Sally Gerard

First mountain snow shoe trip of the season with Elaine. Second…

Even typing that new year in my title makes me think I better do something spectacular and soon. Last year is over and I didn’t accomplish half of what I set out to. But I am optimistic. The Christmas lights and tree will remain up for a while to remind me about what is important, and to inspire me to be the person I was created to be.

I did so some reading on some different resolutions from realbuzz.com:

“It’s easy to get into a rut where we do the same things day in, day out, with our days passing us by as a routine-filled blur. Next year, spice up your routine by vowing to do one small thing differently each day or week. Wear something you wouldn’t normally wear, run a different route, or order a different coffee perhaps. Also, don’t fall into the trap of postponing your happiness by saving everything special “for best”. Instead, brighten up a routine day every so often by donning your diamond earrings, swapping faded comfy knickers for your favorite silk underwear, or eating those fancy chocolates washed down with a glass of champagne!”

Many of our resolutions (these included) are inwardly focused, concentrating on ways to become thinner, healthier, wealthier people. However, while there is nothing wrong with improving yourself, it’s worth remembering there’s a whole world out there too. Next year, why not make a resolution to focus outwards instead and help make the world a better place. Plan to do one nice thing a day for someone else; whether it’s something small like giving a compliment, or something potentially life-saving like donating blood or sponsoring a child in need. By knowing you are making a difference, you will also indirectly boost your own happiness and sense of achievement.”

It is hard to believe another year is coming rapidly to a close. My head is spinning from all the action of the last ten days! Time with friends and family is precious and we’ve been blessed with so much.

Wind and blowing snow brought us back home Christmas night to the blessing of a warm home. We are fortunate to have found love together. We are blessed to have loving family. We are honored to cherish deep and rich friendships. The sunrise still takes our breath away.

The Christmas lights, the smell of our tree and the ornaments-each one special, and the shiny tinsel bring peace and calm and I think about my two baby boys who both loved to stare up into the lights on the tree when they were tiny and it mesmerized them. What is it about Christmas time that lifts our spirits and reminds us that our differences don’t matter?

As they say: we need to go to the balcony together to be able to look down and see that we really all want the same things, that we all love and hurt, that we are all ‘others’ to someone, and that we can embrace our differences and sit across the table in communion even so. If God is for us, who can be against?

Cold is moving in, but only for a short time. My fingers reminded me of why I like to have hand warmers in my gloves when I feed on cold mornings. But I love the pre-dawn crisp and the rosy hue announcing the coming sun, and the steamy breath of cattle and horse, and the way my tractor putts along.

The bulls can get too comfortable all bedded down, and take their meandering time getting to the hay. Horses, on the other hand, are lined up and ready to sink their muzzles into the nearest pile of sweet green hay! I love to watch the stars pulling the lightening sky cover over their heads until dark comes again, and the sound of heavy frost crunching under my boots.

And I think of Cathy on this day; she would have been 52.