The New Year

A new year is upon us and new reasons to lift yourself to a new level. Throughout the past year, I have spoken of making change now. To start a new path and not to wait around for the right opportunity. The sun has dawned on a new day and chapter in your life.

The poet Edith Lovejoy Pierce wrote, "We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day." On this the first day of the year, let us all take the opportunity to write a new future for those around us, for our community, for our children and for ourselves.

It all begins now, so take hold and experience a greater life. Have a happy and great new year.

Family

During my time off this week, it brings to mind things that I am thankful for. Things and people that have been a large reason in explaining who I am. In large part, my mother, father and siblings help make me the person I am today.

All of us have family and it is an easy thing to be thankful for. For me, being the second youngest of seven children allowed me to watch the older ones. Learning by their failures or success is something that I did all along. Through the death of a sister, to all of the many things that happen within a family, each of us have stuck together.

My parents are well into retirement and enjoying their lives and life together the way they want. As parents, I'm sure they understand how much they've meant to all of us kids but we'll never feel thankful enough. Not perfect parents but perfect for me as I've come to understand that we do the best we can in raising children and in living our lives.

To my sister and brothers, thank you for helping me through many of the tough times that I've had. It was with your support that really pulled me through those times. I'll always be one to give credit to each of you for helping form the person that I am now. As I go through my life, remembering each of you with gratitude and love will always remain.

To my readers, in some form you each have a family that raised you. There are many different stories, many different types and many levels of satisfaction with ones family. Yet you should find it in your heart to remember family at this time of year. Be safe and healthy during the holiday celebrations.

Christmas

All of us have our favorite Christmas hymns, this is mine. Have a wonderful and safe holiday.

O Holy Night - J.S.Dwight & A.C.Adam, 19th Century

O holy night,
the stars are brightly shining;
It is the night of
our dear Savior's birth!

Long lay the world
in sin and error pining,
Till He appeared
and the soul felt its worth.

A thrill of hope,
the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks
a new and glorious morn.

Fall on your knees,
O hear the angel voices!
O night divine,
O night when Christ was born!
O night divine, O night,
O night divine!

Led by the light
of Faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts
by His cradle we stand.

So led by light of a star
sweetly gleaming,
Here came the wise men
from Orient land.

The King of Kings
lay thus in lowly manger,
In all our trials
born to be our Friend!

He knows our need,
To our weakness no stranger;
Behold your King!
Before the lowly bend!
Behold your King! your King!
before Him bend.

Truly He taught us
to love one another;
His law is love and
His gospel is peace.

Chains shall He break
for the slave is our brother
And in His name
all oppression shall cease.

Sweet hymns of joy in
grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us
praise His holy name!

Christ is the Lord,
Oh praise His name forever,
His pow'r and glory evermore proclaim
His pow'r and glory
evermore proclaim.

Merry Christmas

“Somehow, not only for Christmas but all the long year through, the joy that you give to others is the joy that comes back to you. And the more you spend in blessing the poor and lonely and sad, the more of your heart's possessing returns to you glad.” - John Greenleaf Whittier

For anyone celebrating this time of year, all the best to you, your families and friends. It will be a chance to renew yourself, to let the worry and stress of life be set aside for a short while. Let your world relax for a few moments.

• Afrikaans - Gesëende Kersfees
• Czech - Prejeme Vam Vesele Vanoce a stastny Novy Rok
• Danish - Glædelig Jul
• English - Merry Christmas
• Esperanto - Gajan Kristnaskon
• Finnish - Hyvää Joulua
• French - Joyeux Noël
• German - Froehliche Weihnachten
• Greek - Kala Christouyenna
• Hawaiian - Mele Kalikimaka
• Irish Nollaig - Shona Dhuit
• Italian - Buon Natale or Buone Feste Natalizie
• Japanese - Shinnen omedeto. Kurisumasu Omedeto
• Korean - Sung Tan Chuk Ha
• Latin - Natale hilare
• Lithuanian - Linksmu Kaledu
• Norwegian - God Jul
• Polish - Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia
• Portuguese - Feliz Natal
• Russian - Srozhdestovm Kristovim
• Spanish - Feliz Navidad
• Swahili - Kuwa na Krismasi njema
• Tagalog - Maligayang Pasko
• Thai - Suksun Wan Christmas
• Vietnamese - Chuc Mung Giang Sinh
• Welsh - Nadolig Llawen