i notice that i take lots of pictures of the little things in my life, but rarely of myself with others. this is something i hope to work on in 2026, especially since we have some big milestones coming- graduations and celebrations.
so here are some of mine- lots of sky, dog, and nature pictures. 😊
i love this picture of buddy. it might be my all-time favorite.
i was helping my mom organize her pantry in january when she broke her shoulder and noticed these cans on the shelf. my dad would get himself dinty moore stew when he had to cook for himself, which was very rare, but seeing them there made me really emotional.
i shared that we’ve been seeing gray honda pilots everywhere this year. we’re still spotting them daily, and some of my friends are too. my dear friend melanie sent me this on her way home from lunch with me.
the view looking up from our hammocks
my butterfly friend at chicago botanic garden
mike found this ball on father’s day at the golf course he used to play with my dad.
the sky from my mom’s yard
i found this picture on pinterest in june and instantly fell in love with it. i’ve always loved trees and rivers, and since starting soul homework, they’ve taken on an even deeper, symbolic meaning for me. it’s such a beautiful piece of art—I wish i knew the artist. the coolest part? my friend jill shared this exact same picture on her blog just a month later. i love coincidences like this.
the song is called everything will be fine- and yes, everything did turn out fine. 💜
crossword puzzles are exhausting
rainbow on my leg on thanksgiving
ella had a job at a haunted house in the fall, which meant late nights. we’d stay up until she got home, so this was one of those nights. i love the way the light looked—this is just from our amber night lights; the blue is coming from our toilet bowl light 🤣
looking back on these, i’m grateful for all the little things that made our 2025 feel full. i’m wishing you a peaceful, gentle week, whatever you’re celebrating (or not) right now.
if you could pick a favorite moment (or photo) from 2025, what would it be?
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What a fun look back! I love to compile a favorite photo post too but I find I tend to pick photos that bring up my favorite memories and not my actual favorite/technical/arty type photos.
I LOVE THIS! Sooo, the original-ish McDonald’s used to be not far from here, and it looked just like this. They tore it down a few years ago, though. 🥹
This makes me so happy. Thank you for sharing it, my friend. Merry Christmas! 🎄💜
Ahhhh! These are fantastic! I can’t choose a favorite, they are all so good. The keychain drawing, the rainbow, the sunset from your mom’s yard! By the way, I still think of your dad every time I see a sunset, even though I never met him. I am grateful to you for giving me another reason to pause and really take in the beauty of that time of day.
Like you, I’ve decided I’m not in enough photos. I don’t usually set resolutions, but I have made a resolution — and already shared it with my husband and kid — to be in more photos next year.
I love this look back at your photos from the year and what each of them has meant to you. That had to be so hard to see your dad’s beef stew in the pantry. I LOVE that tree drawing.
It really was. What’s so amazing about healing is that this moment happened back in January. On Christmas Eve, I was in his den grabbing some pennies off his desk for our scratch-off lottery ticket tradition, and I noticed a post-it note in his handwriting. It made me smile and feel a little sad, but not to the point of tears. 💜
What great pictures! With such beautiful stories and emotion. My favorite picture of the year is one of I took of my partner while hiking in the Rocky Mountains. It was pouring rain and he was standing ahead of me on the path, hiking poles in hand, scenic lake and trees in the background, with the biggest smile. It’s been a stressful year and in that moment, we were both so overcome with joy, gratitude, and awe. 💗 Thanks for the prompt… it’s been not the best day and this was a major pick-me-up. Happy holidays, dear friend!
Ohh that sounds like a beautiful picture! Thank you for sharing this memory with me. I’m really glad this prompt could bring you a little light on a rough day. Sending you a hug, my dear friend. Happy holidays to you as well! 😘💜
Oh, I forgot you asked me a question. Ok, you asked everyone….
I had so many unforgettable moments in 2025—-a birth announcement? A wedding? A baby being born? How could one choose? I’m putting together a list for my first post this coming year, sharing all my good moments.
You had a HUGE year, my friend. I enjoyed seeing your pictures on Instagram this morning. My favorite one was the profile shot someone captured of you holding your grandson.
I’m such a soft touch for dog photos, and these that you shared are so good. You’ve got a great eye for capturing moments. Even with a camera in my phone, I still tend to notice things but let them pass, reveling in that momentary glimpse.
Well, first I need to know what a toilet bowl light is? I enjoyed all your shares, but especially the ones related to your Dad. My favorite picture is probably the one of all 11 of us at the Lake Michigan house. My son kept setting the timer on his phone and then running to get in the picture. None of them turned out perfectly (hard to get four kids looking at an ‘unmanned camera’ and smiling) but I was so happy to get an image from that trip of all of us. Merry Christmas!
It’s a little light that clips onto the toilet bowl and senses when you walk in at night, so it turns on for those middle-of-the-night trips. Sometimes it lights up a bit longer after you’re done.
