Step by Step: A New Year Reflection

It feels almost surreal to be writing a blog post again. It’s been so long that I almost feel like a beginner—sitting here by the woodstove with my youngest son, laptops on our laps. He’s concentrating on trying to beat one of his brother’s games while I decided it was time to write and reconnect with you.

Christmas passed in a blur. In some ways it was wonderfully restful; in other ways it arrived sooner than I was ready for. Still, it brought a priceless gift: our three boys were all home for the holidays. As they grow older and settle in different places, that won’t always be the case, so for now I am deeply grateful for this time together.

Tomorrow the two oldest will return to college and to work, and the house will quiet down. Tonight we’ll have a small, pre-birthday cake for our eldest. There’s something peaceful about those ordinary, sweet moments—the kind that become treasured memories.

And so a new year begins.

I’ve been thinking a lot about themes and intentions for the coming year. A friend of mine, Kim, picks a single theme word each year, and I love that concept. I’ve tried it a few times and wanted to do it again. But this time my mind resisted settling on a clever word or memorable phrase. Goals and plans felt attractive, yet the path forward seemed unclear.

There are many uncertainties in my life right now. I’m not sure how long I’ll continue cooking in the camp kitchen. I’m not even certain about the future of this blog, especially since I spend less time at home these days—making it harder to write the usual home decor and craft posts. Still, even amid uncertainty, I find a steadying comfort.

My heart keeps returning to Psalm 23.

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”

That image of the shepherd has a personal echo: my uncle spent many years as a sheepherder and used to talk about how crucial the shepherd’s role is. He’d laugh and say, “They are just so dumb!”—not unkindly, but to emphasize how much sheep depend on a dependable guide. It reminded me that trusting guidance isn’t a weakness; it’s wisdom.

“He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters. He refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.”

How comforting it is to know that my heavenly Father is lovingly leading and guiding my life today and in the days ahead. When life is busy and exhausting, He promises to provide green pastures and quiet waters—moments of rest and renewal amid the demands of everyday life.

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

I wouldn’t describe this current season as walking through the darkest valley, but there are moments when everything feels overwhelming. A few days ago I cooked for 130 people for the first time—an experience that was both exhilarating and terrifying. In those moments I realize how helpful it is to trust Someone stronger than my own abilities, someone capable of carrying what feels too heavy for me alone.

I want to go where He wants me to go and to do what He wants me to do. I sometimes make following Jesus feel complicated and mysterious, when in truth it can be simple: walking day by day in the direction He sets. Trust, obedience, and small steps forward can shape a life more than any grand plan.

So perhaps I do have a theme after all. It’s not a flashy motto or a clever slogan, but a straightforward intention for the year:

Step by step.

{picture taken at Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC}

Step by step—choosing trust, accepting rest when offered, and following the paths set before me. That feels like the right posture for this new year: patient, faithful, and open to the quiet guidance that leads to green pastures and still waters.