How did your year rate?

You Had an Average Year

While you had some setbacks, your year also brought some good things.All in all, things mostly evened out. That's just how life works.Focus on what went well for you - and what you can improve.A new year is a perfect reason to give yourself a fresh start!

How Did Your Year Rate?

Google Image Meme

Google Image Meme
I saw this meme from Juliana. I thought this looked like a fun meme so I decided to do it. I won't tag anyone else but feel free to do it if you want.

Age at your next birthday - 35


Place I'd like to visit - Scotland



Favorite place - home with my hubby & kids in Terre Haute, Indiana


Favorite Objects - my camera



Favorite food - potato soup



Favorite Color - Purple



Nickname - kasper



Where you were born - Terre Haute, Indiana USA

40 Ways to say Happy New Year!

I found this on a website on how to say Happy New Year in 40 languages. I just thought it might be interesting to share. The website is http://www.celebratelove.com/newyears39.htm
Happy New Year in 40 Languages
Below you will find a list of ways you can say "Happy New Year" in 40 languages. We have listed all that we are aware of. We apologize in advance if you find misspellings and a lack of dialect marks. We did our best as we collected this list from our loyal CelebrateLove.com visitors. We love you all! Have a terrific New Year!

Afrikaans - Gelukkige nuwe jaarArabic - Antum salimoun
Bengali - Shuvo Nabo Barsho
Chinese - Chu Shen TanCzechoslovakia - Scastny Novy Rok
Dutch - Gelukkig Nieuwjaar
English - Happy New Year!Eskimo - Kiortame pivdluaritlo
Finnish - Onnellista Uutta VuottaFrench - Bonne Annee
Gaelic - Bliadhna mhath ur
German - Prosit Neujahr Greek - Kenourios Chronos
Hawaiian - Hauoli Makahiki HouHebrew - L'Shannah Tovah Hindi - Subh Nab BarsHungarian - Boldog Uj Evet Kivanok
Iraqi - Sanah JadidahIrish - Bliain nua fe mhaise dhuitItalian - Buon Capodanno
Kisii - Somwaka omoyia owuyaKhmer - Sua Sdei Chnam Thmei
Laotian - Sabai dee pee mai
Norwegian - Godt Nyttar
Papua New Guinea - Nupela yia i go long yPhilippines - Manigong Bagong TaonPolish - Szczesliwego Nowego RokuPortuguese - Feliz Ano NovoPunjabi - Nave sal di mubarak
Russian - S Novim Godom
Serbo-Croatian - Scecna nova godinaSinghalese - Subha Aluth Awrudhak VewaSlovak - A stastlivy Novy RokSpanish - Feliz Ano NuevoSwahili - Heri Za Mwaka MpyaSudanese - Warsa Enggal
Telegu - Noothana samvatsara shubhakankshalu
Thai - Sawadee Pee MaiTurkish - Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun
Ukrainian - Shchastlyvoho Novoho Roku
Vietnamese - Chuc Mung Tan Nien

Indonesia ---"Selamat Tahun Baru"

The Meaning of Christmas to Me

Warren tagged everyone who read his blog to continue this meme.

Here are the instructions for this meme:


1. Make a paragraph next to the last paragraph in the tag that is passed to you “What is Christmas to you” and put your name at the end of it linking back to your site, or the page that answered this tag.


2. You can use a title that will suit your Christmas idea.


3. Then tag as many as you can.


For me, Christmas means HOPE. Always has been, always will be. The fallen world has received the greatest hope of all: the birth of Jesus Christ. And since hope is all around, then it's only normal to see so many acts of kindness around Christmastime. In Indo, we never exchanged Christmas gifts, but now I live in Finland and I start to buy gifts for my loved ones. Christmas also means family gathering for me and candlelight service at church. Plus I get to sing Christmas songs and enjoying a Christmas play and dance. Other than that, for me Christmas also means SERENITY. I can feel a different kind of peace in my heart whenever Christmas comes along. And since Christmas is near New Year, it's also time for reflection for me: reflecting all the blessings that the Lord has given me and then thanking God for everything. - Amel




