Thursday 01 January 2009!!!!!!!!!!! Let's look back as it is Flashback 1st of the month at Face The Day and the 1st of a new year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sarah says:
That's me and Dirk - my husband's best mate. For the last 6 years he's come to our home on New Year's Eve and for the last three years we have taken a photo together on the 1st! First we eat french toast made by my mother and then we take a photo. It's always great to start a new year with Dirk. He's a cheery, fun-loving bloke!

That's me and Dirk above one year ago on the 1st of January 2008!

And there we are above two years ago today on 01 January 2007!

There above you can see Heidi and me on 01 January 2006! Seems like ages ago! I can hardly remember that night anymore.

And there's Heidi above on 01 January 2007! I think it was 2007. Heidi?

By the way - last year on 01 January 2008 I put the below text on Face The Day as a reflection on life at that time and the new year to come. I stand by it and put it here agin because it still rings true and I am still trying my best to live a more simple life and a quieter life full of quality, not quantity. I wish everyone a lot of peace and quiet and love and more rushes of joy than flashes of pain in 2009!

Sarah adds: Here's it is from last year's post:

Somebody should tell us, right at the start of our lives, that we are dying. Then we might live life to the limit, every minute of every day. Do it! I say. Whatever you want to do, do it now!~Michael Landon - Pa Ingalls

We who live in quiet places have the opportunity to become acquainted with ourselves, to think our own thoughts, and live our own lives. - Laura Ingalls Wilder

...but, at long last, I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all...I believe we would be happier to go back to simpler living and more direct thinking. It is the simple things of life that make living worthwhile, the sweet fundamental things such as love and duty, work and rest and living close to nature. There are no hothouse blossoms that can compare in beauty and fragrance with my bouquet of wild flowers. -Laura Ingalls Wilder

I'd add: Live well and be well in 2008 (2009!) people and spend time doing stuff that matters with people that matter and not wasting time and thoughts on all the stuff that doesn't mean squat. Consume less -- because we don't need half the things we think we do.
By 2009 (2010! ), I hope my family life is just like it is now. I hope I am singing again and on stage. I hope my work life is successful and feels good and challenging. I hope health abounds. I hope all the people who mean the world to me have more joy than pain. Simplicity is what I am after this year...