Instagram. She comes highly recommended and everyone who has ever read her works love it! And here's my confession, I've tried . . . and it doesn't resonate with me. Maybe I'm starting with the wrong book? I've tried The Scent of Water and Linnets and Valerians (on recommendation) and quit both less than a chapter in. Is it just me? All advice welcomed!

Small Things - Second Saturday of January 2025

"Life is not, for most of us, a pageant of splendor, but is made up of many small things, rather like an old fashioned piecework quilt. No two people have the same, but we all have our own, whether it be listening to Beethoven's fifth with a beloved friend, or seeing a neighbor at the back door with a basket of white dahlias. Or after a long, hard day, having the family say, "That was a good supper."

- GLADYS TABER

In no particular order, here are six small things that brought me joy this week.

1. Nesting With Grace

I happened upon this blog recently and spent some time perusing it. Such a cozy place to visit!  I particularly liked her recipes for Three Ingredient Red Velvet Cookies and Easy Red Velvet Cupcakes. Red Velvet is my daughter's favorite and I'm thinking of trying out one of these for Valentine's Day.

2. Just Pootling

I started following Kate Eastwood Instagram account over Christmas. She makes the most adorable crocheted items. I'm inspired!

3. Churches, Chapels and Cathedrals in 3D

I've loved old churches and cathedrals for so long now. I have it in my mind to visit a few in our area this year, from small country churches to stone cathedrals, they beckon. While researching to plan a few visits, I came across this website. I haven't had time to take a tour yet, but I bookmarked it to visit again!

4. Chocolate Espresso Shortbread Cookies

Might have to consider these for Valentine's Day, too, or maybe next weekend! :)

5. My Pinterest Boards - Birds

The number of birds in our yard recently has been almost beyond belief! Like a little bird sanctuary. I've been perusing my Pinterest board dedicated to birds the past few days. I might try to make up a couple of treats for them!

6. How To Keep Your Home Cozy After Christmas

I'll finally be getting around to taking down the last of the Christmas decorations this week, which always leaves the house feeling a bit bare. I found several of the ideas in this article helpful, and was happy to see her suggestion of "A Sunset Ritual". We've been doing this for years now, though I've never named it. Be sure to sign up for her **FREE** Cozy Winter Guide.

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Snow Day

We got 4, maybe 5 inches of snow on Sunday and Monday, topped off with sleet and freezing rain. We are literally snowed in at the moment, as our driveway (left) is covered in inches of snow/ice. With temperatures barely making it into the 30's over the next few days and more snow on the way this weekend, I'm not sure when we'll thaw out!

With that, our holiday mood has lingered. I had planned to take all the decorations down on Tuesday, but they look so pretty with the snow I decided to wait. We were blessed to be among the few that did not lose power. I think at one time on Monday there we 62,000 people in our area without and many still have not been restored. Honestly, I'm not sure how we managed to avoid it, but I'm grateful.

I made a big pot of soup on Sunday and potato soup is simmering as we speak.  I've passed the time reading and cross-stitching, mostly,  Last night we watched a movie that showed up as a suggestion in our guide, The Gift of Love. It is loosely based on O'Henry's, The Gift of the Magi, although this adaptation takes a few liberties. It was a made for TV movie starring Marie Osmand in her acting debut. I never cared much for the Osmond's, but she did a pretty good

job. The movie originally aired on December 8, 1978, which would meanI would have just turned 17 and a sophomore in high school. It's a sweet adaptation, with all the elements that such movies from the 70's captures. They always leave me feeling sentimental, I think I may have even vaguely remembered it, which left me wondering if I hadn't watched it with my mom all those many years ago?

With the forecast as it is, I'm sure the next few days will be relatively the same. The birds have been very active at the feeders during the storm, and we've enjoyed watching them scatter about. The cardinals, especially, are so lovely against the backdrop of the snow.

Maybe next week life can resume, but for now, we'll just be over here lingering in the quiet beauty. 

