“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
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.
Frozen February
Thinking we had outwitted the snowy weather by staying in Arizona and San Diego, February snow gleefully awaited us upon our return.
Meaningful March
Spring tiptoed in lightly as tulips, crocus, and daffodils, planted previously in late October, poked their heads out of the earth.
I like to believe they bloomed in solidarity for Cee Neuner, who passed away this month.
April’s Abundance and Absence
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.
May’s Memorial and Memories Made
We headed back to Arizona to be present for our family as we put the finishing touches on Dad’s Memorial Service.
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.
Jaw-Dropping June
Fresh off our trip south, we eagerly embraced summer weather and activities. We saw the first Aurora of the year.
The Phoebes repaired their nest and laid 4 new eggs. And I bought a new car!
July’s A Jumpin’
Fireworks, flags, fish, and freshly fledged Phoebes defined an incredibly busy month!
Between the Phoebes’ drama while fledging from the nest, we managed to entertain my brother and partner here at home…
…then head over to Seattle for a long weekend with the cousins.
An Adventurous August
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.
The following week, I took a boat tour with ladies from our church on Lake Coeur d’Alene (Idaho).
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.
Scenic September
In September, we checked off a bucket-list destination: Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. New park, new state!
I shared several posts about the areas we visited: Old Faithful Geyser, Yellowstone’s Mammals, and Mammoth Springs & Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.
Once back home, we continued to enjoy the scenes in our neck of the woods.
October’s Obsessions
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.
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.
We enjoyed a couple of outings to check out the Western Larch trees…
… and we lucked out on seeing two nights of northern lights!
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
“The new year stands before us, like a chapter in a book, waiting to be written.”
© 2026 Copyright — Terri Webster Schrandt and secondwindleisure.com — All Rights Reserved
© 2025 Copyright — secondwindleisure.com — All Rights Reserved
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