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!