Wishes, Hopes, Blessings: Bring on 2012

Probably no surprise to learn these two are the biggest thing to happen to me this year.

I just tucked Leo and Ellie in and told them I'd "see them next year." Ellie asked me if it was going to be the Best Year Ever. Leo, meanwhile, was ecstatic. He finally gets to switch the month on the calendar over (well, start the new calendar but you know what I mean). He's been insistent the last week or so that it's January and not December. I can only guess that Mrs. L turned the calendar to January before the class left for winter break. In the meantime, Leo and I have actually been arguing about it. That boy is hard-headed.

But I'm a stickler for details and I absolutely do not put a calendar for the new year up before its time. As I mentioned last year, I'm not big on resolutions. I'm more a fan of sweeping quotes that make you feel good and perhaps help you (try) and live your life in a better way (gee, I don't ask for much, do I?). It's hard to top last year's choice for me. It's still one of my all-time favorites and one I turn to when I'm sad or frustrated or when I just need a little encouragement.

I'm doing things a little differently this year.

It's based on an old Irish blessing. It's wishes and hopes and yes, blessings, which I think we can all use a bit more of in these confusing, fragile, wonderful little lives we lead. Yes, it happened to appear in one of the final scenes of the finale of one of my favorite TV shows of all time (I'm sure it didn't hurt that when I first heard it I was about 100 years pregnant and severely hormonal--sobbing doesn't quite cover it).

May the wind be always at your back
And the sunshine warm upon your face
May the rains fall soft upon your field
Until the day we meet again

And the roof that hangs over your head
Find you shelter from the storm
Before the devil knows you're dead
May you be in heaven my friend

May good luck find you at your worst
And back luck lose you at your best
May your days be rich and full of wealth
And your nights be long when you need rest

And the roof that hangs over your head
Find you shelter from the storm
Before the devil knows you're dead
May you be in heaven my friend

And the road may it rise to meet your feet
And be downhill all the way to your door
May the grass below be green and the sky above be blue
May it be so forever more

And the roof that hangs over your head
Find you shelter from the storm
Before the devil knows you're dead
May you be in heaven my friend

Thanks for hanging in there with us this year. I'm excited to see what 2012 has in store for us.

And as I like to say to the kids: "Let's get this party started!"

Resolutions

I'm not big on New Year's Resolutions. I think I last made them sometime in high school. Lose thirty pounds. Run five times a week. Let's just say those didn't stick.

The sentiment of a fresh start is nice though. And who isn't a proponent of self-improvement?

Something Cate posted a few weeks ago has resonated for me since I read it (that's a good thing). I can't think of better resolutions than the ones she shared. By the way this is sometimes attributed to Mother Theresa but apparently it's debatable. The Roches also do a wonderful musical of rendition of this too.

People are often unreasonable, illogical,
and self-centered;
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, People may accuse you
of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some
false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank,
people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone
could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness,
they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today,
people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have,
and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis,
it is between you and God;
It was never between you and them anyway.

This is another one of those passages I would just like to tattoo on my arm so I don't forget it. I just want to live it. This year, I'm really going to try.


It's been quite a memorable final week of 2010 for us, what with that little snow storm. I have a feeling 2011 is going to be quite remarkable too.

From our house to yours, a very, very Happy New Year!