Hope for the New Year

                                           All Things Are Possible

I am amazed and elated that our country has been given the chance to change for the
better. Years ago the American people could only imagine that an African-American
could become President of the United States. What makes it even more amazing is that
only 40 years ago President Lyndon B. Johnson helped pass the law that African-
Americans could vote. Our country has been in a downward spiral for so many months,
that it can only move in a positive direction after our recent election. We can only hope
and pray that a new party and new blood will bring positive things to our country.  We
are in need of a new prospective on issues. 

This past year has been a very difficult one for many people in this country.  We have
had record numbers of people out of work, a record number of people loosing their
homes and hundreds of families affected by the war in Iraq. Iraq was a war that was
supposed to end years ago; it was a “short term solution” according to George Bush,  that
ended up turning into a nightmare for so many.  We can only hope that the new
administration in Washington will keep the goals they have promised to the American
people.

When we reflect on the year 2008, we realize that our country has not accomplished very
much this past year. We have broken many records. We have had record numbers of
people on unemployment, record numbers of homes foreclosed on and hundreds of men
and women who have lost their lives in Iraq protecting our freedoms. It has been very
difficult for many Americans to make it through the year 2008.  The Gas crunch has
affected many; those who depend on car transportation to get to work have had to make
other arrangements. The affect has trickled down to business owners with a decrease in
sales. The automotive industry has declined in sales affecting many jobs.   Many
businesses have increased prices to make up for the loss of income.

We can only hope that the year 2009 will bring only positive changes to our country. Positive people can bring positive change and it has been proven that one person can
make a difference. 

Let’s hope that our Government comes through with incentives and a plan to help the
American people recover from this past year.  President Obama will go down in history
as not only becoming the first African-American President but one who helped the
American people recover from a devastating year.  We have not had a young family in the White House for many years; we have not been a country that rallies together since
the Kennedy era.

I am filled with hope for the year 2009 that our country will bounce back to being the
best country   to live.  Despite our economic decline in this country, we are still one of
the best places to live.  We still feed our hungry with food banks and welfare assistance.
We still help our unemployed with unemployment benefits, and we still live in a
Democracy where we can still voice our opinions.  Our country has recovered from
economic hardships in the past and it can once again. 

Even though we have had a tough year, we must keep a positive outlook on good things
to come.  Many of us have endured financial hardships in 2008 that have been hard to
recover from, but keeping a good attitude throughout everything can only bring good luck
to all. It is much easier to give in and give up; but in the short term and long run it has
been proven that people like to be around people who are “up beat”. That counts in
personal life as well as business.

So here’s to a new administration, new President and new prospective’  for the year
2009. May we all prosper!