It seems only a short time ago that we welcomed the New Year, 1998. And now, when many of you read this column of 1998, it will be 1999.

With all the anxiety in the world as we anticipate the year 2000 It seems we need to stop and listen to the wisdom and music that the little children bring into our world. The message of Christmas from the lips of little children, bring us joy all year long.1999. What thoughts come to your mind? It will be the last year and another century. 

Recently, I was visiting family in Nebraska and it is always a joy to listen and learn from the grandchildren. Since four-year-old Trevor is now attending Crayola College, he apparently is learning his numbers. On one occasion, his father requested that he go to his room for his timeout. Trevor stood for a few minutes at the foot of the upstairs steps and asked, “Daddy, do I have to stay there 99 years?”

An unknown author has written these words:

“May you have enough happiness to keep you sweet enough failure to keep you humble. Enough success to keep you eager enough friends to give you comfort, enough faith and courage in yourself, your business, and your country to banish depression. Enough wealth to meet your needs enough determination to make each day better than yesterday.”

As the sun sets on the year 1998 our thoughts cross into the new year with hope and optimism. The year 1998 can be a year of reflection, a year of new appreciation of our heritage. Hope is like the door of opportunity, which is open before us this coming year.

Thanks dear readers for all those Christmas epistles cards and emails. And one of the Christmas letters received was the following thoughts for the new year. And I will share these prayer thoughts with you:

A Prayer for the New Year

Just one thing dear Master I ask today, 

Now that the old year has passed away, 

And a promising new year through the grace of God 

With all the dreams of youth is mine. 

Just one thing I ask as I onward go, 

That I'll walk with you. Not fast nor slow.

One thing I ask and nothing more 

Not to linger behind nor run before. 

Oh, Master, this is my only plea. 

Take hold of my life and pilot me. 

Helen Kitchen Evans. 

More warm thoughts: I know not what the future holds, but I know who holds the future. Author unknown.

Light tomorrow with today. 

Elizabeth Barrett Browning. 

A Happy New Year to you!

Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea by Lou Edda g Werner

January 8th 1999

Published in the Marion Record

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Till next time,

Trina