The new year crept in softly at the stroke of midnight last night, like a promise.  No huge crowds gathered at Time Square as the ball dropped.  For the most part, families celebrated in their homes if they were even awake as the clock struck twelve.  If 2021 could have a personality, I would say this one had better be a bit like Rosie the Riveter.  Taking over where the need is great. Encouraging us and reminding us that we can do this.

We’ve learned a great deal about ourselves this past year.  We have learned that family is our most precious gift.  It has been so sad going months without seeing loved ones.  We have learned we really don’t need as much as we thought we did.  We have learned how to do without.  Some, a great deal more than others.  I pray for restoration and healing for our country.  I pray that this new year finds us building up rather than tearing down.

I have always loved new beginnings.  A time to start afresh.  To show myself some grace and bestow another chance for whatever it is I failed to do last year.  In the year of the coronavirus, that was a lot.  So, I will try again.  During this past year, I made several lap quilts for grandchildren but it is time to get back to the sewing machine and quilt more!

I have a blanket I need to knit before Winter is over.  The yarn and needles have been sitting patiently in a basket waiting for me.  There are so many other things I want to actually accomplish this year but I’m afraid to say them aloud.

I hope this new year brings love and peace and health and a measure of prosperity for each of us.  May the Lord bless and keep you!

This time last year, we went shopping for a 2020 planner.  All fresh and brand new with empty pages.  We began to fill the blocks on the pages of the calendar with events we had already planned.  There was a trip to Disneyworld with my youngest and his family in March and a cruise to the New England states during the Fall.   Just in time to see the leaves change.  There were other things of course, like my ear surgery on January 23 to remove a benign tumor, Doug’s cataract surgeries and his heart ablation procedure.  We had also scheduled a week in Puerto Vallarta early Winter.  We were going to be busy and we were looking forward to the trips.

Word of the Corona-19 virus spread quickly.  As we learned more about this deadly virus and the deaths worldwide, our attention was quickly focused.  We cancelled everything.  Apparently, we were in the high risk group based on our age and health issues.  So we stayed home.  Before my daughter and her family sold the farm and moved out of state, she brought us delicious, home cooked meals and insisted we not get out to grocery shop.  We didn’t.  Later, we would order and pick up our groceries through the rest of the year.  When we did have to venture out for doctor’s appointments or to pick up groceries or prescriptions, we wore masks.

We read a lot of books.  We watched movies.  I made several lap size quilts.  We took drives in the country.  We stayed busy, and the weeks and months passed.  We even had a presidential election during 2020 and mailed our votes in.  We got most of the basement organized and cleaned.  Time passed.

As the months passed, the numbers of deaths from the novel coronavirus grew.  My heart goes out to those who have lost loved ones this year.  As this deadly virus left gaping holes and deep wounds in families, each member of those families struggled to move on.  I pray for each of these families and individuals who have lost dear ones.

I haven’t purchased a 2021 planner.  I’m not sure I will.  We haven’t made any plans yet.  There are no reservations for 2021.  I’m hopeful.  I really am.  Doug loves to travel and I’m hopeful that in the future we can visit those countries we have yet to see.  I should say I have yet to see.  Doug has been to every continent except for Africa.  I’m thankful there are now approved vaccines.  We haven’t received ours yet but hopefully soon.

This year, one like no other, will be over in just a few hours.  So, 2021 – pardon us if we tread lightly for a bit.