Every year, Tom and I send out a holiday card. When our kids were younger, our cards featured a family photo and a brief update blurb on the back. As our family evolved over the years, so did our cards. This is our 2025 version, along with the sentiment we included on the flip side . . .

Beauty Emergency!

We consider ourselves very lucky to live in a west-facing house built high on a hill, which brings us beautiful sunsets and “sky drama” nearly every day. We often run out to our front yard to take a photo of the sunset, or sit on our porch to watch a storm roll in. The poet Maggie Smith calls such events “beauty emergencies” — moments of sudden, fleeting magic; those things you have to look at now (quick!) before they’re gone.

In this challenging year, we have been embracing the many “beauty emergencies” we encounter in our lives. Noticing them . . . lightens the load and reminds us that life is, indeed, good. Open your eyes and notice! We wish you health, happiness, and many, many “beauty emergencies” in the new year!

Happy New Year to all of you. I know I’ve said this many, many times (but it’s heartfelt and I really mean it) . . . thank you so much for being here! I look forward to sharing stories and adventures and life’s ups and downs with you next year.

ONWARD!

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And . . . just a reminder. Please RSVP if you’re planning to join us for the Read With Us Zoom discussion NEXT TUESDAY (yeah – it comes up fast after the holidays). I’ll be sending out the Zoom invitations on Monday.