2016---Finding The Prize

Yesterday I made a few loaves of bread.  Not just any kind of bread. I made Greek New Year's bread.  I make this almost every year.  This year the loaves turned out nicer than in the past.  Could be the yeast, could be letting it rise near the wood stove with it's ample supply of warm air!

It's a simple, rustic loaf.  It's a sweet bread that has the flavor of allspice, cinnamon, anise and orange.  It's especially tasty toasted.  What makes it so special that it's only eaten on New Year's Day? (actually it's suppose to be cut on New Year's Eve at midnight, but I changed the rule for our family!) Well, besides the sweet and yummy flavor, there's a hidden surprise in each loaf.  A coin is baked inside.  Each person takes a turn cutting the bread and whoever finds the coin in his or her slice, has good luck for the new year.  It's fun to do and fun to see who's going to be a lucky duck the next year!  Of course that got my brain to thinking about 2016.  As this year's book comes to a close it was a good year in many respects.  We had good health, we were able to work and have family gatherings. There were birthday celebrations..Mom turned 90..and graduations and holiday happenings.  There were some not so good times too. Those times are etched in our hearts and memories.  Sometimes, like that loaf of bread, we have to dig deep to find the prizes that life hands us.  We'll be saying farewell in a few hours and toasting to good times and good health for 2017.  We'll be saying thank you to God for his blessings this past year and praying for help in being better people in the new year.  I want to tell all my family members how much I love and appreciate them and all my friends and blog buddies how much I've learned this year from you and how much I appreciate your comments and encouragement on my blog posts.  2016 held more good prizes than boobie prizes, more challenges than failures.  Tomorrow will be the first slice of the bread called 2017.  May it be filled with good luck and good health.  More hellos than goodbyes.  More smiles than tears.  Let's go find that prize!