Hello and Happy New Year!

Christmas was especially sweet this year, and I’m thankful for another year of traditions, Advent, and Christ the King being celebrated with merriment and joy with our children. I love that we’ve established our own really sweet and simple rhythms for Advent and Christmas. This year was a far-cry from years past as far as “doing all the things” goes – but it was full and wonderful, all the same.
2025 was one for the books. I mean, realistically they all are. We have a coffee table filled with photo albums of years past, and though some may have felt more remarkable than others, they’re all worth remembering.
This year was met with a lot of turbulence. We honestly haven’t had much of a smooth ride, and though it’s been tiresome, I’m thankful we’ve landed. I truly feel the most peace now than I have since many, many months ago.
I’d like to take some time to reflect on the past year, as many have and will continue to do as well. I sit here typing, feeling the kicks and tumbles of a prayer answered, that one year ago I thought might be a closed chapter. That alone is enough goodness to pause and praise God for.

Hard Parts of 2025:

Let’s just start with the messier side of things and get it out of the way first – 
1. Financial strain. It’s a little weird to share that, knowing that people assume with an online and public influencer job, that must come with a certain dollar amount. However, those closest to me know how very untrue that is. Without divulging into too many details, it’s just been challenging in that area. With the struggle, God has always provided. He’s always met us in our need. Just today, we were blessed with a “cash-in-hand” gift in a public setting from a complete stranger that brought me to immediate tears. The Lord is so kind.
2. Constant vehicle issues. We have had to put a lot of money into our van this year. A lot. It seems every time we fix one thing, another issue arises (literally dealing with another right now). We feel and know strongly that now is not the time to take on a car payment, so we’re in a season of trusting the Lord with this near-constant stress and worry, and praising Him for his provision time and time again.
3. Health struggles. Both my husband and I have had our fair share of un- and diagnosed issues that  we just haven’t been able to address as fully as we’d hoped and expected this year. We cling to knowing that God is our healer, our redeemer and works all things for the good of those who love Him. Our role is to steward our bodies the best we’re reasonably able to, not compare what others close to us are able to afford for their own care, and do what we’re able to, trusting that God can and will handle the rest.
4. Friendships. I’ve been blessed with some of the most genuine, life-giving friendships that are truly the best blessings to my life. This year I also met with a kind of grief I haven’t in a really, really long time… losing closeness with loved ones and having to let go without resolve has been painful at best. I’m so grateful to have such a friend in Jesus. He is closer than a brother, and I find comfort in knowing that will never change.
5. Church hunting. Honestly don’t want to dive too much into this, as it still feels so tender and it’s been a very unexpected process to walk through time and time again since moving to Oklahoma. It’s been hard. We’re praying for peace and confidence that only the Lord can offer us.
6. Mice. We had an intense mouse infestation in our little white rental house that very nearly sent me spiraling. The anxiety that came from mice running about our home in brought daylight, was absolutely a nightmare and one I hope to never, ever, ever, experience again. My stomach is in knots again just re-imagining that experience. Our landlord was very little help. I’m still eager to see how God uses this part for His glory…
7. Moving, again. The mice aren’t the only things that sent us looking for a new home so quickly, but it was necessary to move (although if you can avoid it, I highly recommend not moving with four kids twice in a year). There are so many things I could say here, but this was a very difficult Summer/Fall for us with all we had going on. The timing of moving among other things felt brutal. The house we live in now is such a blessing in and of itself, and we are so blessed to be here.
8. Stress. The stress has been high this year. God is steadfast and faithful. He’s carried us even when finances, house-stress, friendship pains, and fear of the unknowns could have barred us down. Times have been hard, but the Lord is so kind to walk with us. I committed to too much in the first half of the year, and then moved, while pregnant, and walked through (too) many transitions while still being committed to too much, all within the same month. I have had to silently deal with an ongoing cyber-stalker and personal violation/copyright/odd situation with a fellow Christian mother influencer. Not something I ever wanted on my bingo card. I’d had the most wonky cycles this year, thus causing confusion and fears surrounding fertility. My husband’s job, workload, and now work-commute has been a lot. He’s often fallen asleep sitting on the couch as soon as we’ve got the kids to bed. He’s carrying just as heavy a stressload. I’ve found my first gray hairs this year, and I wholeheartedly believe they came in due to stress overload. My mental health has plummeted, and I see it in the stress on my face and body. Praise God he does and will redeem all things.
9. Sleep. It’s been really rough. Should also probably be under “stress” category.
10. Parenting. Carrying our own loads of stress, so much transition, not living near family, visits and trips and even play dates or plans getting changed, delayed, rescheduled, and cancelled have definitely held their own weight in each of our kids. Moving was hard. Our kids are more resilient than we are, I think, at times. And yet, they show their immaturity in different ways. It’s been a year of re-learning what grace really looks like, endowing compassion, and not being dictated by circumstantial discomfort or emotions. That last line, will undoubtedly continue to be our anchor moving into this new year.

