Welcome. This is our family’s annual Year-in-Review—shared for friends, family, and readers who enjoy walking alongside us. If you missed last year’s, you can find it here.

Tom and I mark December 16, 1986, as our first date—the night we first held hands during the movie An American Tale. Things moved quickly after that (we were engaged seven months later), and by December 1988, we spent our first married Christmas together.

Every year since then, as our family grew from two to ten, we gathered together on Christmas Day.

Until this year.

Like many midlife couples, as children marry and move farther from home, we’ve reached the moment when long-held traditions must bend. We will still be together—just not on Christmas Day. And as I look back on 2025, I see that this wasn’t an isolated change. It was a year marked by a difficult parting, unusual holidays, shifting rituals, and moments that felt almost unreal. It all began on Day One.

January

Tom, Jared, Chloe, and I made a spontaneous decision to take a road trip from Southwest Michigan to New Orleans to see Notre Dame play in the Sugar Bowl, the second round of the football championships. After an exciting New Year’s Eve, complete with live music venues, Beignets, and fireworks, we awoke on New Year’s Day to the shocking news of the terrorist attack on Bourbon Street, just blocks from our hotel. Being in NOLA over the next couple of days was a somber and surreal experience. And one we will never forget. (You can read the full story here.) It was an unsettling way to begin the year, but in hindsight, it set the tone for a year that would ask us to live with flexibility, tenderness, and gratitude.

February

On Valentine’s/President’s Day weekend, Seth, Maddie, and the kids went to visit Grandma Hanstra in Lafayette, and also spent a day digging for dinosaur bones and deep sea diving at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. Visiting with Grandma/Gigi, whose health was declining, blessed them all and lifted Gigi’s spirits immensely.

March

Just three days after St. Patrick’s Day, Tom, whose Dutch blood has become infused with Irish, received recognition for thirty years of service at the University of Notre Dame. We were treated to fancy finger foods, and Tom’s photo with the University’s President and Executive Vice President was displayed for a few seconds on the Fighting Irish jumbotron!

Meanwhile, from mid-March to early April, Chloe traveled to Europe. For twelve days, she and her friends lived it up in Sweden, Denmark, Italy (Lake Como), and the Netherlands (Amsterdam and tulip fields). Her first time back in Europe since she left Ireland during the pandemic, she had a wonderful time!

April

Easter, and the promise of the resurrection, was especially meaningful for us this year, as our beloved Mom/Grandma/Gigi Hanstra went to be with her Savior on April 10, just ten days before Easter. After several months of illness, falling, and physical decline, her body was too weak to go on. We celebrated her life and all she meant to us and then began the arduous task of going through her possessions and readying her home for sale. We’re often reminded of her absence, especially during the holidays, which were always such fun with her.

May

The “merry month of May” is a busy one for us, with Maddie’s, Ollie’s, and Ellie’s birthdays, as well as Mother’s Day. This year, we added a lovely bridal shower for Leah (thrown by her aunts) and the release of my second book, Empty-Nest Joyride. To add a little “May-hem” to our already crazy month, our grandchildren had an abrupt change to their daycare situation, resulting in several days at Lala and Papa’s house. It seemed both kids—when they weren’t sleeping—were in constant motion. We understand why Seth and Maddie’s hands are full, juggling full-time work and parenting!

While we were managing May-hem in the Midwest, Jared jetted off to Mexico for a fun weekend getaway with friends in Oaxaca. Meanwhile, Chloe flew to the Pacific Northwest to attend the wedding of college friends in Portland.

June

In addition to Father’s Day and Seth and Maddie’s 10th anniversary, we enjoyed a lovely weekend in Lexington, Kentucky for the beautiful outdoor wedding of our niece/cousin, Elise, to Zeke. The next day we drove down to the Red River Gorge for some rock climbing. We finally experienced the place and sport that several of our kids rave about. They’ve had us climbing the walls in various ways for years, but this time, they had us literally trying it. Let’s just say, I’ve been there, done that, and don’t need to try it again, LOL!

June is a busy month for Chloe, who wears several work hats (apparently including confetti!), and loves every one of them. At Miggy’s Bakes, she plans and executes the dessert needs for markets, weddings, and other events. She also helps with wedding content creation (think Instagram reels & TikToks) for “Aside the Bride” (also run by Miggy’s owner). Her most exciting venture has been starting her own business—the “Read & Roam Collective”—a traveling monthly book club that meets at small businesses around Madison (WI), and sponsors book-themed events, like Silent Reading Nights and Blind Dates with a Book (with more to come!).

July

The 4th of July was atypical, especially for Seth and Maddie. After dropping their kids off with Lala and Papa at the cabin, they hopped on a plane in Minneapolis and headed for Rome! Leah and Garrett helped us corral the kids for a day, so we thanked them with breakfast at the “Logging Camp.” Garrett reportedly still reminisces about that all-you-can-eat meal when he ate at least ten pancakes and a dozen eggs!

Lala, Papa, Oliver, and Eloise had many grand adventures over the next 12 days. Seth and Maddie’s 10th anniversary Mediterranean cruise—to Rome, Pompeii, Sicily, Santorini, Turkey, Mykonos, and Athens—was a much-needed getaway. They had a fabulous time, as evidenced by the hundreds of photos they shared with the exhausted grandparents upon their return.

After arriving home, Seth was promoted to a design team leadership position at his work. He enjoys the added responsibility and his continued flexibility of working from home.

