2025 graphic
Terri Webster Schrandt

Sunday Stills Annual #Year-in-Review: What Made 2025 Special?

“Last year’s words belong to last year’s language. And next year’s words await another voice.” ~ T.S. Eliot

Welcome to my annual Year-in-Review post, where we recall special thoughts, moments, and events that stood out in 2025. Because this is a photo challenge, please share your photos of those memories.

If I had to sum up 2025 in a few words, I would highlight birds, travel, and two sad goodbyes. Globally? According to sources, these events helped shape 2025: Trump 2.0, the first American Pope, record-breaking weather, and the AI Boom. And one of my favorite actors, Dick Van Dyke, turned 100 in December!

In 2025, our road-trips included two trips to Arizona (Phoenix area, Prescott and Payson), San Diego, California, Idaho (Coeur d’Alene, Boise, Twin Falls); Montana (Bozeman, Butte, Dillon, West Yellowstone); Oregon (McMinnville, Portland); Washington (Bellevue, Kettle Falls, Roslyn, Seattle); and Wyoming (Yellowstone NP).

OFF WE GO! Disclaimer: There is a LOT to this post…skimming is allowed.

Joyous January

fountain Hills fountain
Warm and sunny Fountain Hills, AZ

We stayed in Arizona and Southern California for 6 weeks, between December 22 and January 30. I knew in my bones that 2025 would be Dad’s last Christmas. It was, but not before we celebrated and spent several days with him and our families.

three people
My Last Day with Dad

Frozen February

Thinking we had outwitted the snowy weather by staying in Arizona and San Diego, February snow gleefully awaited us upon our return.

winter day
My street

Meaningful March

front porch roof
New Porch, New Beginning!

Spring tiptoed in lightly as tulips, crocus, and daffodils, planted previously in late October, poked their heads out of the earth.

garden beginnings
Daffies
crocus
Tiny Crocus emerges

I like to believe they bloomed in solidarity for Cee Neuner, who passed away this month.

April’s Abundance and Absence

tulip
Opening Tulip

On April 12th, my dad peacefully passed into Eternity. My brothers and I began making plans for the memorial service to be held the last weekend in May. My first-ever planted tulips celebrated spring.

Meanwhile, we watched the Say’s Phoebes arrive and build their new nest.

bird
Vigilant Say’s Phoebe
bird nest
Nest 2.0

May’s Memorial and Memories Made

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Dad Waves Goodbye

We headed back to Arizona to be present for our family as we put the finishing touches on Dad’s Memorial Service.

red urn
Urn and floral bouquet
Naval honor guard memorial service
Presentation of Flag to My Step-Mom

While grieving Dad, I was informed by my neighbor that the Phoebes’ nest was robbed and destroyed, likely by a cat. I lost sleep over the idea that the Phoebe family was gone.

We headed home late in May through Dillon, Montana, where we stayed two nights before returning home.

after mountain thunderstorm
Near Butte, Montana

Jaw-Dropping June

Fresh off our trip south, we eagerly embraced summer weather and activities. We saw the first Aurora of the year.

purple green northern lights
Early Summer Aurora Borealis

The Phoebes repaired their nest and laid 4 new eggs. And I bought a new car!

4 Phoebe bird eggs in nest
The Phoebes Have Not Given up
Toyota 4Runner
2023 Toyota 4 Runner

July’s A Jumpin’

Fireworks, flags, fish, and freshly fledged Phoebes defined an incredibly busy month!

American flags
Flags Downtown Chewelah, WA

Between the Phoebes’ drama while fledging from the nest, we managed to entertain my brother and partner here at home…

brown bird
Well Hello!
Flycatcher birds
Fledgling getting fed

…then head over to Seattle for a long weekend with the cousins.

Seattle Public Market Sign
Seattle Public Market Sign
two women
Silly Cousins
three people in Seattle
Supping in Seattle

An Adventurous August

mountain
View of Columbia River Gorge and Mt Hood, Oregon

We arrived back home in late July in time for me to turn around and leave for Portland, Oregon. I stayed with Marsha and her brother, met up with her friends, then met up with fellow bloggers Miriam and Diana.

four women


The following week, I took a boat tour with ladies from our church on Lake Coeur d’Alene (Idaho).

boat on lake
Lake Coeur d’Alene

We celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary this month, and spent the rest of the summer enjoying the countless sunflowers (and birds) that grew in our yard.

goldfinch and sunflowers

Scenic September

In September, we checked off a bucket-list destination: Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. New park, new state!

field of bison
Yellowstone, where the bison roam

I shared several posts about the areas we visited: Old Faithful Geyser, Yellowstone’s Mammals, and Mammoth Springs & Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.

old faithful geyser
Old Faithful Geyser
bison herd
Bison Herd
prismatic spring
Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook

Once back home, we continued to enjoy the scenes in our neck of the woods.

late September kayak
Kayaker on Lake Spokane

October’s Obsessions

Yellow trees evergreens reflection
Across the lake
maple leaves
Maple leaves

After a busy summer, we found some peace and quiet in October. Autumn came early and stayed longer than usual for Northeastern Washington. Every day, there were photo ops of amazing autumn colors.

flower hour badge

In October, I launched my new Flower Hour Photo Challenge as a nod to our blogger friend, Cee Neuner, who passed earlier in March. Her beloved Flower of the Day posts live on in our hearts.

Nurturing November

As our typical winter weather pattern settled in, I felt compelled to slow down and plan the upcoming holidays by nurturing both my and my husband’s health and well-being. Hubby endured oral surgery, then was scheduled for hand surgery in December.

man waving

We enjoyed a couple of outings to check out the Western Larch trees…

western larch grove

… and we lucked out on seeing two nights of northern lights!

northern lights
Aurora Nov 12
red aurora
Bright Red Aurora
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The blogging world came together in solidarity to honor Cee Neuner on November 7th, on what would have been her 64th birthday, and to honor the birthdays of Dan Antion and Marsha Ingrao. They had that special connection with Cee through blogging, as many of us did.

