I Want to Remember This: January 2026

The majority of my blog has been about my grief journey after losing my son Oliver unexpectedly 6 1/2 years ago at the age of 10. I wrote about the lessons God had taught me along the way, and as God continues to teach me and heal me, I try to continue to share. This work is important to me because writing out my thoughts and feelings has helped me process them and find contentment and because I long to share the hope that I have received with others who are hurting.

I have also shared a little about homeschooling and some general life updates. The life updates are about to pick up because my family and I are about to go through some big changes! If the Lord wills, this summer we are going to be moving to the home we purchased in the UP two years ago, where my husband and I hope to settle long-term. This move is something we have been hoping, praying, and planning for our entire marriage. It is hard to believe that it is finally going to come to pass. And so while we are trying to stay focused on finishing our time at our current location well, our thoughts have also turned towards getting ready for our move. Seeing I have this little place on the internet, I figured I might as well document this transition.

Here's what we have been up to in January to get ready:

1. We spent two weeks around Christmas and New Year's at our house in the UP. We closed it back up for the reminder of the winter for what will hopefully be the last time.

2. Typically one of the first things we do to get ready for a move is start eating down all the food in our freezer. We don't have to do that this time because we are only moving a one day drive from our current location and have an upright freezer waiting for us at our new house. 

3. I packed up our Christmas stuff in the first boxes of our move! I also got rid of some Christmas things we don't want at our new place and started going through decor pieces, curtains, and similar things, trying to figure out what we will use in our new house and what we have picked up along the way that we don't need anymore. It will be nice not to have a box full of curtains that don't work at our current place that we are hanging onto just in case they work in our next location. 

4. I made a huge calendar and to do list with all of my daughter's softball stuff and our tentative moving dates on it. More so than any other move, we are going to be in and out of both locations for quite a bit of the summer, rather than having a firm break from one before moving to the next.

5. We started to research and plan for our garden. Last year my husband broke ground, and we planted a few things along with a cover crop, most of which got eaten by deer by the end of the season. This year we are hoping to plant more, with a goal of seeing what grows well, how much we can reasonably care for, what we enjoy caring for, and hopefully get a tiny harvest to get us excited for the years to come.

6. My husband found a snowblower on marketplace for his tractor to help us deal with the lake effect snow that is common at our new location.


Words can't express how excited we are!

Updated Start Here!

I updated my blog posts outline to include posts from 2026. I am thankful for the opportunity to work through and share my own healing little by little. Thanks for reading!

Carrying Sheaves - A Blog

1. The Beginning

1. Welcome to Carrying Sheaves - a quick introduction to who I am https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2023/12/

2. Why Now? - on why I choose to begin writing 4 ½ years after my son passed away https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2023/12/why-now.html

3. Love Story - a look at how my husband and I met and built our family by God’s grace https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2024/02/love-story.html

4. One Thousand Gifts - on how the book One Thousand Gifts and the practice of gratitude shaped and prepared me for the trials to come https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2024/01/one-thousand-gifts.html

5. The First Tears - a post about the loss of my sister, MaryJo https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2024/03/the-first-tears.html

6. The Story - a post about the days right before and right after Oliver died, a testimony to God’s sovereignty and faithfulness https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2024/02/the-story.html

7. Carrying Each Other’s Burden’s - a tribute to those who have helped me long the way https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2025/01/carrying-each-others-burdens.html

2. Sowing with Tears

1. Sowing with Tears - a post about how the blog got it’s name and all I have learned through Psalm 126:5-6 https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2024/01/sowing-with-tears.html

2. Tension - an acknowledgement that everyone grieves differently and this creates tension in our relationships https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2024/01/tension.html?m=1 

3. Book Review: Through the Eyes of a Lion - a review of the book that had the most influence on me in my early grief journey and continues to provide hope and help today https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2024/01/book-review-through-eyes-of-lion.html

4. Songs for Mourning with Hope - a few song recommendations that have been a big help to me as I grieved https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2024/02/songs-for-mourning-with-hope.html

5. 10,000 Reasons - a look at how God used a song to help me grieve both Oliver and MaryJo https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2024/04/10000-reasons.html

6. Memories are Funny Things - on what happens to memories and a reminder to remember and press on https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2024/11/memories-are-funny-things.html

3. Carrying Seeds

1. Harvest from God’s Word - a look at all God taught me about grief as I opened my Bible each week for three years with a Bible Study Fellowship group in eastern Washington https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2024/02/harvest-from-gods-word.html

