Week 1: A Peek Into This Past Week + What I’m Reading, Listening to, and Watching!

I used to do a weekly post with a peek into the past week + lots of links. Many of you have missed this, so I’m bringing it back for 2026! I’ll be sharing some pictures and highlights from the past week + what I’m reading, watching, and listening to. I will also share links to posts or other interesting things I don’t want you to miss.

Jesse and I kicked off the new year with going to my favorite class at the gym together for the first time! (Can you spot David in this picture??)

I’m loving getting back into sourdough after taking a bit of time off for the holidays!

I finished this She Reads Truth study today! I love the She Reads Truth studies and used them all last year for my morning Bible Time. I’m planning to do the same this year!

This was my Friday project — something that desperately needed to be done! Our closet in our bedroom (that we’ve been sharing with all three younger kids, too) had gotten out of control over December. It was time to whip it into shape and deep clean it (something I’d been meaning to do for months!)

It took 3 hours, but it felt SO good when it was done. I moved a bunch of stuff upstairs to Kierstyn and Micah’s new room and closet (they are moving up to Kathrynne’s old room!) and some items to our attic storage. Every time I walk into the closet, I feel so happy!! I’m hoping to slowly work through the whole house this year and set up better systems that are maintainable. (Also, a few people on Facebook told me the carpet was disgusting. It definitely needs to be cleaned, but it’s also taken a huge beating the last five years with us using this closet for us + 4 little kids, so I think it likely is past being able to look really clean again!)

Guess who got her ears pierced?? See a video of her experience here.

Kaitlynn helped Kierstyn and Micah make homemade slime — something Kaitlynn used to love to make! Here’s her favorite recipe.

I made a BIG batch of roasted veggies for salads and to serve with eggs at breakfast! I used parsnips, butternut squash, onions, sweet potatoes, carrots, and potatoes.

Books I Finished This Week

Advent – Book #1 finished in 2026! I loved this one by Sherri Gragg! We have a podcast episode coming on Tuesday that I think you are going to love! She brought the Christmas story to light in ways I’d never thought of by sharing so much of the historical and cultural content.

Words Like Honey: How to Avoid Unintentional Harm, Model Kindness, and Nurture Your Child’s Faith Through What You Say – I was so challenged by how little phrases we say – even well-meaningly – could cause harm to our kids. I didn’t agree with everything in the book, but thought it was a very worthwhile read! Listen to the podcast I did with the author here.

The Wilds – I really enjoyed all three books in this series! This one engaged me and I had no idea how it was going to end up until well into the book. However, I didn’t love the ending – it felt like it fell flat compared to the rest of the book. That said, this series is overall very clean. It has some language and deals with adult themes but did it in a way that I felt wasn’t super graphic. They are murder mysteries, though, so you might disagree with me on that!

What I’m Listening To

Breath as Prayer: Calm Your Anxiety, Focus Your Mind, and Renew Your Soul – I got this as a free download on Libby and it has been really encouraging. If you struggle to slow down, to release your burdens to the Lord, or struggle with worry or anxious thoughts, I think this book would encourage you.

What I’m Watching

We watched RIO, Night at the Museum, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, and Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb with the younger kids this week since they were off for Christmas break. We enjoyed them all and would recommend them.

I’m also watching When Calls the Heart during some of my afternoon work time that I can easily do something else while working. I am maybe going to try to watch all 13 seasons this year since I find it to be kind of a fun and engaging “background show” — the kind you can have on in the background while you do something else.

In Case You Missed It – Posts From This Week

The 43 Books I Read in 2025 – I finished 43 books in 2025. I have been keeping all of the books on a shelf and it’s been fun to watch them accumulate over the year! See the full list here.

My Top 4 Favorite Reads From 2025 – As I looked through all the books I read in 2025, these four books stood out to me most as ones that impacted me They challenged me, encouraged me, and were the ones I kept coming back to in conversation and recommendations. I share more why I chose each one in the reviews below.

How to Create a Budget Spreadsheet (Using Our Free Download!) – Making a budget doesn’t have to be overwhelming — this step-by-step guide will show you exactly how to take control of your money, plus I’ll show you how to create a budget spreadsheet with a free download to make it easy.

25 Things I’m So Glad I Said Yes to in 2025 – Over the past few weeks, I spent some time reflecting on decisions and choices I made in 2025 that I’m so happy I did! I came up with a list of 25 things I said yes to that ended up being impactful decisions that I look back on the year and realize made a positive difference.

How I Found Food Freedom This Year! – In the summer of 2025, I made a decision that I honestly didn’t expect to have such a big impact. I signed up to meet with a Nourish dietitian because it was covered by insurance! I had no idea how much it was going to change my life!

Why I’m Not Setting Any Goals This Year – Over the past few weeks, I keep getting messages from people saying, “I can’t wait to see your goals list for 2026! It’s one of my favorite things you post!” And I had to sort of chuckle and then also realize that I’m possibly going to shock some people with a decision I made in November with the encouragement of my husband and my business coach: I’m not setting any goals for 2026!

Our 50% Sale Ends on Monday – Prices as low as $3.50!

Through tomorrow, every digital product in our store is 50% off, making this the perfect opportunity to grab something you’ve had your eye on… or pick up a resource you know could really help your family in the year ahead. Prices start as low as $3.50!!

You can browse everything that’s included in the End-of-Year Sale right here, with 50% off all digital products from January 5:

Thank you so much for being here, for reading, for sharing, and for allowing me to be a small part of your journey. I am so grateful for each and every one of you and hope that this sale blesses you in the way you’ve blessed me over the years!

Tell me about your week! Anything interesting happen? Did you read any good books, watch any good shows, or tackle any project?

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