Dazzling December

two deer
December Deer

I hopped onto Route 66 when I turned that age in early December. We also got our first snow of the season. The resident deer seemed to enjoy it.

As I age, I’m reminded of how short our lives really are in the context of the universe, like a vapor in the wind. This year, I felt led to share about the Season of Advent on this blog and dug into scripture and reading plans to help me understand Advent’s preparations for Christmas.

advent wreath

I bought an Advent Wreath and lit the candles weekly as we focused on the prophetic fulfillments of the promises of hope, peace, joy, and love.

Anticipation is the hallmark of Advent, and I wholeheartedly felt it wash over me as we waited for Christmas night to welcome my step-son and our granddaughters to our home for the first time.

people
Last on the card, but not the least in fun!

Sharing for Brian’s Last on the Card, Johnbo’s Cellpic Sunday, Lens-Artists: Favorite 2025 Images, and Sadje’s and Kym’s Wednesday Quotes.

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Sunday Stills Photo Challenge Reminders

The Sunday Stills weekly-themed photo challenge is easy to join. You have all week to share and link your post. Please use your own original images, whether new or from your archives.

  • Remember to title your blog post a little differently from mine.
  • Please create a new post for the theme or link to a recent one.
  • Entries for this theme can be posted all week.
  • Tag your post “Sunday Stills.”
  • Don’t forget to create a pingback to this post so that other participants can read your post.
  • I also recommend adding your post’s URL to the comments.

2026 marks the 9th year of Sunday Stills, and I am so grateful to everyone who has read my posts or participated by sharing their creative energy in photos, poetry, stories, music, and art!

If you have already published a 2025 “retrospective” post, please feel free to link to it here so we can see how everyone’s year went.

If you are participating in the photo challenge, I look forward to seeing how you interpret this week’s theme! Join me next week as we tackle the colors of aquamarine and icy blue for the January monthly color challenge.

two girls

“The new year stands before us, like a chapter in a book, waiting to be written.”

bitmoji plaid

© 2026 Copyright — Terri Webster Schrandt and secondwindleisure.com — All Rights Reserved

© 2025 Copyright — secondwindleisure.com — All Rights Reserved

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70 comments

  4. Gosh, Terri! Due to your disclaimer, I didn’t skim.🤭 I so laughed at it. 😁 Well, I always read your post whole. Your granddaughters are gorgeous. And the aurora borealis too. I enjoyed the photos. The boat tour looks amazing to me.

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  7. You had a fulfilling year Terri, that’s for sure. All the places you visited and captured images of, not to mention the joy of nature in your own backyard with the flowers, Phoebes and viewing the Aurora plus your local scenic sights as well. Except for the loss of your dad, I’d say it was a good year. I hope Hans is on the mend – his hand should be healed up for sure for his outdoor projects come Spring! Happy New Year!

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    • Thank you, Linda! 2025 had unexpected surprises both good and bad, but one thing I really enjoyed was connecting with fellow bloggers weekly or more. Like you. Hans is doing well, I bought him motorcycle gloves to wear to protect his hand as it heals. The surgery was good timing, mid December. Hasn’t totally stopped him with small projects. I got behind reading your posts and will go catch up! Hope your New Year is starting on a good note!

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  8. What a fabulous way to present your year Terri! I’m sorry again about losing your father. I loved that at age 66 you were on Route 66 🙂 Thanks for hosting us all for 9 years and counting, you’re a very generous blogger with a such creative spirit! I love participating in these (when I manage to get to it) and have shared my year in review here https://debs-world.com/2026/01/03/reflecting-on-2025-my-year-in-review-for-sundaystills/

    All the best for another great year ahead Terri.

    Debbie from Debs-world.com

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  12. What a fabulous year of ups and downs, mainly ups which is great Terri.
    So many wonderful sights, lucky to see the Aurora, the Bison – my favourites – and the flowers so beautiful. The Phoebes rebuilding and hatching made me very happy.
    I love your last photo with the sweet little girls
    Thanks for joining in Last on the Card 😀

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  15. Holy smokes Sarah!!! My sympathies for your loss – your dad looks like a happy guy who lived a wonderful life. I suppose we cannot ask more than that. Your granddaughters are adorable so thanks for sharing them! Remembered some of the images and stories in your post and enjoyed them as well as those I hadn’t seen. Happiest of New Years to you!!

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  20. The grandkids are beautiful. Doesn’t look like you got snow for them but I’m sure that didn’t stop you loving their company. Most years have sad farewells as you get older, Terri. Hope this is a wonderful year for you and yours xx

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  23. This is a beautifully layered year-in-review—tender, observant, and deeply human. I love how you weave the personal with the seasonal, the global with the intimate, letting photos, travel, and small natural moments carry the emotional weight. The recurring presence of birds, blooms, and landscapes becomes a quiet thread of continuity through joy and loss, especially in how spring unfolds alongside grief. Your reflections on time, memory, and farewell are handled with such grace—nothing overstated, everything felt. It’s a moving tribute to 2025, and to love that endures through change.

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  27. Terri, you have celebrated many wins and great events this year. Congratulations! I am sorry for your loss. May grace and peace be with you. I love all your excellent photos. You are a gifted photographer. Happy New Year to you.

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  31. What a year! I’m sorry for the loss of your dad, was comforted that you said ‘peacefully’. Your husband’s surgeries–two! Yikes and yuck! I feel your pain for the Phoebies. My sis has seven boxes for bird nesting, keeps an eye on their progress, hates to see when eggs disappear.

    Happy new year!

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