Bring It On!

Twenty-Ten!

Happy New Year!

For the most part, I am feeling hopeful and excited for the year ahead.

There is so much to be excited about.

In Reality-There is MORE to be excited about than NOT.

Life is Good!

Bring It On! Bring It On!

P.S. Dad, I can choose the date and time for posting...I am NOT at my computer at midnight. I am hopefully winning at Phase 10.

Two Thousand and Nine Is Oh So FIne

Happy New Year!

We celebrated with dear friends, great food, fireworks,

and a bonfire!

Two Thousand and Nine Is Oh So Fine

There was just enough "chill" in the air for our Bonfire to be perfect. We roasted marshmallows, laughed, set off fireworks, and enjoyed each other.

I was impressed at how well my camera did in the dark, with just the bonfire for lighting...

Black Eyed Pea Salad made by Katherine M....Black Eyed Peas eaten on New Years bring Good Luck for the entire year.

The two Katherines...

Mr Ron warming himself by the fire. Note Ron's car in the background with his company sign/logo on it. When we drove his car up to the Valet Service at The Breakers Hotel last week,we laughed and said...our car is the one one with the Monogram.
Happy New Year! What did you do?

Time to Clean up Christmas (which means, clean up this entire house from corner to corner...yikes) and get cracking on my list of goals, dreams, hopes, desires. This is going to be a memorable year.

Forever In My Heart

Losses In 2008...
Right and left, I am reading or hearing of those who passed away this year. Celebrities and Public Figures mostly top the lists. Each time I contemplate the losses of 2008, my thoughts immediately turn to the passing of

President Gordon B Hinkley

Click above to read quotes by President Hinkley

The world is a better place because of the life and example of President Gordon B Hinkley. His Christ-like love and service leave a mark on this generation like no one else at this time in history ever has.
Do you remember where you were when you heard the news that President Gordon B Hinkley had passed away?
I do...it was during Florida Presidential Primary Week. We had a house full of College Students from the Washington DC Area who were here to work on the Mitt Romney Presidential Campaign at Florida Primary Crunch Time. There were 10 of them staying with us, and interestingly, they knew very little about the LDS Church, even though their Political Candidate of choice was LDS Church Member, Mitt Romney.
I remember being so sad and sitting down late at night with these great house guests to share with them the sad news about President Hinkley's passing. It opened up a several hour long Conversation about Religion, Prophets, Faith, etc.
I knew when we were done with the conversation, that they had a deeper understanding of where their Candidate was coming from and it seemed to me that they had a great zeal to support him and his Presidential Bid.
They learned about the LDS Faith from me and I learned soooo much about Politics from these bright young College Students.

Where were you when you heard about President Hinkley's passing?

Do you miss him?

What is one of your favorite memories of him?

Happy New Year!

Oh...and I said we were staying home tonight...not true...

we will be out with friends...local. We decided to turn in to party animals...

Just could not resist.

Other excitement...Ron is going to the Orange Bowl Game tomorrow night.

Watch for him as a blip on the screen tomorrow night!

A 2009 That Will Be Fine and Almost To 1,000

New Years Eve Essentials
These two items are
Multi-Purpose Must-Haves for Ringing In The New Year.
1) For Gift Giving (You know... you wanted to drop by a Merry Christmas gift, but just 'ran out of time' Drop by a Happy New Year's Gift. Plus, things are quieter now...gift giving and receiving can be savored more than in the middle of the Christmas frenzy) Tie a Bow around either of these with a tag that says "WIshing You A 2009 That Will Be Fine"
2) For Celebrating....Stock Up today before the line at Costco crosses the state line (or in my case, heads into the ocean)
3) For Decorating....Use the small size bottles of Cider at each Place Setting for New Years Eve or Day Dinner. Add a bow to match the rest of the decorations, or leave them plain. They are festive, either way! Silly String at a Place Setting...YES! (And not just at the kids table!)

Martinelli's Sparkling Cider

Better Than Confetti....All The Way!
(Easier to clean up, also)
One word of caution...make sure EACH person has their OWN personal can. NO SHARING, if at all possible. On the gift-giving note, one year, I gave these to each of my neighbor children for Christmas with a note telling them to save the Silly String for New Years Eve and that we would have a Silly String Celebration at Midnight outside in the street. Very Very Fun!

Silly String

Happy New Year

Happy Celebrating!

It's not too late to run to Walgreens...they are open all evening.

What are your plans?

We are staying home...by design.

