When I started thinking about a focus word for this year, a few words came to mind almost immediately. Together, relationships, building… Those words all lead to the same thing for me, but I settled on together.
2025 was not a particularly bad year, but we did face many health issues, with multiple weekly appointments (up to eight a week at one point). As I look back on the year, I see a lot of progress, but I also feel like I became a secretary and chauffeur and lost focus on relationships.
For me, together is about building relationships and not letting the to-do list overrun that focus. We are still dealing with many of those regular appointments (though hoping to cross a few off the list this spring). So the schedule won’t miraculously become more open, but I’m planning to prioritize relationships even during these busy times.
It’s not just an individual relationship, but many relationships that I want to work on. In the words of a book I’ve been reading this year, we are better together. I want to make sure I’m prioritizing my Bible study so I can walk with the Lord. I want to continue to grow together with my husband. While I spend my days with my children, I want to make sure I am binding my heart together with them. Finally, there are other friends and relationships that I feel God is leading me to invest time and focus in.
I am finding ways to make sure my husband and I spend time talking and reconnecting after busy days (or weeks). I have put some things into place to help focus some attention on my relationships with my children. My husband and I are planning a “date night” with my oldest son and his girlfriend to chat and build that relationship without the chaos of having all of us together.
My middle child has been feeling a bit stuck in the middle and needing some extra attention, so as part of his Christmas, we gifted him one date a month with mom at a fast-food restaurant of his choice after one of the weekly appointments. I felt like having time already set for it would make it easier for me to implement.
In addition to these specific times, I really plan to focus on making sure I prioritize relationships in the day-to-day. For example, that may mean the laundry backs up some days (let’s be real, it already does) or that I spend time folding laundry while chatting with one of my children.
I have not worked out the specifics, but I’m trying to come up with a plan that lets me intentionally build other relationships and not let the to-do list keep me from doing so. I know that if God is leading me to those relationships, they need to be a priority. I’m in prayer as to exactly what that looks like in this season.
My prayer for 2026 is that I can grow closer to the Lord, my family, and others He has put in my life. Do you have a word or a focus for the year? I’d love to hear about your plans.
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