Books I Read and a Very Cold Walk

It occurred to me that I haven't posted what I read from October through December 2025, so I want to post that here, since I was doing that in 2025. I will probably not be posting what I read in the future unless it's an extraordinary book.

I was on a reading slump in 2025; I came nowhere near hitting my goal of 35 books. I think the final count was 22. I was busier with other activities like a little volunteer work, some Bible studies, and watching some TV series. Therefore, I didn't spend as much time reading. 

In October I read Longing, by Karen Kingsbury; third in the 4 book Bailey Flanagan series. It's a really good story. I recommend this series. I also read Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult. This book is really good but be warned; it's about a school shooting. I didn't read it when it first came out because I just couldn't; it triggered my anxiety since I worked in a school. Now that I'm retired I'm glad I finally read it; it was very well done. 

In November I only read one book: Loving by Karen Kingsbury. It's the 4th and final book in the aforementioned series. 

Finally, in December I read Hogfather by Terry Pratchett. If you're not familiar with his work, it's fantasy; one of the DiscWorld books. It is also hilarious; especially if you like British humor (or should I say humour?).

I'm not setting a reading goal for 2026. I want to just read for pleasure at whatever pace I want. So that's the 2025 books I read, done and dusted as the Brits say.

On to current events: I wasn't going to go for a walk today because it was so cold. Then I checked tomorrow's forecast which said the high was projected to be 29 degrees, so I changed my mind. I had already skipped yesterday, and I try to never skip 2 days in a row, let alone 3.

It was 39 at about 4:00 pm, the warmest it would be today, so I wrapped up very well and headed for the walking trails. Since it wasn't windy, it was not too bad. It helps that I was listening to some fast-paced music on Spotify to put some pep in my step.

There was ice on the creek! It was 14 degrees when I got up this morning, and I guess it just didn't all melt during the day, even though it was above freezing in the afternoon. I tried to get pictures, but it doesn't show up well. They are posted at the end. I walked 1.5 miles and headed home for my warm and cozy living room. 

Tomorrow I will probably walk at a local church that has an indoor walking track above their gym. I made a rule to not walk outdoors if it's below freezing. I love cold weather, but even I have my limits.

That's it for now! Blessings, my friends!

"Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers." 3 John 1:2 NASB

Ice on the creek

Ice, bottom right

It was cold, but I was bundled up well

The creek had ice in places

New Year News and Goals

Hi. Happy New Year! I just realized I haven't posted a blog in almost a month. I did little posts here and there, but not a blog post. Life has been busy.

As my smaller posts showed, I had a good Christmas. My daughter and family who live across town were over for Christmas Eve, and New Years Day my son who lives in Atlanta came to visit. I didn't see my younger son, from Houston, but I did have a phone conversation with him and his wife on Christmas Day.

I never take my Christmas tree and decor down until at least Epiphany, January 6. Here we are at January 9. When I woke up this morning, I knew; it's time. *sigh*

So, today the "de-Christmasing: started. It is a grueling process; not fun like putting Christmas up, joyfully, with Christmas music or a Christmas move playing. 

No. It's torture. And since I have decorations in every room, it Takes. a Long. Time. I will persevere, though, and probably finish tomorrow. I was tired and sad and hungry and had to call it a day.

Enough of that. 

It's a new year! A fresh new year (well, only 9 days old). I wrote down some things I would like to accomplish in 2026. I'm keeping it simple at 3 things.

#1-I'm reading the Bible through with the Bible Recap again. I did it last year and really enjoyed it. This year, I'm making notes of my thoughts and questions about the reading each day. I learned so much last year, and I know this year will be even better.

#2-I want to work on my family photo album more. I've been decluttering duplicates and putting little journaling captions about who's in the pictures and what the event was. I didn't work on it much last year. This year, I plan to work on it once a week.

#3-I started walking for my health last March, and I want to continue it this year and walk farther. I feel so much better, and my stamina and energy level is up. I have been walking 1.5 mile most days and 1.75 one or two times a week. I have been pretty consistently walking about 6 days out of 7. This year I hope to walk 2 miles at least twice a week, 1.75 miles twice a week, and 1.5 miles twice a week. 

I do a different path on the 1.75 mile walk; that path is a little more hilly and makes a big circle. On the other one, it's a long mostly level path that goes under the bypass and ends up at a small lake. I think it would be 2.25 miles or so if I walked this whole path, all the way to the end and back. Someday I will do that, but so far I have been turning around when I get too tired or I've reached half my goal for the day.

In other news, I took some pictures on the walking trail. Wednesday, I walked late in the day (again!) and got a sunset picture AND a picture of an owl. It's not a great picture; you can't really see that he was looking right at me because it was quickly getting dark, but he was. 

Today I walked 2 miles! I have been close to it a few times but came a little short of that goal. I usually turn around at around .75 of a mile or so, but today I turned around at 1 mile! I wanted to take a picture to commemorate my milestone but there was just a brush pile there. LOL! When I got back to the car my watch showed I had walked 2.01 miles. Yay!

I have included the pictures at the end, as usual. 

I hope you are well, friends, and you all have a happy new year!

"I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe." Ephesians 1:18-19 NIV

Jeremy and Jennifer, Matt, Zoe, Rhett, and me (not in that order)

Jeremy and me Jan 2

Sunset January 7 2026

Owl, at home in tree, Jan 7 

Art at the end of the trail

My one mile (one way) mark.