Happy New Year!

Have a safe and spectacular New Year's Eve!

Enjoy Every Second and Dream of What Will Be!

Emily Dickinson put it best:

We turn not older with years,

but newer every day!

That's some good stuff to kiss the old one goodbye,

and open your arms to a new one!

Can I be Frank?

A beautiful reminder from Anne Frank:

How wonderful it is

that nobody need wait

a single moment

before starting

to improve the world.

You're welcome!

Ends and Beginnings

As one year comes to an end,
and as we usher in a new one,
it is a time of resolutions.

A clean slate, if you will,

to reinvent, reinvigorate,

or reimagine yourself.

A fresh page to write

the story that you'd like.

An opportunity

to find little positives

in every day.

Don't be so hard on yourself.

We all stumble.

We all make mistakes.

And when we fall ...

we rise again.

And as one year ends ...

a new one starts.

And so it is with you.

Hey there, Sunshine

No author noted.
No need.

Stay close to people

who feel

like sunshine.

Practice

It takes time
and much practice
to learn to tune out
the loud opinions around you
and listen to
the quiet beating
of your own heart.

~ E. Layne

Merry Christmas

Linus, man! Linus!

And there were in the same country

shepherds abiding in the field,

keeping watch over their flock by night.

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them,

and the glory of the Lord shone round about them,

and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them,

Fear not

for behold, I bring you

good tidings of great joy,

which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day

in the city of David, a Savior,

which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you.

Ye shall find the baby

wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel

a multitude of the heavenly host praising God,

and saying,

Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace,

good will toward men.

And though this came from so much more,

it is a warm and comforting memory 

to simply think back to this beautiful scene

and smile.

Hope

So a dear, old friend, who recently lost a sibling,
shared a post she'd written years ago and
there were a few words that immediately caught my attention.
They were weighing on me ever since, until I had a moment,
and then ...

Hope

by Lyn Marinello

The Christmas lights are twinkling

but I'm struggling to cope

Adrift in a sea of festive faces

I seem to have misplaced my hope

The carolers are singing

I trudge along mired in mope

I cannot shake the worldly weight

I've truly disconnected from my hope

The skaters jump and twirl

The sledders race down every slope

And in the midst of this jubilance

I simply cannot find my hope

Off to church I went

my pant knees all thread bare

Head bowed, hands folded tightly

I was fervently in prayer

Jeremiah 29:11

His plans He did declare

I felt the tiniest of sparks

and continued in my prayer

Within the book of Romans

Instead of searching for what's fair

We rejoice within our sufferings

and are thankful in our prayer

All at once its brilliance came to me

Christ's unwavering love in full kaleidoscope

Seek not joy in tangible things

But in Jesus' Christmas gift of hope

I sure hope that the friend who inspired this,

not only sees it,

but understands I tried my best to capture your message.

Love you