LAND OF HOPES AND DREAMS...SAY HELLO TO 2018

"Land of Hope and Dreams"

 is a 1999 song written by Bruce Springsteen

and performed by 

Springsteen and the E Street Band.

This, I decided, would be my mantra for 2018!

Mantras are melodic phrases with spiritual interpretations 

such as a human longing for truth, reality, light,

 immortality, peace, love, 

knowledge, and action.

Some mantras have no literal meaning, 

yet are musically uplifting and spiritually meaningful.

As I am a child of the 60's, this all seemed good to me.....

So we say hello, to the first day of a brand new year!

The last day of 2017 was a cold one here in Texas....

while organizing recipes, I took time to indulge in hot chocolate.....

And....yes, we started the morning with snow flurries!

We celebrated December 31, 2017

with homemade Lasagna and a decadent Chocolate Cake!

Both were amazing!!!!

We are now scattered as a family...

Rob was with friends down in Austin, Miss M and her family

celebrated together over in Atlanta and

Nick attended the Country Club New Year's Soiree down in Midland.

Greg and Jenn toasted in the New Year with the oldies but goodies...

which would be the darling and me...he's the oldie and I'm the goodie!

I feel rather sad sometimes to take down the calender for a year

we have now said goodbye to...never to see again....hopefully

the most were made of your days....

we are all now fresh and new to begin again.......

And before I knew it.....I was given a gift to begin the day....

this beautiful Cardinal landed right outside our window....

all puffed up to ward off the winter wind....

Shortly afterward....I received this picture from Nick down in Midland....

this was HIS gift for the first day of 2018....how beautiful....how magical!

Mae Mobley found a sun puddle......all is right in her world right now..... 

So, as I am sitting here munching away on Champagne Gummie Bears...

I have promised myself to BE....BE in the moment,,,,in the present....

keep moving...learn something new...and enjoy every moment of life

that is given....how about you?

It's the land of HOPES AND DREAMS....I plan to make it a good one!