A quarter of a century. That’s a big deal in my book!
When I think of Josh and our marriage, I definitely count him as one of the most clear realities of the goodness of God in my life.
Just this morning I read Matthew 7:7-11. The part that stood out the most was right at the end, “…how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him.”
As I thanked God for the good gift of Josh to me, I quickly move to praying for each of my kids to have spouses that are also one of the most clear realities of the goodness of God in each of their lives. I can’t think of a person, circumstance, reality that more affects your own life than who you marry. I prayed they would have patience in the process. I prayed they would seek God first and trust Him along the path He has for them. I prayed for the spouse wherever they are to be walking with God and seeking Him. I prayed for supernatural meeting that only can be explained by God! These are all things God gave me, and I am forever grateful.
Each year we try to look back on our last year of marriage and assign it a word. Not an easy task as so much happens over 365 days! So what word most describes our 25th year of marriage (all of last year we were in the 25th year leading to today celebrating 25 full years of marriage)? You can read all the other years’ words on last year’s post, here:https://kristydorminy.com/2025/01/27/24th-wedding-anniversary/
ANYWAY….
Year 25: EMPTY NEST. So much happened this year—but nothing quite trumps the fact that this was the year all three kids flew the coop. It’s college empty nest, so they come back to visit quite often, but for the most part the house is quiet and clean. Josh and I love our kids so much AND Josh and I love each other and like each other, so this transition has been pretty amazing if we’re honest. So year 25 has gotten emptier and fuller at the same time. We are grateful for this new season.
I made this last year 🙂
Here’s to seeing what God has in store for year 26….
Well it’s back to Josh and me—and Rolo, of course.
Mack did get all settled in to his new apartment and is really enjoying the place and the room mate! They have done some cooking. They workout at the same gym. And even went to a college retreat at The Summit Church this past weekend. I’m really happy for him!
Ruby left and got settled back into her apartment and got a few days of work under her belt. Classes start tomorrow for her!
Molly went back on Friday —after spending the week making sourdough bread. Our friend taught her how to do it, so she got serious about cranking out the loaves.
She and I spent some time together before she left!
And she will be missed by Rolo!
Oh and we took Molly to Bluffton, SC/Hilton Head area to visit the church she will be interning at this summer—Low Country Community. It was amazing in every way. I know she’s going to learn so much!
As you can see, it definitely seems like a place Molly belongs. She’s tried other churches that didn’t seem to appreciate her free-spirit (well, just one actually—told her she was more of a distraction and didn’t like her clothes! And that was after she tamed her true self down!! A learning experience for sure), so I’m so thankful for this opportunity for her! There is not only one way to worship. We put a lot of our own self made rules on what worship should look like. What a shame.
We ate at the same restaurant we went to after we got engaged on the beach in June 2000.
It was a great little trip!
And it’s been great to be home this weekend. It’s been a very chill weekend, and I am grateful. We needed a reset after the holiday craziness.
But here’s to another semester of college for the kids. Of growth and maturing and making friends and learning more about life. And hopefully leaning into what God is saying to each of them.
And Josh and I will also be learning and growing and maturing in our season. A fresh wind is blowing, and I want to hear what God is saying.
Halfway through January! About two more months til Spring, but who’s counting? Ha!
Well, it’s January 4, 2026. How is everyone’s New Year going so far?
Ours has been full and quite interesting. After some back and forth with an apartment complex in Wilmington, Josh and another dad signed to be guarantors for Mack and his room mate. It wasn’t a straightforward application. There were several delays and lack of communication on the apartment’s part. But we finally paid all the app fees once they figured out how to tell us to do that. Again, nothing made sense on the site. Even to them.
Josh told them that we were planning to drive over Jan 2 so we could help Mack get moved in. Would this be ok? They didn’t say we could for sure move in that day, but probably. We were ok with that because if we “probably” would get in Jan 2, then worst case we would have to move him in Jan 3.
