GOOD-BYE 2020,

HELLO 2021!

I HONESTLY CANNOT SAY THAT I WILL MISS THE YEAR 2020!  IT HAS BEEN A YEAR OF UPS AND DOWNS, HILLS AND VALLEYS DARKNESS AND LIGHT! BUT, I CAN SAY THAT WE ALL WEATHERED THE STORMS AND CAME OUT ON THE OTHER SIDE STRONGER AND BRAVER AND BETTER FOR THE EXPERIENCES.

WE TRAMPLED THROUGH THE TROUBLED FIELDS OF A DEVASTATING VIRUS THAT TOOK HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF LIV4ES AND LEFT MILLIONS WITHOUT THEIR BUSINESSES OR JOBS.  ONE TRIP TO THE MARKET GIVES ONE THE VISION OF HUNDREDS OF MASKS THAT REALLY DON'T BELONG THERE AND FRIGHTENED FACES UNDERNEATH AMOST OF THEM.  FROM JANUARY THROUGH DECEMBER, WE HAVE LIVED IN FEAR OF AN UNSEEN ENEMY AND STILL HAVE NO REAL ANSWERS.  WILL IT EVER GO AWAY?  I CAN ONLY VENTURE A GUESS!  SOME OF US HAVE LOST LOVED ONES AND WILL FACE A NEW YEAR WITHOUT THEM.  BUT, THE LIFE CYCLE GOES ON AND NO ONE CAN EVER CHANGE THAT.

ON THE UP SIDE OF IT ALL, I HAVE WELCOMED INTO MY FAMILY THREE BRAND NEW GREAT-GRANDDAUGHTERS.  THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL AND A WELCOME SIGHT FOR THESE AGING EYES.  CONGRATULATIONS TO ELISSA, KELLIE AND MCKENZIE!  LIFE IS GOOD!

DEAN'S FATHER'S HEALTH IS DECLINING, BUT HE HAS LIVED A VERY LONG, GOOD 93 YEARS.  DEAN GOT TO FLY TO SEATTLE AND THEN TAKE A BUS TO TACOMA AND SPEND 3 WEEKS WITH HIS DAD DOING ALL OF THE HARD CHORES IN THE YARD.  IT WAS A WELCOME TRIP FOR BOTH OF THEM.  I GOT TO TRAVEL TO LAS VEGAS FOR A BABY SHOWER FOR ELISSA AND LATER TO ST. GEORGE FOR A FUNERAL OF A COUSIN AND A WELL-EARNED VISIT WITH MY SISTER, CHRISIE.  SHE RETURNED A TRIP TO PRESCOTT VALLEY FOR CHRISTMAS!  FAMILY IS THE BEST MEDICINE FOR AILING HEARTS!

THE POLITICAL SCENE IN OUR COUNTRY HAS TURNED A SOUR FACE TOWARD THE AMERICAN CITIZENS AND THERE IS UNREST BREWIING IN THE WINGS.  WE CAN ONLY GUESS WHAT THE NEW YEAR IS GOING TO BRING...AND PRAY FERVENTLY FOR HEALING FOR OUR COUNTRY.

I WISH I COULD REPORT MORE OF THE UPS, BUT RIGHT NOW, THE ONLY THREAD THAT IS HOLDING US TOGETHER IS FAMILY.  I HAVE BEGUN TO REALIZE JUST HOW IMPORTANT FAMILY IS AND I HOLD TIGHT TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THE MEMBERS OF MINE.

AS I WRITE THIS, MY SON-IN-LAW, KENNY'S DAD IS VERY CLOSE TO DEATH, ALONE IN A HOSPITAL IN CALIFORNIA.  TOMORROW THE FAMILY WILL MAKE THE HARD DECISION ABOUT WHAT TO DO NEXT AND HE MAY NOT BE WITH US THROUGH THE WEEKEND.  MAY GOD BLESS THE ENTIRE MESSICK FAMILY.  IT WILL BE A TIME TO GRIEVE.

AND A THOUSAND MILES TO THE NORTH, DEAN'S DAD HAS JUST BEEN SENT HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL ON PALLIATIVE CARE.  WE ARE HOPING FOR A FEW MORE MONTHS WITH HIM AS THE HEAD OF THE MICKELSON FAMILY.  

THESE ARE HARD TIMES...BUT WITH THE HARD, THERE IS ALSO THE GOOD AND MAY WE ALL BE CONSOLED BY THE GOODNESS IN THE WORLD.  MAY WE SEE THE RAINBOW AT THE END OF THE RAINY DAY; THE SILVER LINING IN EVERY RAIN CLOUD; THE BRIGHT SUNLIGHT IN THE EARLY MORNING SUNRISE; AND THE LIGHTHOUSE GUIDING THE WAY ON A STORMY, ROCKY SHORE.  IT IS MY PRAYER THAT WE WILL SEE MORE GOODNESS THAN DARKNESS ON THE HORIZON FOR THE NEW YEAR, WHICH IS 2021.  GOD BLESS EACH AND EVERYONE WHO VENTURES TO READ THIS BLOG.  I COUNT YOU AS MY FRIENDS, MY FAMILY AND GREAT CONTRIBUTORS TO THE RICH HAPPINESS THAT HAS FILLED MY LIFE.

HAPPY NEW YEAR ~ 2021