The New Year is a promise and a prayer, a new beginning and an open door to hope and joy...Myra P. Ellis

Christmas 2009 is in the rear-view mirror. New years is fast approaching. Christmas at the McCullough household was very nice, it seems like it got here way too fast, as usual and was over far too fast, also. The snowfall on Saturday was very nice, indeed as we had one more family Christmas at my parents to attend. My folks home used to seem larger, every Christmas there are more of us in attendance, grandchildren bringing boyfriends and more great-grandchildren are looming on the horizon, next year there will be at least one more of us. We are packed in like sardines, but I really think it makes for a loud and fun Christmas. So, this week has been dedicated to getting my house back in order, cleaning out space for the new and getting rid of some of the old. I always say, "Don't get much for me, as I just don't need anything", but I do enjoy getting some new "stuff". Grandson Jack was ill during Christmas with lots of coughing and he just wasn't feeling very "festive". He did pretty well, just a little out of sorts and wasn't eating very well. It has turned into a full blown, visit to the doctor illness and he spent yesterday on Grandma's lap, pretty much. Hope he gets to feeling better, real soon. Its hard when little ones are sick. Been there, done that, many times. I do feel better when I get the Christmas decorations down. I have never been one of those people who get "down" about Christmas being over, I thoroughly enjoy it, while it's here, but when it's past, I am ready to move on and look ahead. Yes, I know that means the end of the year and the beginning of a New Year and all that comes with it. The end of the year at the Radio Station means lots of extra work, closing out 2009 and getting ready for 2010, files to re-organize, end of the year tax "stuff" to do, that's one part of the holiday I could do without, but it has to be done, so I just dive in and "get er done". Closing out 2009 and moving ahead to 2010 kind of makes me sad, in a way, because I know that it means my little two year old grandson, Jack is getting closer to three with every passing day and I would like to "slow" him down, just a bit, but we all know that isn't going to happen. Two is such a fun age, he's still kinda got a little of the "baby", I love so much, in him, but potty training is looming in the future and more "grown up" behavior will be expected of him this next year. I wish I could just stop the clock for awhile. It makes me sad when I think about it, the older I get the more I want to drag my feet. I am looking forward to 2010 with much anticipation on the birth of the next "little one" in our family. Frank and Casey's baby will be here in early June and we are all very excited about that and June will be here, before you know it, they have lots to do to get ready. They will probably find out in the next month or so whether they are having a "son" or a "daughter". I have no preference, just so he or she is healthy, that's the most important thing. These young parents-to-be are sort of lucky to be able to plan and get ready for the new arrival by finding out what they are having. I have mixed feelings about it really, we never had a clue what we were having, back in the olden days, but I think I would miss the element of surprise, it was so much fun for my husband to come out and tell all the relatives, in the waiting room, whether they had a grandson or granddaughter, niece or nephew. The bad thing was you couldn't buy much ahead of time and the bedroom always had to be done in neutral colors, now the rooms are all ready with the appropriate "sports", "bears", or blue or pink. Frank and Casey will have fun getting ready for their new son or daughter. We had fun at Christmas with the "ring" on the string thing. We have done it several times and it didn't do anything back at Thanksgiving, but at Christmas, it definitely had it's path, it will remain a secret as to what the "ring" thing said, my hubby laughed at us, but it was fun. Old wives tales are fun to do, just the same. 2010 should hold alot of adventure, look to the New Year as an open door for you. Yes, I know that means January, and I really would just as soon crawl into a cave in January, the month seems to go on forever and there really isn't much to look forward to. I am always so happy to see the end of January come, cause that means February will be here and that means, yes, Groundhog Day, who can miss that lovely holiday? Skip that holiday, go to the next, the one with the red roses, red hearts, chocolates and "dates", yes, I mean Valentines Day. Thank goodness for Valentines Day, it couldn't come at a better time. At least February is a short month. Now, you know I cannot talk of a New Year without mentioning, yes, those horrible three words, "New Years Resolutions". Do we really make them? Do you? I did last year and I pretty much kept mine, but I have some new ones this year and yes, it does have to do with weight and exercise, but I also have a different one this year, and it is this, my New Years Resolution is to not look ahead, to take each day for what it brings, to not be so rigid with "tasks", to try to let some of the "junk" that has to be done, go. I think, for me, this is something I really need to work on. I know it's hard to change a type "A" to something else, but I am sure going to try. And I would be eternally happy if the TV stations would not "air" those Nutrasystem commercials non-stop, I don't care how much weight "Marie Osmond" or any of those other people have lost, they haven't even started them yet and I am already sick of them. I don't want to see "Weight Watcher" commercials either. Please leave us "chubby people" alone and quit making us feel guilty. I think that would be a good "New Years" resolution for us to not have to watch them or pay attention to them and for the TV stations to not ram them down our throats, especially five minutes after they air a McDonalds or Pizza Hut commercial, please......! Have a Happy New Years Eve, we are going to spend the evening at home babysitting little Jack and probably watching a "Nutrasystem" commercial while I munch on something fattening! Happy 2010 to you all!