Christmas, to me, is a day that is set aside to celebrate the birth of God's only son, the Savior and Messiah. We celebrate this special birth by spending time with the people we love the most and giving gifts to each other because God gave to us the greatest gift of all. And it's not only on Christmas Day that we celebrate; we celebrate during the weeks leading up to December 25 by giving gifts to others around us who are in need of basic necessities that we are already blessed to have. We celebrate by listening to and singing Christmas carols that tell about the birth of Jesus. We also celebrate this day by eating special foods that we only have at Christmas time. I love Christmas and meditating on the story in Luke 2 about how it all actually happened. I love spending time with family and friends and the warmth of love that I feel at this time of year. -Kathy


Three or four years ago I began to struggle with the meaning of Christmas. The pagan roots of the holiday, Santa being omniscient and somewhat omnipresent subtly taking over the position of God. The Christmas spirit was growing cold. Then fine December evening my wife and infant son went to a department store in an old mall locally. As I pushed the baby around the aisles of the dated department store while my wife shopped I began to notice the garland hanging from the ceiling. The carols softly floating through the air waxed nostalgic. I was taken back to my childhood when Christmas was special. Christmas to me is a celebration of the birth of Jesus but I celebrate that everyday. I am deeply moved when Mariah Carey sings O Holy Night. But Christmas to me is that feeling that stirs deep within my innards, the same feeling I would get when the big '72 Pontiac rolled over hills when I was small. Christmas is an event where people act like they actually care about each other. I'm naive enough to believe they are being sincere. Christmas is a beautiful time of year and I once again enjoy every minute of it. - -Warren

Christmas to me means Joy, Faith & Love. I remember the joyous and loving family gatherings from my childhood. Faith that Santa would come and eat the milk and cookies I would leave for him. Everyone would put aside differences and be together for the birth of our Lord. Now it still has the same meanings to me through the eyes of my children. ---- Michelle Dawn


I'm not tagging anyone for this meme. I just decided to do this one myself and invite everyone else to the same.

Sunset at the Northpole

I got this in an email but I just had to share.

SUNSET AT THE NORTH POLE
A scene you will probably never get to see, so take a moment and enjoy
This is the sunset at the North Pole with the moon at its closest point. And, you also see the sun below the moon. An amazing photo and not one easily duplicated. You may want to pass it on to others. The Chinese have a saying that goes something like this: "When someone shares with you something of value, you have an obligation to share it with others!"

Christmas Get-To-Know Interview

Christmas Get-To-Know
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I was tagged by Crystal for this meme.

Rules:-
1. Link to the person that tagged you, and post the rules on your blog.
2. Share Christmas facts about yourself.
3. Tag seven random people at the end of your post, and include links to their blogs.
4. Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.


1. Wrapping or gift bags?
Mostly Wrap.

2. Real or artificial tree?
Artificial

3. When do you put up the tree?
Day after Thanksgiving

4. When do you take the tree down?
Day of Christmas

5. Do you like egg nog?
Yes

6. Favorite gift received as a child?
Stereo

7. Do you have a nativity scene?
No.

8. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
Can't think of any

9. Mail or email Christmas cards?
Both

10. Favorite Christmas Movie?
A Christmas Carol with George C. Scott

11. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
Varies year to year

12. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Sweet potato casserole

13. Clear lights or colored on the tree?
Colored.

14. Favorite Christmas song(s)?
Rockin Around the Christmas Tree by Brenda Lee , Santa Baby, Jingle Bell Rock, and Grown Up Christmas List by Amy Grant

15. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
Stay at home for family gatherings.

16. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?
Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, & Blitzen & of course Rudolph

17. Angel on the tree top or a star?
Star this year

18. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas Morning?
One on Christmas Eve and rest Christmas morning

19. Most annoying thing about this time of year?
Working in retail

20. Do you decorate your tree in any specific theme or color?
Nope

21. What do you leave for Santa?
Milk & Cookies

22. Least favorite holiday song?
Can't think of any.

23. Favorite ornament?
Ones with my kids pictures on them or homemade ones from my kids

24. Family tradition?
Nothing specific

25. Ever been to Midnight Mass or late-night Christmas Eve services?
Yes the 7:00 pm service


I'm not going to tag anyone for this meme but feel free to do it if you want.

Merry Christmas!!! :)