​WORD FOR THE YEAR: Rooted

I realized the other day that I’ve been picking a "word" for the start of the year since 1994—the year after Katie was born. Looking back at that list is like looking at a map of my life. Some of those years were great, full of energy and "big" moments. Others were just... hard. I remember the year after my mom died so suddenly, my word was Recovering. Honestly, that was all I had the strength to do back then.

The tradition isn't always pretty. I’ve had years where I had to repeat a word because I clearly wasn't finished with it yet, or years where a single word wasn't enough and I needed a whole phrase. But looking at them all together, they tell the story of how I’ve grown, hit some walls, healed, and just kept going.

This year, the word I’m landing on is Rooted.

I’ve been thinking a lot about what I’ve learned from the Redwoods. They don't survive the centuries just because they’re big or tall. The real secret is that their roots spread out and actually tangle together. They literally hold each other up through the storms.
That image has really stayed with me. This season of my life isn't about "doing more" or "reaching higher." It’s about holding on deeper to what—and who—actually matters.

In my own family, being rooted means a lot less rushing. It’s about staying at the table a little longer for a conversation, making room for more laughs, and protecting time that doesn’t have to be "productive" to be important. It’s about being a steady place for the little ones and honoring the people who came before us. To me, it just feels like belonging.

This year, I want to grow "down" instead of just stretching myself thin. I want to lean into the work I’m already doing and the people I’m so lucky to serve. Growth doesn’t always have to be something people can see from the outside. Sometimes it’s just the quiet work—the invisible courage, the steady commitment, and the love that keeps every branch of my life strong.
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I’m heading into 2026 rooted in memory, in hope, and in the person I’m still becoming.