HOPE. It’s a word that holds expectations, the promise of something better. And it’s one of my favorite words.
Today, Christmas Day, my hope is that you are celebrating in a way that is joyful and meaningful to you. Perhaps you are with friends or family. Maybe you are alone, far from loved ones. Wherever you are, whatever you are doing, I hope you understand how much you are cherished. Every. Single. One. Of you.
The older I grow, the more I realize how much we need each other, how connections make life so much richer, better.
Through my writing and photography, I’ve connected with people I would not have otherwise “met.” I have forged friendships across the country that have widened my world to new places, new perspectives, new experiences. What a blessing.
Hope and blessings fill my life. Today, Christmas Day, as I celebrate Christ’s birth as a woman of faith, I also celebrate you and what you mean to me. You are a gift.
Merry Christmas to each of you! May hope and joy fill your day.
Audrey
© Copyright 2024 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Merry Christmas, dear Audrey, to you and your family.
Thank you, dear Valerie. Hoping to FINALLY see Caleb on Friday.
Merry Christmas
Thank you so much. I hope you had a joyful Christmas.
Merry Christmas and wishing you a 2025 filled with hope and peace.
Thank you, Sue. We celebrated alone due to sickness (not us, but family). We’re hoping to finally see Caleb tomorrow. He’s finally getting over whatever he and other family picked up at my extended family Christmas on Saturday. So glad we were not there, due to my COVID (which I’m completely over). Lots of people got sick with the same symptoms within days of the big gathering. So someone there was sick and contagious. Argh!
what. a wonderful ornament that you could leave up all year. hope is what keeps us going. happy Christmas to you, Audrey, my Minnesota friend, and to all of your loved ones.
Yes, I could leave that HOPE ornament up year-round. Maybe I will.
We spent Christmas alone due to my son and grandkids being sick with something they picked up at the extended family gathering. Lots of people got sick with the same symptoms within days of the get together. Because of my COVID (which I’m fully-recovered from), Randy and I weren’t there. Anyway, bottom line is that I still haven’t seen my son, who flew in from Boston last Friday. I’m hopeful tomorrow we can get him from his sister’s house and bring him home. He flies out on Sunday.
I’m sorry to hear that and really hope that you’re able to meet up tomorrow.
That’s the plan, to bring Caleb to our home tomorrow so we have three days with him before he needs to fly back to Boston. I feel badly that he’s been ill nearly the entire time he’s been in MN. It’s really been an all-around awful Christmas.
fingers crossed and here’s to a better year ahead
He’s home! I am a happy mama.
and I’m so happy for both of you –
Thank you! 🙂
(((loveandhugs))) So grateful to have formed a friendship with you and through what we love to do too, writing and photography 🙂 I think of hope, belief (maybe a little magic), gratitude, blessings, etc., especially this time of the year but throughout the year too. I have really been trying to find balance and calmness in 2024 and bring that with me into 2025. I love giving myself something to look forward to as well – just brings a smile to my face and a spring to my step and makes my heart happy. I truly appreciate you and our friendship. Take Care
Thank you, Renee. I appreciate you, too, and your uplifting and positive outlook on life. Every time I read your comments, I feel joy.
Are you still blogging?
I have had no extra time to blog. I miss it to a degree, however; I have added in other creative outlets for myself. 🙂 Thanks for asking.
I have checked periodically and found no new content. I understand. Blogging takes a lot of time and effort, which is why I’ve cut back from posting five days a week. I need to get my paying work done and also not worry about producing new content each weekday. This should be fun, not work. I’m glad you’ve found some new creative outlets. Would love to hear what those are.
Of course you know I love reading. I also have taken up mindful walking in 2024 – just get out, put one foot in front of the other and go, and NO TECH. I enjoy cooking and gardening. Just to name a few.
Renee, you are doing so many wonderful things for your body, mind and spirit. You inspire me!
wishing you a belated Christmas & Happy New year. May 2025 be filled with blessings for you and yours
With a grandson due next week, the year will be off to a great start. Can’t wait to meet and hold him.