“Begin.” A word with a lot of meanings when you use it to describe what you hope to do in the upcoming year.
I’m not writing this as a big announcement or a promise that I’ll do everything perfectly. It’s more like a marker in the ground: I’m beginning again — slowly, honestly, and with God at the center.
For me, “begin” means starting from the basics and evaluating each area of my life — relearning things I’ve forgotten over time, and finding ways to be more efficient where I can. It also means a kind of evolution: changing behaviors and habits, starting projects, and not making excuses to myself about why I haven’t done what’s been pressed on my heart for months.
No matter how I do it, I need to begin.
Art and Creativity
While I’ve been creating artwork since 2016, I haven’t been super proactive about posting my creations since 2020 (yep — Covid zapped my initiative there). It’s been long enough to wallow in fear, uncertainty, and general lack of confidence.
This means my Etsy store will be getting an update, and then as I create items, they’ll be posted. No bells and whistles, and no trying to chase trends I’m not familiar with — just authentic creations inspired by whatever strikes my fancy in the moment. And honestly, that might mean I hang out for a while on the same kinds of pieces… and that’s perfectly fine.
This also means a reset of authentic pricing — not selling myself short out of fear of rejection, or fear that someone won’t like what I make. There’s a little something for everyone… and at the same time, not everything will be everyone’s cup of tea. At the end of the day, it’s the act of creating — and what God does in me through the process — that will mean the most. The artwork is the end result, but it’s not the entire journey.
One of my dreams/goals is to make art accessible, even for people who don’t feel like they “can” make art. That means demonstrating different mediums, styles, and ways of creating. Some of it is intuitive, but a lot of it comes from unlocking pieces of ourselves that we all have: curiosity, resourcefulness, and the ability to notice inspiration everywhere.
I want to help people tap into that, and then use whatever means works for them to create something from it — drawing, painting, crafting with glue and paper, photography, or anything else that captures what held their attention and fed that inner spark.
I’d love to work with all ages, but especially teens and adults who are looking for a new hobby, projects that help them feel grounded when struggling with mental health needs, or even a way to connect socially.
What will this look like? I’m really not sure yet. But a few ideas are to bring back some live streams with more of a game plan — set “lessons” or projects we work through together. I’ll also share process videos in the places I already show up (FB/IG/TikTok/YouTube).
One day, I’d love to set up mini workshops in-person, but that’s probably way down the line. In 2026, though, I hope to do a couple family/friend “test runs” to get feedback on what works and what doesn’t. If you’re in the Abilene area and interested in participating, give me a shout or drop a comment to let me know.
Writing and Publishing
2025 came with some experimenting in a different creative pursuit: Amazon KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) and Pocket FM. I also started my blog here (of course!), wrote articles on Medium, and posted regular content for engagement with the communities I’ve built on Facebook and Instagram.
Toward the end of the year, I started working on a long-term story that initially had one chapter posted each day. I’m honestly not sure I’ll be able to maintain that kind of schedule with everything else I’m interested in doing — but regular updates will continue so readers can keep up with the citizens of Brushwood Hollow and find out what’s happening with the Ashford family and friends in He’s Always Watching.
In the fall, I had a sudden burst of inspiration for another story — though this one is a little more therapeutic for me. Called Fractured Walls, it begins with a woman standing outside a derelict manor with little to no memory of herself or why she’s there — just an urgent sense that she needs to find something, vague flickers of past events teasing her thoughts, and a note in her pocket.
It’s a psychological mystery/thriller that nearly wrote itself in one go while I was drawing one night. I get the feeling it won’t stop dancing in my head until I have the whole thing written out… but it’s being done in short bursts as the storyline evolves.
I’ve also started writing and publishing devotionals — and this is by far the area I’ve been most excited about. The topics I’m working with right now focus on doubt and anxiety, leadership, overcoming negative self-talk, and developing compassion for ourselves.
Most of these follow a simple template: scripture, reflection, prayer, and a writing prompt. But I’ve also started one that includes a love letter from God that reveals a truth we often forget, and then moves into reflection and other pieces to highlight the heart of that truth. I’ve been able to include my own drawings too, which has been a really meaningful way to merge several creative passions into one creation.
At the end of the day, these devotionals mean a lot to me because I’m hoping they resonate with the people who read them. If it helps someone see God’s love a little clearer, then I’m happy.
Nature, Sustainability, and Creating a Personal Retreat
2025 has been the year of doctor appointments and trying to figure out some health things that have been lingering for several years. Along the way, I’ve realized sustainability and self-sufficiency (especially with our ingredients and where we get them from) is something I really want to work on.
I’m also drawn to plants, flowers, and the essential act of caring for living things and watching how they mature over time.
After kicking ideas around throughout the year — plus a couple failed starts — I’ve resolved that even if it’s just 15–20 minutes a day, I can still make progress. I may not have tons of energy, but I can get outside and work a small section of the yard each day, or care for the plants I’ve started fitting into random areas all over the house.
I’ve also done a lot of research and experimenting with propagation and “Frankenstein” produce (the kind you can regrow from what you buy at the store: pineapple, green onions, lettuce, and anything that houses a seed). I even tossed around a few garden nursery names if I ever pursued something like that — Franken-Eats and Zombie Growing were a couple of the quirky daydreams — but I don’t have a solid plan to pursue that right now.
Rather than a nursery, the bigger idea is to build up the front and back yards into places I can retreat when I need time with nature… and a space where I can honor my Opa’s memory. The garden he had when I was growing up was a place of adventure for a kid. I loved walking the paths and exploring all the plant life tucked into different zones, nooks, and crannies. The air felt fresher in Opa’s garden, and it always brought a deep sense of peace.
While I hope to capture a piece of that, I also hope it can serve other purposes too: food that can be shared beyond our family needs, a way to connect with neighbors and community, a place to sit and rest, a cutting garden to share flowers from, a hobby of propagating and sharing young plants and seeds, a place to create plein air paintings, a spot to invite friends and family to… and more.
Faith Journey and Calling
All of these ideas keep resonating with me, and I keep feeling that nudge — like when God is trying to tell you something.
It’s not something I can fully explain, but there’s something here He’s wanting me to work on. It might be that these projects are just a season — one where I learn and grow, and then have something to look back on as proof that I can tackle future challenges. But I think it’s more than that.
In all the work I’ve done, it’s been service-driven. And all these things I’ve been doing — art, hobby gardening, writing, and everything else over the years — are starting to come into focus as a way of connecting with people in different ways for different needs they have.
Anyone who hears all of this, and also knows me and the other things I balance (a full-time job, family, volunteer commitments, the health needs I mentioned, and my tendency to run hard with an idea and then taper off…) might think, “Oh, that’s nice…”
But I can’t stop thinking about these things. They don’t just go away. If it was a passing thought, it would’ve already come and gone — but these have continued to evolve and morph into a more condensed version of the original ideas for years.
And that’s what keeps me from letting them go.
It’s also because I think they’ll help me accomplish my last goal: to be closer to God. I believe these “random” projects, if done with Him at the forefront, can come to fruition. And in leaning into what I sense He’s telling me, these ideas can have an impact that goes way beyond me — and that’s what I really want from it all.
Something that reflects the calling God has for me.
So… I’ll begin.
I’ll keep working incrementally, and I’ll lean on quiet time with God for guidance and clarity on how this is supposed to come together. I’m going to work with Him on my anxiety and doubt, but still step forward — so that 2026 is the beginning of whatever beautiful plans He has.
Sprinkle some joy in the comments! 🎨