January 2026

"In the winter's silence, January speaks: try again, begin anew." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

December 2025 burst in.

January 2026 exhaled.

You arrived quietly — almost cautiously — after December’s glitter and noise. The twinkle lights came down. The calendar flipped. The house felt bigger somehow. Slower.

You brought cold mornings and clean pages. Frost on the windows and possibility in the air. A return to routine. Early alarms. Resolutions whispered in the dark before the morning kicked in.

January was honest. There was no holiday sparkle to hide behind. Just discipline. Reflection. A deep breath and a decision: we began again.

For the Weavers, the month felt like equal parts reset and reality check. Back to school schedules, back to work rhythms, back to managing health and expectations and the quiet weight of “now what?” after a December that left us both grateful and exhausted.

It wasn’t loud. It wasn’t flashy. But it mattered.

Thirty-one days of steadying ourselves. Of finding our footing. Of learning what this new season might require of us.

Here’s how we started the year.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Week 1: Jan 1-4 - Mom and Dad went to a wedding, Finn stayed home. We all travelled to Tabor to watch basketball, Jake made the honor roll, Jack spent a weekend with the sitter, and we had puppy class.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Week 2: Jan 5-11 - No school, Jack got castrated, Finn used his press pass at the high school, Mom and Dad celebrated 20 years of marriage, Zach Bryan dropped new music, there was basketball, and Jack.

from the archives!

  

 

 

 

Week 3: Jan 12-18: There was basketball, and Jack. He graduated from Puppy School this week!

 

Jake's mean mug made it on the KCAC app cover for Tabro games for the season!  Jump Scare when I first opened the app and saw it!  SO COOL!

 

Week 4: Jan 19-25: No school, Cornelius got an oil change, Grandpa turned 80, there was basketball, Finn went to Freshman Enrollment Orientation at the High School. a SNOW STORM, OKC Thunder game for the boys, no basketball, NO SCHOOL, closed in the house for days, introduced Jack to snow, taught him how to catch a ball,  Finn played in the snow, Dad had a heart attack, and Jake turned 19.  And Jack.  

 

 

 

Jack's first TikTok

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

Week 5: Jan 26-31: HOSPITAL DAYS!  Everything was covered in snow.  The handyman and to get up on my roof to fix my dryer vent, I hired a man to clear the snow from our giant driveway so Britt could come home safely, Finn had a snow day play date, we finally started to thawout, there was basketball, I didn't get to bring him home, then I DID get to bring him home, and Jack - he got a haircut!

  

 

AND THEN! We snuck away for a quick second.  Dad's heart needed it.  TABOR WON!

 

 

 

January started out slow and easy and ended in a CRASH!

Here is a link to all of the hospital posts: BRITT'S HEART ATTACK

---

Books and January - did not mix.

"The Last Father Daughter Dance - A Short Story" by Lisa Wingate

"A Marriage of Lies Hides the Darkest Secrets" by Amanda McKinney
 

That's it.  That's all I read.  332 Pages.  Didn't like either book.

Find me on GoodReads:

  goodreads.com/bdub_ok

Britt's Heart Attack

 

Dad had a Heart Attack

Jan 24 - 8:35pm

(Saturday 8:20pm) 🔔 Ok Prayer Warriors. Saddle Up. It’s time to ride.  🙏🏼 

 Took Britt to the OU Medical Edmond ER around 3pm today with chest and back pain. It’s 8:20pm now and they’ve decided to transfer him to downtown OKC to the main OU Medical facility. Several things going on, but most importantly, we covet your prayers. For protection as we travel in this dumb weather. For clarity on what’s causing the most harm and how to move forward. And for my mental health, selfishly. It’s been a hard few months and this was not how I thought 2026 would start. 

At this point I don’t know a lot. I know I have Finn taken care of - my bestie dog sitter Brittany is going to try her hand at teenage boy sitting. (And shout out to my neighbor Jill for being on standby while we were in the ER.) Britt is taking his first ever ambulance ride. And I’m trying to get things together to meet him down in OKC. 

