May your 2023 be healthy and happy and may you prosper in it.  May your blessings be many and your troubles few.  May it start off with a fabulous First Friday Freebie! 

For most of us, this is the month when we evaluate the old year, giving thanks for the blessings that were too numerous to count, and make plans for the year to come that hopefully don’t involve any resolutions that are unrealistic and end up stealing our peace of mind.  If we focus on treasuring and nurturing home, family and friends, we can’t go wrong.  This month’s First Friday Freebie is a reminder to do just that.

This metal sign measures 11 ¾” wide and 5 ¾” high and reminds us exactly where love and joy are found.  Its white background and gray leafy vine at the edges keep it simple so it will go with any décor or season.  Its twine rope makes it easy to hang just about anywhere.  I hope you enjoy this great  Hobby Lobby find. 

To enter to win the “family & friends” sign, all you need to do is “Leave a Comment” on this post, saying, “I’m blessed with family and friends!”  You’ll need to leave your comment before midnight TONIGHT, January 6^th, 2022.

NOTE:  An occasional problem occurs with subscribers not receiving confirmation emails.  Should this happen, email me at barb@midweststoryteller.com so that I can report it and have the issue resolved.

If you are new to Midwest Storyteller and haven’t subscribed, you’ll need to do that before entering to win.  Head to the right sidebar or use the menu to navigate to the “Contact” page where you can fill in your email address and then watch for your confirmation email.

No one will get to enjoy all the great things here on the blog unless you share it with your friends and family through all your social media, so if you like an idea, recipe or story you see here, be sure to share and if you save things on Pinterest like I do, hover over the photo and “pin it”.  Help me get the word out!

On the “Freebies” page, you can see what readers have been winning every month.

A winner will be chosen at random from those subscribers who enter before midnight tonight, January 6^th, by leaving a comment which says, “I’m blessed with family and friends!” 

For the complete First Friday Freebie rules, click here.

Don’t overload yourself this new year.  Perhaps broad resolutions are better than specific ones.  One of my family members tells that last year, she had resolved to get better sleep.  At the end of the year she felt like she had made strides in that direction.  That’s great!  One of my favorite things to remind myself and others is, “Baby steps count!”  Moving forward in the right direction is sometimes all that matters. 

I’m resolving to get more stories, recipes and other fun and inspiring things coming your way in 2023.  While you wait, “Life With Smuffy” and my “Laugh” pages and start your year off with joy and laughter.