Hmmm . . .

 

What can be said in New Year rhymes, 

That’s not been said a thousand times?

 The new years come, the old years go, 

We know we dream, we dream we know. 

We rise up laughing with the light, 

We lie down weeping with the night.

 We hug the world until it stings, 

We curse it then and sigh for wings. 

We live, we love, we woo, we wed, 

We wreathe our brides, we sheet our dead. 

We laugh, we weep, we hope, we fear, 

And that’s the burden of the year. 

~Ella Wheeler Wilcox 

In many ways I am so grateful to be able to turn the page of last year onto a clean fresh page for this year. Last year was a year embroidered with heartache, but there were also a great many pockets of joy scattered throughout it, and many, many blessings. 

Yesterday we spent some time taking down Christmas.  Todd he would have had it all down on Boxing Day. Myself, mom always took everything down on New Years day. We compromised and it all came down on New Years Eve day.  There wasn't much really to come down. Our decorations were definitely under-stated this year.  Very minimalistic.  Done, dusted and put away in less than half an hour to be honest. 

 

Doug and the boys bringing in the New Year in style. 

I have a lot to look forward to this year.  This will be the year I turn 65.  When I was 25 that seemed to be so far away.  But look  . . .  I blinked!  I will be 65 in August and hopefully be able to get my old age security.  They say you need to apply for it at least six months before hand, so I best get cracking on that one. 

We were in bed by 9:30 last night. We are so hopeless when it comes to staying up. I haven't truly rung in a New Year in years!  I actually never slept much last night at all and did hear and see the fireworks at midnight.  Some nights are just like that. 

 

I am not one much for resolutions.  I know myself far too well for that.  I have never met a resolution that I didn't soon break.  Instead I think of things I'd like to do, and hopefully at this time in 2021 (God willing I'm still here) I will have at least glanced upon some of them. 

This year I want to do more crafts, write more for myself, really dig into my scriptures, walk more, eat a bit healthier, or maybe even a lot healthier.   But not today  . . .  I have two lovely rib-eyes sitting in the refrigerator oggling me.  And I am definitely oggling them back!  Not traditional I know, mom always did a ham.  This year I am bucking tradition and going for something completely new. We are having steak, baked potato and a Caesar salad.  End of.  No dessert. We've indulged more than enough over the past few weeks.  

 

We have April to look forward to.  This is going to be a HUGE month this year. Not only are my oldest son and daughter going to be here to spend most of it with, but it also marks the 200th year since Joseph Smith's first vision and the General Conference of our church in April, we have been warned, is going to be different and amazing.  There have already been so many changes in the way we do things over the past couple of years, I am excited to see what comes next.  

WATCH THIS


I can't wait!  I have already warned my kids.  We will give them some money to go out and have a dinner on us if they aren't interested in watching it with us.

 

I want to continue on my road to minimising and casting off the things weighing me down.  Which thankfully is mostly just "stuff" and somewhat easy to get rid of.    But not as easy as one would suppose, especially if you are a sentimentalist like myself.  I tend to attach feelings to a lot of things that I own. (and that I eat for that matter!)  

I want to paint more this year. I want to walk more. I want to write more. I want to study more. I want to get out and about a bit more. I want to be better prepared for Christmas.  I want to be better prepared for what lays ahead. I want to help others more.  Use less plastic. Lower my carbon footprint.  All worthy goals I think.   I want to be more "present."  (If that makes sense.) I want to do more family history.  Go to the Temple more.  Be more brave and less afraid.

So anyways, Happy New Year to all of you.  I hope you have a good year filled with good health and lots of the things you love.  I hope you manage to achieve some of your goals in the coming months.  I hope you have many, many days filled with love and with joy. 

That's it for now.  I'm off to cuddle my dog. 

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★
 *It is no bad thing 

to celebrate a simple life.

~J R Tolkien•。★★ 。* 。  

  

In The English Kitchen today, Crispy Garlic & Parmesan Potatoes.  Yummy! 

Hope your first day of 2020 is a good one!  Don't forget! 

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And I do too!