2. Answers to Prayer - a post describing how God taught me to pray again after the loss of Oliver https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2024/04/answers-to-prayer.html

3. Called to Tell Our Stories - how God reminded me that we are called to share the stories of God’s faithfulness to us with others https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2024/04/called-to-tell-our-stories.html

4. Early Lessons from Sharing My Story - a few things I have learned from writing the blog and taking other opportunities to share my story of the loss of Oliver and God’s faithfulness in our grief https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2024/04/early-lessons-from-sharing-my-story.html

5. I Wanted to Throw the Book… I Made a List Instead - a list of ways God is at work in our suffering https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2024/05/i-wanted-to-throw-book-i-made-list.html

6. Reap that Joy - a song by Rend Collective based on Psalm 126 https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2024/11/rend-collective-reap-that-joy.html

7. Unless a Seed - a post about John 12:23-36 https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2025/07/unless-seed.html

8. Invite Grief This Christmas - a reflection on grief during Christmas https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2025/12/invite-grief-this-christmas.html

4. Fear

1. Fear After Child Loss - the first post in a series about the fear I felt after the loss of Oliver https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2024/05/fear-after-child-loss.html

2. God Gave Us Ash - a look at the way God used our dog to help me feel the fear I needed to work through https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2024/05/god-gave-us-ash.html

3. More Thoughts on Fear: habits, grace, afraid of being afraid - the final post in the series about fear after child loss https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2024/05/god-gave-us-ash.html

4. Why Are You Afraid? - a question that can help in the face of mounting fears https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2024/09/why-are-you-afraid.html

5. Grief Stirred

1. Maple Syrup Making and Reflections on Family - a post describing facing grief, letting it stir up feelings, and trusting that it will settle a little more comfortably after each stirring https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2024/03/maple-syrup-making-and-reflections-on.html

2. The Body of Christ - a post about grieving, remembering, and celebrating with others https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2024/03/the-body-of-christ.html

3. Happy Easter! - a look at the special meaning Easter takes on after the loss of a loved one https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2024/03/happy-easter.html

4. Five Years - a letter to Oliver written five years after his passing https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2024/07/five-years.html

5. A Quick Thought on Doubt https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2024/08/a-quick-thought-on-doubt.html

6. Milestones - a look at the challenges on facing milestones after child loss https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2024/09/milestones.html

7. Reflections on Grief - a post about what my grief looks like 5 ½ years after Oliver died https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2025/02/reflections-on-grief.html

8. The Word of the Lord Endures Forever - a reflection on six years after Oliver’s passing https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2025/07/the-word-of-lord-endures-forever.html

9. You Would Be Here - a reflection on seven years after MaryJo’s passing https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2025/08/you-would-be-here.html

6. God at Work

1. My Writing Journey - a look at how childhood dreams of being an author came true in unexpected ways https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2024/06/my-writing-journey.html

2. A Mom’s Perspective on Siblings and Child Loss - on answering the question: could I believe that my daughter’s faith would not be destroyed by this valley but that God would build it here? https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2024/06/a-moms-perspective-on-siblings-and.html

3. Blessings - a look at how God longs to bless us right now and the many shapes that can take https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2024/07/blessings.html

4. Fruitful - a post about how God tends his garden https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2024/07/fruitful.html

5. A Parenting Lesson Learned From Child Loss - https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2024/08/a-parenting-lesson-learned-from-child.html

6. A Reminder from Glorious Autumn - a quick look at how God’s ways are better than our ways https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2024/10/a-reminder-from-glorious-autumn.html

7. Healing Grace in Children’s Books - a list of children’s books that have helped me and my family in our grief https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2024/10/healing-grace-in-childrens-books.html

8. Nothing is Wasted - a review of the Nothing is Wasted podcast and book https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2024/10/nothing-is-wasted.html

9. Perfection - a look at letting go of perfection and watching God do the work https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2024/11/perfection.html

10. Answered Prayer - a look at a recent answer to a prayer https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2025/03/answered-prayer.html

11. Another Birthday - a quick look at all the feelings as we celebrate another one of Oliver’s birthdays https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2025/10/another-birthday.html

12. Sometimes Growth is Slow - a description of a time I realized a lot of growth had taken place, but so slowly it was hard to tell https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2025/04/sometimes-growth-is-slow.html

