Word of the Year 2026: Abundance

Word of the Year: Abundance 

I had a challenging time this year choosing a word to focus on. I needed to appreciate the blessings that I already have. Really, I have been given so much. I dislike the lies that the world tells us that we can't be happy until we have MORE, or the newest, latest & greatest. I have plenty of clothes, books, "toys", purses, candles, food, etc.,

Part of it is the time after Christmas when I want to purge some things. But I really just want to be happy with the "abundance" that I have been given. I chose Ephesians 3:20 for my verse to memorize, and it will help me remember that He can do way more than I think or imagine, and to God be the glory. I don't deserve anything, no matter what anyone says. I deserve punishment for the way I have betrayed my Lord. I have disobeyed Him and dishonored Him. The world says to take a break or buy this thing because "you deserve it." I say no, I deserve nothing. 

God deserves all of the praise for all that I am and all that I have. I wouldn't be here today if it weren't for God in my life. I need Him every moment of every day. So I honor God, and say, Now to Him who is able to do ABUNDANTLY more than I ask or think... to God be the glory!

I also found a song that goes along with this verse, called "Abundantly More" by North Point Worship. You can listen to it here. I like the line that says, "Your love for me is better than I imagined." So good!

Did you choose a word of the year? I'd love to hear all about it!

Ephesians 3:20

NKJV      Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,

26. 
    
    
    
    
    Matthew 25:29
      For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have, will be taken from them.

    
    
27. Luke 12:15
    Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”

Christmas highlights 2025

 We had a wonderful Christmas this past year. We had our "big kids" home for a few days, and that was fun. On the 23rd, there was a "Christmas skate with Santa" in the afternoon that my husband and three younger kids went to together. I'm not an ice skater, so I did not participate. My two middle kids have "Elf" costumes that they wore ice skating!  Haha

 

On Christmas Eve, we went to our church's candlelight service and then home to open one gift. My 2 younger girls had gotten Grinch sweatshirts in early December, so we bought the sweatpants to go with them.

Oldest daughter opens pajamas...

My hubby got a new t-shirt...

Here's the girls in their matching sweatshirts and pants!

They played our table-top air hockey before we began "The Polar Express".

Our family photo after our Christmas Eve service... it took about 10 pictures to get a good one!

My hubby got some new slippers called "Kyrgies" that he really wanted... he loves them!

Our youngest got a Nintendo switch game that she's wanted for a while...

M got an electric tea kettle for her dorm room that she wanted...

The bigs got a blanket that they really wanted...

My mom was here for the day and she loved her pink, striped shirt that we gave her!

M appliquéd letters onto several sweatshirts for gifts... I have one that says, "Jesus Saves."

Our oldest daughter got a hand-stitched bag that says, "Thank You for the Music."

We saved the last gift for M... I began writing a devotional book for her!

After my son's girlfriend got off of work, we opened gifts with her. She liked her new scrub top!

My son bought her this hat that says, "He's Golfing."

We used part of my husband's Christmas bonus to buy a large, wooden shelf to hold our games! We like it because now we can see them all!

We finished our 1,000-piece Christmas puzzle (from my hubby's mom and sister-in-law) a few days after Christmas! It was a good challenge!

How was your Christmas? I'd love to hear about it!

Luke 2:4--15

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem, the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly, a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

Card game: Golf

 Our family loves to play games together, especially on any holiday. Joshua's sister and her husband enjoy games too, and we are always trying to find new ones to play when we get together. But sometimes a good, old card game is fun too. This past Thanksgiving, we played a card game called "Golf." I remember my grandparents playing this game, so it is definitely not new. It is easy to learn and can be played with players aged 5 to 95!

Directions for Nine-Card Golf:

You'll need two decks of cards if you're playing with 4-8 people (leave the jokers in). Everyone gets dealt nine cards face down-- do NOT look at the cards! Arrange the cards in three rows of three cards. Each player will turn three cards face up.

Kings are wild cards, worth -2 points.

Jokers are wild, worth zero points.

You may try to get three cards in a row, up or down, and then each card is worth zero points. 

All other cards are worth face value. Aces are 1;  jacks and queens are 10 points.

The goal of the game is to get the lowest score, just like in golf at the range. You will draw a card either from the top of the pile or from the player on your right, and either discard or pass it to the next player in order. You may decide to keep it if it is a lower card or if you're collecting cards of that number. Suits do not matter.

When the first person turns over their ninth card, each other player has one more turn. This time, however, you may not take your neighbor's turned-up card; you MUST take from the draw pile only.

Then you take score by counting up your cards, and play another round. 

Here is a photo of my husband's winning hand:

I hope you enjoy playing this game! Let me know if you try it and if you have any questions!

Deuteronomy 11:18
Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.

Psalm 33:21
In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.

Luke 22:52
Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs?