One Word 2026

Before I dive into the new year and focus for 2026, I would be remiss to not reflect on the year that was 2025.  As noted in my One Word post from last year, we were gearing up for a BIG year.  But no one could have prepared us for the amount of BIG and CHANGE that was on the horizon.  The challenges, the losses, the blessings, and the triumphs.   

I can't begin to count the number of times I muttered the words, "This WAS NOT on my 2025 BINGO card."  We navigated it all knowing we were pushing ONWARD - Continually seeking spiritual growth and maturity; Remaining steadfast in faith during trials and uncertainties; Actively participating in the mission to spread the Gospel; Trusting in God's guidance and provision for the future.  God provided every time.   

Maybe not in the ways we expected, and definitely in His own time, but we came out the other side stronger, smarter, better prepared, and changed for good.  Heck, I even got my first tattoo - in VEGAS!  And that was not even close to the most exciting thing that happened all year.  This blog carries the highlights, and my heart is ready to move into 2026.

CONNECTING.

For 2026, Connecting is my word.

Because love, leadership, faith, and purpose are all built the same way—
one intentional thread at a time

Connection is where purpose takes shape. It’s the quiet thread that draws us closer to God, binds us to one another, and reminds us we were never meant to walk alone. When we choose to connect—intentionally and faithfully—we strengthen what holds us together and discover the beauty of being woven into something greater than ourselves.

Connection with God

“O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.”
— Psalm 63:1 (ESV)

Connection begins with longing. A daily, intentional seeking that recognizes our dependence on God—not out of obligation, but out of thirst.

Connection with God begins with desire. Psalm 63:1 captures a faith that is not passive, but deeply personal—an earnest seeking rooted in spiritual thirst. Like a dry and weary land longing for water, our souls are designed to crave God’s presence, not just His provision. In a world full of noise and distraction, Connecting with God means intentionally drawing near, choosing time with Him, and acknowledging our dependence on Him for renewal and life. When we seek Him first, He meets us in the quiet places and restores what has grown weary within us.

Connection with Other Believers (The Body of Christ)

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this, everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
— John 13:34–35 (ESV)

Connection is how faith becomes visible. Love—lived out in community—is the mark that sets believers apart.

Connection with other believers is not optional, It is a defining mark of our faith. Jesus makes it clear that love is how the world recognizes His disciples, not by our words alone but by how we care for, support, and show up for one another. Connecting within the Body of Christ means choosing grace, unity, and intentional relationship, even when it requires patience or vulnerability. When we love as Christ loves, our connection becomes a living testimony of His presence among us. 

Unity, Growth, and Mutual Support

“Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens another.”
— Proverbs 27:17 (ESV)

Connection refines us. We are shaped, strengthened, and sharpened through intentional relationships that challenge and encourage us to grow.

Proverbs 27:17 reminds us that transformation doesn’t happen in isolation—it happens in relationship. Just as iron sharpens iron through contact and friction, we are refined through intentional connections with others who encourage us, challenge us, and walk alongside us in faith. Connecting means allowing ourselves to be known and shaped within community. It’s in trusted relationships that we gain perspective, receive encouragement, and are lovingly challenged to grow beyond our comfort zones. Growth can be uncomfortable at times, but it is in that sharpening process that our faith deepens and our character is strengthened. 

I’m grounding my word for 2026 in this promise:

“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.”
— James 4:8 (ESV)

This verse captures the heart of Connecting—a faith that moves toward God with intention and trust, knowing that every step we take toward Him is met with His faithful presence. 

As I move into 2026, this is the posture I want to live from: drawing near, staying connected, and allowing God to meet me in every relationship and season ahead.

Connecting means living as God designed—intimately rooted in Him and intentionally woven into community—where love, vulnerability, and shared faith strengthen us to reflect Christ to one another and the world. 2026 will be transformative, marked by both significant changes ahead and relationships that are still fresh, new, and growing. Leaning into connection is how I will steward what matters most, ensuring the sustainability of the relationships I hold dear. Holding this truth—and myself—accountable is at the heart of my goals for 2026.

As I do every year, it is time to look back over my one word posts from years past to see how I came to use them as my focus for the year and to assess outcomes.  How well I was able to maintain that focus.  What God brought me to or brought me through because of my one word.  How my family changed and grew from my yearly focus.  Here is a list of the previous posts, if you are interested:

2025 - Onward

2024 - Discernment

2023 - Celebrate!

2022 - satisfied

2021 - hope

2020 - breath

2019 - listen

2018 - welcome

2017 - closer  (I was anxious, and blog-averse, as we opened 2017, so it's a short FB post)

2016 - greater

2015 - brave

2014 - joyful

2013 - resolution

My intential focus for 2026 is connection.  In my heart, in my house, in my personal relationships and my professional growth.  We are stronger together.  I am letting go of things that were never meant to be mine and leaning in to those who are willing to invest in me - flaws and all.  Along the way to isolating Connecting as my One Word, I also explored these other words: Bridging – deliberate, symbolic effort; Linking – gentle and steady; Uniting – closeness despite distance; Reaching – hopeful and tender; Spanning – poetic, distance overcome; Weaving – care, patience, intention; Threading – delicate connection across space; Spanning – love that stretches and holds.  

