Happy New Year!
Cataloging gratitude for a wonderful 2025.
Good afternoon bread friends. π
Heads up: Iβm not baking bread this weekend.
Iβm continuing to bask in the slow pace of my kidsβ winter break schedule. I can hardly keep track of what day of the week it is... which has been a delightful side effect of winter break. They go back to school next week though, and Iβll be just as delighted to get back to offering bread orders (and Bread Club!) then.
Iβm writing to you on a leisurely January 1st, 2026. Before I started planning for the new year, I decided to sit down and reflect on some of the things Iβm grateful for from 2025. As I sit here, Iβm finding myself a bit flooded with memoriesβ¦ and Iβm going to take that as a cue to catalog a few personal reflections of gratitude from the year.
Quality time with the kids. Both kids explored new after-school activities this past year. Cyrus signed up for singing lessons, and Hannah signed up for basketball and horsemanship classes. Whether or not they pursue these long-term, itβs been wonderful to see them stretch themselves and try something new. Iβm especially grateful that I got to take them to most all of these activities β those 1:1 car chats were some really meaningful quality time this year. π§βπ§
Public speaking. Upon reflection, the various speaking engagements I had this year were a real highlight! From panel conversations about sourdough, to pizza-making classes, to the Kingdom Justice Summit, or presenting at Rotaryβ¦ I consistently noticed that I ended those days more energized rather than less. That observation has me reflecting on what it might look like to intentionally seek out more public speaking opportunities in the year ahead. π‘
Basketball nights. I got to go to several basketball games this year! As a family, weβve been attending more UWβWomenβs games, which are always a blast. But a special highlight was making it to two Bucks games with a friend. Not because the Bucks are having a good moment (they certainly are not)β¦ but because we chose games where we got to see generational talents in person. (Steph & Wemby.) Attending NBA games have proven to be a very reliable way for me to have a great evening. π
Life with Melissa. There are too many great memories with Melissa to recount. Iβm intensely grateful to have a partner that I learn so much from, and who pushes me to keep growing. One standout from this year was establishing a routine of weekly coffee dates. Those have been a highlight to the rhythm of my week this year. Ohβ¦ we even got to do a speaking engagement together at church one night. That was a first for us, and a really special experience! π
Great friendships. There have been so many reminders this year to be thankful that I have good friends. This comes through in the ways that so many people have shown love to my family over the past couple of weeks. But looking back on the year, Iβve been able to travel to visit friends, I had friends travel to visit me, and Iβve got a group of guys who I meet with regularly. Plus Iβve got so many friends who have been generous with their time to catch up, stay in touch, or just be creative together. Itβs such a privilege to have so many friends & good humans in my life to be thankful for. π
Bread & Justice. And of course, the continued growth of this little bakery. 2025 was the first full year operating out of the finished micro-bakery in the basement. I expanded the menu this year... which was made easier thanks to a grant we received. Because of you, Bread & Justice was able to donate $3,433.50 in total profits across 11 different nonprofit organizations in 2025. That doesnβt even include the kind notes from customers who shared that they were inspired to give to some of the same organizations. I truly love running a business that has a tangible, local impact in this way. π₯
Todayβs newsletter was a bit more of a journal entry reflecting on the last year... but I guess itβs just like that sometimes. π€
Thanks for being here.
See you next week with bread!
Cheers,
Mo