A New Year's Message from Melissa
Dearest Community,
By now, you’ve likely seen the usual New Year messages — invitations to reset, set goals, make resolutions, reinvent ourselves...
And while I love a fresh start as much as anyone, today I'm inviting you to hit pause on the resolutions, and take a moment for reflection — not on what needs to change, but on everything you're already doing right.
The care you give. The patience you've found. The quiet strength you've offered. The traditions you've carried. The meals you've prepared for others — all the simple, beautiful ways you already show up for the people you love (and for yourself, too).
There’s so much talk about what to do better next year. But today, I hope you’ll thank yourself for the woman you've already become.
I’m so grateful to be walking alongside this community of strong, thoughtful women. You remind me—over and over again—that showing up with heart matters.
And, I'd love it if you would share with me in the comments below, some of the things — great and small — that you've done beautifully in this past year.
Here’s to carrying that into whatever comes next.
With love,
Melissa
P.S. Click below to find all the recipes from our New Year's Eve grazing table, and be sure to watch our very special year-in-review video!
59 comments
I completed 62% of a master’s program in special education, while teaching full time & single- parenting my extremely amazing neurodivergent son!
2025 provided many challenges for my family. Loss of job, back surgery, my son’s suicide, my husband’s emergency surgery with colostomy – the list goes on… As a bedside nurse for 30 years and no longer to work, I suddenly felt I had no purpose in life. My depression went into a deep dive. One that spiraled deeper than any hand-dug well you could imagine. I tried to crawl out on my own. But each time I fell down I was only deeper. At the end of August, I admitted myself for intensive inpatient mental health therapy at a ranch nearby. I was there for 45 days. It seemed selfish but was the most empowering act I have ever done for myself, my walk with God and my family. One of the more important things I realized was the gift and need for community. To this day, I am building on what I learned and seeking the updated purpose God has for my life.
I spend my retired days volunteering. I believe in giving back for the gift of a wonderful life. I drive a bus for the local hospital. I take patients to appointments and then back home. I also volunteer at the local food pantry. I drive box truck to pick up food that is being donated. I also sort and stack shelves.
I am blessed to still have my 90 year old mother around. I cherish my time with her. God’s blessing to you all! Happy New Year!
In September 2024, I took a spiritual gift test at my church and it revealed that hospitality was my lowest scored gift. It wasn’t because I didn’t like doing it. I was afraid of what people would think and lived in fear. Thus, I never opened my home to others. In Spring 2025, a group of women at church asked me to lead a Bible Study. Based on their availability, my home would have to be the location. Fear set in, but I knew I would be okay. I had to step up & lead. I opened my home to 5 women, offering a safe space, tea and croissants.
Then, I wanted proper mugs for us and future events at my home. A web search began and I discovered Modern Prarie. Thank you for this site.
Melissa, I so enjoy seeing all the beautiful things you ladies are making and selling! One of these days I hope to be able to buy something that I truly love. I also want to say I watched “Little House” always years ago, and now I watch it every day and I have seen many I never got to see before as it is on all the time. I do not miss a day of it! It is like watching a little girl I knew and loved who has turned into a beautiful grown up woman. I just love you as if you were someone I really knew! Thank you for making me a "happy old lady!