I love holidays; Christmas is my favorite. I love the decorations, the songs, being with family and friends, watching our youngest granddaughter dance in the Nutcracker ballet and celebrating the reason for December 25th. Where most people take down their tree, put away all the ornaments and decor, our tree stays put until January 6th, and even then, I don’t like taking it down. Or, since it’s a fake tree, putting it away. 

A new year can be a new start. I don’t make any New Year’s resolutions. I know what I would like to accomplish over the year, but I don’t know what the year holds for me and I don’t want, or need, a list reminding me of something I failed to get done. It’s wonderful to realize you have reached a goal without stressing about a timeline.

This year will be one of big changes for some of my grandchildren. Our eldest granddaughter will be a senior in high school and, possibly, know where she will be heading to college. She has a number of schools on her list that she has visited that she would be happy to attend. As her unbiased grandmother, any of them would be lucky to have her! I have said this before, but, and her parents agree, how is it possible that she is already at this point in her life? Her brother will join her in high school this year, leaving behind, as she did, the school they attended from kindergarten through eighth grade. And their youngest brother will move, in that same school, from elementary to middle school. I know each of them are excited and looking forward to the upcoming changes in their lives. 

My husband and I are fortunate to have one of our daughter’s family living across the street from us, and another daughter’s family soon to be next to us. I can’t wait to see their home being built knowing we’ll have four of our seven grands within a stone’s throw. We are very lucky to have our other daughter’s family only three-and-a-half hours away. We are a very close and loving family that takes every opportunity to be together. When your children are young, you hope they will develop a strong bond with each other that will stay with them as they grow up. Although they are all individuals, their differences don’t outweigh their love for each other. I hope my grandchildren will always have a bond, not only with their siblings, but with their cousins, as well.

This month is our “every other year family trip” to Disney World. It’s five days of having the best time. Sometimes we are all together, but often, depending on where the grandkids want to go and what they want to do, we split up. My husband and I try to go from one family to another, so we can share in their experiences. We get together for dinner and sometimes lunch. It is so fun to hear the grandkids regale us about their day and watch them interact with each other. This is a tradition I hope we will continue for many years to come.

So, no resolutions, just hopes to continue spending time with family and friends, planning to exercise more, lose a few pounds, really get started writing a book I’ve thought about for years and travel. I will be happy if I accomplish at least two off this list – the “spending time with family and friends” is a given, so that doesn’t count as one.

May we all make 2025 a wonderful year, full of joy and happy memories! And may this year bring peace on Earth and goodwill towards men.