New Year, New Same Old Me.

Good morning Reader!

Here we are, knocking on Groundhog’s Day. Did you make any Resolutions for the New Year? How are those going for you?

I could tell you all the New Year's Resolutions I didn’t even bother to make this year, but why not just be honest?

I’m me.

I’m not going to join a gym this year after 45 years of not joining a gym.

I’m not going to find and match all my socks after 45 years of not finding and matching my socks (to be fair, the last time I had a good handle on my socks, there were about two hundred fifty pairs; it’s a lot of socks, folks, and it’s exponentially worse now that I have a daughter).

There’s no amount of money you could give me to eat tofu.

And no matter how careful I am, when I accidentally break my glasses and am too cheap to pay to get them fixed and insist on doing it myself because “they’re just cheaters,” I will – without fail – spend days trying to get gorilla glue off my fingers.

It all sounds a bit “Meaningless! Meaningless!”, doesn’t it?

Let me be clear: People change every day. In fact, the choices we make each moment of each day are how change occurs.

I want to change in good, God-inspired ways. I want that for you, also.

But that doesn’t happen because we decide it will happen. It happens because God is faithful to keep growing us into the people he created us to be.

Wherever you are right now in 2026, whatever changes you’re hoping for, I pray that God’s faithfulness to you is evident in each moment. I pray that you recognize his hand in every circumstance, whether it seems good or bad. I pray that he grants you the courage to remain steadfast in his love, both in the common and not-so-common turmoils of life.

Because let’s be honest: The turmoils of life are plentiful. After thousands of years of chaos and shenanigans, the turmoils of life are under no resolution to somehow be better or easier or kinder or less absolutely insane in 2026.

All of this to say, life is rough, folks. It’ll be rough in 2026. We will both probably struggle with many of the things we struggled with in 2025. Life may not get easier. Life may actually get harder. And that’s okay. Because you know what?

God is as God always has been.

He is faithful.

He promises never to leave you or abandon you.

He is in the boat with you during your squall.

Whatever you face this year, he is with you, dear friend.

And I will do my very best (with God’s enabling) to be here to remind you of these things. To encourage you. To speak hope in the darkness of this life. To pray with you and for you.

All of that said, here's what we're working on in 2026.

​A Sea of Lilacs​

• What a beautiful response I’ve had from this project. If you haven’t had a chance to order your copy, it is available everywhere books are sold. If you are local, you can buy directly from me – just reach out so we can connect.
• Planning a Meet & Greet locally. If you’re around, I’d love to see you there. Details coming soon, I hope. :)
• I’ll be sending some thank-you gifts to those who have purchased and reviewed on Amazon, so if that’s you, make sure you let me know. I don’t want to overlook anyone. :)
• If you didn’t order via Amazon but would like to share your response to the book, please feel free to tortoise or hare me (postal or email).

The God in the Dark Series

• Rewriting and editing Hope with a hope to release for Lent 2027.
• Content writing of Faith; outline/planning Love in 2026.
• Seeking a cover artist for all three books (pretty sure I have the right person, but… she needs to think she’s the right person, too).

The Seed Song – a book for Littles

• Editing content.
• Seeking an illustrator.
• Hoping to do some in-person events (details coming in the spring, I hope!).

A Christmas Tale for Adults & Cheeky Kids

• A cheeky little piece written with CW.
• Seeking an illustrator.
• I think (I THINK, don’t pressure me! Remember? I haven’t done it for 45 years, I’m not likely to follow through this year – but I want to…) I may schedule a virtual event where I’ll read this book to you prior to release.

From Seaforth Lane

• Poetry (mostly about my daughter) in progress.
• This one is likely to be a chapbook.
• Yes, a literal chapbook – handstitched and all. That means limited copies. Not sold on Amazon.

The End of Verbosity.

That’s a mouthful, but I think I’ve come to the end of my verbosity. At least for now. (Again. 45 years of it – not likely to stop being a chatterbox.)

Let me know how 2026 is going for you so far. Let me know how I can encourage and pray for you. And if you’ve had a chance to read A Sea of Lilacs, hit that reply button and let me know what you thought.

Blessings. From me and mine to you and yours.

Sarah

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