My thoughts form in random places. Monday, it happened while I was picking up a chicken sandwich and a yogurt parfait for lunch. Grief has a way of hiding in everyday moments, and the last thing I expected was for a parfait to trigger mine. It brought me back to my childhood when my mom used to buy my sister and me KFC little bucket parfaits, and I got teary‑eyed.
As 2025 comes to a close, I do what I usually do: I pause to reflect and take stock of the past year. Across the new things I tried, what I accomplished, and the highs and lows, themes of travel, cycling, work, and resilience stand out. Through it all, I’m grateful for the experiences that shaped 2025.
God’s presence is in every moment and His love is in all situations. That was the message of last Sunday’s sermon. It isn’t always obvious especially in difficult and trying times, but it's there if you look.