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Friday, January 10, 2014

Happy New Year and Happy New Jar!

Antunes family  - December 29 2013

Happy New Year friends and followers of my blog!  I hope that you have all enjoyed a wonderful Christmas and that 2014 finds you well and in good spirits!  Life here is returning to normal after all the fun and festivities of the holiday season.  Christmas vacation, spent at home with my girls and my husband, has to be my favorite time of the year.  The snow can fall...and fall...and fall, and it's okay because we have nowhere to go and nowhere to be.  "Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!"  We enjoyed sleeping in, sharing late breakfasts together, lazying around the house, watching movies, snuggling by the fire, afternoon naps, holiday baking, spending time with family and friends, the list goes on and on.  I was even fortunate enough to celebrate my birthday at Niagara-on-the-Lake again this year (one of my favorite places on earth). Suffice to say, the holidays were lovely and magical, and I am so grateful!  

For those of you who are regular followers of my blog, you may remember my post from last February, My Happy Jar and Gratitude Journal.  I spoke of starting a Happy Jar for 2013 and filling it with things (handwritten notes, receipts, stubs, small tokens) that made me happy during the year.



 Well, here it is!  It became something like a memory jar, filled with happy recollections. I encouraged my hubby and girls to add to the jar as well.  We added many things during the course of the year.  The fun thing about the happy jar is that you can't read the notes and additions until the end of the year. Only then do you crack open the jar  together to read/share/remember all the happy things that happened that year.  Isn't it a wonderful idea?  I just love it! 



Here are some of the contents of our happy jar!  It's a great way to remember all the blessings of this past year. It has been a challenging year for our family. With the joys, came too, sadness, fears, struggles, and difficulties to overcome.  This jar of happy memories serves as a reminder that even in the midst of tough times, joy can be found always, everywhere, and in the simplest of things, if we only allow ourselves to feel it.

The happy days, the good times, and the fond memories of 2013 are what I choose to take with me into this new year.  My jar is once again empty and waiting to be filled with fabulous, happy things to come in 2014!

I encourage you to create your own happy jar so you can fill it to the brim with your own happy memories!
Thank you for stopping to visit!  I really appreciate your time here and all of your comments.  May this new year fill your homes and hearts with love and laughter!  Let's make this the best year ever!!  

  

18 comments:

  1. I've seen this but never seen anyone actually do it. It is good to remember the great and happy times on reflection, and I like that it wasn't kept just for written things, but photos and mementos too and that you let your family add their messages.
    May your 2014 Happy Jar be even fuller of happy memories than 2013!

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    1. Thank you so much, Debs! May 2014 bring you much happiness! xx

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  2. Living with a grateful heart makes for a happy life! Your happy jar is just perfect my friend. There is so much to take our focus in other directions---we must make a conserted effort to look at all the blessings that come our way. Happy New Year to you and your family Rosinda--May your happy jar be filled to the brim by the end of the year! xoxo ♥

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    1. Thank you, sweetie! Happy New Year to you and your family! xoxo

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  3. I do remember this great idea from last year but never got around to doing it! I am going to try to start a happy jar this weekend! And I'm going to suggest it to my kids for their families, too! Celebrating and remebering the happy times during the year leads to a thankful life and that is a great thing to share and teach your kids! I know why your mom calls you sunshine!!! You are in every way!! xo

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    1. Thank you, Karen! How sweet of you to say that! I hope you get around to starting your own happy jar this year. It is so simple and rewarding! Happy New Year to you and your beautiful family! xo

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  4. Oh how wonderful to see all your happy moments preserved in concrete form via notes and photos gathered together. I hope the jar for 2014 is overflowing with fabulous happy memories!

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    1. Thank you, Nancy! I wish the same for you and your virtual happy jar! xo

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  5. It's a beautiful idea and I have always felt that being grateful is what truly brings us the most joy!!! For if we are always longing for something else, we shall never be happy!!! What a beautiful jar and a beautiful year filled with wonderful memories with your family. What a great mom you are for allowing your children to see the simplicity of true joy!!

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    1. Thank you, sweetheart! The more grateful we are, the happier we become. It's the absolute truth! Love you! xo

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  6. Love this idea Rosinda. Had not seen it before this year! What a great way to remember those things that brought both you and your family joy. I love that everyone participated and that you used all sorts of items. Might be worth scrapbooking them! May 2014 bring you lots of JOY! Great blog entry!!

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    1. Thank you, Belinda! You're right, some of the items are definitely worth scrapbooking! I have emptied all the items into a large zip-lock bag for now. Happy new year to you and your family! May this year be the best one yet!! xo

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  7. My dear Rosinda...My Beautiful daughter...My Best Friend...My Hero...My Sunshine and one of my Blessings,
    I love the way you use your sweet words of Happiness, Hope, Appreciation and Love for all you have in your life.
    Love the idea of your Happy Jar :)
    May God Bless you and your Wonderful family that is also mine!!!
    Anita and Annabel will have the BEST memories to treasure, and one day share them with my Great- Grandkids :)
    You're very Special...God really gave me the Best He had to give and I thank him every day!!! You'll never know how much I love you, because there are no words to describe. Hugs and Kisses to you, Nuno ( My one and Only Son-in Law ) Anita and Annabel! XOXOXO

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    1. Thank you, Mom! I, too, was blessed with the most wonderful, loving, giving, and supportive mother in the world. You are so loved and appreciated. I am thankful for you each day. xoxo

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  8. Hi Rosinda, I love this idea! What a wonderful idea to remember the happy times throughout the year! Our lives have so many ups and downs this is a wonderful reminder of what really makes us happy ♥ You have inspired me to create a happy jar of my own! xo

    So glad you had a wonderful holiday season and a great birthday!!!! Continue to stay warm and cozy this winter. It's the best part of the season!

    Danielle : )

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    1. Hello Danielle! Thank you so much for your comments and good wishes! I'm glad my post inspired you to start your very own happy jar! I hope that you fill it to the brim with lots and lots of happy memories! Wishing you all the best in 2014! xo

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  9. Hi Rosinda, I love this idea of a happy jar to fill up for 2014. I am new here to your blog and I do not have a blog myself, but I did want to comment on this wonderful idea and on what a lovely family you have.
    During the course of a year there are many good things and some not so good things so it is a great idea to see a jar with little bits added to it to help focus on the fact that there are plenty of reasons to be happy. Here's to you all filling your jar with many wonderful memories...and we will be filling our jar as well for a great 2014!
    Audrey.

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  10. Thank you, Audrey! And welcome to my blog! It is lovely to have a new visitor! May you fill your jar to the brim with many happy things this year. I hope to "see" you here again soon! :)

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