Christmas is for wishing upon one lovely star..Christmas is a longing to be where loved ones are.

Well, here we are, one week before Christmas. If you are like me, you have spent the last month in a frenzy of decorating, list making, shopping, and wrapping. Trying to get everything done and ready for that big day. My goal every year is to get it all done so that I can sit back the last week and just enjoy the anticipation. I've taped countless movies and programs on my dvr at home so that I may sit down and watch some of them this next week, but it's questionable if I will actually get that done. I always try to watch "White Christmas". This old classic always gets me in the mood, especially with the ending, it truly is one of the most beautiful Christmas scenes from a movie, I just love the little ballerina girls all dressed in red and white, and Rosemary Clooney and Vera Ellens dresses were breathtakingly beautiful. The music from "White Christmas" is just so wonderful. WGCY Radio Station hosted a "Christmas Party" at the "Perfection Coffee House" this past Wednesday night and we had a lovely evening, the meal was very good, the company was great, and the entertainment from the area was nothing short of spectacular. Ann Spangler and her daughters, Katie and Emily did the cutest skit of "White Christmas", included all the important points of the story, along with all of the songs and dancing parts, pared down, of course. It was very entertaining, they are a very talented family, indeed! The Duquette Family with Heather Bradford provided some wonderful harmony to some old Christmas favorites, Sam Duquette sang a couple of solos and did a great job! Aaron and April Nettleton also are a very talented pair and added some "spins" on some old favorites, too. Steve Anderson is always a consummate professional with his vocals, Bing Crosby doesn't have a thing on Steve, his version of "White Christmas" was just magnificent. Steve was also kind enough to set up all of his equipment for use that evening. Thanks so much Steve, your always there to help out when we need it. All in all, it was an evening not to be missed and would have put one in the "Christmas Spirit", indeed. This week-end will include the usual chores of cleaning and I am going to try to do some baking, but alas, the baking fairies did not bless me with the "baking gene". For some reason, I am just not a very good baker, probably because baking requires very precise measuring, and I am not great at that, I'm a pinch of this, pinch of that, throw in a little of this, throw in a little of that kind of cook, which is the kiss of death for a cookie or cake. My daughter Ashley is a superb baker, everything looks and tastes as it should, and never burnt or too under-cooked. I just love to get goodies from her kitchen. The girl could open a bakery, she is that good! My cookies always come out burnt or raw, never do they look like Paula Deens cookies, that's for sure. I was watching Paula doing some baking last night and it's magical how her cookies always come out looking so good, I really think they should show the ones that got burnt while she was talking, and Paula does alot of talking on her show. I wish they would show something ruined just once on the "Food Network", it would make the rest of us feel much better. Now the main course is my speciality, I can roast the best turkey, prime rib, or pork tenderloin, that I can do. So at Christmas, I always let Ashley and Casey bring the desserts and Casey can make the most wonderful salads, they are always unique and so different. Ashley made the best pumpkin cheesecake for Thanksgiving, it was a beauty and tasted even better! I guess that's the answer to pretty much everything in life, find what you are good at and do it and let others do their thing, too. We have a very good mix of bakers and cooks in our family, I'm very thankful of that, it would be bad if we all were bad cooks or bakers. And Christmas is all about the food, never forget that. Everyone so looks forward to all of the "goodies", at least I do, because we just don't have many "goodies" at our house the other 364 days of the year. My birthday is on Christmas Eve and I always spend the day in the kitchen, I enjoy it so much. Our married children come over, along with little Jack around 5:00pm for appetizers and drinks, then we ease into our meal. I just love the evening before Christmas Day, the anticipation of opening our gifts on Christmas morning, listening to the Christmas Carols on the Radio, the glow of the Christmas tree and the decorations, it truly is a special evening. Christmas Eve has always been my favorite part of Christmas, I love Christmas morning too, but it's closer to being over, then. We spend so much time and energy getting ready for it and sometimes it gets over just a little too fast for me, I wish we could slow it down, just a tad. We do take our time opening our gifts, we never just tear into them. Each person gets one gift at a time and we all watch that person open their gift. I think it's good that way, it