01/19/2026
2016 was a REALLY hard year because my marriage was hanging on by a thread. I was hurting so deeply and also so afraid of what divorce would mean for my future, James' experience of family, and even my identity. I felt very broken, and looking at the pictures made it seem like a good idea to skip this trend.
But it was also a formative year:
• I was a new mom, and most of my pictures from 2016 were of James... but the ones that had me in them showed how I remember that season with him. We loved to laugh, we had peace, and we hiked, traveled, celebrated, and smiled in the rain.
• I turned 30 and went to a science museum to celebrate?! Interesting how getting dizzy on a spinning device is the picture I have of that day.
• I was in my 4th year teaching art, and I was stretching for more. Beyond the elementary classroom projects, I was beginning to lead middle school mural projects, teach preschool art classes in my apartment, and I did my first handful of painting parties.
• I was making new friendships, and even though a lot of my past friendships were changing in ways that I couldn't make sense of, I was approaching everything with an open heart, and learning a lot.
• I made my first piece of soulful art... it was in a texture workshop for art teachers, but I needed my piece to explore the pain and dissonance in my marriage. I would go on to make other art pieces that really helped me process and sit with my emotions, without judging them or trying to make them go away. Art became a prayer space that would help shape my identity and form my next directions and passions.
2016 was rough, but I am thankful for a pause to reflect and share a bit from that time. I wouldn't be where I am now, without those last threads pulling out from under me, and the tumbly decision to pursue art in even the stormy seasons of life.
