We have made it, friends. 2025 is behind us and 2026 is here, with endless possibilities ahead. And am I ready for the newness and fresh mercies.

2025 was one of the hardest years of my life. But as I mentioned in my last post, in so many ways, I can call it a good year. It was a year of stretching, and though growing pains are called that for a reason, they can’t and shouldn’t be avoided. Both 2024 and 2025 were years of growth and stretching, of falling down and getting back up again, of learning what’s important, and discovering what it truly means to have peace in life’s storms.

As 2025 ended, I had to close chapters of my life. It was devastating. The future I was planning was not the one meant to be, as much as I thought it was and hoped for it. But as I took the hard road and chose to flip the pages to end that chapter, I felt that indescribable peace. I knew that God’s ways are higher than our ways, that His plans are infinitely better than ours. And though laying dreams to rest is heartbreaking, He is in the business of healing the broken-hearted and guiding us down not just a better road, but the best one.

While in the midst of these big decisions and hoping for brighter days to come, He laid a word on my heart. Well, a phrase and a few words, technically.

A Focus for 2026

As I’m sure you all know by now, every year I choose a word to set my focus on. Without fail, sometime around December, I feel God laying a word on my heart. But this time, right at the beginning of December, I felt a phrase.

Move Forward.

It came to me so clearly, those two words. These past few years have been training grounds and years of taking care of myself and healing. 2024 saw me having major heart surgery. 2025 saw health complications and giving myself grace and resting and healing. I am still in that phase, as my health is still not where I’d like it to be, but I’ve also learned how to manage it without giving up on all my dreams. I may be slower now, I may need far more rest, I may have to limit what I do, but 2025 was a year of stepping into new rhythms and finding my capabilities and embracing my current needs and working with them without pushing myself.

And I’m feeling that it’s time to take all that I’ve learned in these past couple of years of growing and step into a new season.

In many ways, perhaps stepping forward is more accurate to what I’m feeling called to for 2026. Not running forward, not diving headfirst into a dozen things, but simply taking one step at a time. Allowing myself grace and time, but being open to working toward a future, being brave, and faithfully walking down the path God has set before me.

I’ve spent a lot of time trying to make my own path. I’ve been carving the way ahead to suit my wants and keep jumping seasons instead of resting and embracing the season I’m in. Which is kind of ridiculous, because why would I want anything other than the perfect will of the all-knowing, all-loving Creator of the Universe?

He has a path set before me, and though I can’t see far ahead, I know He is there and won’t let me stumble as long as I stay in step with Him. So I’m choosing to move forward, one faithful step at a time.

While pondering all of this and making hard decisions and experiencing a very stressful December, another word came to me, again and again and again.

Peace.

Peace, hope, and joy all swirled in my mind throughout the hardships of December and while closing one year and stepping into a new one. Because is that not what the Christmas season is all about? Peace, hope, and joy?

It’s the season to celebrate the coming of our Savior. “I bring you good tidings of great joy,” the angel told the shepherds. But with that joy came hardships. Jesus suffered so much while on this earth. He died in the most horrific, excruciating way imaginable. Yet it was still a time to celebrate. A time of joy, a time where the world’s greatest hope was realized, a time where infinite peace, not through our circumstances but through Jesus Christ Himself, was bestowed.

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” – John 14:27

I’ve not had much in the way of peace for a good 2 years now, but that’s because I’ve been seeking it in the wrong places. It doesn’t come from good health or success or calm days or financial stability or relationships. It comes from God. It is as simple and as powerful as that. All the worldly hardships cannot shake us if our foundation is in the never-failing hands of our Savior.

I was amazed at the peace I found throughout December when it proved to be a month fraught with stress and hardships. But I was, at last, not seeking it from any source but God Himself.

Right now, there are so many unknowns. Life is just hard currently, and I know holding onto peace, hope, and joy is not going to be easy. But that’s all the more reason why I need to. It is in the hardships that we need those things the most.

But they are promised to us when we stay in step with God. And that is my greatest goal for 2026: staying in step with God down the path He has made and knowing He will provide that unshakable peace, hope, and joy, no matter the storms around me.

A Plan for 2026

I have some ideas for projects I want to focus on for 2026, but as I said, there are so many unknowns. So instead of making solid plans, I am going to take each day as it comes and not force myself to commit to anything too rigidly. To let the flow of each day guide me instead of trying to wrangle things how I want them. I think that’s really what “move forward” means for me right now, to lean into the flow of the current season.

One day, one step forward at a time.

After a writing break in December, I am feeling that itch to create again, though, and I am excited to dive back into things. I hope to use this year to move forward in my writing dreams, but without pushing myself or forcing any deadlines.

It will be a year of stepping toward bigger things while still leaning into the slower rhythms my body needs right now. I’ve slowed down a lot on my social media presence in the past couple of years, and it’s honestly been so freeing and needed.

This year, I plan to do the same. I will still absolutely be around, but new posts will not be frequent as I prioritize my limited energy levels. I think this year will be a lot of background work while I continue to heal and take steps toward bigger things for the future.

I will be posting here on the blog only when I have something I really want to say. BUT. There will still be specific places I’ll be pouring my energy into.

Where to Find Me

• MY NEWSLETTER. It is the best place to keep up with me, as I send out life and writing updates every single first Thursday of the month. I’m much more likely to give an inside look at my current writing projects there before anywhere else! I also share what books, TV shows, and movies I’ve been enjoying. Or if you’re a fellow creative, I always offer a dose of encouragement and what I’ve been learning in finding balance and joy in this crazy (and often exhausting and stressful) life of creativity. SIGN UP HERE.

• INSTAGRAM. I hope to post at least once a week over on Instagram. So for lots of bookish fangirling and writerly chatter, do follow along! FOLLOW HERE.

• FICFRENZY. The Fiction Frenzy Writing Challenge Discord group is ever-active! If you’re wanting to participate in seasonal virtual writing events or just want to join a delightfully fun writing community, this is the place for you! FIND THE INFO HERE.

• WRITING COACHING SERVICES. Keeping hold of the joy of writing and balancing it with everything else in life is hard, and every person is different and has individual needs. If you’re like me and ever-seeking balance and joy in your writing journey, I’m open for one-on-one writing coaching services this year. I specialize in working with you to shape a path to fit your individual needs and digging into character work to find the heart and pure delight of storytelling again. BOOK A CALL HERE.

So there we have it, my focus for this new year. No big plans or grand resolutions, simply moving forward one day, one faithful step at a time. I have no idea what 2026 will bring, but I am excited to step forward and continuously learn to hold onto peace, hope, and joy no matter the storms.

Happy 2026, friends! 💛

Happy New Year! How was your 2025? Do you choose a word for the new year? Any exciting plans/goals for this year? What are ways I can pray for you as we step into 2026?