I can’t believe it is 2026. And I can’t believe it is the end of January already. Time marches on faster than I can keep up with most days. When I was younger, I remember “older” people talking about how fast time goes. For me, time seemed to move so slowly as I was always looking ahead and waiting for the next thing. Being on the other side of 50 now, I am one of those “older” people who talk about how fast time goes. Such is life, right?

While I had hoped to get a post done about the new year, it didn’t happen; so, here I am at the end of January with a few thoughts on the new year and a reflection on 2025.

For me, 2025 was a year of uncertainty in many ways.  My “word” of the year was to “Be Still” (Psalm 46:10) and “Number the Days” (Psalm 90:12).  I am still a work in progress in those areas—learning to notice when I feel pressured or rushed rather than pausing, being still and waiting on the Lord. They often say that “noticing” is the first step towards change. I realized that I don’t do “be still” very well. I’m a doer at heart and like to get on with things. God has used this focus to reveal that to me, and He is still teaching me to be still.

Mid-year in 2025, I left my nursing executive job after 7 years to take time to reset. My husband calls it my “sabbatical”. I needed to step back, rest, and consider the next chapter of my career. I wish I had more clarity on this, but I don’t yet. So again, I’m learning to be still and rest in the Lord, knowing He will reveal it in His time.

I read a lot in 2025. Like A LOT.  Over 100 books, y’all! I was shocked to look at my year-end list. You can take a peek here.  Over the last few years, I have tried to read more fiction. That one simple act has brought me great joy as I remember how much I love reading and discovering new authors. I also read some nonfiction authors I normally wouldn’t read. I am not saying I agree with everything I read in those non-fiction books, but it was good to branch out a bit and read some different books.

I finished up two years in Rotary and decided to resign from the group. They do such great work, and I am so proud to have been a member for a few years. I also completed several years of service in the women’s ministry at my church as our team  passed the baton to a new group of leaders. It has been the end of many things in 2025, which has led me to where I am now.

For 2026, I set some low-level goals, such as starting to write a devotional book, taking a pickleball lesson (since several of my friends are obsessed), walking 10k steps a day, and a few others.

As for reading, I have a friend who gave us a Bingo Card Reading Challenge for Children’s books with different topics. It has been fun to find Children’s books and read them as an adult. In addition, my favorite Indie Bookshop and Podcast is hosting a “Conquer a Classic” reading challenge. This year, we are reading through all the short stories of Flannery O’Connor. I have never been to this bookshop, but the owner authored a book called Ordinary Time that I loved. I also plan to read some of C.S. Lewis’s classic works, such as Mere Christianity and The Screwtape Letters. Of course, I’ll keep my fiction reading strong along with some scattered non-fiction.

I can’t end this post without sharing my word and scripture for 2026.

My word is “Embrace”.

Embrace doesn’t quite roll off the tongue and is not the word I expected, but once it came to me, I couldn’t let it go. I know God was quietly speaking to me about this theme. When I researched the definition online, it means to “take in or receive with willingness that which is offered”. “To accept.” “To readily embrace what is ahead.” I am not sure how that will play out this year, but I already have an inkling of a few things.

After reflecting on last year and a few hard things, my scripture this year is Philippians 2:13-14.

“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus.”

I am looking forward to this new year and embracing what God brings my way!

So how about you? Have you taken time to reflect on last year? Are there things you want to do this year? I pray that 2026 will be a year of resting in God’s faithfulness and moving forward.