May ‘hopeful’ be not ‘wishful,’ where hope is active and wishing is passive.  Hope implies forward motion and positive action.  Hope is an optimistic state of mind.  Hope breeds encouragement.  Hope springs from promising circumstances.  Ancient wisdom reminds us that Faith, Hope, and Love abide: those three attributes are not joined coincidentally.  They are the foundation of Excellent Living.  May we be excellent to each other!  For Hope we give thanks.  Blessed Be, and Amen.