Elevation
As 2025 drew to an end and 2026 came roaring in I found myself in deep reflection over all that has happened, the current status, and what’s next. 2025 wasn’t the best and was filled with what seemed to be non-stop trials so when 2026 was about to arrive I felt this need for calm, for peace, for quiet. I chose to stream Fortnite (yes, I play Fortnite and now am a Twitch Affiliate Streamer) until the new year... you know start the year doing something I love.
At the new year’s service at my church, Change Church, Senior Pastor Daniels gave the word for the year, 2025, (the word for the church) which was Anchored. Now this instantly spoke to me because firstly it reminded me of my dad (a fisherman) and made me think of grounding, foundation. As my father was also a mason, I know the value and the importance of a good foundation. I took this word and wove into everything. Anchored. Anchored in faith, Anchored with God, Anchored... making sure that at the root, the hub of everything was my faith and the God in whom I have faith.
I started to look at everything, my home, my business, the product lines, me. Was I reflecting who and where I was. Was I trying to walk with God while keeping a foot in the secular for sales (sales that never happened). Was I trying to follow the path others placed before me or was I following God. I was all over the place, just a mess. Am I better now, yes better but still not perfect. I know I will not always get it right but the biggest thing I learned in 2025 is who I can go to when I get it wrong, and when it all goes right. I found my foundation. I got Anchored y’all.
Was this Anchoring process easy, no way. Was it how I expected it to be, NO WAY! Yea I am emphasizing that ‘no way’ on purpose because what I experienced in 2025 was beyond anything I could have ever planned for or imagined. My world crumpled beneath me; I lost nearly everything. God let that previously built and not anchored in and with him, foundation crumble. At times it seemed as though I had lost everything. The no’s were coming at every angle, I could not fit in anywhere (no community), I had felt abandoned by people who I never thought would turn on me. I had been through it all. Electricity turned off, no water, Wi-Fi (only means of communication and working) shut off, fridge empty, body breaking down.
BUT as December rolled things hit an all time low, it was the anniversary of the day I walked out of that company, the day I thought my life can only get better from here, the day I thought I am free, that I really broke. My spirit just felt so heavy. I remember waking up sobbing and bawling sporadically throughout the day. I felt like a failure. I felt as if I was exactly as those negative, toxic people had said... a failure. I wanted to give up. Honestly, I think I did. That’s when it all changed. I remember reaching out to a cousin telling her that I hadn’t slept and that I was scared to sleep because I might not wake up. That’s what I mean about gave up on myself. I felt as though if I fell asleep, I would not wake myself up but its not me that wakes me up everyday is it? I fell asleep that night and I woke up. I woke up. I woke up even though it wasn’t my plan to do so. I woke up. That is how I know and am 100% sure that there is a God and that His plans and purpose far exceed anything I have. Waking up showed me so much, things started to happen all around me... disagreements, disfunction and for once I was not involved. God was exposing in 2025. He showed me who I can lean on, who I can trust and who I need to build my foundation on and with, HIM. God was the one constant in my 2025, even when I doubted and questioned. He was here. Even when I was angry and didn’t give Him the time that he deserved, He was still here. How do I know this, I am still here.
2025, while it may have been the worst year of my life, God kept me through it, brought me into a new year. During the deep reflection, I was trying to determine what I wanted my 2026 to be (not plans but more on an energy level), Elevation kept popping in my head. So, that is my word for 2026, ELEVATION. Not just for Butterfly Crochet & Crafts, but for me, Shaneeka. Elevating in all areas. Elevating my relationship with God, my relationship with myself and the love I have for all. Elevating as the Founder and Artist of BC&C. Elevating the business from conception to production. We spent 2025 laying (or letting God lay) the foundation, now we, together with God (our CEO) can start building. Taking things to a higher level. Not just forward but upward. ELEVATION.