does take time, but you get to actually watch that person open the gift and see what they got. It's especially good for children, it teaches them patience and that it's good to acknowledge each gift and person opening that gift. The one thing that is a little different at our home now is, I get up Christmas morning by myself, if Christmas falls on a week-day, as Hubby has to be on the air. Bob Benefiel was so good to work for Gary when our children were younger, so that Gary could be home with his family. There is a special place in heaven for people like Bob. We miss him at the Radio Station. Troy Hutchcraft was our evening announcer for years and did such a great job, Troy was always there to help out when you needed it, we miss Troy very much, also. For those of you that go back a few years, you would remember Laverne White also. Laverne had a soothing, deep voice and played his own special kind of music. Laverne White was a staple at our station for many years and was a very talented man, indeed. Especially at Christmas, I miss them all so very much. We were so lucky to have them as friends and employees of the Radio Station. The Christmas music on WGCY, I think, is the most traditional and beautiful Christmas music you will ever hear, we try to find music that everyone can appreciate. We hear from lots of listeners each year that enjoy the Christmas music on WGCY. It is our Christmas gift to you. Yes, it's one week away, Christmas of 2009, get all of your chores done so you can sit back and enjoy it, relax, sit down in a comfortable chair, turn off all of your lights, except your Christmas decorations, turn on your radio, and enjoy the sounds of the season. Don't get stressed out, if everything isn't perfect, it's ok, cause no one but you will know it, that's for sure. If your cookies get burnt, just make another batch. If your presents aren't wrapped perfectly with perfect ribbons, who cares? No one will notice, I promise you. I always say, as far as I know, there was only one perfect person here on earth, and he could care less about things being perfect, so just give that notion up, you'll give yourself, your family, and others the best gift of all, the gift of a relaxed mom and grandmother. Burl Ives said it best, "Have a Holly Jolly Christmas, it's the best time of the year, I don't know if they'll be snow, but have a cup of cheer. Have a holly, jolly Christmas, and when you walk down the street, say "Hello" to friends you know and everyone you meet. Ho Ho the mistletoe hung where you can see, somebody waits for you, kiss her once for me. Have a holly jolly Christmas and in case you didn't hear, oh by golly have a holly jolly Christmas, this year!"

Especially at Christmastime we find great joy in little things..

the melody of carols sung, the memory an angel chorus brings. The happiness and love on this one day bring thoughts which warm and cheer...may we keep Christmas in our hearts through every day of all the year....Gertrude Bryson Holman. And so we come again to Christmas with all of it's color and joy, its magic and wonder, its spirit of good will and warmth. What it means to us depends on what we bring to it, not in gifts and outer displays, but in the inner offerings of love and faith that live within our hearts. What will you bring to Christmas to make it more memorable for your family? What are your favorite memories from Christmas's past? One of my earliest memories is when I was three or four years old. My Grandpa Greenlee had been warning me for sometime that if my behavior didn't improve, I would perhaps be receiving a box of sticks as a Christmas gift. On Christmas Eve, I was handed a beautifully wrapped package, (it was also my birthday) I gladly ripped the paper off, pulled back the tissue paper only to find, sure enough, a box of sticks! I can remember my Grandma Greenlee consoling me, as I was crying, and giving my Grandpa a look that could kill, all the while he was chuckling away at the trick he had played on me. I think he must have been in trouble with Grandma for a long, long while for that. If memory serves, I did eventually receive my real Christmas present, but that box of sticks still lingers with me, to this day. There hasn't been a Christmas since that I haven't thought about being just a little bit better, so I don't get another package like that. One of my other special Christmas memories, from the age of five, concerned my other Grandmother, who, upon arrival at her house Christmas morning, informed me that she had heard sleigh bells and prancing hooves on the roof on Christmas Eve, and that I should go outside and look in the big pine tree in their front yard, that was decorated with those large multi-colored old Christmas lights. Sure enough, there nestled in the boughs of that tree was a Christmas package just for me. It held a special doll for me. Every Christmas, I went back to that tree to see if Santa had left me another package, but alas, it was not to be, just that one special Christmas. The Christmas I turned seven was the most memorable Christmas