Rooted: Holding Steady Through Every Season

Hey sweet friend!

Every new year brings its own rhythm…fresh beginnings, unexpected twists, tender moments, and of course, days that stretch us more than we imagined. As midlife mamas, we carry so much: growing kids, shifting hormones, aging parents, relationship struggles, juggling calendars and the deep desire to stay grounded in the middle of it all. But through every changing season, God offers us a gentle reminder: Stay rooted.

Rooted is my word of the year; steady, grounded, and full of quiet strength. It’s a reminder that while life around us may shift, we can grow in confidence when we’re firmly planted in God’s love.

Rooted in the Slow Seasons

Some seasons feel deeply quiet, like winter soil…still, hidden, waiting. These are the moments when we wonder if anything is happening beneath the surface. But roots grow strongest in the unseen. Strength is built in whispered prayers, small acts of faith and choosing trust even when nothing feels clear.

If you’re in a slow season, you’re not stuck. You’re being strengthened. He is working in your waiting! Be still my friend.

Rooted in the Busy Seasons

Then come the seasons that feel loud and full…sports schedules, family needs, work deadlines, appointments, and the emotional load only a mama understands. In those moments, being rooted holds us steady. It reminds us to pause, to breathe, to cling to God’s presence when life pulls us in a dozen directions.

Being rooted doesn’t mean standing still…it means staying connected to the One who never lets go.

Rooted in the Seasons of Growth

Some seasons stretch us…in faith, in courage, in purpose. Maybe God is opening new doors, reviving old dreams, or nudging you into something unfamiliar. Growth is beautiful, but it’s not always easy. Your roots hold you steady as you rise.

Even wildflowers, some of God’s most beautiful creations, grow strongest when their roots run deep. So do you. Savor the moments of tender pruning.

Rooted in God’s Faithfulness

Through every season…quiet, busy, stretching, or abundant…your roots anchor you in this unchanging truth: God is faithful. He sees you.

He doesn’t shift with the weather. He doesn’t withdraw when life gets messy. He is steady ground beneath your feet.

You don’t have to fear the winds of life when your foundation is Christ. Maybe this pruning is God’s way of ensuring you remain faithful to Him?

How My Words Became My Roots

Last year, when I launched Little Block of Happy, it was born from a simple idea: that having your word of the year displayed on a small wooden block…right there on your shelf…keeping you intentional and visually motivated to stay consistent with your word all year long.

Then I added “Choose Joy,” another foundational block of this space. And that little spark began to grow… turning into encouraging blogs, inspirational apparel, journals, mugs (because duh…who doesn’t love coffee?!) and a corner of the internet dedicated to bringing joy to your heart…an entire little block of happy, if you will. 😊

It’s funny to look back at my words from years past because I can clearly see evidence of how God has been pruning me all along. I’ve always prayed over my word of the year, asking God to reveal the one He wants me to hold onto, at least for the past few years when I established this Word of the Year rhythm, and each year, I’ve tried to truly live out that word.

My words began in 2022:

2022 — Surrender
2023 — Mindset
2024 — Gratitude
2025 — Intentional
2026 — Rooted

Sometimes I wish I would have journaled during those years…to see my spiritual growth, to trace God’s hand through some of my hardest seasons, and to notice how He helped me persevere. 2022 was definitely the year I surrendered!  It would be beautiful to look back and measure the impact of each word I chose… to see how that one little word anchored my year and how God wove it into my daily life.

➡️ Enter 2026: ROOTED. 😊

I can’t wait to look back at the end of this year and see how God keeps me rooted in this season of life. Because no matter what it brings, I know this will be my grounding truth:

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” - Jeremiah 17:7–8

Not only do I want to stay ROOTED in Him, I want to stay rooted in truth for my family, for my friends and for you, my Little Block of Happy community. To keep you encouraged to stay ROOTED in Him as well. Because as Tara-Leigh Cobble (the host of the Bible Recap) says…”He is where the JOY is.”

What’s Your Word of the Year?

What word is God pressing on your heart for this season of your life?

What word do you want to carry with you… guiding your choices, shaping your focus and anchoring your soul when life gets overwhelming? That one little word that keeps you intentional?

Maybe it’s peace, joy, renew, courage, hope, or something else deeply and uniquely personal.

Whatever your word is, I’d love for you to use it intentionally this year. Let it become a daily reminder of who God is and who He’s forming you to be.

If you want something beautiful and meaningful to help keep your word close, I’ve created Word of the Year wood blocks over at Little Block of Happy. This has been a passion project of mine for several years… a sweet, simple wooden reminder you can place on your desk, nightstand, or coffee table as a visual anchor of the truth you’re choosing to walk in. 

Find them here on my website: https://littleblockofhappy.com/collections/wood-blocks

I also launched my Word of the Year journals with the help of a trusted production partner because I knew these would be a hot seller this year! Use them for everyday journaling, gratitude lists, sermon notes, prayer requests, or task lists. They make a thoughtful and personal gift for a friend since each journal is customized with your unique word…and some even allow you to add your name. I’ll be adding more designs as the year goes on. I opened my Etsy shop specifically to launch these journals. More fun things to come so be sure you favorite my shop! 😊 HURRY over to my shop...I may be running a sale for launch weekend!!!

Find journals in my Etsy shop here: https://tinyurl.com/LittleBlockofHappyJournals 

 

And of course… every great journal deserves a great coffee mug to match! ☕️ They go hand in hand!

Coffee is definitely my love language, so one of my favorite moments each morning is curling up on my sofa with God, journaling my thoughts with a warm cup of coffee and a cozy blanket. Ooooh, how dreamy! Especially on cold snowy days, like here in East Tennessee lately! These snow days have me journaling and praying a lot about where He’s leading me on this Little Block of Happy journey. Check out that Rae Dunn inspired mug!!

It is my prayer that these designs…the journals, mugs, tees, and wooden blocks, bring you joy and serve as sweet reminders of what a good, GOOD God we have.

You can find your favorite sip of encouragement here: https://tinyurl.com/LittleBlockofHappyMugs

A perfect companion to your journal…and even better when you choose a mug customized with your Word of the Year to match your journal. So matchy-matchy! 😊 How can you NOT intentionally live out your word when it’s front and center? Wood block, journal and mug?! YES PLEASE! 😊 Have 2 words? Want your name on the mug? We can do that too! You can even see a proof of your mug before you purchase…on most mug designs that is. Most of our mugs are totally customizable!

Your word matters. It’s personal.

Your season matters. It’s important.

And you deserve something that helps anchor you in God’s goodness every single day.

Stay rooted, friend.

And share your word with me on Instagram! (Hint/Hint…You’ll find some sweet deals there!) I’d love to cheer you on through every season this year. 🌿

You are so loved!

Kim xo