I love that you got that picture of all of you this summer. 💜
What lovely photos, Kari! I love your stories behind them too. Thank you for sharing them! My favorite photo this year is one that my dad accidentally took on his phone. He was showing me the pictures on his phone, when suddenly there was one that looked like a butt crack! We laughed so hard. I was crying with laughter. We figured out it wasn’t a butt crack, it was a closeup of a blanket with a little wrinkle.
Thank you for taking the time to look at them and to comment, as always! 💜
Omg, this made me laugh so hard, Michelle. I took a picture this year with the dogs and a friend asked, what are those two things they’re laying on, pillows? They were my legs. 🤣
You take the most gorgeous pictures! I actually love the Dinty Moore Beef Stew pic and can understand why you got emotional…but the signs you get of him are fantastic! I’m jealous. I haven’t got a sign from my Mom or Dad in a long time…”do you hear me Mom and Dad?”…lol The picture of you dog, Buddy, made me laugh out loud. Wonder what he was thinking about?
Aww, thank you friend! You know, I can go weeks or months without a sign, then sometimes I think we might be getting signs and not even realizing it. I think the longer they’re gone, the more healed we become and we just don’t see the signs as much. I like to think your mom and dad are hearing you. 😘
Photo nut that I am, I love this idea! I may have to borrow it and do something similar for my year-end wrap-up.
You know what else I love? Dinty Moore beef stew (and I’m a pretty decent cook). There’s a can or two in my pantry at any given time, along with a box of Zatarain’s Red Beans & Rice. Two guilty pleasures I will never tire of.
My phone ate my comment – grrrr. Trying the laptop: the photo of Buddy is my fav too. His face is so expressive. I wonder what he’s thinking. I also love the keychain. It’s so sweet and I love that your dad used it for so long.
I’d be hard pressed to pick a fav pick from the last year, but there’s a picture of the three oldest guys cracking up together on the couch last Christmas that I unearthed when looking for photos to share on the Christmas card photo collage thingy. I didn’t remember taking it – the photos on my ‘real’ camera aren’t viewed with any regularity so it was a sweet surprise.
One of my best moments/photos from 2025 was meeting our granddaughter in July less than a day after she came earthside (as her mom referred to her birth). May 2026 bring us all many memorable moments.
A Grace Full Life 
What a fun look back! I love to compile a favorite photo post too but I find I tend to pick photos that bring up my favorite memories and not my actual favorite/technical/arty type photos.
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Thank you, friend!
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i found this image earlier today. not sure why I love it so much? … but love it, I do. Merry Christmas!
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That is a very cool bit of nostalgia.
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thanks!! reminds me of Columbus, Ohio :) … corner of Broad & Hamilton.
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I LOVE THIS! Sooo, the original-ish McDonald’s used to be not far from here, and it looked just like this. They tore it down a few years ago, though. 🥹
This makes me so happy. Thank you for sharing it, my friend. Merry Christmas! 🎄💜
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Wonderful pet portraits. ❤️
But oh… your mother’s lawn is so fabulously green and lush. Gorgeous!
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I knew you’d understand and appreciate all of my pet portraits. 😊
Isn’t it? I love her backyard so much.
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Ahhhh! These are fantastic! I can’t choose a favorite, they are all so good. The keychain drawing, the rainbow, the sunset from your mom’s yard! By the way, I still think of your dad every time I see a sunset, even though I never met him. I am grateful to you for giving me another reason to pause and really take in the beauty of that time of day.
Like you, I’ve decided I’m not in enough photos. I don’t usually set resolutions, but I have made a resolution — and already shared it with my husband and kid — to be in more photos next year.
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OMG- I love that you think of my dad when you see sunsets. Oh, Suzanne, what a lovely thing. Thank you for telling me this. 🌇💜
Let’s hold each other accountable in 2026.
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little things, little things, oh how I love these little things.
my favorite moment?… hugging my dad after I went to Russia after he had a stroke.
he looked terrible but he was alive and speaking.
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I do too!
I’m so glad you got that time with him, Daria. 💜
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Oh I love all of these Kari! What wonderful memories of the little moments that make life so beautiful. xo
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Aww, thank you friend! 😘💜
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I love this look back at your photos from the year and what each of them has meant to you. That had to be so hard to see your dad’s beef stew in the pantry. I LOVE that tree drawing.
xoxo
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It really was. What’s so amazing about healing is that this moment happened back in January. On Christmas Eve, I was in his den grabbing some pennies off his desk for our scratch-off lottery ticket tradition, and I noticed a post-it note in his handwriting. It made me smile and feel a little sad, but not to the point of tears. 💜
LikeLike
What great pictures! With such beautiful stories and emotion. My favorite picture of the year is one of I took of my partner while hiking in the Rocky Mountains. It was pouring rain and he was standing ahead of me on the path, hiking poles in hand, scenic lake and trees in the background, with the biggest smile. It’s been a stressful year and in that moment, we were both so overcome with joy, gratitude, and awe. 💗 Thanks for the prompt… it’s been not the best day and this was a major pick-me-up. Happy holidays, dear friend!
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Thank you so much!
