To say that the last twelve months has been interesting would be an understatement. Not just for the personal changes that have occurred, but equally for everything that has happened in the world. As we have mentioned, our site is not a political site, but there is no way to avoid the consequences of such a tumultuous year. It would be easy to bury one’s head in the sand and pretend that none of these events occurred, but whether we are outraged, discouraged, frustrated, or worse yet, ambivalent towards the events of the year, we cannot give up on the hope that is the human spirit. Every year provides moments that inspire us as well as fill us with dread. It is also possible that a single event can instill one emotion in some and the complete opposite emotion in others. We hope that the year to come brings more optimism than the year that is coming to an end, but we will remind us of what we told our children as they were growing up, “you can’t control the world, but you can control your own emotions, you can choose to be happy, sad, or mad. You can choose to be happy or you can let the world tell you how to feel.” Obviously that is an over-simplification, but we will choose to find the joy in life and do our best to surround ourselves with those who choose a smile over a frown. In response to this week’s Daily Post Discover Challenge – Hope Gone Viral, we have decided to choose this video instead of a single photo. Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to all of our friends and enjoy this little video of children singing holiday songs for a local TV special at our hotel in Strasbourg, France.