Sweet Parts of 2025

Things that were just so good this year —
  1. Beginning the year strong with The Bible Recap. I can officially say I have read the Bible cover to cover, and have SUCH a better understanding of Scripture, God’s big picture, His character… and so much more than I ever had before. I’m only eager to read more, understand more, and dive deeper.
  2. Launching Salas Living! This was a huge stepping stone and extremely meaningful in so many ways. With this came our first-ever hardcopy products – planners, children’s notebooks, and my book Making a Home.  A project and vision that had started well before 2025, but came to fruition this past year, and I’m only excited to see what else God has in store.
  3. Being honest with my capacity. Choosing to say no or yes when it truly was life-giving to our family. This, more-often in the last few months, after a very challenging first part (most, honestly) of the year.
  4. Consistency with certain friendships, and deepening others, by way of genuinely spurring on toward Christ, asking hard questions, and just simply being there, checking in when vulnerability opens itself, and staying the course even when life gets messy. Leaning into relationships that don’t check out when hard times arise, but instead lean in and plod on, showing up when their shoulders, wisdom, prayers, or kindness is needed most.
  5. Leading in different capacities than I had before. Closing out a successful first year of our co-op, spoke at a Charlotte Mason homeschool conference, led a small weekend Mother’s Retreat, a little girls (and boys) book club sparingly, and launched a second year of our co-op with double the amount of families.
  6. Found out we were expecting our rainbow baby! Our first little love to be due in the Spring. We are so excited to meet this precious one. The kids have been praying for a baby sibling for over two years, and after our miscarriage in 2024 there’s just something exceptionally sweet about walking an answered prayer with your children.
  7. Moved into a darling little home, that feels so much more peaceful than our last – for countless reasons!
  8. Began our 4th “official” year of homeschooling.
  9. Watched my kids grow, in physicality and as individuals. Some growth that needs weeded, that I pray the Lord gives us wisdom to tackle, and some growth that brings me to tears with gratitude. Parenthood is a wonderful, messy, heartbreaking, amazing, hard, incredible honor and privilege. I’m truly dumbfounded some days that I get the title of “mother” (or in my kids’ case, mommy, or marmee).
  10. Number 10 being that we celebrated 10 years of marriage last May. In a world full of divorce and broken vows (no shaming here, it’s just reality), I hold tightly to the grace that despite too-many-moves, loss, grief, unhealed trauma from before each-other… we have remained steadfast in our covenant. I praise God and God alone for that blessing. I pray that we only continue to grow closer, wiser, more mature, and that the strained years simply tighten the bond, and don’t fray the edges. May God use it all for His glory.

