. . . reflection . . .

. . . gone . . .

. . . gone is twenty twelve . . . 

. . . gone are the stockings . . .

. . . gone is the tree . . .

. . . gone is the wrapping paper . . .

. . . gone are the cardboard boxes . . .

{almost ~ maybe one more recycling bin full}

. . . gone are the lights . . .

. . . i miss the lights . . .

. . . i love the nighttime glow 

when theirs are the only source 

of illumination . . .

. . . gone are the utah children 

and grandbaby . . .

{i miss them}

. . . gone is the flu . . .

{for me [mostly] but poor bill has it now}

. . . but guess what's here . . .

. . . a brand spankin' new year

 stretches out before me . . .

. . . what in the world 

will i do with it? . . .

. . . i thought about that today 

as i took down the lights . . .

{carefully ~ boy is that ladder rickety}

. . . i need to be a little more kind . . .

. . . less selfish . . .

. . . a better listener . . .

. . . more organized . . .

. . . more cheerful . . .

. . . less judgmental . . .

. . . i hope to seem more grateful 

for the incredible blessings 

in my life . . .

. . . my husband . . .

. . . my children and their spouses . . .

. . . my beautiful grandchildren . . .

. . . my mom and siblings . . .

. . . my lovely home . . .

. . . my talents . . .

. . . this free country . . .

. . . my testimony of the savior . . .

. . . and yet . . . 

. . . and yet . . .

. . . i hope for more . . .

. . . even at the risk 

of seeming ungrateful 

~ always wanting more ~

 i can't allow myself 

to give up hope . . .

. . . it's what keeps me going . . .

. . . one foot in front of the other . . .

. . . the faint glimmer 

of a brighter day . . .

. . . so i will hope . . .

. . . and i will work . . .

. . . and i will keep in mind 

these words . . .

{from president gordon b. hinckley}

. . . and if i do "try a little harder 

to be a little better" . . .

. . . i hope twenty thirteen 

will be a lucky year for me . . .