Happy Monday! I’ve heard it’s bad luck to wish ‘Happy New Year!’ after the 1^st, so I’ll hold off and simply say, ‘Welcome to 2026!’  Hard to believe we’re almost a week into January. Yesterday was Epiphany, Little Christmas, when some cultures celebrate another Christmas with more family gatherings, gifts, and special foods. For others it’s the official end of the Christmas season when decorations come down and back-to-school routines come back into focus. As most of you know, our tree with its lights and tinsel stays up a bit longer, but the last pile of gifts, looking like a mini city of multi-colored, multi-patterned skyscrapers and buildings, was delivered yesterday. This past week other gifts were noticed, too.

Spending time with our Grands is always a gift, but this past week was a reminder–a gift–of how simplicity is often best. So, picture this: Christmas excitement is still in the air, their gifts are still wrapped and waiting under our tree, and what they can’t wait to do is … play with our box of packing peanuts.

Their mom said that’s all they talked about when they heard they were spending the day with us. It was the first thing they asked about when they got in the car. They barely glanced at the tree on their way to the back hall where we keep the peanuts. They scooped, dumped, tossed, buried objects for over an hour. The one thing they didn’t do … this time, was haul the box to our loft and ‘make it snow’ into the music room. Their giggles and make believe as trucks and monsters found their way into the mounds were gifts. Of course, they help clean up, which is a game in itself–they like running the vacuum. Later they wanted to use the ‘lawn scissors’ (clippers and loppers), and there’s always balloon volleyball or balloon keepy-uppy.

New Year’s Day is a holy day of obligation for us Catholics, a day we’re obligated to attend mass.  We found an area parish offering an evening vigil mass on New Year’s Eve and visited that church for the first time. A newly ordained priest (just ordained at the age of 62!) presided over the mass, his sermon uplifting for the coming year, the music joyful. One gift was the reminder one is never too old to make a change! Father Tupta spent 35 years in business/finance/publishing, and a few more as the owner/operator of an inn. Then he entered the seminary. The other gift was ending one year and beginning another with such a sense of peace and hope when daily newscasts often offer neither. 

On New Year’s Day, Hubby and I did our annual First Day Hike. This is a nationwide program, usually organized by and taking place in state parks. This time, our 6^th year participating, we chose Cheraw State Park. Each park has its own character. At Andrew Jackson we did the lake trail and the ranger showed us how to identify the various trees by their bark and pointed out the wildlife living in the woods; at Landsford Canal along the Catawba River we spotted the eagles’ nest and the area where the rare rocky shoals spider lilies grow; Chester State Park has several cabins with their history connected to WPA work. This latest hike was a simple 2-mile loop through a loblolly pine forest, the ranger saying very little. The hike was also quieter because of the carpet of pine needles muting our steps. This pinecone, bigger than my hand, was one of the smaller ones littering the pine straw like chocolate chips. The fresh air, the quiet, the physical exercise–all gifts for the start of a new year.  

Christmas was twelve days ago; Little Christmas was yesterday. What I was reminded of this week is Christmas happens every day with little gifts that don’t need unwrapping. I was reminded that keeping life simple–which can be a challenge–is a worthy goal. Last night, we came home and once again, my daffodils have already returned. They’re always a sign of hope and promise. Not a bad way to end the first week of the new year.

The above sign was on the trail we hiked on the first, another sign for going into the new year. May your week of settling back into the real world of regular routines be a good one. See you next Monday!