August

Chloe and I were “on holiday” for a week in Minnesota, with one day spent shopping and troll hunting. Then Tom joined me Up North, and we took a day to sightsee in the Twin Cities—taking in the Capitol, the Cathedral of St. Paul, and Minnehaha Falls. Back at the cabin, we kayaked on the lake and explored some new bike trails.

While we lavished in the dog days of summer, some in our family were gearing up for a new school year. Maddie went back to work as a middle school special education teacher, but this year, she brought Oliver with her! He’s loving his teacher and new friends in his pre-Kindergarten class. Eloise has settled into her new daycare and has found her voice—constantly surprising us with her growing vocabulary (and making speech-pathologist Lala proud!).

September

Labor Day was bachelorette-party weekend, as Leah, Chloe, and Maddie, along with some cousins and friends, escaped to Mom and Dad’s house (while we were at the cabin) for a Princess-Diaries-themed weekend honoring Leah.

Then, after twelve months of planning, the big day finally arrived! Leah and Garrett’s fairytale wedding, was a magical day for the prince and princess, as well as for the rest of our families and friends. Garrett’s sister, Savvy, was his best woman, and all of Leah’s siblings served as bridesmaids and bridesmen. Oliver, as ring bearer, and Eloise as flower girl were adorable! The happy couple, now Mr. & Mrs. Ahlstra (in the spirit of two becoming one), honeymooned for ten days in the very European (and affordable) city of Budapest! (In case you didn’t notice, Tom and Linda are the only adult family members who didn’t travel abroad this year!)

After working with friends for over a year on a golf tee-time booking app, Jared started a new job as a senior software engineer at Headway, an online mental health platform. He is working remotely and still lives in Denver, where he organizes regular “Capture the Flag” events at a local park. He loves Colorado and its surrounding areas—this year visiting Steamboat, Telluride, Sedona, and Santa Fe. Also in September, he ran a marathon up and down Pikes Peak (7800 ft. gain in 6:51)! He was happy to achieve his goal of finishing, while we marveled at his perseverance and fortitude in the face of challenges.

October

On our last day at the cabin for the year, I celebrated another trip around the sun. After we returned home, Leah and Garrett received their wedding gift from Leah’s Uncle Paul and Aunt Beth, Grandma Hanstra (promised years ago), and us—a refurbished grand piano! Since they’re still saving for a home big enough to house it, the piano now lives in our music room, where Leah teaches some of her students two days a week. She’s loving her new piano studio business (started in January), and just surpassed her goal of 40 students!

The honeymooners returned home to a stressed-out and sick cat, Leah’s “Stitch.” Two of their three cats now require extra medical attention, which is teaching them patience (and budgeting!).

Speaking of felines, Seth and Maddie expanded their family with a kitten this fall, and the kids loved little “Rumi” (they also love K-Pop Demon Hunters…IYKYK). Unfortunately, after a few weeks in their home, Rumi suddenly became very ill and was gone by the next day. It was so sad for the whole family. On a positive note, they are planning to adopt again in the new year; this time, a 3-year-old cat named “Arnie.”

With my book launch and the wedding behind me, I added a couple of new activities to my schedule. I joined a local gym to get back into strength training, and I signed up to volunteer on the Thursday kitchen crew at a local women’s shelter. I also work one day a week as a virtual speech therapist, and spend 1-2 days a week on writing projects. It feels good to diversify my days and I look forward to seeing where the Lord calls me next.

November

Tom, Jared, Chloe, and I spent another crazy holiday away from home as we went to Seattle the week of Thanksgiving. It’s a long story, but we thank Jared for spurring the idea. While there, we explored Pike Place Market, Bainbridge Island, Chihuly Garden and Glass (very cool!), the Seattle Christmas Market, and the Fremont area. We also hiked parts of Olympic National Park—Marymere Falls, the Hoh Rainforest (like walking through a fairy tale!), Ruby Beach, and Kalaloch Beach. It was far from our usual Thanksgiving, but it lifted our spirits to be together and see more of this beautiful country.

Before the kids arrived, Tom and I explored Snoqualmie Falls, just east of Seattle. It’s been heartbreaking to see the recent flooding and devastation, so near to the places we visited.

December

2025 was a year of spontaneous adventures, constant flexibility, and the end of some longstanding rituals. While it’s hard to let traditions go, moving on is part of our journey. December has also been a month of change.

Garrett is leaving his job at the venue he’s been at for ten years. He’s excited for new horizons ahead in 2026.
Our Hanstra Christmas will be missing one very central character.
The SW Michigan climate, which blanketed our home with near-record snowfall over the past few weeks, will bring us springlike temperatures on Christmas Day. Is anyone else experiencing weather whiplash?

And, as I mentioned earlier, we can’t all be together on Christmas Day. It will be strange—as so many holidays this year have been. Still, we have much to be thankful for:

For our growing and healthy family.
For relatives that prioritize and cherish moments together.
And for friends—near and far.

Despite the changing tide of our lives—the ebb and flow of our days—we experience peace. As we learn to hold traditions more loosely, it is the constancy of kindness from friends and family, and the abiding love of our heavenly Father—displayed in the gift of his Son—that bring us the greatest joy.

May you also find lasting peace and joy in the coming year, as life brings its inevitable changes.

With love,

The Hanstras

Let’s stay in touch!

I’ve been been encouraging readers for more than ten years through stories of faith, family, empty nesting, cycling, travel, lake life, and more, on Substack and at LindaHanstra.com. Sign up below to receive my newsletter (2-4 times/month) and get stories, links, and other updates delivered right to your inbox!

2025 Year-in-Review: Unusual Holidays, Shifting Traditions, and the Peace That Holds Us