Shug-Steps of Faith: A New Year

Thursday, January 1, 2026

A New Year

Happy New Year!!!

There was NO confetti or any kind of fireworks around here last evening. It was a quiet evening while we watched Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune.

Well, today is January 1, 2026....A new day, a new year and some people might say a new beginning.

Personally, I don't feel the need to sprint into this new year. I don't want to burst through the door shouting resolutions or hauling around unrealistic expectations. Instead, I'm opening the door slowly, barefoot at that, and just saying, Hello, 2026....lets take this one step at a time."

I mean, I'm 72 years young, so I don't really think that NEW resolutions will make any significant changes for me. But...I can at least try!!

What I am doing is bringing the BEST of last year with me....All the laughter that surprised me, the friendships that held me steady, the quiet mornings that healed parts of my soul, and YES...even the hard days that taught me strength that I didn't know I had.

Of course, some things are staying behind. Worry that never helped. Guilt that lingered way too long, the pressure to be everything to everyone....All these things served some kind of purpose at the time (or maybe they didn't) but either way, they don't need to come along.

I've decided to give myself PERMISSION! Permission to go slowly and permission to rest without any explanation. I also think I'll give myself permission to change my mind if I want to. LOL

I suppose that if I were setting some goals for the year 2026, a few of them would be to...

#1. Celebrate progress, not perfection

#2. Listen more than I rush

#3. Notice more about the beauty that is tucked into everyday moments.

Today, I am choosing HOPE! Not the flashy kind, but the steady kind. HOPE that stays even when circumstances seem to wobble. A HOPE that reminds me that every sunrise is proof that God isn't finished yet.

I pray that this year (2026) will be filled with moments when I feel the breath of God breathing upon me.

May peace show up in those unexpected places and may healing continue it's quiet work. May gratitude change how we see ordinary days, and May love feel familiar and safe.

One day in.

One step forward.

One more chance to live this life with intention and heart.

"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23

Happy New Year!!

Shug...💛

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Update on Sam

12/26/25 On Tuesday of this week, Sam and I were at the doctor's office at 7:15 in the morning..This was the lung specialist. 3 1/2 liters of fluid was drained from around Sam's lungs. Wow...this was a lot of fluid in those 4 liter size bottles. It took most of the afternoon for Sam's lung to get back to normal after being collapsed. He was scheduled for his first immunotherapy the next day which would have been Wednesday. BUT...He started running fever later in the evening. I made calls to the oncologist and the lung doctor. Due to him having fever, his immunotherapy was rescheduled for Jan. 2nd. Seems that just in draining the fluid, it can cause you to have fever. Christmas Eve was a little tough for him, but thankfully on Christmas day, he was feeling a bit better. The fluid sample has been sent off to check for infection and cancer cells. Will most likely be another week before we hear from this test. Meanwhile...we keep trusting and believing for his healing.