I'm delighted to share these joyful photos of Tallie and me—courtesy of my talented friend, photographer Haley Turner. She gave us a really fun Christmas photo shoot, and also captured several professional images I’ll use on my website and for speaking engagements. I hope the pictures give you a warm little window into my life this year.

As we close 2025, I’d love to share an update on the rhythms, work, and ministry God has allowed me to experience.
Thank you for taking a few moments to journey with me.

This year I’ve been grateful for a slower pace—traveling less, working from home, and settling into simple, grounding rhythms. My early morning coffee, daily neighborhood walks with Tallie, chats with my wonderful neighbors, and tending to my little garden have helped me “make it my ambition to live a peaceful and quiet life.” These routines have been both restful and restoring.

While Tallie fills most of my free time, I’ve also been an avid Caitlin Clark fan! My neighbors have encouraged my newfound basketball enthusiasm—gifting me a #22 shirt to go with the jersey, hat, and other gear I have enjoyed collecting.

Hosting out-of-town visitors has been a highlight of the year and often gives me the perfect excuse to enjoy the music, food, and charm of Nashville all over again. If you ever pass through, I’d love to share a little slice of Music City with you.

I brought home tiny puppy Tallie in September 2023, and these past two years with her have been a daily source of joy. Her little personality has matured, her devotion has deepened, and God continually uses my relationship with her to illuminate His tenderness and patience with me. I’ve been jotting down stories and reflections—hoping to shape them into a book someday.

One of our big milestones this year was Tallie earning her AKC Canine Good Citizenship credential in May! It was such a proud moment. This certification signifies her ability to obey, be appropriately friendly, navigate crowds and strange noises, and have good manners in public settings. Our wonderful trainer recently relocated to Tallie’s groomer/daycare location just a few minutes from home, giving us a small but rich community of dog-loving friends who train together, walk, and cheer one another on.

Tallie is now preparing for the more extensive therapy dog certification through Nashville Therapy Pets. My hope is to volunteer weekly at places like the airport, children’s hospitals, libraries, college campuses, and assisted living facilities. This work blends everything I love—compassion, presence, and the chance to offer a gentle testimony of God’s love to people who may need it most.

For fun and exercise, I introduced Tallie to agility racing, and she has excelled. Watching her joyfully sprint through tunnels, leap over poles, and then turn with a hopeful “Did you see that? Treat, please?” face is one of my favorite parts of the week.

I’m deeply grateful for this season of working from home and partnering with people and ministries I love. My work continues to center on three primary areas:

1. Private Counseling
I meet virtually with missionaries as well as clients across the U.S., specializing in anxiety, OCD, identity and faith questions, relational conflict, and emotional resilience. It’s an honor to walk with individuals as they discover freedom, healing, and hope.
(If you know someone seeking a Christ-centered counselor, feel free to send them my way.)

2. East Maryville Baptist Church – Lay Counseling Ministry
Directing this ministry allows me to train and equip a team of volunteer counselors—an incredibly meaningful part of my work. Investing in others who want to bring biblical encouragement and support to their church community has been a joy.

3. Peace Pursuit International
This ministry remains a major part of my life. My work includes virtual trainings, speaking at conferences, consulting with mission leaders, developing resources, and creating everything from videos and graphics to apps, translations, and teaching materials. These trainings equip church teams and missionaries worldwide to walk in peace, resolve conflict, and cultivate spiritual and relational health.

I also had the privilege of speaking at several conferences, retreats, and on various podcasts this year—something I continue to really appreciate and enjoy.
(If you want to listen to some of the podcast interviews, just visit the “EVENTS” page of this website and scroll through the links.)

If you’re considering making a tax-deductible donation before year-end, I would be truly grateful if you would prayerfully consider supporting Peace Pursuit.

We continue to receive global requests for translated resources, digital training materials, conflict-resolution tools, and support for teams facing relational stress. Our small team spends most of our energy doing the ministry—which means fundraising often takes a back seat. But this year, we genuinely need an increase in financial support to continue.

Your gift would help us:
• Continue to provide training resources for missionaries
• Translate materials for pastors and church leaders around the world
• Develop a new collection of resources: Peace Pursuit for Kids & Families 
• Revamp our digital video course as a training for lay counselors

Even a small gift makes a meaningful difference, and larger gifts would help propel these new initiatives forward. If you’d like to learn more, I’d be glad to talk about it any time.
Please consider supporting the ministry HERE.

Although I traveled less overall, 2025 still held some memorable trips. The highlight was celebrating my parents’ 50th wedding anniversary with a group trip through Europe. We visited Amsterdam, Brussels, Bruges, Paris, Basel, several stops along the Rhine River, and even explored Iceland’s Golden Circle. It still feels unreal when I list it all out.

Earlier in the year, I joined a group vacation in Mexico, celebrated my birthday in Jacksonville, and throughout 2025 my work carried me to Minnesota, Pigeon Forge, Kentucky, a Tennessee State Park, North Carolina, and even Tajikistan. Today, I’m writing this letter from Iowa, where I’ll celebrate Thanksgiving and both of my grandmothers’ birthdays. I’ll finish the year in Nashville, hosting my parents and enjoying Christmas festivities, great food, and a classic Christmas concert with Amy Grant and Vince Gill.

Thank you for reading, praying, supporting, referring, and caring in all the ways you do. Your presence in my life—whether personal, professional, or ministry-related—is a blessing from God, and I’m grateful for you.

Merry Christmas, and may the JOY of Christ be unmistakably near to you this season and into the new year.

With love and gratitude,
Janeen and Tallie