Hello 2026, and goodbye 2025. You came with moments I’ll always treasure — and others I wish I could forget. If the past few weeks have taught me anything, it’s that material things are exactly that: things. What lasts, what truly matters, are the people who walk beside us. The Lord nearly took someone from my life far too soon, and it shook me to my core. It was a powerful reminder that love, not stuff, is where real happiness lives.
It also reminded me how important it is to slow down, because we never really know how much time we have. Easier said than done, of course. But this Christmas, we made a conscious effort to pull things back — to focus on creating memories while spending less on clutter. We covered the basics, added a few fun surprises, and tried to teach our children that we don’t need to keep up with the Joneses to be content. Happiness isn’t found in having more, but in appreciating what we already have.
What I hope my children remember most about this season isn’t what was under the tree, but who was around it. The laughter, the conversations, and the moments that didn’t make it onto social media but will stay with us forever. Those are the experiences that shape them — and us.
As parents, it’s easy to feel the pressure to do more, buy more, and be more. But last year served as a gentle reminder that presence matters far more than presents. Our kids don’t need perfection. They need connection. They need us — showing up, loving hard, and making time.
As we step into 2026, my hope is simple: that we slow down when we can, hold our people a little closer, and choose memories over materials. Because in the end, the greatest gift we can give our families isn’t found in a store — it’s found in the time we spend together.
Happy New Year!
