This winter reset came quietly, in the middle of sick kids, shorter days, and the gentle realization that faithfulness sometimes looks like choosing the next right thing. This week didn’t turn out the way I planned.
The kids are sick, noses running, little bodies needing more rest and comfort than usual. And because of that, I didn’t have the margin to create the full video or content I had imagined in my head. No elaborate plans. No perfectly mapped-out morning routine. Just real life, in the colder months, with shorter days and a house that needed tending.
And honestly? That’s okay.
What you’re about to see is what I like to call a faithful day, or at least that’s the phrase that runs through my head on these types of days.
A faithful day is when you set aside your agenda and choose the next right thing — even when it’s not flashy, productive by the world’s standards, or Instagram-worthy. For me, that meant caring for sick kids, making sourdough, cleaning the house one room at a time (without getting mom-distracted by the next task), and taking down one single bucket of Christmas decorations.
Nothing dramatic. No big reset button moment. Just simple acts of faithfulness in daily life.
This time of year — with colder temperatures, darker days, and a nervous system that’s often a little fried after the holidays — is the perfect time for this kind of winter reset. Not a dramatic change. Just a quiet invitation to slow down and ask: What actually matters today?
Sometimes the most faithful thing we can do is recognize when it’s time to have a faithful day. Of course, every day should be a faithful day, but I hope you hear what I’m saying. This type is intentionally chosen. These are the days when I recognize that the next faithful thing won’t be my typical task list. These are the days when I’m laying aside the agenda and being very present to the needs of my family.
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Continuing Slow Homemaking Rhythms in 2026 (Sourdough & Simple Faithfulness)
One of the biggest surprises of last year was that my most popular recipe of 2025 ended up being my sourdough einkorn all-purpose loaf. Out of all the things I shared, that simple, everyday bread resonated the most.
And I think there’s a reason for that.
Sourdough invites us into a slower rhythm. It doesn’t rush. It doesn’t respond well to pressure. And one of my goals for 2026 is to lean even further into that by starting to mill our own grains — not because it’s trendy, but because it feels like a great way to nourish our family during the winter months with seasonal foods and simple habits. If you have any suggestions for a good-priced grain mill that could sit on my countertop and still be beautiful, I’m all ears!
Here’s the thing, though: sourdough isn’t as complicated as we make it.
This loaf? I didn’t do stretch and folds at all. The night before, we had two really upset kids, so I threw 4 1/4 cups of einkorn in my mixer with 1 1/4 cup water and a bit of sourdough starter and salt. I turned on the mixer and walked away while it did its thing. When I got our littlest in bed, I came back, turned it off, and put a cover over it. That was it.
I barely fussed over it. And it still turned out just fine. Sourdough is forgiving — just like so many areas of homemaking and motherhood. We don’t have to do everything “perfectly” for it to be good.
Especially during winter break, when immune systems are tired, sleep quality matters more, and comfort food and quiet mornings feel like grace — sourdough reminds me that slow and steady really is enough.
A Winter Reset at Home: Cleaning Without Pressure, Not Without Peace
One of the ways I’m practicing a winter reset in our home is by changing how I clean.
On days when we’re home — especially during this time of year — I focus on one room at a time. No bouncing from the living room to the laundry room to the next thing calling my name. I stay put. I finish the task. And then I move on. Not perfectly, of course, because there are still 100 interruptions, but I’m trying to be intentional about returning to the same task instead of having about 10 going on at the same time.
There are studies that show when we multi-task things actually take longer. Now I’m still not going to give up my multi-tasking mentality completely, but I really do feel more at peace when I’m not scurrying from the kitchen to the laundry room to the living room with 10 different tasks on my mind. I think the constant motion steals my peace, and remaining true to one task at a time. Such a basic thing, I almost feel silly talking about it, but sometimes we need reminders of the basics.
Pressure doesn’t produce faithfulness — but peace sometimes does.
And speaking of cleaning, today’s video is brought to you by Truly Free.
I’ve been using Truly Free’s all-purpose cleaner in our home because it works without filling the air with harsh chemicals, which really matters during the winter months when we’re inside more, windows are closed, and our immune systems need all the support they can get. It’s effective, smells clean, and aligns with our goal of healthier habits without overcomplicating things.
I’ll leave more information about Truly Free below, but I’m grateful to partner with brands that support simple, mindful living — especially during this reset season. Get 30% off your order with my code HEALINGHOME.
PS – Truly Free has an amazing deal right now on their Peppermint Everyday Cleaner. You can buy 4 and get 6 more FREE, which ends up being $39 with FREE shipping. A truly amazing deal!
Preparing Our Hearts for What’s Next
I’ll be honest — God has been doing some pruning in my heart lately.
And I don’t like it.
He’s been cutting away sin that I’ve grown comfortable with. He’s been exposing areas of pride, control, and self-reliance. And I also sense that He’s preparing me for something new — and something hard — and I don’t love that either.
“For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and chastises every son whom he receives.” Hebrews 12:6, ESV
This is the part of the winter reset we don’t often talk about. The internal work. The sanctification that happens quietly, beneath the surface, like roots growing deeper in colder soil.
God is sovereign. He wastes nothing. And even when the change of seasons feels uncomfortable, we can trust that He is shaping us for His glory and our good — even when it stretches us.
Choosing a Word of the Year: Faithfulness
If you’ve noticed that I’ve used the word faithful a little too much in this blog post and video — that’s intentional.
My word for this year is Faithfulness.
Find more Word of the Year ideas that are faith-based here.
Not success. Not productivity. Not growth. Just faithfulness.
Faithful to what God has already placed in my hands. Faithful to my marriage, my children, our homeschool rhythms — and faithful even if the end of the year doesn’t look the way I imagined.
One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. Luke 6:10, ESV
That’s it. That’s the goal.
Our next homeschool unit is all about Dinosaurs and I’ve created this dinosaur-inspired Bible verses copywork that my kids are doing in the mornings. Check it out here.
Winter Reset Intentions: Choosing Realistic Faithfulness in the Colder Months
As I take down the last of our Christmas decorations — piece by piece, slowly — I’m reminded that winter is not a season for overhauling everything.
It’s a season for leaning in.
Leaning into prayer. Leaning into the Word. Leaning into quiet moments, a cup of tea, enough sleep, fresh air when we can get it, winter walks, and simple ways to care for our families.
This time of year — with darker days and colder weather — is a great time to choose realistic faithfulness over lofty expectations. To let go of constant stimulation and social media noise. To protect our circadian rhythm. To embrace deep rest and quiet mornings as gifts.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, let this be your gentle reminder: the best investment you can make for your family isn’t a perfect winter reset routine — it’s time in prayer and in your Bible.
That’s where true fresh starts begin.
And sometimes, the most faithful thing you can do today… is simply show up.
Don’t forget to pin for later!
