Word of the Year // Happy New Year // 2026

2026

Word(s) for the Year

DIFFERENT | SAME

I’ve been thinking about what my word for the year was going to be and over the Christmas holiday, after saying for the millionth time “this year things are so different”, I decided that was my word. DIFFERENT. Things ARE so different. I’m going through a season of life I wasn’t prepared for. I feel like every other season has just gradually evolved to the next stage and I was ready for that change in my life when it came - empty nest, our boys getting married, becoming grandparents, even turning 60. But this past year has been the biggest roller coaster ride ever. One day Mom and Dad were living right next door and the next day it all changed, and I know I (we) will never have those days back again and it’s just so hard. We’ve made decisions differently, celebrated differently, everything just feels different and it is. With the holidays approaching, all I could think about was how different things would be this Christmas, and they were, yet somehow my tree still brought me the same joy it always does, I still enjoyed wrapping gifts for everyone, I found happiness watching the grandkids open their presents, I enjoyed preparing the food and gathering with my family, I got to see Mom and Dad over the holiday, we still celebrated Mom’s birthday with a little party, Peter and I still carried on with our traditions like watching the Candlelight service together, and cooking dinner on Christmas Day. Most importantly I realized that no matter our circumstances or how much things change, GOD never changes. 

“He’s the same yesterday, today, and forever” - Hebrews 13:8

His mercy, grace, goodness, faithfulness, love, He just makes so many things in life bearable and even enjoyable. 

I had dreaded Christmas but I found myself many times over the past few weeks with my heart just so full and happy. I am so thankful for the blessings in my life. Thank you Lord, that while things are so DIFFERENT, you always remain the SAME. ♥️

 

Hydrangeas ~ SIGNS of SUMMER

A sure sign SUMMER is around the corner when HYDRANGEAS are in bloom. 

🌿 Tip for perking up wilted blooms: I picked these today and didn’t get them in water right away and they wilted quickly. I remembered seeing tips from @theglamfarmhouse to help bring them back to life and keep them looking good longer. Clip stem on an angle and trim extra leaves. Stick stems in boiling water about 30 seconds then put in vase of water. 

I was skeptical because they were looking rough, but this evening they looked like this! 💗 Hydrangeas are one of my favorite flowers - I love the variety of colors!

[goodbye january]

suede shearling slippers : J Crew Factory

plaid jammies: Sonoma 2 -piece set Kohl's

March for Babies Walk

A big thank you to everyone who donated to our team "Kamry's Krew" 

for the March of Dimes walk this month! 

We were disappointed that the race was cancelled on May 13th, due to bad weather, 

but happy that our team raised $1,772.00 to help raise awareness to fight birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality.

Kamry was born at 29 weeks, weighing 2 lbs. 12 oz. and spent 7 weeks 

in NICU at Johns Hopkins. We are so very thankful to the doctors and nurses for 

their wonderful care and especially thankful and grateful for 

God's blessings to this sweet little girl! Thanks again for your donations 

- we look forward to participating again next year!

 - Kamry's Krew

Lindsey, her Mom, and Kamry had a fun day at the March of Dimes gathering

on Thursday. They got to turn in the rest of the collected donations, meet other families, and bring home some goodies including our team banner. 

www.marchforbabies.org

St. Patrick's Day Decor

The weather has been amazing and the flowers are blooming....it has really put me in the mood to pull out the Spring decor! I have a few St. Patrick's Day decorations, so I'll start with that for now.

To the coffee bar, I added a framed printable, a shamrock dish, and a L*U*C*K*Y banner.

The bright green boxwood wreath fit in perfectly!

I did the same March chalkboard again this year.....

A wreath for the back door....

welcome spring......

Thoughtful Thursday

This was in my daily devotions this morning.........



(a) ummm yes, I'm two days behind which is why this really hit me in the face :O( and (b) I love the Marie Kondo reference) :O)

I am a super "busy" person. I thrive on piddling around the house and getting things done and checking off lists. I spend A LOT of my day -- organizing and decluttering and cleaning and just doing things, but sometimes I can put too much time on these "things" and can't seem to find that extra quiet time for daily devotions (every day not just when it fits into my "schedule").