for me, but not for the reason you would probably think. That was the Christmas I learned a very hard lesson, Santa doesn't always bring children everything they want for Christmas. That Christmas, I had dreamed and asked for and wanted, in the worst way, a Chatty Cathy Doll. This was Mattel's first talking doll and I coveted that doll in the worst way. Ironically, Chatty Cathy is celebrating her 50th birthday this Christmas. I can't remember what I received that Christmas, but I can tell you I was one, mighty unhappy, not fit to live with, child that Christmas. To make matters worse, my younger cousin Dee Dee received Chatty Cathy from Santa. Pea green with envy and mad as a hornet, was I. I almost feel sorry for all of my relatives, that Christmas, that had to be around me. In years since I have asked my mother, "Just why didn't you get me that doll"? She has told me, "You know, I really don't know, maybe we couldn't find her in the stores or maybe we couldn't afford her, I really can't say". I had told my kids this story every Christmas, when they didn't believe in Santa anymore. One Christmas, about six or seven years ago, there was one gift left under the tree, after we had opened everything, there wasn't a tag on it, so I wasn't sure who it belonged to. My son Frank reached under the tree and brought it out, handed it to me, and said, "This is for you, Mom, from me." I ripped off the paper, opened the lid, peered in through the space in the tissue paper, and all I could see was this little face with a few freckles and these two little teeth and I knew in an instant what it was, a Chatty Cathy Doll! Well, I can tell you, there were a lot of tears, I just cried like a baby and for all of my life, I will never receive a Christmas gift that means more to me. My son had found a man who knew someone who had an old doll collection, and from what I understand, she had been in a box in a basement for a very long time. My mother helped Frank clean her up, find some clothes for her and work on her hair. I keep her proudly in my formal living room, where she stands and I look at her almost every day. I have since been in touch with a woman in Ohio, and after Christmas, Chatty Cathy will be making a trip to her house for a new voice, a new hair-do, and new clothes. To think that my son thought enough to look for that doll for me told me just how much he loves me. I have many Christmas memories with my own children, a few stick out in my mind, one year we had neighbors who had small children and we knew they weren't going to have much of a Christmas, so we bundled up a box of toys, clothes, and food, wrapped it up and took it over to their front porch, we left it, rang the bell, and disappeared around the side of the house. That family never knew who left it on their doorstep. Our children learned about helping others, without their knowledge. Another year, our daughter Ashley came home from school, upset, as a classmate had confided to her that her family wouldn't be having any Christmas presents at their house, she had three younger brothers and sisters. So we found lots of clothes and toys and wrapped everything up with name tags, loaded up our ministers van and he took everything over to them. I told Ashley, you must never tell your classmate that it was our family that gave them the gifts and she never did, but the little girl came to school after Christmas vacation with a big smile on her face and new clothes. I also had my kids go through all of their toys before Christmas every year, took a car full up to the American Legion, and we always made sure the toys had all of their parts, and were in good shape and clean. We also had our kids go up and help put the food baskets together and even helped with the toys one year. I always wanted my kids to be appreciative for what they had and to help others, and they always have. I am very proud of that. One Christmas that sticks out in my mind was one snowy evening right before Christmas, hubby was off doing a basketball game, it was such a pretty night, snowing gently, no wind, not too cold, I bundled them both up in their snowsuits, gloves and boots and we went out for a walk around the neighborhood. All of the Christmas lights and decorations were up, it was just magical. I will never forget that evening, those many years ago. Simple, lovely, special times that don't cost a lot of money, but things you and your family will remember, always. That's the special meaning of Christmas, just as Linus of "A Charlie Brown Christmas" said, along with the "Grinch who tried to steal Christmas", it's not in the presents, it's not in the food, it's not in the decorations, it's in your heart. So, put up your tree, decorate your house, bake some cookies, do some shopping and wrapping, play Christmas carols, send out your Christmas cards, go to church, do all of the usual things, but take the time to do the unusual, simple things, for those are the memories that truly last a lifetime..And, Have Yourself a Very, Merry Christmas. From our home to yours, Merry Christmas!