I had to go back and see which sister you think I look like. 🙂 That’s my older sister, Sandy. You’re right, we probably do favor the most.

Isn’t Jean just awesome? Her blog is one that I read every article. It’s always nice to find like-minded sisters. glad you’re one of those too. Looking forward to what God is going to show us in 2016!

There’s just nothing like family…and a good book! You are such a huge reader, I am so happy that you share your recommendations to people like me who don’t read nearly enough…
I love Jean too! Thank you for highlighting one of her blogposts 🙂

Happy New Year to you, and I can’t wait to see what 2016 has in store for you,
Ceil

That’s an awesome quest, Betty. It’ll be an amazing year for you, I’m certain. Do share as the year progresses because we’ll want to know!

I guess we all adapt when we have to. It’s good your m-i-l still has that skill to the degree she does.

I have those mixed emotions too about the break from routine. I just took down a lot of my Christmas pictures and knick-knacks this afternoon, but haven’t put my regular stuff back yet. So everything looks so barren. The holidays have been good, but normal is good too. 🙂

I do the collages with Picasa, a free online photo program, using the “Create Picture Collage” button. Super easy.

How do you do those collages like the one of your favorite posts?

Glad you had time to get together with family! I’ve been thinking lately what mixed emotions I have had – enjoying everyone being together, yet glad for things to get back to “normal,” yet missing having everyone together.

Glad to share your post, Jean. You always have such good material, both from your own words and the words you glean from others.

It’s cool to me that both you and Karen have chosen Joy! I initially “met” Karen online through blog posts, and then she moved to my area and we got to meet in person! Even though we rarely see each other, I like knowing she’s nearby. 🙂

I’m not surprised you like the Brene Brown article too, Karen. I know you’re all about authenticity which is one of the things I appreciate so much about you.

JOY is such a powerful word. I always envision it as a package of dynamite because it’s such a tiny little word, but it can explode at any minute. 🙂 Beautiful choice! I know your little Cora and being a Nonni has brought you such joy already.

No, I didn’t know you had hearing issues. (But that makes your Facebook post a few days ago about the ventriloquist make sense to me…) How wonderful that technology has caught up more! I’d be at such a loss if I had to depend on lip-reading (but I hope I would improve at least *some* if I was forced to?). 🙁

If I hear of any good book groups I’ll let you know. I do like the in-person groups too, but for whatever reason, I rarely hear about any. I thought about joining one at a church near my neighborhood awhile back, but their book choices for the year were none that I could get into. So that was that.

We used to do a summer book club (of sorts) with the girls in our family, but we didn’t do it last year as the family has grown with more sweet little ones and demands on everyone’s time. But I do hope we’ll be able to do one again before too much longer. Yes, there’s just something special about that face-to-face interaction that you can’t quite make up for online.

Ha. Jeff still hasn’t seen that video; he doesn’t know I took it of him on New Year’s Eve watching the Alabama game. 😉 (We’re Auburn fans, if that image means anything to anyone outside of the SEC, ha.)

I’m grateful God is giving us another year to learn from each other, Floyd! Many blessings to you!