The New Year is going to be a fresh start if you start off FRESH

    Here it is already almost a year ago that we were deciding what we were going to do DIFFERENTLY to make a positive difference in the coming New Year.

   Did you fulfill your New Year's Resolutions?

   It's time to sit down and really think about it before you make your resolutions for the New Year.

   Don't make a resolution that is just SO UNREALISTIC that you are setting yourself up for failure before the New Year even begins.

   Find a quiet place to reflect back on everything that has happened this year.

  Is there anything that you wish you could change?

  Is there anything that you wish you would have done differently?

  Is there anything that you know that you personally COULD and are WILLING to do differently?

  Remember that whatever didn't work for you this year won't work next year. 

  So don't bring it with you into the New Year if you want a FRESH START. 

  HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE. 

  

  

   

  

  

What is your favorite Christmas memory?

   As you think about this question it brings up memories that were buried deep in your mind.

  We all have an endless amount of memories hidden in our minds.

  Unless they are triggered by something they will never be remembered.

  At first I was thinking about memories of this Christmas, then before you know it I was traveling back years even decades.

  As I relived old memories it was astonishing how clearly I could remember the memories that I had forgotten.

   Although I had forgotten them in reality I had not forgotten them at all. 

  I just couldn't see them because they were buried so deep in my mind.

  That is why it is important to be with those we love and sit and have small talk to trigger the memories out from hiding.

  Otherwise you can't ENJOY the SPECIAL MEMORIES.

  Take a moment to call to connect with those you love and you will trigger MANY memories that you both can ENJOY.

  If you want to remember you have to go digging for the buried treasure of memories that are hidden right in your mind.

  

Staying warm and cozy inside

   It sure has been a cold chilly Christmas season filled with joy.

  Everyone I talked to stayed home inside today to stay warm and cozy as they were reminiscing about all the memories they created with family and friends.

  There was plenty of leftovers to heat up to warm us up as we stayed in our pajamas all day. 

  Someone made us containers of homemade fudges and a variety of cookies that I have been enjoying more than they could imagine.

  It's rare to get homemade cookie platters these days. Thank You for sharing your goodies with my family.

  We have had time today to relax and enjoy the memories of our Christmas family gathering and be thankful for the memories.

  I already have a plan for something special to do different next year that I learned from watching all the videos that others have posted of holiday games they played. 

 Tomorrow it's time to get out and get some errands done no matter how cold it is outside, they have to get done.

  While I am out I can't resist so I am going to stop by a couple stores to get some after Christmas sales. 

  When you start making your New Year's Resolutions make sure you are realistic about what you will do so you don't set your sights too high to achieve.

  Realistically you can only do what you can do.

  

A severe winter storm is upon us

   Not even the fact that it is Christmas Time can stop the dangerous winter storm from rolling in. 

   You may have planned on doing a few last minute shopping but this Storm is too dangerous to go out and get anything.

  Staying safe is the only present any of us need to gift to each other. 

  You can easily shorten your list of a few side dishes because your safety and staying comfortably warm is what matters most.

  If you have to travel in this winter storm don't put yourself in danger by rushing to get anywhere fast.

   Just go at a safe pace so you get there safely even though you will get there later then you had planned.

  Make sure to cover your outdoor plants and bring inside your pets to keep them WARM as this winter storm bares down upon us as it passes through.

   Wishing Merry Christmas to everyone and cheers to a happy New Year. 

   

 

  

Experience takes learning from your mistakes

   Wisdom doesn't come by just getting old. 

   Wisdom is what you earned as you learned how to do it by adjusting as you go through your Life's Journey.

   You are not born knowing everything, in fact you are born knowing nothing and you learn as you go through life.

   If you don't ask the questions you have than you won't ever get the answers you need.

   Keep in mind that if you are not honest with yourself then you are lying to yourself.

   And honestly if you don't admit that you made a mistake you can't learn from your mistakes which isn't wise.