13. Review of Seasons of Sorrow by Tim Challies https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2025/05/review-of-seasons-of-sorrow-by-tim.html

14. Restoration - a look at all the ways God’s restoration is awesome https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2025/12/restoration.html

15. Return - a different look at God’s restoration https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2025/12/return.html

7. Eternity

1. Work in Heaven: A Fresh Perspective - a look at the question: what will we be doing in heaven? https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2024/07/work-in-heaven-fresh-perspective.html

2. On Diabetes and What Remains - a few thoughts on Oliver’s diabetes diagnosis and how I remember him now https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2024/08/homeschool-plan-for-2024-2025-school.html

3. A Sweet and Golden 16 - a look at birthdays and Psalm 84:10a Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2024/10/a-sweet-and-golden-16.html

4. To the Victorious - a post about Revelation 2-3 and the eternal rewards God promises those who remain faithful to Him https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2024/11/to-victorious.html 

5. Today - as we look forward to eternity, grief also reminds us the only day we are promised is today https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2024/12/today.html

6. Caught Up Together - a post about 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2025/01/caught-up-together.html

7. Thoughts on Suffering and Eternity - a reminder that we are called to be groaning conquerors https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2025/11/thoughts-on-suffering-and-eternity.html

8. Random Updates

1. Light of Christmas - a few update pictures from Christmas 2024 - https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2024/01/light-of-christmas.html

2. Janet’s Homeschool Day in the Life (with a 13-year-old) - a post about what an ordinary day looks like in our homeschool https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2024/03/janets-homeschool-day-in-life-with-13.html

3. Things I Don’t Want to Throw - a list of things I was loving in May 2024 https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2024/05/things-i-dont-want-to-throw.html

4. Thoughts While Traveling - a quote from a Eugene Peterson book and marveling at a God who knows, sees, understands, forgives, extends grace, blesses, and redeems in the midst of the hard, the impossible, the ordinary, the exciting, the nerve wracking, and the memorable https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2024/06/thoughts-while-traveling.html

5. Homeschool Plan for the 2024-2025 School Year - a look at my approach to planning and what I have planned for the 2024-2025 school year https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2024/08/homeschool-plan-for-2024-2025-school.html

6. Where Am I? - an update on my life from August 2024 https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2024/08/where-am-i.html

7. Counting My Blessings - a week of gratitude from September 2024 https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2024/09/counting-my-blessings.html

8. A Thanksgiving List - November 2024 https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2024/11/a-thanksgiving-list.html

9. Things I am Loving This Christmas Season - December 2024 https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2024/12/things-i-am-loving-this-christmas-season.html

10. Blogging in the New Year - blogging goals for 2025 https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2024/12/blogging-in-new-year.html

11. Homeschool Day in the Life with a 14-year-old - another post about what an ordinary day looks like in our homeschool https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2025/02/homeschool-day-in-life-with-14-year-old.html

12. Celebrating Lent - a list of ideas and activities for celebrating Lent https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2025/03/celebrating-lent.html

13. Homeschooling Is - a look at all the different ways to describe homeschooling https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2025/03/homeschooling-is.html

14. A Wedding Anniversary - a reflection on 20 years of marriage https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2025/05/a-wedding-anniversary.html

15. Reflecting on June - a time of deep contentedness mixed with longing for a more perfect world https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2025/06/reflecting-on-june.html

16. Homeschool Plan for the 2025-2026 School Year https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2025/08/homeschool-plan-for-2025-2026-school.html

17. Giving Thanks in a Busy Season - a gratitude list from September 2026 https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2025/09/giving-thanks-in-busy-season.html

9. Devotional 

1. Rush Your Life - a few thoughts from the Song “Take Your Time” by Joseph O’Brien https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2024/01/rush-your-life.html

2. Laughing in Church - a timely reminder to worship and not to worry about what to eat and what to wear https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2024/02/laughing-in-church.html

3. Fruitful - a look at leaning on God https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2024/09/fruitful.html

4. The Lord Has Done Great Things for Us - an advent devotional https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2024/12/the-lord-has-done-great-things-for-us.html

5. Lessons Learned from Moving - a list of 8 things I learned over the last 19 or so years of moving with the Army https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2025/02/lessons-learned-from-moving.html

6. Reflections on Holy Week - some scattered thoughts about what Holy Week means to me https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2025/04/reflections-on-holy-week.html