Here's to 2025

For us, it's the year of the dog.

Five years ago, I told my kids we’d get a dog in the summer of 2025. They haven’t let me forget it, not that I wanted them to. No, I don’t know what kind yet, but names have been discussed. The kids know I prefer a name that is literary in nature, so feel free to place your bets. The kids were also speaking in a code of their own making at dinner the other night, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they likewise devised a cryptic countdown over the next few months.

But before there is a dog, there are concerts to attend, a Confirmation to be received, graduations to take place, and decisions to discern. And most likely after there is a dog, we have a family wedding to look forward to. Twenty twenty-five has set the bar pretty high.

I found myself singing “A Long December” by Counting Crows the last few weeks, and while last year wasn’t all together bad, I was more grateful than usual for a fresh start on January 1st. Had I known that I’d have at least one sick kid every day of the year so far, I might have felt differently, but probably not.

1. Some updates

I wrote portions of my novel project for fifteen minutes every day from June 1-December 31 and made a good deal of progress. Though I have much more to do before I hand the manuscript over to a thesis advisor next month, I’ve switched gears for 2025 and am reading thirty minutes a day as a resolution. I’ve also blocked off as many mornings as I can through the end of the academic year for longer writing sessions to get this thing done.

By the time my next edition of this Substack is out, my picture book will also be out in the world! Pre-order yours now! Here it is on Amazon (affiliate link), and here it is on the publisher’s website (hint, buy at least two copies and you’ll get free shipping!).

2. What I’m reading

With my reading time goal in mind, I considered an additional goal of reading fifty-two books this year. But the first book I’m reading is over 1,000 pages, so I’m aiming for forty instead.

This month, I’m reading The Father’s Tale by Michael D. O’Brien, The Dry Wood by Caryll Houselander, The Pearl by John Steinbeck, and Til We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis. If you can have too many book clubs/reading groups, then yes, I have too many. But I don’t really think you can.

Oh, and I’m finishing The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton and Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu. Good thing I picked thirty minutes, right?

3. What my kids are reading

I discovered some great books at Cluny Media while I was Christmas shopping. My twelve-year-old has been enjoying King Arthur’s Knights and Robin Hood by Henry Gilbert.

4. Something I love

We had an excellent time with family over Christmas break. One of the highlights was my kids working with one of John’s brothers to make fried chicken sandwiches, fries, and a bloomin’ onion all from scratch. Everything was delicious. Legitimately better than what we could get out. And it was the first time my oldest had anything approximating an onion ring, due to his food allergies. We shared the meal with my parents and in-laws. I know my kids are going to hold this memory close for a long time.

5. What I’m creating (knitting, lettering, embroidery, etc.)

I am slowly working on a knitting project, find time for a row here and there. When I drive, I think about finishing a sweater that needs just a sleeve and a half. Not helpful.

I am often deterred from starting by the expectation that once I do, someone will ask me for something that requires getting up right away. I’m not sure that’s a good enough reason to put it off, really.

6. Where my work is

CatholicMom.com: “Add This Book to Your Family’s Confession Prep”

Verily: “Twisting into a Healthier Winter”

Verily: “Gift Guide: Products We’re Loving This Season”

Verily: “Contemplating Christmas: Personal Reflections from the Verily Team”

7. What I’m working on

I just had my first piece accepted by Dappled Things, which I’m thrilled about, though it won’t be available for a few months yet. Now that I don’t have a class to read for each week, I’m revisiting proposals that editors asked for revisions on in the fall. We’ll see what happens! Every time I revise, I learn something new (even when I don’t realize it). Hopefully one or all three of these projects will come to fruition this year.

8. A quote to sit and sip with

“Primitive man can know and respond to God in his ignorance. If it is thus that man falls in love with the God whom he does not know and responds to Him, what will be the immeasurably greater result of God’s falling in love with man, whom He conceived and created for Himself?”

The Reed of God, Caryll Houselander