What's the weather like where you live? Have you seen any snow?

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Savoring The Last Days of Christmastide

Though New Year's day has come and gone, the season of Christmastide lingers, and I'm here for it. With the exception of those tasks which always need attending to, I've set aside any thought of resuming "life as usual", at least for a few more days.

We brought in the New Year quietly, just myself, my daughter and her sweet pup, who was well past ready for bed when I snapped this picture just a little after midnight. I've never known a dog to follow such a routine, but he definitely has his preferences.

My husband retired early, and so we celebrated earlier in the day, continuing our tradition of watching The Hobbit trilogy, which is something I look forward to every year. My daughter requested jalapeno poppers for our celebratory New Year's eve feast, which I paired with queso, guacamole and cowboy caviar for good luck!

On New Year's Day we had our traditional feast of ham, scalloped potatoes, cabbage with bacon and onions and of course, black eyed peas! I think of the three traditional meals I prepare during the holidays, this one is by far my favorite. This year I made the same meal for Thanksgiving and Christmas. We all came down with the flu, and since I still had some of the ingredients on hand, I thought it easier to just repeat it. And while I appreciated the ease, we tired of the leftovers quickly and ended up with a significant amount of waste, a note for the coming year!

On New Year's Day, my husband and I had planned to go on our first hike, but as I am s-l-o-w-l-y moving back into hiking due to sciatic nerve pain, we decided it was too windy to risk it as extreme cold can cause a flair. The low temperature itself would not have posed a problem, since I would have dressed appropriately and once you get your body moving you warm up quickly. But the winds have been fierce in our area for close to a week now, making what has already been a colder than usual winter down right frigid! And so we opted instead for our first country drive. The valley of the Blue Ridge mountains is, to me, one of the most beautiful places on earth, and I feel so blessed to live here. The side roads that meander through the countryside often beckon, and we are prone to follow. This has led to many deleightful discoveries over the years, including a number of small, quaint churches. They are so charming, and this time of year, especially, with their doors adorned with festive wreaths, they are quite picturesque.

On Thursday we had planned to stay at home, but they're predicting some extreme temperatures to move in this weekend along with a bit of snow, freezing rain and ice, so we opted instead to make a quick trip into town to stock up with all the necessities. I'm implementing a little plan beginning this weekend, Souper Sunday, and making up a big pot of soup, which will more likely feed us through the weekend. But my plan is to elevate out Sunday supper by setting a pretty table, lighting candles, and hopefully setting the stage to put away our devices and linger around the table in conversation, a pause, I suppose, before the demands of the week come calling. I have a number of recipes saved on my Pinterest board and I've made note of a few I want to try, but we're going to start off with a recipe we all know and love, Grammy's Cabbage Soup. I've shared it here with you before, but I think it's currently tucked away in the archives, so if you're interested, be looking for it early next week. 

The picture you see at the top of this post and the one here to the right and below are of a group of buildings in our town. They caught my eye while we were out shopping yesterday. We went for breakfast at a cute little coffee shop we'd had plans to visit (more on that in another post), and after, as we were driving on our way to the market, I caught glimpse of them and immediately turned around!  I've seen them before, but the added touch of greenery just made them all the lovelier! The green building is actually another coffee shop that we have plans to visit, but the combination of the green against the red and the white, well, if you've been visiting here for awhile you know they are my favorite colors, as is vintage architecture, so when you combine the two? It's perfection!

And with that my friends, I'll close. I have a busy day ahead, cleaning out holiday leftovers and prepping food for the weekend. We are set with everything we need in the event of a power outage, we'd be good for a week or more. But any time there is a threat of weather, I like to be prepared. Meals made that can easily be re-heated on our propane stove, laundry caught up, candles and matches at the ready. Maybe it's just me, but honestly, the thought of losing power seems almost cozy! It's the perfect excuse to slow the pace of life, and just, perhaps, a lovely start to the New Year!

Until then!

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Happy New Year!

Wishing you and yours the happiest New Year!