Ringing Out 2014: A Photo Montage

In a break with a long family tradition, I did not send out a Christmas letter or a Christmas card this year. I do not think I sent them out last year either. It has not been a priority. I blogged intermittently: too much real life happening here. 

When I spied this link up,  however, I figured I would do that.This was the year our older son graduated from high school and we launched him into college, and the year our younger son switched high schools. 

We all traveled a lot this year; my husband went as far west as Portland, Oregon  and our older son spent two weeks in Valencia, Spain. I spent time this year in Virginia, Vermont, Indiana, Florida, North Carolina, Massachusetts, Texas and New York. 

Midway through the year, I lost a treasured spiritual guide. 

I joined Weight Watchers, our parish choir (with our younger son) and finished a half marathon, (with my husband). When I was culling through photos to mark our year, I realized most of my fondest memories come  from right here in central New Jersey. 

Happy new year to my friends old and new. 

 "Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,

The flying cloud, the frosty light.

The year is dying in the night;

Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.

The year is dying in the night;

Ring out, wild bells, and let him die."

"Ring out the old; ring in the new.

Ring, happy bells, across the snow.

The year is going; let him go.

Ring out the false; ring in the true.

The year is going; let him go.

Ring out the false; ring in the true."

OK. Not Jersey. Not even close.

"Ring in the valiant men and free,

The larger heart, the kindlier hand.

Ring out the darkness of the land;

Ring in the Christ that is to be.

Ring out the darkness of the land;

                                                  Ring in the Christ that is to be"                                                                

Alfred Tennyson, 1809-1892