Celebrations & Traditions
My husband is romantic.
Over the years we’ve lived up here we often got all dressed up for New Year’s Eve and went out to dinner CLIMB; the fanciest restaurant at 9,000 ft. where we live. We don’t have to be concerned about traffic in the winter and we aren’t big drinkers so us going out, on New Year’s Eve where we live, isn’t risky.
Several days ago, my husband told he he’d rather stay home to celebrate NYE and asked me how I was with that – since he retired 2 years ago Bruce has taken over all the cooking, so I’m fine with that.
“While You Were Sleeping” was one of the pre-approved movies on his list for me to choose from. It’s thirty years old but we’d never seen it. We both thought it was cute and enjoyed the movie that complemented our evening with the tasty tofu dinner he made for us, along with asparagus and sauce. It was fun to have something different to watch and to eat.
When we went to bed I read from my 2024 gratitude jar.
2024 was, as is life, bittersweet. The year started with the death of Joy – my soul dog.
https://notes.julie-stephens.com/2024/03/
But there were also sweet remembrances: 3/9
10-year-old Elsa and her mom visited and brought me a sweet card Elsa made remembering Joy…
8/7
10-year-old grandson James was visiting and said the prayer before dinner thanking God for so many things about his visit and then thanking God for “taking care of Joy because she’s with you now.”
8/8
7-year-old granddaughter Theresa blessed the blueberry pancakes her grandpa made “thank you God for letting us come here and have fun with our grandparents.”
Later Theresa and I were walking the nature trail and she was happily chattering when suddenly she burst out: “Juju, I like coming here! It’s fun!”
8/10
When we were hugging goodbye James didn’t want to let go of me.
13-year-old Caleb said, “I’ll miss you, Juju.”
New Year’s Day
I expressed gratitude in the jar this early morning of 2025: Bruce and I are together with Hope. I have signed up for an hour of silent writing in A Writing Room starting at 8:00. Bruce and I will go to church for 10:00. We will walk the nature trail with Hope. We are on the waitlist for April for a tour to Holland and Belgium. We are talking about getting a puppy.
.
Hope was having a hard day yesterday. She seemed lethargic. I called Linda (our veterinarian) to talk about Hope. She listened and was kind and reassuring. Hope has been close to death and is still in ‘recovery.’ Linda will come by in an official capacity to check on Hope 1/6. I am so grateful for Linda.
Hope was back up again today – even for the first time since she was so sick during the night December 15th / 16th Hope jumped and barked going around ‘her tree’ on the nature trail! This is something she did all the time until she got so sick. Bruce and I were like – wow – did you see that!
Hope came when I called her for a picture on our walk but she is watching Bruce; ‘her person.’
The peacefulness on our nature trail is such a delight. The only sounds are the river flowing and birds and squirrels.
When Bruce and I were dating, 50 years ago (!); I was grateful then how we could enjoy getting all dressed up for dinner and the theater or go bicycling to the park and enjoy feeding the ducks together. Together has always been the key. We enjoy being in France and Greece, on an impromptu picnic by the river next to our home and walking our nature trail. Together.
https://notes.julie-stephens.com/2024/05/
https://notes.julie-stephens.com/2024/11/09/traveling-around-greece/
It’s been a good first day of 2025 for me. I hope for you.
How did you spend New Year’s Day?
Do you have resolutions? Plans? What are you grateful for?
Gratitude is a vital key to joy in life.
“Walks in nature are hugs for my soul.” Julie A R Stephens
julie@handsbestrong.com
Thank you for sharing the reminiscing and the blessings. Happy New Year and many hugs for Hope.
Happy New Year friend – thank you – hugs back.