December 31, 2018
7:02 p.m.

Well, it is New Year's Eve, and true to form, I am sick as a dog. I make it a habit to be sick on at least one holiday a year, and it's generally either Christmas or New Year's.

I am hoping and praying this will run it's course quickly, because I don't want to fly while feeling this way, and I'm scheduled to leave on the 2nd day of the New Year.

Pooh.

Today has been cold and snowy. We didn't get a white Christmas, but New Year's is definitely white.
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It is New Year's Eve, and I will be spending it on the sofa, watching scary movies and drinking tea.
Sounds pretty good, right? Kids are out, all viewing choices are mine. Between the tea and the cold remedies, I will probably be asleep before the clock strikes 12.

I'm okay with that.
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I'm trying to hit a positive note, an "I'm grateful for" moment, but the truth is, this has not been a great year.

Certainly some good things happened. 365 straight days of suckiness is impossible, right?

So, let see...

Well, we didn't get any new HUMAN babies, but we did get Molly. She's our new baby, and we love her so much. She came along in time for a very nice family reunion in Colorado, and she was the belle of the ball. Not everyone made it to the reunion--Dad's sister was absent, but her sons both came, and that was wonderful. All his other siblings were there, and I am so grateful they got to see Dad earlier this year.

My Aunt and cousin came for a visit in September. As it turned out, that was to be her final journey, and she visited all her siblings, children and grandchildren on that trip. I know my mother will treasure those days she got to be with her sister. I do, too.

Mom replaced both knees and a hip this year, and her mobility is much better now. She's not back to 100%, but her healing is moving along well.

My nephew lived through a horrific accident and has recovered remarkably well.

I spent time with kids and grandkids, parents and siblings, and that time is priceless.

But I'm less than honest if I don't admit that 2018 has been a tough one.

I could make a list of the reasons why, but I won't. Suffice to say that I'm hopeful that things will be better in the next year.

And so, I bid you a Happy New Year, and I will make my way to the sofa with a cup of tea, a box of tissues and a blanket, to hopefully get scared silly by the play list I've selected to watch.

Those Grandchildren of mine! 

See you next year!