 

Vision and Prayer for 2026

This year I am expectant for growth – which I know will mean some growing pains.
Growth in disciplines, rhythms, and stretching myself to grow in the area of people pleasing. Meaning, worrying less about letting people down or what people think of my choices, boundaries, and the like – and being sure I’m truly following the Lord with all my heart – making His ways my ways and walking in the confidence that my identity is not being “liked” but instead in who HE says I am, and trusting in His plans for our family, even if it looks vastly different from others.
I’m also very much in the mindset of putting my health at the forefront this year. I’ve spent the last 7 months pretty much in survival mode, from packing and moving, to pregnancy sickness, to just… so many big life circumstances that derailed my focus, and I’m eager and ready to put forth reasonable changes. Before we moved, I was walking 3-4 miles per day, and fitting in at-home workouts throughout the week. I’ve literally done none of that, and I’m feeling it.
Not only my physical wellness, but also my mental and spiritual. My walks were so good for me as I used that as time for prayer, obviously body movement, and the endorphins helped with my mental load and sleep SO much. I want to be the best version of myself for my husband and kids and my own well-being. So yes, at 6+ months pregnant, I’m focusing on my physical fitness! With my walking pad, little weights for at-home pregnancy safe workouts, staying diligent with my supplements (code MARYSALAS to save), and little changes here and there to support my body in the stage it’s currently in, and the ones to come.
With this, also comes nesting, birth and labor prep, and of course prep for the postpartum period. We feel confident our family of 7 will be complete after this little one’s arrival, and I want to do my personal best to ensure a healthy end of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. I can share more on these topics as the weeks and months come along.
I’m going through a different whole-Bible study this year. I chose this one, as it is not chronological as I did last year, but is going through several different categories each week. It seems lovely, and it was a sweet gift under the tree this Christmas. I am also going through this devotional. I am still fully loving this Bible.
My intention is to use my hands on tangible things a whole lot more this year. I was looking at old pictures from a few years ago, and some from much longer ago, and I used to be actively creating. Whether I was sewing little things, or playing with watercolor, hand-making journals, working on calligraphy, or painting murals for my church… I was always creating. I’m working toward putting my big camera and photography down for a bit, and picking up other mediums for creating, outside of content creation for socials.
I’ve set my Goodreads goal to 52 books again this year. I surpassed my goal last year, and hit 72 books in total. Whoa! I read a LOT in July, and listened to several audiobooks while I was packing my house to move. I envision my Kindle being my bff during middle-of-the-night nursing sessions after baby joins us, much like 3+ years ago. I’m keeping my goal lower though since I will be adding a baby, and will have 5 kids, learning new rhythms and lots of grace.
I’ve got my plans in place for all the things – and with them, I hold with open hands rather than white-knuckled fists. I know firsthand how plans can change on a dime – most always out of our control.
Speaking of plans, my Homemaker’s Daybook & Mother’s Daybook are both available for the 2026 year. I’m working on adding imagery to my website, as I know many of you are not on Instagram, and Amazon doesn’t allow me to add images to the listings. Just know, they’re lovely in every way and I’m working on having more readily available views of inside for you. The Lesson Keeper is still the academic school year, and the children’s daybooks are undated, but do have blank calendars in the academic year order.
Unfortunately, there’s still so much more I could share and say but I believe this email has been novel enough. I trust you will believe me when I say, there’s so much more that I could share – but I’d love to instead encourage you in your own reflections, vision casting, and goal setting. Extend lots of grace, allow the Lord to lead you, and trust in the process.

It’s in the tender unfurling that we experience the vulnerability of all the work underground, the roots that have taken shape. How strong are they really? Can we withstand the elements now that we’ve exposed ourselves to all the world can throw at us? To all that God has planned? Can we trust in our Maker, Creator… Gardener? As we bask in the sun as well as the rain, we hope and we pray and we trust that his hands are tender enough to keep us from breaking, and strong enough to keep away what will destroy us. We may be pressed from all sides, but God with us — we can bloom in the season He has planned for us.

 

Soli Deo Gloria,

Mary