As I look back over the past year, I see how blessed my life is.
We started the year off with a bang. A Red Fox Labrador Retriever Bang, lol. We must have been out of our minds. A puppy at our age?
My work had slowed down dramatically in the winter of 2024, and after the loss of Bella, depression began to rear its ugly head. Alone in the house, with no work and no companion, it was bound to happen.
I am lucky to have such a supportive partner, and one who recognized that I was struggling without a dog.
I continue to fill my days practicing with watercolors and looking for additional work. But nothing was filling the void or landing. I was thrilled when John said he was on board with getting a dog. Cooper was born on January 22, 2025.
February was filled with Purdue games, Galentine’s dinner, a trip to Clearwater, and John and me meeting Cooper for the first time.
We brought Cooper home on March 22, 2025. This was also the month when my boys started their own individual adventures. Joey and Aubrey moved in together, and Johnny moved in with a high school friend. It took some getting used to seeing them in different locations. They are not far from each other, but further away from me.
April brought new beginnings for John’s kids, too—new homes, moves, and a baby coming in April of 2026.
In May, I went to Florida with my girlfriends, had a fantastic Mother’s Day with my boys, Aubrey and John. I golfed, some, but not as much as I did in 2024.
In June, I began puppy school with a very rambunctious, spicy Cooper, who, by now, had us questioning ourselves and wondering what the hell we’d gotten ourselves into. Father’s Day for John was so special. We had such a good time, and I was so grateful to be a part of it.
I also began purging 74k pictures from my phone in June. This process would take me months. I know that sounds crazy to have that many photos. In some ways, it was hard to let go of the past, but in other ways, it was freeing to purge. I placed my pictures on a hard drive and was amazed by all the places I have been to.
July brought a trip to Destin, FL, with a dear friend I hadn’t seen in years. Later in the month, I had lunch with my cousin from CA. I love it when we catch up. By the end of July, I decided to close Mosaic Warrior, LLC. I moved all my art to Returning the Gift, LLC, as I felt my spirit was changing.
I had done so much work on myself in 2024. It’s a never-ending process, but the older I get, the less concerned I am about what others think. The growth in 2024 brought on peace in 2025, which put me into serious depression. Change + Peace=Depression. That doesn’t make sense. I know it didn’t for me either, because I had nothing to be depressed about. Yet there I was.
July through August was spent on puppy training, which John highly recommended. This was a good distraction for me. I also came up with the idea of the Painted Porch. A huge risk for a learning artist. At a whim, John helped me bring my idea to fruition. We took a long weekend trip with our friends to Red River Gorge, and by the end of August, the Painted Porch was ready for the Labor Day weekend. Oh yeah, and Cooper graduated puppy school.
In September, Cooper began level one dog training. John and I visited with my Aunt Kathy (my godmother) and the Wilson Family. My son, Johnny, turned the big 30, and we attended John’s nephew’s wedding—another great night/day for the records.
My art was also getting better. I began to experiment with even more mediums. Pastels, acrylics, pastes, richer colors, and bigger canvases. At some point, our friends ask me to do a special painting for them (you can read about that in a prior post). Some of my paintings were selling before I could add them to my website. This was so exciting and affirming. I might be onto something—spirit, path, life change.
In October, I delivered the special piece of art to our friends. Cooper passed level one dog training, and my art continued to unfold. At the end of October, 1st of November, we took a long weekend trip to Chicago to attend a wedding with his kids. We ran around and did what we always do when we travel, but we also spent time with his kids, which was awesome in its own way.
November, John and I attended Thanksgiving at Joey and Aubrey’s. They cooked a fantastic dinner. It was the first time I hadn’t cooked anything for Thanksgiving, and I was okay with that. I took a chance and opened up my house for Small Business Saturday and created my With Love mini collection. Unfortunately, no one came, and I only sold one mini through the holidays. But I learned a lot.
Ending with December, sitting on the couch writing this blog. It was the first time I did not see my boys at Christmas (Joey went home with Aubrey), and the first time I got to spend Christmas with John’s kids. I was sad not to be with my boys, yet grateful to be part of a Christmas I had longed for.
2025 was a big year for our mismatched, not-what-anyone-asked-for family, all around. My struggle with depression. John and I travelled less; we experienced puppy parenting, which was and still is challenging. All five kids moved. All moved further away—new homes and new experiences. And the creative outlet I began in 2023 as a healing process has now become a new way of existing.
What I will gladly take moving forward in 2026. Old guards softening, new arrivals, and adventures. A deep knowing that—I am on the other side, I am different, I am worthy, I am creative, and I am loved.
I am looking forward to more growth, expansion, opportunities, and always love!
And many, many more blessings!!
With love,
Julie
