Happy New Year!
As I got out of bed on the morning of Jan. 1, my husband gave me my “New Year’s midnight kiss.” A little late but, hey, I can’t stay up till midnight anymore!
Usually, the noise from the sound like shotgun shells being cannonballed through the quiet of the night wakes me up around midnight, but on this New Year’s Eve, all was quiet out here on the Circle S. I don’t know if it’s the excitement that has faded or it’s the price of fireworks and the thought of blowing up so much money into the skies that has had a respite in the thunderous activity.
2026. I just sit here and ponder where in the world did the last 50 years go. Do you remember when the year turned to 2000 and so many thought something extraordinary would happen? The broadcast news was filled with omens and warnings for weeks before the change of the year. I remember some people in Utah had a midnight watch service waiting for the world to end. I believe several got on board with this scenario. I don’t remember being frightened, but I’m sure I was skeptical. And, what happened? The number of the year changed to 2000 just as it has changed to 2026.
There were quite a few things which came to pass in 2025 that were quite notable: Donald Trump became president once again, our government completely shut down for several weeks (causing a catastrophe for our people), and horrific wars broke out killing hundreds of people. So many were killed by evil people who pulled the trigger too quickly, the National Guard had to be called out to keep the peace in some cities. Someone seemed to be killed in Jackson, Mississippi, every day, and even right here in our hometown we had a huge increase in drugs and useless shootings.
I believe we can agree some good things came about in the past year also. AI (artificial intelligence) was harnessed and reinvented the drive to progress and is helping reinvent America. It is helpful in medicine diagnosing and drug development. There was the first commercial lunar landing. The first American pope was elected, there were health care breakthroughs such as a legally procurable drug for weight loss, more and best robotic surgeries, and too many other things to name.
So, what did 2025 do for you? What good or bad did you contend with? I can say that 2025 was one of the most prayed about years I have lived as we had a family member prayed away from death many times and it was a blessing of a year also. Roy and I have our health, we are growing older graciously, my family has come through some fires with little singeing and we are once again ready for the new year and all that it may bring.
My cornbread recipe:
2 cups self-rising cornmeal
½ cup self-rising flour
2 T. honey
2 beaten eggs
½ cup sour cream
½ cup mayonnaise
1 cup buttermilk
¼ cup bacon drippings
Begin with a quarter-stick of butter melted in a really hot iron skillet. Mix all ingredients and pour into the skillet with butter and bake at 425 degrees for 20-25 minutes.
