MY DEAR READERS,
I hope your year has been a mostly good one. Hope. That was my chosen focus word for 2015 and will remain my focus word into 2016.
My great niece Kiera painted this stone, which I chose as a BINGO prize at a family reunion. Since then, I’ve had her paint a similar HOPE stone for a friend going through a difficult time. This HOPE stone sits on my office desk.
A strong visual reminder of hope sits on my office desk. It is a HOPE stone, crafted by a great niece.
There are days when we all need hope. Whether you are dealing with financial challenges, health issues, relationship difficulties, a personal loss, grief or anything else that weighs you down, may you see HOPE in the New Year. The flip of the calendar offers the opportunity to begin anew.
In four months, a baby girl will be born, making me a grandma. She is reason for joy. A new life. A new beginning for my eldest and her husband. A new beginning for me and my husband as grandparents.
May you, too, dear readers, find such joys in 2016.
Thank you for being a part of my life, for sharing your thoughts, for encouraging and supporting me and my writing and photography. I am grateful as 2015 closes and a new year unfurls full of possibilities and hope.
Audrey
© Copyright 2015 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
I am so excited that you are going to be a Grandma and have a granddaughter to spoil and love 🙂 HOPE is a BEAUTIFUL WORD and HOPE is what we need to have and bring into our lives each and every day. Happy 2016!!!
Thank you, Renee. Happy New Year from your native Minnesota to Florida!
We must have been on the same wavelength when we scheduled our posts for today! I kept one of my focus words for next year because I need to still make it a priority. Love your word as much this year as I did last year. There is always hope!
Always. And I am not surprised that we are thinking alike. Hugs and Happy New Year, my dear friend!
Here is hoping that you have a healthy, safe and prosperous 2016.
Thank you. Likewise for you.
Wishing you the best for the coming year and thanks for sharing a piece of your life and insights with your readers.
Happy New Year 2016-We should all be filled with Hope.
Thank you, dear Sue, and Happy New Year to you also. Safe travels, my friend.
You always walk on the sunny side of life Audrey. That’s what we love so much about you. Happy New Year!
My dear Dee, that’s not always necessarily true. But I try. A most Happy New Year to you, my dear friend!
Happy New Year and here’s to having a new spoiled child in the family.
Oh, it’s going to be so much fun spoiling that granddaughter.
Happy New Year Audrey!
Thank you, Dan. Happy New Year to you and Cyndie also!
Wonderful!
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year to you also, Debbie!
I have so enjoyed your photos, and writings this past year, and really look forward to receiving them. We are fortunate to have a new baby girl in our respective families. in 2017. Since she will be so far away from me, I give you permission to REALLY spoil her. Happy New Year.
Well, then, it’s official. I can spoil your new great granddaughter, my granddaughter! Happy New Year to you also, dear Norma!
Grandparenthood is a wonderful thing, enjoy it to its fullest!
A happy New Year to you and yours!
I will.
And Happy New Year to you and your family also, Don. You have great reason to celebrate after what you experienced in 2015.
Reblogged this on Have You Ever Seen A Firefly?.
Happy New Year Audrey. Hope is a wonderful word, I can see why you would choose it for a 2nd year in a row. I’m so excited for you and Randy to be Grandparents, you will never be the same…… God bless you with good health and happiness in the year to come. Romans 12:12 Rejoice in HOPE, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. ~jackie
Thank you, dear Jackie, thank you.
Congratulations on being a grandma. Hope. Lovely. I have a red stone on my windowsill that says HUGS, my best friend back in New Zealand gave it to me and I always feel her hug when I look at it.. Have a lovely evening and Happy New Year! c
I am excited about the upcoming birth of our granddaughter.
How wonderful that your best friend gave you that HUGS stone. That visual sounds as powerful for you as my HOPE stone does for me. A Happy New Year to you and Our John on The Farmy!
I was just reading the comments on your blog, and realize that I wrote 2017 . Wow!!!I think Amber might not like to wait that long to have that baby girl.
I didn’t catch that year error either. Probably not.
How exciting to be an about-to-be grandmother! I do hope your daughter’s pregnancy is going well. I wish you and your family a very blessed 2016 xx
Thank you, Charlie. A most blessed 2016 to you and your family also.
Without “HOPE,” we have Nothing.
Hope + God = Everything.
xxx kiss from Duluth, Audrey.
Thank you, Kim. You are best!
We are also hoping for a new grandchild this next year. So much fun. Best wishes to you and your family for an exciting and fun 2016.
I hope that “hope” becomes reality. A happy 2016 to you and yours!
I know this is late… Happy New Year, Audrey! 🙂
Thank you, Lori, and Happy New Year to you also.