So like optimistic idiots, we set out with a truck bed full of furniture. And Mack followed with his jeep packed to the hilt. But unfortunately we got news on Jan 2 that “it isn’t looking good for moving in today.” And also, “We apologize. It doesn’t usually take this long.”
We prayed and hoped. We went to dinner. We got some things for Mack from Target. We had the most horrible night of sleep in the Hampton Inn. And woke up to a new employee to deal with on Jan 3. Oh sweet Lilliana was a real joy. And I mean that in the most opposite way. Josh explained again our situation—“We are here from Charlotte. Our son starts classes Monday. He needs help moving this stuff in. We did all we were supposed to do. Background checks don’t take this long on people with perfectly clean backgrounds. Plus zero debt.” (Not to mention—we sat outside the apartments waiting to sign the lease and saw all manner of person walking around. And I don’t mean to sound horrible but it was clear this was just a regular old apartment. Not sure what they were checking for on the background check. Seemed quite obvious most anyone can get an apartment there.)
Am I still bitter? Why yes, yes I am.
All sweet Lilliana would do is email us every couple hours—“Just to update, there is no update.”
Oh Lilliana. You’re not being helpful. I asked her at the end of this day if there was one more thing she could do to just make sure there’s no way we could get the lease signed today. I reminded her that we were there and ready to move in. Willing to pay the six months rent upfront if that would help. We were desperate parents just trying to help get our son situated. She blankly looked at me and said, “You know all I know.” And I’m like—yes, Lilliana. And therein is the problem. I don’t work here. You do.
I asked her if she could call corporate and see if the background checks maybe were there? She said she had emailed and they told her no update was available.
Email. What is wrong with these people? She was young and seemingly indifferent and unmotivated to help us. To make a phone call seemed like a crazy thing to do. Sending an email is not helpful at this point and yet she just wasn’t interested in hearing any of our ideas. And we had a few good ones. None of them seemed to land with Lilliana. She preferred emailing every few hours and doing nothing. It was maddening.
So in an effort to try and look for a silver lining, I came up with a summary of lessons from sweet Lilliana. I even found myself, when I felt unmotivated today to do some laundry or take that three mile walk or go to the gym or make good food choices, saying, “Don’t be like Lilliana.”
Lazy. Indifferent. Unhelpful. Unable to think outside the box. Here is my takeaway sheet for when I’m feeling like being a Lilliana.
Maybe you can also use this reminder as you start your 2026?
As far as Mack, well…he’s going to doing some growing up this week as he has had to store some things in a friend’s garage. He stayed one night with the friend and then he is staying tonight in a hotel. He has classes at 9am. Then maybe, just maybe, the apartment complex will let them sign the lease and move in tomorrow evening. He doesn’t have classes on Tuesday so he will have that day as well to get his life set up. He will be fine. It just wasn’t how we wanted it to go. But if I needed to glean the “Lessons from Lilliana,”then I guess it had to go that way.
We got one last family dinner in during 2025! Thankful for the time with all of us.
We spent the last evening of the year with some friends here at the house. Just a calm night of food and catching up with our friends.
Molly went to a wedding
Mack was here then went to see Brooke.
It was a sweet evening.
Today has been spent resting and packing up Mack’s stuff for moving him into his new apartment tomorrow! It’s not a furnished apartment so we have to pack up a lot more stuff this time. Am I looking forward to the work involved in getting him settled in again? No, not really. But I’m so happy Mack won’t be living with the druggies and gamers. Yikes that was rough. But he made it and is better for it. He will appreciate the new set-up, I’m certain.
So tomorrow we start the emptying of the nest again. It feels good to get all of his stuff plus some extra furniture out of here! Ruby leaves next week and Molly leaves a week or so after that.
Never a dull moment.
Rolo misses the calm. She looks at me with concern from time to time—like she’s asking, “How much longer will all these people be coming in and out of here?”
Praying 2026 will be a year of God’s presence and power in every step all of us take. In all the going in and out, that He would guide us and we would walk in the purposes He has for us. Cheers to 2026!🎊
