Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Another Year, Come and Gone . . A New Year Now Comes

The New Year

Another year has circled to its close,
Another rose blown to eternal rest;
Sweet Memory, farther fading, sweeter grows--
The Wind sweeps on, that once the Rose caressed.
Another year! Ah, have we nearer pressed
To that far goal whereon our aim is set?
Another year! Have we perchance confessed
The lasting bitterness of vain regret?
Yet still the dew-pearl decks the rose's breast!

A year has fled, its triumphs and its pain
Borne far away on Time's all-sweeping crest;
Another following, pressed on amain,--
The Rose-tree in fresh bloom is ever dressed.
Though one rose die--ah, was that rose the best?
So in the coming year let no dismay
At Life's unkindly aspect frighten, lest
The tear we shed today dim yesterday;
For still the dew-pearl decks the rose's breast!

L'Envoi.

Not
was, but will be! This is Life's behest;
This year, not was, but will be, one more test;
And ever, though the ages fade away,
The clear-eyed dew-pearl decks the rose's breast!

~H. Bedford Jones

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Good morning, dear friends!

We hope that everyone had a wonderful, blessed Christmas, however celebrated and kept~

Our Christmas was a quiet one, spent at home in the morning, and at my mother's in the afternoon.

Cowboy Frank sure likes his new get-up!




And Evangeline is now "The Little Young Woman Who Lived in a Shoe"!



On Christmas Eve (And Christmas Day at Grandma's) we were treated to a performance of the Nutcracker by the children~




Followed by a live Nativity, narrated by Mr. Graham~





Followed by our attempt at a Tasha Tudor-style Nativity in the woods (a.k.a. back yard)~

(Let me tell you, lighting lots of candles when it's six degrees outside is no small feat!)




Followed by a long winter's nap!

Now we have begun packing away the little Christmas things that we have enjoyed the past month (except our little elf-men, who now smile at us from the computer top)~

(How can we resist their impish faces?)




And are looking forward to a new beginning with the New Year~A chance to look sweetly back on the good times, and to learn from the perhaps not so good times. May we all be blessed with a freshness of spirit, with joy, and with peace, as we bid yet another year farewell!

Love,

Marqueta


17 comments:

  1. A blessed New Year to you dear friend! I hope 2010 blesses you in so many ways! Wonderful photos!!

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  2. See ya in the New Year!!! Love Frankie the Cowboy you know I have a soft spot for the wild west :) The nativities looked wonderful lovely pictures ~Blessings Heather

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  3. Dear Marqueta~
    Doesn't it seem like this year has just blown past us at breakneck speed? Or is it just me?
    Hope your Christmas was Blessed and wonderful, also! We still have youngest daughter and hubby home from New York and so we are still celebrating (of sorts)!
    I do love quiet Christmas's at home the best! How fun to have ballets and Nativities preformed for you ~ even in 6* weather! ;~D
    We, too, are looking forward to see what God has planned for us in 2010!
    Blessings!

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  4. Dear Marqueta~your pictures of the children are so beautiful!! My little nephew loves to play cowboys with his hat, holster and toy gun, too. Little Frank looks adorable in the picture!
    I really identify with the poem you posted. Time is just flying by~we need to really treasure our time here with our families and friends.
    Thank you for a wonderful post~May our Lord and Saviour continue to pour out His mighty blessings on you and your family, Happy New Year!! Rose

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  5. Oh my goodness what a lot of family fun and games I spy at your place. I can see a great time was had by all. Wishing every one of you a very happy and healthy New Year. Love Eli

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  6. Dear Marqueta,

    Six degrees? Six?

    You are very brave. And sturdy. I would be frozen. :)

    I loved seeing the pictures of all the joyful acting and festivities at your house through the holidays. Love those faces -- the real children's faces, oh so sweet, and the elf faces are pretty sweet too!

    Wishing you a wonderful New Year and that you receive and accomplish all the good things that are on your heart.

    Love,
    Lynn

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  7. dear mama
    i like 2010 but i miss 2009:(
    i love you and i like you :)
    love~tasha

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  8. Feliz Ano Nuevo! Mi querida amiga, yo me siento tan bendecida por tener tu amistad ;-)

    Gracias por compartir to bella familia...Que Nuestro Senor Jesus Cristo los mantenga con salud y los llene de mucha felicidad!

    maria

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  9. Marqueta, I love the imagination in your girls! Thanks for your kind words at my blog--it has been a joy stopping by here to get to know you too:-) A very happy and blessed New Year to you and yours!

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  10. A blessed New Year to you and your dear family ... looks like everyone had a fabulous time in your wonderful photos :o)

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  11. cute pictures! :)
    Hope you have a wonderful 2010! Happy New Year!!!
    Love Candy

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  12. New Year's Blessings to you and yours!!!!
    Happy 2010!!

    Love~ Jen

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  13. Hi, it's a very great blog.
    i could tell how much efforts you've taken on it.
    Keep doing!

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  14. Happy New!
    Oh it looks like you all had a wonderful Christmas! I loved seeing the photos!
    Hugs))

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  15. what a merry holiday you all had! And how fun to do a Tasha creche, you're braver than i--- we got so much snow that night, and its so cold even now.
    have a lovely new year, Marqueta!

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  16. Dear Marqueta,

    Thank you for sharing the beautiful poem, and the photos of your beautiful family! I can see you all had a blessed and happy Christmas! Your children are so sweet and creative. What a blessing they are! We had a nice quiet Christmas at home too. May the Lord bless you and your family this New Year.

    Much love,
    Paula

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  17. Happy New Year to you and your family. I loved the poem as well as the pictures.

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