We are on the brink of a new year, my friends! Can you feel the excitement? The possibility? The endless stretch of unabashed opportunity? Can you? CAN YOU?!?!?!?

Neither can I. I’m trying! I really am! Look at me, I’m HOPEFUL!!!

Nope, that is not hope glowing in my eyes, it’s the booze. OMG.

My baby is turning 5 on New Year’s Day.

F-I-V-E.

We are closing in rapidly on the years of lunchboxes, school clothes, and teacher’s meetings. I can feel it like a noose dangling around my neck.

I’ve been trying not to think about it, after all, there were so many other pressing matters to distract me. But, now Christmas is over, the stockings are no longer hung with care, and New Year’s Eve (aka Amateur Drinking Night) is nearly here.

We’ll sing “Happy Birthday” at midnight, we’ll watch the Rose Parade and call it Maggie’s parade like we always do. And we’ll come to the sad realization that our baby is only a baby in name only. She’s a little girl with big blue eyes, angelic blonde hair, the mouth of a sailor, a true zest for life, and a very low tolerance for morons. She stands up for herself (even when she probably shouldn’t) and threatens, occasionally, to kick some serious butt. I have to give it to her that while she probably isn’t capable of kicking the butt she desires to kick – I have no doubt in my mind that she would go down with an admirable fight.

Margaret isn’t just a cute kid with a smart mouth. She’s a force of nature all to herself. She manages to be the fiercest thunderstorm and the most gentle spring rain all at once. She has the ability to bring on the hurricane and finish with a gentle, warm breeze. She has heart, she has moxie, she has her father’s sense of humor and her mother’s temper with their joint love and passion for living things especially animals. It’s a beautiful, frustrating, and courageous combination. And while she drives me bonkers I don’t know that I would have gotten through some of the harder moments this year without her zaniness and ability to make me laugh even at the worst.

Without a doubt, this child is an amazing blessing and I couldn’t be more grateful to have her in my life.

Happy Birthday, Maggs!!

And…

I wish you Health…
So you may enjoy each day in comfort.

I wish you the Love of friends and family…
And Peace within your heart.

I wish you the Beauty of nature…
That you may enjoy the work of God.

I wish you Wisdom to choose priorities…
For those things that really matter in life.

I wish you Generousity so you may share…
All good things that come to you.

I wish you Happiness and Joy…
And Blessings for the New Year.

I wish you the best of everything…
That you so well deserve.

HAPPY NEW YEAR FRIEND!

~ Author Unknown

From our family to yours, Happy New Year!