What is a new year, but the chance for a fresh start? What is a new year, if not a time to realign, redo, and recommit to the goals, purposes, dreams, and plans that are important to us?

A new year. A new beginning. A new way of looking at things. A new goal. A new reason. A new day.

A new year is not the last year or the year before. It's a new year. What will you do with it?

A few weeks ago, I sat with 2,500 people in Kalamazoo, MI., and listened to the critically acclaimed musical duo The War and Treaty. The last song they sang was Let There Be Peace on Earth. It was moving.

Later that night, I thought more about the song and felt I understood what it was saying for the first time.

Last week, my brother spotted this balloon flying above my mother's house. He told us to come out and see it. It's an exciting day when you find a hot air balloon flying overhead, especially if The Great and Powerful Oz is on board, which he happened to be.

The Wizard was throwing free brains, courage, and heart over the side of the basket.

Can a girl write love poems or is that supposed to be left to men?

I get inspired at around three in the morning when the rest of the world is sleeping. It seems like people start getting careless with their dreams about that time, and dreams begin floating down my street.

There is something to be said about perseverance. There is something to be said about not giving up even when it looks like you don't have a chance in hell.

There is something to be said about putting yourself out there for all to see. No matter what the goal.

Since summer is the prime wedding season, I thought I'd post a picture of the first wedding I attended.

I was the flower girl, and I remember the rehearsal dinner and practicing my part in the ceremony.