Protection, comfort, clarity, grace. In no particular order.  

Love y’all.

---

🏥 SUNDAY 10am UPDATE 💬

Definitely a heart attack. Also diagnosed with diabetes and a kidney stone. He had a decent night - best you can in these places  😉 He’s on 2 IV’s and a few other interventions. No pain. No presenting symptoms currently. We saw the Cardiologist about 8:30 and they “hope to get him to the Cath Lab sometime today.”  🤷🏼‍♀️ 

🙏🏼  KEEP PRAYING 🙏🏼

---

Jan 25, 7:00pm (Britt)

First off - thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the prayers sent our way over the last 2 days. We would love for prayers and positive thoughts to continue our way.

Having a heart attack was definitely not on my Snowmageddon’s bingo card. But we are truly blessed that we made it to the ER in time.

I’d like to ask for some help tomorrow from our Edmond/OKC area friends.

We need help with a ride to get Finn to one of his friends for the day (a 6 min/ 3 miles trip each way)

AND the big ask - a ride for Betsey to the hospital and back (31 min/16 mile trip each way)

I know it’s a lot to ask - but hopefully there is someone out there who’d be willing to transport my loved ones

on these crazy roads!!

---

Original Post 1/25 8:00pm:

All of my current stressors are related to the actual winter storm that is paralyzing our state. 

👎🏼 👎🏼👎🏼 My car is not made for this

👎🏼👎🏼 My driveway is steep and snow packed

👎🏼 My son is bored and sad

👎🏼 My clothes dryer needs assistance I am unable to provide (step 1- go outside and… well. No. It’s dark. I don’t have proper footwear for 8” of snow)

👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼🤞🏼 I need to get to the hospital tomorrow for my husbands procedure (see the top 2)

👎🏼👎🏼 I need to get my son to a friends house tomorrow so he’s not home alone since school is cancelled 

👎🏼 I need my puppy taken care of since I’ll be gone most of the day

If we weren’t buried in snow with well below freezing temps, NONE of these would be an issue. 😞

---

💫 UPDATE 8:40pm: Rides secured for tomorrow. Finn has a plan that he’s excited about. 🤩 Dog taken care of as well 🎉

🚙 My car is still across the street because I couldn’t get it up the driveway when I got home from the ER. And my driveway is still a mess!

---

January 26 - Morning:

Prayer for Today

God, we place this day in Your hands. Please guide the doctors and medical team with wisdom, steadiness, and clarity as they care for my husband, Britt. Surround him with Your peace, strengthen his body, and bring healing where it’s needed most. Hold our family close, calm our fears, and remind us that we are not alone. Amen.

January 26 - Afternoon:

Britt is out of his procedure and back in post-op—everything went really well. One blockage, one stent, and the rest will be managed with medication. No bypass, no additional stents. He’s in great spirits (asked for a Crown & Coke… got water 😄).

We’ll be here a few more hours, then back to our room. If tonight goes well, he should be heading home tomorrow.

Bonus wins today: the driveway is cleared, the dryer is fixed (roof vent packed with snow 😳), and I cannot wait to do laundry at home. Grateful all around. GOD IS GOOD 🙏💙

 

---

January 27 - Evening:

💡 If Finn being born 14 weeks early and having an extended NICU stay taught us anything about hospitals, it was that it's always a roller coaster! I left the house around 9:30 this morning to head to OU Med to pick my husband up and bring him home. Unfortunately, that's exactly where that plan ended.

