2026 Forecast

I began doing a three-word forecast for myself last year.

I put it together, print it out, post it at my desk at work, and keep it on my phone.

I prayerfully decide on the words. 

I then break each word down to very specific details.

I love doing it this way because:

It's very specific.

It's very manageable.

It's VERY different from New Year's resolutions which, for me, have been more grandiose and extra ordinary.

There are floors and ceilings to each one

I make a list at the beginning of each month of actual things I want to do regarding each topic. That helps make it very timely and sustainable, as well as providing accountability for myself.

So, my forecast for 2026 includes:

Presence

Connection

Home

 

Winterish

This year has been SO weird.

Up until today, I have not worn a coat (except for one early morning football get-together).

It has been very, very warm.

In fact, when we went to Fresno for my grandma's funeral, it was warmer here than there.

Some snow flakes dropped while we were in California, but none since.

It's been in the 50's and 60's.

Literally, my dreamy kinda of winter!

Yesterday, it snowed in the mountains.

We live in the most beautiful placed on earth!

I love, love, love our moutains.

And snowy peaks is so magical.

 

Busy Days

Christmas Eve, Rian & Tyler and Bubba & Suzanne drove up and we all went to Grandpa Dave's for lunch.

We do this each year.

Kaydon came with us.

Grandpa Dave is Burke's stepdad.

He is a sweet, sweet man.

I love him dearly.

It's such a nice thing for us to go each year.

He keeps up on the traditions that he and Burke's mom started and kept going until her death.

Hendrix was worn out.

After lunch, we came back to our house to open gifts with them.

Braxton & Mia came over later in the evening to open gifts.

Hudson is SO into Papa's "Yites." (lights)

Christmas Day was spent opening gifts with the boys who live at home:

Kaydon, Porter, Cooper, and Ryker.

Jackson & Isis and Colton & Diana came up to open gifts as well.

Isis has been sick and cuddled up downstairs in Kaydon's bed while others played games and the girlies played.

We are blessed with abundance, safety, security, love, and laughter.

 

Merry Christmas 2025

 

Winner!

Monday night, Porter was telling Burke and I that there was a raffle at his job Tuesday morning.

Each bag of diapers or wipes they donated, a raffle ticket was given.

He ran to Walmart and grabbed five bags of diapers.

Last night, I heard the door open and, "GUESS WHAT?!?!"

I was like, "I know you're not saying 'guess what' because you're holding a slurpee!!"

He won the welder!!

He was SOOOOO happy!

 

Lap Dog

Stella thinks she is a lap dog.

She is like 60 pounds.

She is not a lap dog.

But she still climbs up on whoever is sitting in the chair and puts all of her weight on you so that you cannot move, no matter how badly you might want to!

Burke sent me these this morning after I left for work.

I LOVE that he got DONKEY in it!

Donkey has become my bestie.

I literally talk to Donkey every dang day!

 

Presence

Burke is really great about going to the gym with me on Sunday mornings.

We usually walk for a half hour, then go home.

Cooper decided to join us this week!

He walked with us for 15 minutes, then he was off to weights.

So we were ALL off to weights!

I'm trying so hard to be present.

I'm not great at it.

It's something I need to actively focus on.

I had a hair appointment on Saturday morning.

It was in North Ogden, so I stopped by Braxton's to "cook" some breakfast with Hudson.

He cracks me up.

I really cannot get over the artwork on the wall!!

He repeats EVERYthing people say.

He'd look at his daddy and say, "Hi Bud!!"

He's also very much into, "Why??" "What??"

It's the funniest thing ever!

Speaking of presence...

Jackson sent me this magical picture.

Melanie was just taking a few minutes...

Under the tree.

With the lights.

And her baby.

Just being.

She is perfection.

 

Mele Kalikimaka

 Papa & Gigi drove to Saratoga Springs yesterday afternoon to see Miss Aria Jane sing in her school program.

She was in the very front tow, so we were those people who kept creeping up closer and closer so we could see her!

The second graders sang two Hawaiian Christmas songs.

She nailed it!

Mia sent these to me last night.

Hudson brushing his teeth like the biggest boy that ever there was!!

Oh, Melrose!

I received this picture from Jackson last night.

You can read how that conversation went.

 I could not stop laughing!

Isis works nine evenings in a row, so it's full daddy duty for Jacks... which he rocks!

These girls are the actual best!

 

Kehlani, You Did It!

This sweet, sweet girl.

Kehlani is REALLY struggling with phonics.

Jackson and Isis are working so hard to help her.

They have tried all the tricks they've heard about. 

Sweet Lani works so hard at everything.

She is truly the most tender little love.

Isis sent us this picture yesterday!

Kehlani did it!

She's working so hard and she's getting there!

We are so proud of her.

Lani Boo, we love you so big!

 

Jail

At some point on Saturday afternoon, Luna and Bela escaped the backyard AGAIN.

Whoever's backyard they got into took them to Animal Services.

Burke got home at 4:45 and got a call from his sister-in-law that Animal Services had the two.

WHAT?!?!

They were literally just back there.

How on earth do they keep escaping???

Turns out Animal Services closes at 5 and isn't open on Sundays.

Burke searched up their mugshots.

They're both posing.

POSING.

Like, so happy with themselves.

It was a much more quiet weekend.

The girlies stopped by.

They all wanted their noses "painted red."

Gigi was on it!!

 

Shadow

Burke called me on Friday and told me that I needed to come to the dealership when I got off work.

Meet Shadow.

Pepper will be going to a loving family (I hope!!!).

Shadow, I was told by every guy at the dealership, has a bigger engine, bigger pedal, and bigger screen.

Shadow is FAST.

SO fast.

I hugged Pepper, as you do.

I thanked her for the last 2 1/2 years of safety, reliability, grand baby messes, and football team mom travels.

Shadow, welcome!

 

How I'm Loved

I LOVE when my family send me pictures of the sunset or sunrise.

I know I've blogged about this before, but I am in awe.

From Burke to Cooper to Aria Jane.

I LOVE my sunsets and sunrises.

I really love my family!