  A wise man learns from his mistakes and the mistakes of others. 

  Be HONEST and admit when you make a mistake so you can have the wisdom to not repeat it.

   A mistake happens once because if you repeat it then it is a habit you need to break.

It definitely feels like CHRISTMAS ⛄

   Can you believe that we are Just six days away from CHRISTMAS? 

   Time sure flies.

   The bright colors make it so cheerful and spread the HOLLY JOLLY feeling everywhere. 

  All the presents are wrapped and they decorate the entire room making it so festive looking.

   The last minute things are finally done, now it's time to relax and take a moment to let the HOLLY JOLLY FEELING bring a smile to your face.

  I found a few ways to do some little games, like one with a GIFT in a box that look the same yet one has a special gift inside.

   I am going to line them down the middle of the dining table runner to not only decorate the table but give them a few moments while they are eating to decide which one the special gift is in.

  They will each pick one starting with the oldest then wait to open it at the same time.

  No one will be disappointed because each one has a gift they each will ENJOY. Just adding a touch of excitement while decorating the Christmas Dinner Table. 

  Remember the REASON for the SEASON is to spend time together with those you LOVE. 

  We are heading out to drive around so we can see all the Christmas lights people put on their houses for OTHERS to enjoy. 

  And trust you everyone appreciates that you took the time to put them out for everyone to enjoy. THANK YOU and MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU.

 

What exactly is in your closet?

   I was looking for something I needed all over the house.

   I was trying to finish up my Christmas present wrapping and I knew I had bought something yet it wasn't anywhere in the bags of Christmas gifts.

  I had to give up looking and get what I did have around me wrapped.

  After everything else was wrapped and tucked around the Christmas tree, I knew I had to look one more time for the gift I still hadn't found.

  I ended up back looking in my closet because although it shouldn't have been buried deep in a space that you couldn't see, I wouldn't know unless I removed things and looked.

  Although it was a small cheap gift it was something that I bought special for someone who is special to me.

 Way in the back behind a box was a gift that I lost last year but never found.

  Then I found one of my favorite shirts that had apparently fell off the hanger landing in the dark corner in the closet out of sight. 

  Finally I found the bag that held the special gift I had been looking for.

  In the end having to look way in the dark corner of my closet led me to find buried treasure hidden right in front of me yet I couldn't see it.

  

  

You won't find it unless you look for it

    You may not see it if you don't look for it.

   It is not always obvious but that doesn't mean it is not right in front of you. 

   It is not always exactly what you think it should be but that doesn't mean that it is not exactly what you need.

   You may not realize what you really need because all you look for is what you think you should have.

   It may be that you already have what you need you just don't know it.

   You won't appreciate what you have unless you stop to look at what you have and appreciate it.

  Stop looking at what other people may have and think you should have it too.

  Being surrounded by those you love is way more satisfying than to be surrounded by material things that don't matter at all.

 The simple things in life are the things that matters the most. 

  Spending time with those you love are the most treasured moments that you will ever have.

   As Christmas time is almost here remember the reason for the season is to spend time together not spend money you don't have buying anyone things they don't need.

   

Overthinking can make it overwhelming

    It may have started out as a small problem but before you know it you have a big problem on your hands.

   Like the old saying says... Anyone can make a MOUNTAIN out of a MOLE HILL if they keep ADDING DIRT.

  Overthinking it can make it too Overwhelming, making a SIMPLE problem too COMPLICATED to solve.

  Accepting that there will be bumps along your Life's Journey, will allow you to ignore it and go around them to  keep moving forward.

   If you keep a painful memory fresh on your mind by thinking about it over and again, it will continue to hurt you. 

  JUST FLUSH IT OUT OF YOUR MIND to stop it from hurting you over and over again.

  You may not have had a choice to prevent it from hurting you the first time but you can choose to not keep thinking about it and let it hurt you again and again.