When I walked into the hospital room, there were several people in there and no one looked happy, especially my sweet Britt. He had just found out that they would not be releasing him this afternoon to come home and that he would have to spend one more night there for some additional testing. 😞

Everything's still going well and trending in the right directions, but we just have a few more things to iron out before he can come home. Rollercoaster 🎢 All of the contributing factors that led to the heart attack in and of themselves were pretty dangerous, so the fact that we're here three days later is an absolute miracle. And while we are hopeful for tomorrow, there’s still a possibility of another overnight stay depending on how things go in the next 24 hours. ⏰

Thank you 💐 for everyone's thoughts and prayers and the many acts of kindness. We're just excited to move this journey forward and can't wait to have him home with us. 🏠

Keep praying, 🙏🏼 and let this be a reminder that God is good – all the time. ✝️

---

January 28 - Evening:

I’m home. Alone. 😔 I got to the hospital around noon and about 4:15, it was confirmed that we were going to go home tonight!!!!!! So I got in that frame of mind and we were talking through our plans. About 5:00, they came in and told us he would NOT be going home tonight. Luckily, it’s nothing health related, it’s just hospital related. Some of his medication that he needed to go home with is not available tonight so we have to wait until the morning. I have a super busy work day tomorrow, so I will go pick him up between meetings once a time is confirmed. (Did you know they have a “discharge lounge” where discharged patients can wait for their rides? Why does this make me feel like a bad wife… 😢)

---

January 29 - Late Afternoon:

Got to bring Britt home this afternoon! Now the real healing can begin.

Thanks again for all the care and concern. I don’t know that we “need” anything. He needs rest and to adjust to all his new routines and schedules. I need a clone so I can be more than one place at the same time. And I need rest. While we appreciate the idea of meals, it’s hard to say what we want/ need. He’s on a heart healthy DASH diet as well as a diabetic diet. I eat specifically as well. Finn likes cheese, chicken, and pizza. So, there’s that.

Here’s to a peaceful night of sleep and true rest for both of us. Britt’s plans for tomorrow are to get his meds organized and start charting all his numbers! I hope to work a full 8 hours for the first time all week.

Onward!

---

Tuesday, February 3 - morning:

The Big Guy went back to work today. After 6 days in the hospital and - few more resting at home, he was ready to- mentally. Released with no restrictions. But, stamina is low, fatigue is real, and wifey worries.

Yearning for an easy day, fortitude, and grace. Today’s prayer: Renewed strength; Careful persistence; Gradual momentum 🙏🏼

---

February 5:

On Saturday, January 24, my 61-year-old husband suffered a heart attack in our home. The night before, he and our youngest son were in downtown OKC for an Oklahoma City Thunder basketball game. 2 hours before the event that led up to the ER, we were teaching our 5-month-old Aussie Doodle, Jack, how to catch a ball.

Then, suddenly, I found myself driving in an Oklahoma snowstorm (iykyk) to the nearest ER - just three miles away, but nearly 30 minutes on atrocious roads.

We are so thankful to the staff at OU Health Edmond Medical Center for their swift care and for recognizing he needed to be transferred to the main campus downtown. And to the staff and care team at OU Health Medical Center downtown — short-staffed due to callouts and weather, on a restricted food service menu for the same reasons, and battling ALL the cold air in our wing of the building — thank you for making a terrifying time more bearable and for taking such good care of my Rock.

Six days later, we walked out together. Cath lab success — only one stent needed. There are contributing factors to manage, but we are on the road to better health. These are scary, uncharted waters for us, but we are incredibly blessed to have knowledgeable professionals guiding us through.

I’m so grateful my husband knew something wasn’t right (we truly had no idea it was a heart attack) and took immediate action to get help.

And I’m thankful for our neighbors and our tribe — and even a complete stranger who cleared our steep driveway so my husband could come home safely (Tristan Shores)— who stepped up to care for our son, our dog, and our home while we adjusted to this new reality.

February is Heart Month. We’re especially grateful for the American Heart Association and the work they do to educate, prepare, and research for situations just like ours.

Take time to learn the signs. Take care of your heart — and the hearts you love. ❤️

CC: Britt Weaver

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.