Bright Spots, Vol. 4

a great big catch up and some bright ideas for wintering

Photo by Alisa Anton on Unsplash

Hello, dear hearts, and welcome back to Bright Spots! We’ve got some catching up to do, eh? Much has happened since last we met here on the great wide internets. I’m afraid my relationship to Substack is growing more and more like what I experienced with Facebook and Instagram in the past (womp womp.. it is still a form of social media, after all). I definitely consumed more content here than I created in 2025.. and that has left me a little bummed, to be honest.

Much of my mental space (aka my Writing Brain) and physical presence in mid-late 2025 went to two things: high school sports and ministry work. It was our first year experiencing Fall Sports Life and it was a real education. I learned the ins and outs of volleyball and soccer (except off sides, because no one understands off sides), drove one zillion miles back and forth to practices and games, put on two end-of-season banquets and came to really appreciate the role of team sports in the life of our kids. We are blessed with an athletics program at our kids’ school that emphasizes character as well as athleticism, and it was a joy to see our kids thrive and grow within it last year.

I also entered a new season of ministry work at our church. I now head up the coordination, creation and teaching of adult Sunday School classes. I am delighted to be doing this work (truly a dream come true), but it has been challenging to carve out time to think and write with a tiny sidekick very literally at my side.

Add to all this our continued family recovery from Nick’s deployment (the relational aftershocks last a long time), some ongoing chronic illness for me, and spending more time with out-of-town family due to a recent cancer diagnosis, and maybe it’s not so surprising that I wasn’t cranking out regular Substack posts in the past few months.

So, we begin again. It’s never too late to begin again.

Let’s hit a quick review of mid-late 2025’s Bright Spots!

Bright Spots from Family Life

Milestones: Goldie turned three this summer and quickly potty trained, amen and hallelujah. She’s also now rocking a big girl bunk bed with Pru. Nick turned 40 in November and we celebrated with a party (something he has never requested before) which was really special for me to put on.

Trips: We took a family trip to Yellowstone and no one died!¹ It was as majestic as we imagined. Highlights included bison jams, crazy geothermal features, wildlife spotting and lots of huckleberry ice cream.

Nick and I went to a Ben Rector concert together in Indy, which was an absolute treat. Is there anything better than singing along to your favorite songs surrounded by hundreds of other people doing the same? So good.

We also made three trips to PA- one for the 4th, for Thanksgiving and for Christmas. Lots of family bonding opportunities.

Holidays: Highlights include attending the wedding of dear friends (with Goldie as flower girl), watching my paperwhites and amaryllis bloom, a Christmas Eve trivia night, the installation of my long-awaited soaking tub and the subsequent baths taken in it, a birthday dinner out with friends, Lucy taking the lead on gingerbread houses, a family Rocky movie marathon, our 12th night bonfire and plenty more. It was a full one, and I am still recovering from my role as Holiday Mom, but much merriment was had!

Favorite Books of 2025

You know books will always find their way onto my list of bright spots. I’ve made separate year-end book posts in the past, but I’m going to consolidate my favorites here. Check out my Goodreads for detailed reviews, if you’re into that kind of thing!

• Fiction: 84, Charing Cross Road. Once A Queen. Hannah Coulter. Jane Eyre.

• Memoir: Gift from the Sea. Be Ready When the Luck Happens.

• Christian: The Forgotten Desert Mothers. Limping with God. Reading Philippians. Man Overboard!

Bright Ideas for Winter

baby’s first moodboard - photos taken from Pinterest

We’ve been looking backwards at bright spots from the past, now let’s look for some potential in the days to come! I am just a little obsessed with the idea of a cozy, restorative winter filled with books, baths, candles and tea. Add a side of indoor gardening and brisk hikes and I’m my way to a joyous winter season.

May I present a few ideas for your wintry consideration?

• A Playlist: I love this one for transitioning out of the holidays and into the heart of winter. A few nods to Christmas and lots of chill songs for cold, snowy days.

• Movies/Shows: If you didn’t partake during the holidays, Little Women, Narnia and Harry Potter² are always waiting. If you’ve never watched All Creatures Great and Small or Great British Bake Off, here’s your sign. Winter’s also a great time to get into an iconic series you haven’t tried or older show that you love. And we’re not binge-watching, babes - let’s bring back weekly time slots for movies and shows to build anticipation and make our favorite stories last longer!

• Books: You know I like to pair my seasons with my reading whenever I can. I’m in the midst of The Time of the Child right now, and I’ve got Black Woods, Blue Sky on the docket. On my winter TBR list: Once Upon A River and We All Want Impossible Things. If you’ve been around, you know The Snow Child and Beartown are some of my favorite winter fiction suggestions. For non-fiction, try Wintering or The Little Book of Winter. For seasonal picture books, nothing beats Brighter Day Press’s monthly book lists.

• Activities: We are not storming into the new year over here - we are easing in. We’re slowly putting away Christmas and keeping up the wintry decor (greenery, twinkly lights, cozy textiles). We’re playing records and CDs³ (!). We’re keeping books and handcrafts (if that’s your thing) in a basket close to the couch. We’re taking as many baths as we like. We’re building cozy fires, inside or outside, or with the help of YouTube. We’re bundling up and getting out for walks when it feels right. We are putting a few fun things on the calendar to look forward to. We are connecting with friends on purpose- calling, texting, writing notes in the mail. We are playing board games and doing puzzles and lighting candles just because. We are growing plants inside or starting seeds for spring. We are drinking warm drinks at regular intervals. We are delighting in the cold and hoping for snow. We are slowing down, connecting with the people we love, and finding ways to reach out to others who may find winter especially lonely.

• Food: January is for restorative, warm foods - soups, stews, casseroles, warm bread, roasted veggies. Break out the slow cooker and the Dutch oven if you haven’t already. Winter is also a lovely time to work through your pantry or freezer and make meals out of whatever you find. Dust off your cookbooks or get some new ones at the library for inspiration. Ask your family/friends what their favorite winter foods are and eat them together. And definitely make some time for cozy baking - quick breads, cookies, tray bakes, muffins, scones - it will give you a reason to turn your oven on and warm up a bit. January is also a great time to cash in those DoorDash giftcards and order Indian takeout⁴, or make easy favorites like grilled cheese and tomato soup. Whatever we’re eating, it’s gonna be slow and warm and low lift.

And there you have it! May the Lord of the seasons bless your winter; may it be a season of restoration and peace, of inspiration and growth, of preparation and humility.

I’d love to hear what you’re looking forward to in the comments - please share all the cozy winter ideas with us!

1. We happened to pick up a gift shop book called Death in Yellowstone. Do not recommend reading a book about how lots of people died in the place you are vacationing!

2. It goes without saying that these are wonderfully cozy for winter in book form, as well!

3. Highly recommend unearthing your CD collection and playing full albums. It’s a super boost of nostalgia.

4. Best kind of takeout. Still warm and tasty when it gets to your house, no matter how far away the restaurant is!