We receive many invitations to parties all over town,

some large, some small, some with no alcohol, some with

alcohol flowing freely, some with children, some for adults only,

some with live bands, some with DJ's, some with great food,

yet each year,

we opt to stay home and celebrate.

We'll be out in our street at Midnight with the neighbors

setting off fireworks, spraying Silly String, and making

enough noise for the entire town.

Happy New Year!

Of Course 2009 Will Be Fine...

I am almost at my 1,000th post....

Any ideas for a 1,000th post celebration?

I have a few.

Spell Check is not working today, and you know I cannot stand proof reading and editing...so sorry if this was rough!

A New Years Tradition and Idea

Where Were You When The New Year Began?
This is a tradition I have kept up since the year 2000 rang in. I take a picture of each child at exactly (or within minutes) of Midnight to show what they were doing at the moment the New Year started. It is easy to think of taking photos of those who are awake, yet...what about the sleeping children....what about your surroundings?

• Make sure the date is set to print on your photo!
• Make sure you show enough of the bed, crib, blankets, sheets, etc. to create a memory (just looking at this little cradle tells a story for me)
• Scan the bedroom, toys, shelves, etc. and click away.
• Take photos of the inside and outside of your house...exactly as it is...MESSES and all. Capture Life as it really is and was at that moment. (For me, it will be piles of Christmas Decorations in all the Backgrounds this year)
• Take photos of the weather conditions outside
• Take photos of your pets
• Take photos of the games you were playing and the food you were eating as you celebrated the New Year.
• Make sure to get yourself on the other side of the camera...Especially if this is the year you are getting physically fit. The before and after shots will be motivators and treasures
• The clothes, hair, furniture, food, games, etc. in every photo will tell stories over and over as the years roll on. Some will make you laugh, others will make you cry.

This is my little Megan, sleeping through the New Year festivities......

January 1, 2000 at 12:01am

Y2K

Once you have the photos taken:

• Remember to label them, and if, possible write a few thoughts down (in other words...BLOG-IT)
• Start a New Years Eve/Day Photo Journal...Can you imagine what a treasure this will become over the years?

Scroll down a few posts to my Y2K Memories Post to see some of the photos from January 1, 2000. Very few words are better to describe these photos than...TREASURES. The memories, the people, and the photos are all TREASURES!

Happy New Year Planning! Get out Your Cameras...Set The Dates!

Y2K Memories

Where Were You When 2000 Began?
This post is a testament to my ADD...I went looking for a photo of Curt and Rick (see the post above) and I end up with photos from New Years Eve, Y2K. Ron, Curt, and Jeffrey were out on Sailboats in The Florida Keys with their Boy Scout Troop from Church. I was home with Andrew, Katherine, and newborn Megan....now you think we would party alone?????? Just look and see....

Paul Jump, Jordan Brinkle, and Andrew

(all 3 of these boys are TALL, TALL Men now)

Andrew in his homemade Y2K Celebration Hat
Mary and Emily, who look younger today, 8 years later than back then...I seriously want to know what their secret is.

Melody and my Amiga, Nohemi Sotelo

(Melody is all too grown up as this New Year's Eve approaches)

At Midnight, we had a seriously FUN Silly String Fight! Thankfully, it was outside!

Me with Megan, 4 months old, before bedtime.

The Brinkle Clan, Melony, Melba, and Jordan

(Jason and Joel were out on the Boy Scout Sailboat Trip, also)

Happy New Year, to all!

Time to make plans for a memorable night!

What will you be doing when 2009 rolls in?

The Best New Year Perspective

Thoughts For A New Year
As everyone is setting goals and looking forward to a bright new year,

the following quote by Howard W Hunter is an all time favorite of mine for New Years.

It is packed full of wisdom.

Every Christmas and/or New Year, I use this quote in some way...

a card, in a lesson I teach, or in my own personal study.

It is the best counsel for Christmas and for living the entire year.

This is the perfect example of keeping Christmas in our lives year round.

I keep this up on my refrigerator permanently.

The counsel in this quote has changed my life!

"This Christmas (New Year), mend a quarrel.

Seek out a forgotten friend.

Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust.

Write a letter. Give a soft answer.

Manifest your loyalty in word and deed.

Keep a promise.

Forgo a grudge. Forgive an enemy. Apologize.

Try to understand.

Examine your demands on others.

Think first of someone else.

Be kind. Be gentle. Laugh a little more.

Express your gratitude. Welcome a stranger.

Gladden the heart of a child.

Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth.

Speak you love and then speak it again."

~President Howard W Hunter~

Happy New Year!