"December lights up the dark with Christmas magic and holiday love." -- Rip MillerOh! DECEMBER! So full of hope and wonder. Short dark days
and twinkling holiday lights. Cozy decorations, friends and families coming
together. Dress up days and final exams. Reflections of the year
we've had and anticipation and preparation for the year to come.
December is chilly (usually, but this is Oklahoma, so we had 70 degree
days, too), bustling cheerful - AND BUSY! And of course, the Weavers were
right in the thick of ALL of it!
So welcome to winter and Christmas chaos. School days and
exams mixed with high expectations of jolly attire and Secret Santa gifts. And
for me, all of this was the icing on a cake called "New Job Imposter
Syndrome." The month was exactly what it should have been, and a whole
lot of things we never expected - all rolled into 31 winter days. Here is
the very long recap:
Week 1: December 1 - 7
Mom Started a New Job
There are TikToks:
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| Cried on Day Three |
My yearly reminder that Social Media is a Highlight Reel
And, JACK (randoms fom this week)!
Week 2: December 8 - 14
All about Finn!
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| Choir Concert |
Jake played basketball - we saw most of it onTV but not in person...
Until we drove to KCMO for a game, found fun relatives, and spent the night in Gardner!
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| Look who is on the Game Day poster!!! |
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| It was insanely cold |
And we had to make a detour to Hillsboro (it's a thing...)
But the end was ALL WORTH IT!
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| JAKE IS HOME! Sitting on the counter with his feet in the fridge... |
And Jack...
The adjustment to mom wokring from home had some bumps in the road...
Week 3: December 15 - 21
Life with Jake being home
AI Trends
Jack broke his tail (yes we took him to the vet; yes he got treatment)
Pre-Concert Photo Shoot
Treaty Oak Revival Concert at Paycom for Mom and Jake
Family Christmas at our house!
There was a surprise....
And Jack...
Week 4: December 22 - 28
Avery finally got to come home!
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| I just love this relationship and how hard they work on it! |
We got some very sad news
 
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Emma and Parker got the awful and heartbreaking news that the baby
she was carrying had stopped developing and she was miscarrying. |
Jack's tail was definitely healing well
Christmas Eve
I had to do a little work to get the day started...
Then, we started our Chrsitmas Eve traditions!
Solidan CULTURE
Christmas Day
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| Jake nap during halftime of the Thunber game |
Day After Christmas
Jake left to go back to Tabor and we enjoyed (?) the 80 degree weather in Edmond
Our house is emptier, but our hearts are fuller. Jake’s 12 day break ended this afternoon, and Avery’s brief trip home ends in the morning. The last few days with the 2 of them in and out of the house was so sweet. Praying for the rest of their respective basketball seasons and their second semesters at Tabor and Utah.
Two college freshmen student-athletes prove that even with packed schedules, big dreams, and 1,000+ miles between them, love can still show up, put in the work, and win.   |
Late in the Week
Enjoying the Christmas decor while it lasts. We'll probably be taking it down next week...
End of Month: December 29-31
December 29 - Kansas
I got up early, drove over 100 miles, and spent the entire
day with my girl, Emma, in Ark City. It might have been my favorite day
of the month. Not because of the circumstances that led to that day, but the
precious, uninterrupted time with my girl. Just her and I for most of it
- Parker and his mom were there too, but they had to go to Wichita for some
errands. We talked. and TALKED. And laughed a little and just got to be.
Mother and daughter. Women. Friends. Survivors. All of it. I took a gift
basket for her and Parker from Britt and I. One item was a sweet, sincere
keepsake box. I watched her select the items she wanted to put in it and
watched her carefully place the memories in a place where she will always know
where they are. I drove home late- in the dark, fueled by Alani.
December 20 - Thunder
While I was in Kansas, late in the afternoon my Thunder
friend called me and told me she was ill and wouldn't be able to use her season
tickets for the Hawks game. I was too far away, and Britt was home
sick. Enter - LARA! I called and asked if she wanted to go and take
Finn. Phine calls, texts, drop everythings, and BOOM! Lara drove through
Edmond to pick up Finn, and they were Paycom bound! They had a blast!
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Avery send evidence of her using the gift we got her
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I hit the Book Goal mark mere hours before 2025 ended
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December 31 - Kick 2025 to the Curb
I had a moment. I was reflecting on 2025, and I knew
it was not a good year for me. I was thinking about how I wanted to roll
into 2026 differently. And this is what spontaneously came out and I
posted on socials:
I keep hearing “Yeah! But you survived!” At what cost, though. Vulnerable post ahead. Please unfollow if you need to.
I’m leaving 2025 broken. Tired. Worn out. Disappointed. Hurt. So many people abandoned me this year. The pain I’ve been through completely ignored and discarded. The resilience I’ve shown thrown back in my face and spit on. I’ve shown up. When it was hard. When I didn’t want to. When I knew it was not going to be reciprocated. I. SHOWED. UP.
I took big leaps - scary, abyss spanning, terrifying LEAPS - to make my situation better for me and those close to me. People laughed. I stood up for things that were impossible for me to stand up for, but necessary. People left. LOUDLY. I did hard things that no one should ever have to do. Because LOVE leads. People lied, to my face.
I know everyone’s life is hard in their own ways. I know no one has it easy. I know I could have it so much worse. But when people who are supposed to love you - throw the word family around like it’s cheap confetti - really mean “I love you only when you do things that don’t inconvenience me” that’s when pain settles in your bones and life feels unbearable.
I’ve made mistakes. And I own up to them when I realize it. I’m not perfect - and neither is anyone else. My goal every day (after getting out of bed) is to learn something. Do better today than yesterday. Make some small difference.
Some days are better than others. 2025 has been days upon days of sacks of rocks.
To those who loved me though it: You know who you are. I SEE YOU! The number is unbelievably small, but I see you. And I love you too.
If you have questions for me, ask them. Ask them out of care and concern - not out of gossip or curiosity. Ask because you value me as a person. Ask because you want to lead with love.
If you got this far, know I am looking forward to 2026. I am leaving a lot behind, and adjusting to a new normal. But I am longing for growth, security, and accountability. I hope my circle gets bigger, but only with intentionality and true discernment. The walls are up, and THICK, but not impenetrable.
Here’s to 2026. May she bring light and love to us all.
The responses were all positive. Some from people I
haven't really heard from in decades; others who I thought would never interact
with this type of content. But surprises abound! Sounds like I will
roll into 2026 fostering old relationships and reconnecting with people I haven't
seen in a while.
One of those folks sent me this image. It was the balm
I needed to restore my heart and raise my faith for a prosperous, blessed, and
less stressful 2026:d to restire my heart and raise my faith for a prosperous, blessed, and less stressful 2026:
Here I am, 2026. Let's do this!
(Check out my 2026 One Word here)
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December was a good reading month. Kind of unexected! Started out pretty slowly, but tehn I got in a groove. At one point this year I was WAY off pace, but I made it - by the skin on my teeth, but I DID IT! (Do you sense a theme?!?)
"Icebreaker" by Hannah Grace
"In a Holidaze" by Christina Lauren
"Told You So" by Mayci Neeley
"Everythig is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection" by John Green
"Yours for the Season" by Uzma Jalaluddin
"Wreck the Halls" by Tessa Bailey
"The Chirstmas Compromise" by Susan Hatler
"That's a Great Question, I'd Love to Tell You" by Elyse Myers
Find me on GoodReads:
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