Goodbye 2012

As we say our farewell to 2012 and welcome in the new year I cannot help but be thankful. Christmas was a quiet affair this year for us but enjoyed none the less. I took great pride in watching as my grown daughter made great efforts to establish new traditions for her young growing family and delighted that we were able to be a part of those. I delighted that she made many of her gifts herself and she and my grandchildren made all their Christmas candy homemade. It gave me great pride to see the young homemaker and mother she has become and was probably one of the highlights of the season for me.  

As we pack away the lights and take down the decorations I reflect on what a terrible time was predicted by many for this December of 2012 as end of the world predictions flew all over the media for the last year or so. Guess the Mayans got that one wrong. Although things have not been easy this year the world as we know it, good or bad, still exists. We have survived hurricanes, droughts, school shootings and horrible disasters to once again bring in a new beginning to another year. We are thankful for our blessings and mourn deeply for our losses but move on. None know what the future will bring, but for me ,  I will welcome in this new calendar year with hope and faith in my heart.   

The last year has not always been easy for our family. We mourned the loss of our beloved dog Sadie but gained the lives of her two precious puppies Marlowe and Moxie. 

We welcomed a new daughter in law into our lives last month and are expecting a new grandchild from our oldest daughter in April. We also mourned the passing of several old friends. As my husband and I age, many years now are marked by the loss of friends and loved ones. Each passing serving to remind us just how fragile and dear that life really is. Last month we also mourned the loss of a grandchild as another of my sons and his wife lost a baby. Even at my age sometimes these things are just so hard to understand. This wonderful life gone before it ever really had a chance to live. A child wanted so desperately and loved so much. We can only pray for the parents and hope that another blessing will be bestowed on this loving couple. 

But with 2013 also comes good news with the announcement that Baby O has once again won both the local and district Voice of Democracy essay contest. In February she will again journey to Missouri's capitol to compete in the state competition. The prize a $5,000  scholarship. She competed 2 years ago and won 6th place in the state.  We wish her luck again this coming year!

And as for O Wise One and I we will be right here cheering Baby O on in February. We'll  be waiting with open arms to welcome a new grandchild into the world in April. Loving God and each other and waiting....... 

Waiting for those first green crisp asparagus shoots to pop through the cool spring ground......

Waiting for those sweet juicy strawberries warm in the early summer sun.......

Waiting to again hear the hum of bees working those first apple blossoms.......

Waiting for the smell of fresh cut hay ...........

We hope you'll travel along  and we will look for you on that first glorious spring sunrise. We invite you to share our path. A path less taken these days but glorious none the less.  A path of hard work but also of great joy. And at the end of the day weary from hard labor a knowledge and satisfaction of a job well done. A path where nourishment comes not from a shelf but from the land and the animals that land nourishes and supports. Where we provide for ourselves first, live frugally and simply and then share where we can.  

A path like life, of sunrises and sunsets, of seeds and sowing, of pain and joy, of harvests and losses.  

A path of faith...

Faith in God, ourselves, family, humanity and the earth itself. 

We hope you will continue to visit in 2013 and may your new year be safe and blessed. 

  Blessings from The Holler

The Canned Quilter