Sharing a short personal message and a Christmas blessing via video today.
Plus, a few of my favorite books and blessings from the year that have kept me sane, laughing, thinking, grateful, and growing. Enjoy!
Hugs as always, Niki xox
Before we dive in, if you pick a “word for the year” or want to, next week, in that glorious liminal time between Christmas and New Year, when time (almost) stands still, I’ll be sharing how a dinner party question, at the end of a year where we lost a dear friend, forced me to articulate something I didn’t know I knew to be true. It’s totally changed my word for next year.
So maybe wait until then to pick your word. I think you’ll want to do this too.
And in January, I’m hosting a LIVE 2026 Guided Reflection and New Year Discernment Workshop (nope, it doesn’t have to happen by Jan 1st - that’s way too much pressure), so stay tuned.
My favorite reads from 2025 (just a few of them).
(Ignore the dates - I’m not good at adding them to my little BookBub app when I finish them and tend to add them in bulk!).
My goal was to write witty, insightful reviews to help you pick, but life interrupted, so you’re getting a short list from my BookBuddy App! Sorry.
You can find them on Amazon here, too on my 2025 Favorite Books Shelf.
What were your favorite reads of 2025? Let’s crowdsource ideas for next year down in the comments!
[If you haven’t read my latest book God, Can We Chat? you can grab it for your next read here.]
Books on my “Want to Read” List
These are a few of the titles I’ve heard good things about and want to try. What do you want to read next year? Which titles would you recommend? Let us know in the comments.
(And if you’ve read any of these and you wouldn’t recommend them, let us know that too!)
You can find them here on my Want to Read Shelf
What’s on your “Want to Read” List?
If you’re interested, here are some of my other lists, where you might find some last-minute gift ideas.
Borrowed Blessings I keep returning to.
THE BLESSING
Sung by UK Worship Leaders (listen if you can)
The Lord bless you
And keep you
Make His face shine upon you
And be gracious to you
The Lord turn His
Face toward you
And give you peace
As we receive, we agree, amen
GRATITUDE FOR THE LITTLE THINGS
I will have gratitude
for the little things
even while I wait
for the bigger things
to fall in place.
I can still have hope
while facing a future
I don’t know.
I will sow good seeds
even in uncertainty.
I have found boundless peace
and the freedom
to let it run
over absolutely
everything.
It’s going to be okay.
Not perfect, but okay.
I may not understand
all that is happening,
but I will bloom, anyway.
A BLESSING TOWARD YOUR FAMILIES
Toward our families, may we be full of hope – able to move beyond our fear and insecurities into the lives of others, willing to release the right to control the outcomes.
May we be open to finding a gift in an unwelcome situation, hearing wisdom from an unlikely person, and receiving grace in an unexpected place.
May Christ be my security when I care too much about the small things and my salvation when I care too little about the big ones.
May my heart be soft enough to know the difference.
Of all the things we give to others, may we never forget to give them hope.
Need a last-minute gift?
A subscription to The WildlyKnown Life will give an invite to the live 2026 Guided Reflection and New Year Discernment Workshop, PLUS exclusive guided reflections and practices, Live hangouts at The Fire Pit - both online and in person, and mini retreats and guest interview Q&A’s.
And if you give them Founding Member status, they’ll become part of The Glade: an intimate space with bi-annual retreats, some 1:1 coaching, and more.
Hugs and have a Merry, WILD Christmas, my friend,
Niki
xx
