A Very Happy New Year to All! Welcome very soon to 2026!
This is my Happy New Year Post for Hodgepodgers. This post card was sent to Greg’s Great Great Aunt Emma. The card was sent from Chicago to Denver in 1906! It is a hundred year old Happy New Year greeting! The stamp was one cent. The written greeting is in Swedish.
Making room for the last Hodgepodge of 2025! Thank you, Joyce From This Side of the Pond.
1. Did you make resolutions or set goals for the year we’re waving goodbye? How did that work out for you? Will you set any goals for this new year, new season, or new month? Share one or two if you’d like to share.
The only goal I set for 2025 was to read the Bible through alongside Everyday Gospel, A Daily Devotional Connecting Scripture to All of Life by Paul David Tripp. I found it to be a good combination and encouraging. One other highlight was using our Church History Study Bible with notes stretching back from the first and second centuries and reaching forward to the twentieth century. As the introduction states about the contributors in the notes, ‘these are theologians, pastors, poets, laity, all offering perspective on God’s Word’ to aid us in escaping the ‘tyranny of the present to see wisdom from the past’.
The Puritan John Owen (1616-1683) offers us this encouragement:
If you have any regard to the constancy of your faith, to the comfort of your life, the honor of God, or the salvation of your own soul, labor immediately to get your belief of the Word better founded. Read the Scripture constantly, study it seriously, search it diligently, hear it explained and applied by others, meditate on it yourself, and beg of God an understanding of it and a right faith in it.
2. When did you have the most fun this year?
This was the family Christmas card photo this year taken over Thanksgiving weekend.
Hands down the most fun always happened when we were together with family or dear friends! The joy, the belly laughs, the support, the one liners, and the love flowing made for memorable moments all through the year!
One of the belly laugh moments of 2025!
3. What’s a song or song lyric you’ll associate with 2025? Tell us why.
Phil Wickham’s Hymn of Heaven because it is the hope that encourages me in my daily life. Songs of life that are filled with truth inspire me and cause me to worship God. This is important to me. Artists like The Getty’s, Chris Tomlin, Phil Wickham, and others who sing what is true to the Bible are my favorites. I’m not a fan of imposters. It is my prayer that these and others stay true.
4. Best (or a favorite) bite of something delicious you tasted this year?
I grew up on my dear mom’s blintzes but I’ve not made them for several years. This year I made them twice and they are so good to my taste buds and memories. I choose them for my best bite this year!
Before you ask…you can find the recipe for Nadia’s Blintzes here.
5. What do you want to do more of in the new year? Less of?
I would like to read more good books this year. I would like to decrease my sugar intake this year.
6. Insert your own random thought here.
Happy New Year to all my friends who stop by my blog. I appreciate each and every one of you! Wishing you a new year of peace and joy down in your hearts to stay…
The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b. 
Ellen, what a treasure the post card is! I used to collect post cards all the time several years ago and love the old ones like you have shared.
Loved the John Owen quote! He was given such godly wisdom.
I also enjoyed reading your goals for 2026. They are also two of mine! 🙂
Have a wonderful New Year’s Eve and remembering all of the blessings that God brought your way in 2025. Looking forward to another year together in 2026.
The history of that sweet card is amazing! Thanks for sharing the photo and the story. I looked up what ¨blintzes¨ are when you recently posted a picture of them. I will check out your recipe! Your family pictures are all so good. I love the effort you make to spend a lot of time together as a family. The Lord has richly blessed you! I hope your 2026 is a great one!
Wow! That is an old and beautiful card. I enjoyed your hodgepodge today. Thanks for sharing! I hope you have a wonderful New Year and read lots of great books! 🙂
…Ellen, I wish you and your family a fabulous 2026!!!
Happy New Year my blog friend. I love the family photo. 🙂
Here is to reading some good books during 2026, I agree, I hope to do so too. I have started one called The Mailman, so far it is pretty funny. 😉
I am sure I should decrease my sugar intake, but I don’t even like writing that down lol. I am going to check out the Tripp devotional. My hubs and I are going to re-read Oswald Chambers My Utmost For His Highest this year. It’s a favorite of mine and always hits me where I am, no matter my age or season. I haven’t read it in several years so am ready for a re-read. Happy new year to you and your family!
Checked out the recipe – Sounds delicious! ~ Rosie
Hi Ellen, I just finished reading the Bible through the year with the Bible Recap program. That is a great family picture! Have a Happy New Year!
Wishing for you and yours a most happy, blessed New Year and that you will continue to encourage your readers (me!!) with your thoughtful, scripturally-sound blog posts! Love the family photo!
Happy New Year, dear Ellen! Wonderful Card and yummy food. Hugs and blessings.
I have no idea what happened to the comment that I just typed..I’ll try again…I was saying how sweet your Christmas photo is and how lovely your family is. I loved seeing the snow because we rarely get it around here. The song is BEAUTIFUL and the lyrics really touched my heart. We all have so much to be thankful for, especially as a Christian and knowing the Lord. Happy New Years to you and all of those you love so dearly..
Beautiful family and photos Ellen!
I wish you and yours all the best in 2026, a happy and healthy New Year!
What a treasure that post card is.
A very happy and healthy New Year to you and your family.
Sweet and happy photos, a real treat to see and I do love that postcard. Happy New Year to you and all your loved ones Ellen 🙂
Happy New Year to you Ellen. I love that family photo. Here’s to a good 2026. B x
Happy 2026! Cheers to another year of making memories with your family! Love all the dear family photos.
A church history Bible sounds like a great study tool, with so much wisdom from the past that has stood the test of time.
I love blintzes and haven’t had them for ages – might have to put those on my menu plan coming up soon!
Happy New Year!
Yes, nothing better than family and friends. We are going over to Adam’s today. I love the photos and the Blintzes. Love the belly laugh photo and of course your random thought photo.
Happy New Year!
I am behind in checking in with all of my blog friends. I loved reading all of your answers. Less sugar is actually a good thing – so great goal!!
Ellen, I so admire your thoughtfulness and consistency of your blogging! It is always refreshing to see your family celebrations and ordinary days, and to read your thoughts, and to see your faith lived out. Happy New Year to you!