Ohh that sounds like a beautiful picture! Thank you for sharing this memory with me. I’m really glad this prompt could bring you a little light on a rough day. Sending you a hug, my dear friend. Happy holidays to you as well! 😘💜
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😘💜
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😘
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This is a great idea Kari, and I look forward to more photos of you next year.
The tree/river is absolutely gorgeous!
I love the amber light with the blue toilet light in the background—hey, we get our ambiance wherever we can, right.
So many good reminders of your father. I think of you and your Mom often, knowing he left such a void, but also left SO many lovely memories.
XOXO
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Oh, I forgot you asked me a question. Ok, you asked everyone….
I had so many unforgettable moments in 2025—-a birth announcement? A wedding? A baby being born? How could one choose? I’m putting together a list for my first post this coming year, sharing all my good moments.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You had a HUGE year, my friend. I enjoyed seeing your pictures on Instagram this morning. My favorite one was the profile shot someone captured of you holding your grandson.
I can’t wait to read it. 💜
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🙏 thank you
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😘
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Isn’t it gorgeous??
I love it too! Ella ordered some amber lightbulbs for her room yesterday — I might have to see how they look and get some for myself.
Thank you, friend. We miss him so much, but this year has been a healing one. Much better than last. 😘💜
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I’m such a soft touch for dog photos, and these that you shared are so good. You’ve got a great eye for capturing moments. Even with a camera in my phone, I still tend to notice things but let them pass, reveling in that momentary glimpse.
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I am too, Nance.
What a lovely compliment. I bet you’re better at it than you think. 😘
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Well, first I need to know what a toilet bowl light is? I enjoyed all your shares, but especially the ones related to your Dad. My favorite picture is probably the one of all 11 of us at the Lake Michigan house. My son kept setting the timer on his phone and then running to get in the picture. None of them turned out perfectly (hard to get four kids looking at an ‘unmanned camera’ and smiling) but I was so happy to get an image from that trip of all of us. Merry Christmas!
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It’s a little light that clips onto the toilet bowl and senses when you walk in at night, so it turns on for those middle-of-the-night trips. Sometimes it lights up a bit longer after you’re done.
I love that you got that picture of all of you this summer. 💜
Merry Christmas to you and your family, friend. 🎄
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What lovely photos, Kari! I love your stories behind them too. Thank you for sharing them! My favorite photo this year is one that my dad accidentally took on his phone. He was showing me the pictures on his phone, when suddenly there was one that looked like a butt crack! We laughed so hard. I was crying with laughter. We figured out it wasn’t a butt crack, it was a closeup of a blanket with a little wrinkle.
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Thank you for taking the time to look at them and to comment, as always! 💜
Omg, this made me laugh so hard, Michelle. I took a picture this year with the dogs and a friend asked, what are those two things they’re laying on, pillows? They were my legs. 🤣
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You take the most gorgeous pictures! I actually love the Dinty Moore Beef Stew pic and can understand why you got emotional…but the signs you get of him are fantastic! I’m jealous. I haven’t got a sign from my Mom or Dad in a long time…”do you hear me Mom and Dad?”…lol The picture of you dog, Buddy, made me laugh out loud. Wonder what he was thinking about?
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Aww, thank you friend! You know, I can go weeks or months without a sign, then sometimes I think we might be getting signs and not even realizing it. I think the longer they’re gone, the more healed we become and we just don’t see the signs as much. I like to think your mom and dad are hearing you. 😘
Who knows! He’s so funny! 🤣
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Photo nut that I am, I love this idea! I may have to borrow it and do something similar for my year-end wrap-up.
You know what else I love? Dinty Moore beef stew (and I’m a pretty decent cook). There’s a can or two in my pantry at any given time, along with a box of Zatarain’s Red Beans & Rice. Two guilty pleasures I will never tire of.
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Ooh yes, do it! I’d love to see yours.
I don’t think I’ve ever had Dinty Moore, but I’m thinking I might need to try it. I know exactly where to get some. 😊
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It’s nothing gourmet, pure comfort food, but it does scratch a certain itch from time to time.
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My favorite kind of food.
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My phone ate my comment – grrrr. Trying the laptop: the photo of Buddy is my fav too. His face is so expressive. I wonder what he’s thinking. I also love the keychain. It’s so sweet and I love that your dad used it for so long.
I’d be hard pressed to pick a fav pick from the last year, but there’s a picture of the three oldest guys cracking up together on the couch last Christmas that I unearthed when looking for photos to share on the Christmas card photo collage thingy. I didn’t remember taking it – the photos on my ‘real’ camera aren’t viewed with any regularity so it was a sweet surprise.
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Oh no!
My dad loved being a grandpa. 💜
I love pictures of people laughing. AND, I love finding surprise photos!
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One of my best moments/photos from 2025 was meeting our granddaughter in July less than a day after she came earthside (as her mom referred to her birth). May 2026 bring us all many memorable moments.
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Oh, I love this. Earthside- what a lovely expression. Here’s to 2026!
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I know right?! The daughter-in-law that uses that is a soulful young person. Here’s to 2026 indeed!
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😊
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