  LIFE is not always easy but you definitely don't have to make it any harder than it has to be.

  If you want PEACE OF MIND you have to JUST FLUSH IT OUT OF YOUR MIND SO PEACE OF MIND has ROOM to get in.

  

A secret Santa gift that will make their life brighter

   Have you ever known that a family needed HELP but they would be embarrassed to take any kind of HELP?

  There have been times where I am able to HELP in some small way by leaving things outside their home.

  My favorite memory of doing that was when I left a bicycle outside for the child of a family I wanted to HELP for them to find.

  Every time I saw them outside riding the bicycle it WARMED my heart.

  I have dropped off food to some people which WARMED their belly.

  I have dropped off plants just to bring them a SMILE.

  This year I decided to go inside the Electric company in our area and gave them the address of someone I wanted to HELP.

  Then I was able to ANONYMOUSLY pay towards their next electric bill to help shine brightness to their Day as well as keep them WARM.

  If you know someone needs HELP but you know they would never ask for HELP, just HELP THEM ANONYMOUSLY.

   To HELP others WARMS YOUR HEART.

  

  

Acknowledge it then JUST FLUSH IT OUT OF YOUR MIND

   You can't get over anything until you acknowledge it for what it truly is.

   You can't learn from the mistakes you make until you acknowledge that you made a mistake.

   You can't honestly say you won't do it again unless you don't ever do it again.

  Just like you can't say that you quit smoking if you still smoke occasionally.

   Just like you can't say you tried to do it until you truly try doing it.

   If you keep what happened in your past FRESH on your MIND it will be there to stink up every moment of today.

   You have to acknowledge it then JUST FLUSH IT OUT OF YOUR MIND SO PEACE OF MIND HAS ROOM TO GET IN.

  If you want PEACE OF MIND you have to make ROOM for it.

  Yesterday is already gone and tomorrow may never come but TODAY is yours to ENJOY. 

   All we have is the TIME we have so don't waste it reliving what you did yesterday. 

  To ENJOY LIFE you have to ENJOY IT WHILE YOU ARE LIVING IT. 

   Like the plaque on my wall says: I asked God for all things that I might enjoy LIFE and he gave me LIFE that I might enjoy all things.

  You can't move past it unless you leave it in the past. 

  JUST FLUSH IT out of your mind.

  

Trying to keep things even can lead to buying more than you should.

   When my kids were young they definitely compared the amount of presents each of their siblings got.

   They would also notice what size of boxes the presents were in for each person.

   Although my grandkids don't keep track that way I seem to keep track of the number of packages I get each one of them.

   But the older they get the more expensive the gifts they like cost and although costly they are small in size.

   My grandkids range from under one to thirteen so I definitely can not stress about the sizes, the number of packages or the amount of money spent on each one of them.

   Trying to keep things exactly even isn't possible no matter how much I try so I ACCEPT that I just can't and that is okay.

   It was okay when my kids were little yet I stressed about it and it is okay with my grandkids I just stressed over it unnecessarily.

   If any of you spend time stressing over gifts you buy for OTHERS STOP STRESSING because the reason for the season is to be jolly spending time together.

   

No one can give you the "MOON"

    They may promise you the "MOON" but you know that no one can own the MOON.

    If it sounds TOO GOOD to be TRUE, it probably ISN'T TRUE 

   A "GOOD THING" isn't going to fall in your LAP, it will take WORK TO GET.

   You don't always get what you DESERVE but you should always be THANKFUL for what you do got.

    You won't APPRECIATE what you have unless you ACKNOWLEDGE what you have.

   Remember an HONEST NO hurts less than a YES that you know you WON'T DO.

   If it is something that you need done then don't blame it on someone else if it doesn't get done because it is up to you to do it.

   You can't find it unless you look for it. You seek and you shall find.

  Opportunities may knock at your door but you won't have any opportunity if you don't open the door.