I used this picture on the site at my birthday two years ago. That’s me, just learning to walk. My mother, showing me my first snowfall. This is at my grandmother’s place, or across the street from it. It all looks different now, but the farther away it gets the more I like this picture.

And it seems fitting with that whole new year, new baby iconography.

But, really, I’m using that picture today for this: My mother wrote me a nice note in my most recent birthday card. Just good mother stuff. Part of it also works for the new year. So, if you’ll allow me, I’d like to share some of that wisdom as this new year begins:

Life is an adventure. Adventures are not big because of cost or location or activity. They are big only if you put your full heart and soul into them. They are only as small as a small mind, or as big as you dare to make them.

Dream big, reach high, laugh at everything you can and — above all — take God with you and you will make memories to last a lifetime.

Happy New Year.