Ushering in 2026

 Sault Ste. Marie is one of our happy places, and we have discovered that we're still happy to be here in the winter! It all started when Nellie sent us a photo of the seasonal coffees at Superior Cafe, which sparked an idea that we could come up over break, which came to fruition about a week ago when we jumped in and decided to go for it. What we didn't know was that there would be a blizzard the day before we came up and a winter storm warning lasting our entire trip. I'm not sure I've ever seen so much snow! We are loving it.

On the agenda: Superior Cafe (of course) for coffee and homework/reading/work, snowshoeing, dinner out at Cozy Corners, hunting, games, puzzles, resting, playing in the snow, watching freighters, seeing our UP family. So far, so good!

Our year held some big momentous events (Nellie graduated and started college! We took some family trips that were both familiar and epic. We struggled through some big losses. We started to heal. We were reminded of what's important.) and a collection of a bazillion mundane ones. I'm delighted to celebrate it and welcome the next in this place with these people!

Our New Year celebration included most of the usual things - Spoons, appetizers, fireworks and sparklers and trying to stay up until midnight. But new this year were Fishbowl (thanks Mustaphas!), a Wernet-trivia Jeopardy game (thanks Nellie!), Pin the Anchor on the Crane (my own design ☺) and the absolute craziest and best part - attending the "Anchor Drop" in downtown Sault Ste. Marie! It was very cold and required bundling up at 11:30 for the short drive downtown, but totally worth it.

Family photo with the esteemed anchor

It's hard to see in this daytime photo, but Annie was the clear winner.

Jeopardy! Eddie and I dominated the family trivia.

Just a pretty afternoon photo of the river

Kevin and Schuyler did some hunting...

...while we were busy in the coffee shop

"Quick, gimme those, I think I saw an eagle in Canada!"

Paul R. Tregurtha - we had to stay up until 1am after we got here to see it!

We arrived very late.

It wouldn't be a Wernet family New Year celebration without me forcing family reflection on the year and goals for the next. I'm sure they secretly love it.

I'll start! Though a lot of this year just kind of felt like a grind, there were SO MANY wonderful experiences. Our Florida trip, backpacking, and trips up north were just delightful times together and we had lots of mini-adventures. A couple of highlights for me were visiting Sugar Island for the first time and getting lost in the woods on South Manitou Island and pressing on in the direction we thought we should go. It was intense (as it should be when you're camping, haha) and there was infinite but the moment we came out of the woods and landed on the trail was a happy relief! Another highlight was Nellie's open house. Those are some stressful memories, too, but I was overwhelmed by people showing up on a million-degree day celebrate with us, and a lot of people helped out even thought I didn't think I needed it and I really really did.☺ I'm committing to more prayer and gratitude and helping our family have more intentional time together.

DJ's favorite memories were hanging out with friends. He wants to get a better vertical.

Nellie's highlights were the Florida trip and backpacking, particularly the long hike out to the dunes. Her goals for 2026 are to read the whole Bible, run a 5K, be willing to confront issues without procrastinating, and be a peacemaker. 

Eddie: Mom acting as the Grinch during Fishbowl. But also, the day at Busch Gardens over spring break. His commitment for next year is to end world hunger!

Annie's favorite memories were the Florida trip, trying out track for the first time and going to states, playing Annie in Annie, turning 16 and being able to drive, and going to Aunt Pam's lake this summer. She doesn't really "do" New Year's resolutions but she wants to persevere in the right things and say "no" to things when needed.

Mary's favorites for 2025 are every trip we went on and our New Year's Eve party! She wants to commit to reading all the books she has stacked up to read.

Kevin has lots of showstopper memories: Florida trip, 4th of July trip to the U.P., staying in Grand Rapids with Nellie, the golf weekend with John and Alex, great hunting trips (including a turkey and two deer!), getting a puppy, when he volunteered Annie to sing the national anthem spontaneously, and watching how much the kids have grown in athletics and leadership. His goals are intentional, relentless, obnoxious positivity and to be manlier.