Connecting isn’t just about relationships, conversations, or bridges built between people. It’s about daily choosing proximity over distance—leaning in, reaching out, weaving intentional nearness with God and with others.

Because the most meaningful connections are formed when we take the first step…
and trust that God will close the distance.

Living as God designed—intimately rooted in Him and intentionally woven into community—where love, vulnerability, and shared faith strengthen us to reflect Christ to one another and the world.

One Word 2025

 

For the last few weeks leading up to the start of a new year - a BIG year in our lives, I was listening for my one word.  Practicing the skill of discernment that I have been perfecting over the last year.  Looking up some of the words that resonated to me in the dictionary, popular culture, and most importantly, their context in the bible.  There were about 10 that stood out in one way or another. Then I narrowed it down to 3 that held my attention. And finally, THE ONE. 

ONWARD.

Not the Pixar movie. Or the VR video game. Nothing to do with Penn State.

THIS type of Onward: Continually seeking spiritual growth and maturity; Remaining steadfast in faith during trials and uncertainties; Actively participating in the mission to spread the Gospel; Trusting in God's guidance and provision for the future.

First of all, it is one of those words that after you say it about a dozen times, it starts to sound well, awkward. Weird, even. Not like a normal word in the English language! But once we get past the quirk of semantic habituation (look it up; its real!), the word has a lot of meaning, impact, and value for goal setting. Perfect for 2025!

I investigated the word "onward" and its impact on my world, and I found myself using the concepts I studied in a "looking forward" lens.  This upcoming year is BIG.  Jake will graduate high school, pick a college (most likely far from home), and go there to play basketball and get an education.  Finn will be thrust into only-child status - with OLD parents.  The girls are getting deep into their adult lives - and change is inevitable.  And all the other family factors we are experiencing play into this as well.

Progress over Perfection

This concept was introduced to me in Graduate School a few years ago, and over the last year as my job became both more challenging and more demanding, I was forced to lean into it again with new reverence for the idea.  Which was hard for me - I am a bit of a perfectionist.  But with a husband that I strive to be a great partner for, 4 kids ranging in age from 22 - 13 with various needs, wants, desires, time commitments, problems, and performances to tend to, plus elderly parents, it has come to my attention that I cannot do all of these things at 100% all of the time.  But, I CAN make progress.  I can do what is needed, what is required, and make my expectations and boundaries clear.  I can show up as much as I can show up - as long as it is healthy, wise, and it honors God.  My boundaries matter, but it is my job to protect them.  And it is also my job to communicate to everyone on my team, and in my tribe, what those lines of demarcation are - no one can read my mind.

Onward

A new beginning won't always feel like a giant leap that happened overnight. That's where I find myself today. 2024 has brought about MANY little steps, short walks, a hike or two, and even a couple of marathons along the way.  There are times when moving onward looks like entering a new space where everything is practically a blank page, but then there are other times when we carry pieces of the past with us. I am bringing a LOT of things from 2024 into 2025.  Most I am grateful for, some need to find their exit this year.

Focused on the Goal

Philippians 3:12-14 - The Message:

I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.

 

So, how do we perpetuate this forward progress?  Press forward with steadfastness in Christ by having faith in Him. Make Him the central focus of your thoughts and actions. Moving onward is a powerful call to action. It’s about working towards the future with intention, guided by the divine purpose God has laid out for each of us. I will continue to use discernment this year as I make decisions in all of these pivotal areas of our lives, and most importantly, I will strive to the balance and joy God promises.  I wrote last year that comparison is the thief of joy - and it still is!  Knowing I am pressing on, walking closer to God, and discerning his intentions for me and my family is what will bring me my ultimate joy.  Onward in infinite and the goal is always clear.  

Philippians 4:8 advises us to focus on whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy. By filling our minds with such thoughts, we cultivate a mindset that reflects God’s goodness and propels us towards His plans for us. Taking every thought captive and aligning our focus with virtues that resonate with God’s nature is essential in pressing forward. It enables us to sift through the noise and distractions of life, identifying and holding onto what truly matters.

May you never forget the good things worth carrying with you, and may your gratitude for them only grow over time. Pace yourself into this new beginning, prioritize closeness with God, and continue in a forward direction. Onward.

As I do every year, it is time to look back over my one word posts from years past to see how I came to use them as my focus for the year and to assess outcomes.  How well I was able to maintain that focus.  What God brought me to or brought me through because of my one word.  How my family changed and grew from my yearly focus.  Here is a list of the previous posts, if you are interested:

2024 - Discernment

2023 - Celebrate!

2022 - satisfied

2021 - hope

2020 - breath

2019 - listen

2018 - welcome

2017 - closer  (I was anxious, and blog-averse, as we opened 2017, so it's a short FB post)

2016 - greater

2015 - brave

2014 - joyful

2013 - resolution

Here is to 2025.  Onward - progress, perseverance, and the forward movement towards God. Always moving forward and continuing the journey. Always going further rather than coming to an end or halting. Onward is an attitude that continually propels forward movement and resists stagnation. The call to move onward is a call to live a life of purpose, faith, and obedience, ever pressing toward the fulfillment of God's promises and the ultimate hope of eternal life with Him.