When I opened my gifts on Christmas day, I found this beautiful bracelet wrapped in a small silver box. My husband had ordered it from Etsy (trust me, I never thought I’d be writing those words!). Here is the entire inscription: “The beginning is always today.” ~ Mary Shelley. He made a special request of the artist to engrave that same message on the inside, so the words would touch me each day, literally.

As we step into this New Year, I think Mary Shelley’s words are a wonderful reminder that each day is a fresh sheaf of paper to be slipped into the typewriter carriage of life (some of you will have to look up that obscure reference!).

So dear friends and readers of this little blog, I fervently wish you beginnings that surprise, delight, and charm, and mostly that instill hope and joy.

And come back next week, to meet my dear Friend Friday guest, Frances O’Roark Dowell.