Did you Make New Year’s Resolutions? Or do you have New Year’s Intentions? ~I like to Choose a Word for the Year

We are now three weeks into 2025.

Do you have any New Years Resolutions?

If you are sticking to them, keep up the good work!

Studies show that 8% of folks last only a month.

Quitters Day was January 10th.

Several people abandon their resolutions by the second Friday in January.

So, don’t feel like you are alone

if your new habits are no longer a top priority.

New Year’s “Intentions” might be a better term for you?

Intentions are considered a way to create change by

focusing on the desired outcome and the journey to get there.

Intentions allow for flexibility and creativity.

I’ll confess. I’ve been a part of the 80% that has set goals when

turning the calendar to a new year,

and then not completely following through.

I like to choose a Word for the Year.

In 2022, it was “Organize”... My mother always said,

“There’s a place for everything, and everything in it’s place”

My Word for 2023 was “Gratitude”

This was the year after my accident, a reminder

 to be Thankful for all of Life’s Blessings, every single day.

Last year’s Word was “Joy”

Every day I look for something that brings Joy,

even in the ordinary everyday routine.

For 2025, my Word of the Year is “Balance”

To achieve Balance, consider at all the important domains in your life…

Relationships

Physical & Emotional Needs

Self Care

Productivity

Make time every day for the things you need to do,

Balanced with the things you want to do.

Balance in Life brings feelings of Joy,

Fulfillment, and Rejuvenation.

. 

Let’s make 2025 our year to Focus on what Matters,

Be Thankful for our Blessings,

Practice Self Care,

and Look for the Joy.

Balance

Take care,

~Natalie

Two Weeks into the New Year ~Two Weeks at Home ~So Much to Celebrate ~New Year’s Eve ~Christmas with Great GMa ~A National Championship ~A Special Birthday

Thank you to all who follow our travels and for your kind comments.

We celebrated New Year’s Eve downtown Omaha, at a place called

Let it Fly!

But first, we enjoyed a spectacular display of fireworks.

Then we toasted in the New Year with a Beverage and 

a Chicken Quesadilla, big enough to share.

I was pretty sure we were the oldest folks in that Sports Bar.

It also housed the largest television screen I have ever seen!

New Years Day and the final leg of our trip…

a beautiful day for those last six hours of travel.

We celebrated our first full day at home with our favorite meal of

Salmon, Baked Potato, and a Fresh Salad

We celebrated another Christmas with

Hubby’s Mother and Sister.

Great Grandma had her Christmas Tree hanging on the wall.

Hubby prepared the Charcuterie Board, as I had prepared

Chicken and Wild Rice Soup in the Crockpot to take to her apartment.

While snacking on Cheese and Crackers, we treasured

FaceTime Chats with both our daughters and their families in Georgia.

Get Up It’s Game Day!

The next day was the FCS National Championship Game.

We all donned our Bison Spirit Wear.

When you tailgate at home, it’s called “Homegating”

Gracie says, “we’re having chicken?!”

Well, Gracie, Papa and Gigi had those Wings…

Gracie and Mazzie ate Cat Treats.

It was a close game, not gonna lie, there was some pacing

and nail biting before we could celebrate.

It’s Tradition

As Papa has done nine times before,

he grabbed our NDSU flag…

…and waved it around at the end of our driveway.

🥳 Wooo Hooo 🎉

A Grandson Birthday 

Just this week, we Celebrated this Special Boy, Henry,

who is now Four Years old!

In Georgia, they also celebrated a rare Snow Day from school.

I appreciate a warm house, warm clothing, and a warm vehicle

during our Frigid January Weather.

Sounds like there’s another Arctic Blast in our forecast.

I celebrate Facebook Chats with all our grandchildren.

Their smiles warm my heart.

We are Blessed.

Take care,

~Natalie 

It was a Warm Welcome Home from our Furry Friends

Mazzie says, “You’ve got some explaining to do…

We have not seen you for two weeks!!”

Yes, we were gone for two weeks…

We spent 8 full days with our family and had

almost 8 days of travel time.

Gracie says, “Am I dreaming? Is that really you??”

She does look like she can’t believe we are home.

We jumped right into our familiar morning routine…

Coffee, Inspirational Reading, Messages,

Calendar, and To-Do Lists.

We also had a Creative Project to finish.

Both Helper Cats were on Duty.

But when it came to Physical Therapy…

…the Helper Cats took their break.

Take care,

~Natalie

The Way Home ~How We Got Here ~A Side Trip to Branson ~Reliving the King of Pop

When traveling to visit family, we spend some long days on the road.

It took us three days to get to Georgia, however five days to drive home,

as we like to take the time to enjoy the sites across our great country.

This is Paducah, Kentucky.

We seek out the Historic Downtown Areas to walk and get some steps,

to browse the unique boutiques, and then get a bite to eat in a local Pub & Grill.

While it would have been nice to travel in sunshine,

we are very thankful that we made it home before the blizzards

that brought traffic to a standstill in our path.

Blue Skies and Sunshine greeted us in Branson.

This is the Branson Landing, along the shore of Lake Taneycomo.

This fountain puts on a show the top of every hour.

We spent time shopping in the Bass Pro Shop and

found a great place for lunch.

For Christmas, our family gifted us tickets to a Show…

MJ The Illusion, Reliving the King of Pop.

This is Michael Knight, the Illusionist.

He has studied Michael Jackson and perfected all of his dance moves.

There was no one more excited than I…

The show opened with “Dangerous”

🎶 She’s so Dangerous 🎶

The cast included three musicians,

three energetic dancers,

another vocalist, his wife,

and a talented special effects team.

Smooth Criminal

🎶You’ve been Hit by Smooth Criminal🎶

The Way you Make Me Feel

Quick costume changes replicate what Michael Jackson wore for his music Videos.

🎶I like this feeling you’re giving me🎶

Then, a Medley of Jackson Five hits.

They performed on The Ed Sullivan Show on December 14, 1969.

I was 13 years old and smitten with their music.

This had everyone on their feet,

Dancing and Singing along.

Thriller

The Zombies approached the stage from the back of the theatre,

startling those of us sitting in the aisle.

Beat It

🎶Just Beat It🎶

🎶Beat it..Beat it..Beat it🎶

This show was two and a half hours long.

This guy’s energy was impressive.

 He sang, he danced, he interacted with the audience.

Billie Jean

🎶She said I am the One🎶

Black or White

🎶If you’re thinking about being my brother, 

it don’t matter if you’re black or white 🎶

The show featured Hit after Hit.

🎶We can change the world tomorrow..

This could be a better place🎶

Thank you, Family. We enjoyed our time spent in Branson.

We are Blessed.

Take care,

~Natalie