It's not only important to declutter your home, but it's very important to keep your mind free of stress and worry, usually over things we really have no control of anyway. We (I) should pray more for God's peace and joy, instead of being so caught up in every day busy-ness and while I enjoy every minute of the organizing and fixing up the house or even watching IG story videos, I know that if I invest more time in my daily quiet time with God, that will be even more rewarding.

I love when I read something in my devotions that makes me stop and reevaluate things and refocus on what really matters.

[9/52] photo challenge: morning

 

#52weekphotochallenge #morning #dockside

#alliemae #quiettime #myfavoritethings

#family #morningsonthepatio #missyouguys

 

52 Week Photo Challenge

 

thoughtful thursday: home

Not sure where I saw this quote, but I love it!

"Let us not strive to please the world or impress our peers. Let us strive to cultivate homes of peace and honor, a place that your family doesn't want to leave in the morning and looks forward to coming home to at night."

thoughtful thursday {Y}

-Y-

 

 

Something I like: Yankee Candles
 

 

Something I don't: yelling

 

Place I've been: (New) York

 

 

 

Somewhere I want to go: Yosemite National Park

 

 

Food I love: Yogurt





 

 

 

Movie I've seen: You, Me, & Dupree

 

 

 ......and this winds up this Thoughtful Thursday ABC Challenge!

[I'll be starting a new ABC Disney Challenge next week]

thoughtful thursday {W}

-W-

 

 

Something I like: weekend getaways

 

 

July 2014

 

Something I don't: (big) waterslides

 

 

 

 

Place(s) I've been & Want to go (back to):

 

Washington, DC

 

 

 

I've been to Washington a few times, one of them being my Senior Trip (32 years ago!).

I would love to take a mini-vacation there with Peter sometime. We did the Bears vs. Redskins game a couple of years ago, but would love tour all the historical sites of D.C. again.

 

 

Williamsburg, VA

 

 

I was born in Williamsburg and lived there until I was 4. My Dad attended William & Mary, and worked at Chowning's Tavern. I would love to go back and look for the homes we lived in and visit Chowning's Tavern (if it's still there?). I've been back to Williamsburg a few times over the years to do the Pottery and Water Country,etc., but would love to go back to do more sightseeing.

 

 

Food I love: watermelon

 

 

 

 

 

Movie I've seen: When A Man Loves A Woman

 

 



thoughtful thursday {V}

skipping the letter U and on to

 

-V-

 

Something I love: Valentine's Day

 

 

 

Something I don't: when your vacation ends....

 

 

 

 

Place I've been: Virginia Beach

 

 

 

Somewhere I want to go: Vermont

(I have passed through, but I would love to take an actual vacation there)

 

 

Food I love: Veggies (all)

 

 

 

 

Movie I've seen: The Vow

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

thoughtful thursday {T}

-T-

Something I love: tulips

Something I don't: telemarketers

Place I've been: Tilghman Island, MD

During our stay in St.Michael's a few years ago, we drove to Tilghman Island for dinner at Harrison's Chesapeake House (a recommendation from one of the locals which did not disappoint). We loved our meal which included crab cakes and fried chicken along with lots of homemade side dishes served "family -style". It reminided us very much of our Chesapeake House. :O)

Somewhere I want to go: vacation in a treehouse....

(may take a little convincing to get Peter on board with this idea!!). :O)

Food I love: (sweet) TEA (no lemon)

Movie I've seen: Titanic



thoughtful thursday {S}

-S-

Something I Love: snowcream

 

 

Something I Don't: snakes

(No Photo....I don't even like pictures of snakes!!)
 

Place I've Been: St. Michaels

Somewhere I Want To Go: Seattle

 

 

Food I Love: seafood (all of it!)
crabs, shrimp, fish, clams, oysters, scallops.....

 

Movie I've seen: Sleepless in Seattle

thoughtful thursday {R}

skipping {Q} and onto the letter

-R-

Something I love:

trying new RECIPES


 recipe LINK

Something I don't:

RAISINS
 

 

Place I've been:

REHOBOTH OUTLETS
 

Somewhere I want to go:

on a RIVER CRUISE
 

Food I love:

ROAST


(Mississippi Roast recipe HERE)

Movie I've seen:
 

I just watched RAIN MAN a few nights ago.
It had been years since I had seen it and I forgot how much I loved it!