IT'S 2009!!

It's 2009!! What a year we've just experienced. Full of tremendous highs and lows. However, as I look back on it, the highs easily outweigh the lows.

Without going into much detail, let me just say that I'm thrilled about and consider the following to be very high highs in my life, as 2008 goes into the historical records and 2009 gets underway:

1. Our Martin Family Reunion - my Dad's the greatest and it was great for all the family to get to see him, live and in person
   
2. My relationship with my wife, Karen
   
3. My kids - our relationships, their character, their employment, their successes as human beings and Americans
   
4. My grandkids - they're cute, funny, smart, and I love them all very much
   
5. The rest of my extended family - even Eric and Amy
   
6. The work I do at my church - I'm able to have a positive impact on the lives of many of the older folks in the Ward, because of my calling as the High Priest's Group Leader
   
7. My job - I still love it/I still love to travel/I still plan on retiring as late in life as possible
   
8. My home - what a neat old place and Karen makes it such a home
9. Good neighbors - we are very fortunate to have neighbors who are good people, but who don't feel that in order to be great neighbors they have to come over and talk to us
10. We, as a country, have overcome our prejudices and elected a Smoker-American as our next President

I'm sure that as good as 2008 was, 2009 will be even better. Don't fret too much about the economy. Things will get better. I plan on trying to stay in contact with my extended family, through emails, visits (both ways), phone calls, blogs, and the MyFamily Website.

HAPPY NEW YEAR...let's make it a great one!!

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