Dear Tyler,

Hi my sweet son! How are you doing on this Saturday evening? Happy New Years Eve to you wherever you may be right now. Mom has been busy today running errands, getting her nails done & then coming home & cooking & baking for some guests that we are having over in an hour or so. Mom just can't believe that in 5.5 hours it will be the end of 2016 & the beginning of a new year...2017. It will be a time to forget all the things that happened in the past year, wipe the slate clean so to speak & start brand new. You know that this is Mom's favorite holiday & I am sure missing you like crazy. I can't help but think back to when we were a family & having everyone over the house to celebrate. We always had a full house.... 20 + people. It was always such a wonderful time laughing, playing board games or guitar hero & then when the new year rang in it was noise makers, horns, confetti all over the place & all of us in fun party hats. Oh how I wish that it could be that way again. Mom lost you & Denise lost her brother in law, Ed just 2 weeks later. Times have changed that is for sure. I hope when we are counting down the new year tonight you will send me a sign to let me know you are right there with Mom. I would really love that my sweet precious son. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
 Mom tried yesterday to make amends with a few things that were not right but I failed. I can't change what has happened & I will let it go in 2016. I can't take it into the new year as that would not be right. Maybe one day things can get better but I don't think so. Maybe it is a way of saying that its no longer needed in my life & it has served it's purpose. I am not sure but one thing is certain... I will not dwell on it anymore. Another thing happened this morning & I saw it 1st thing on facebook. I wrote about it to you a couple nights ago telling you how sick Ramon's Grandmother was....well I spoke to Megan & she told me that she passed away early this morning. Oh Mom was sad. Even though I have not been a part of that family now for almost 6 years it still hurt. I always liked his Gram. She was such a spunky & sassy little lady. I know she suffered for many years with cancer & she fought a good fight. May she now R.I.P. for eternal life. She will fly high & free with you & the Angels now, pain free & full of love & light. She will be missed greatly though. My thoughts & prayers are with Megan, Ramon & their entire family. 
 Mom doesn't have any other updates for you as I was out for most of the day & I am sure that everyone was busy doing things they wanted to do for this evenings festivities. Meme & Bob are staying home & will be asleep before midnight, Grandpa & Debbie are going out dancing & ringing in the New Year with friends, Bean is staying home in her jammies & watching the ball drop on TV & Mark & I will be having friends over & ringing in the New Year that way. Mom will go to bed at 12:30 am....lol! You know me. We have spoken to Mark's side of the family as well & all is good there. Stacy is doing well & her dad is showing signs of improvement from his double stroke. We will skype with Tubal & Karen tomorrow night as well. Mom will have more updates later for you. 
 Here is the daily prayer for December 31~ Surely goodness & mercy shall follow me all the days of my life & I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long. My loving Lord, I thank you for the past year with all its joys & struggles. There were delightful moments of loved shared with special people. I bask in those memories. Yet there were also challenges----heartaches, losses & disappointments. As I look back, I recognize that you stayed with me in those tough times. I came to know you in a whole new way. Thank you, Lord, for your care & guidance, step by step, day by day. Your goodness & mercy have indeed followed me. I've been blessed. In Jesus' wondrous name, I pray. Amen. Eternity isn't just some future promise of a timeless existence. It's a quality of life, lived in the embrace of an everlasting God. For the believer, eternal life has already begun. Praise the Lord! Amen.
 Well that was the last prayer of the book. The last prayer for this year. Mom has been thinking of what I would like to do on here that is the same but different. I haven't come up with anything just yet but I am sure when I know it will hit me. I do plan on putting other animal pictures on here as well as dogs because you were such an animal lover like Mom is. I think you will like that. I think I will also put some quotes on here as well as the daily prayer. We will see.... I have a few more hours to think about it....lol. Anyways.....
 The evening sky is in full now. I will look to the sky later & whisper to you. Be listening out for my voice. I will smile & I hope you will too. May your night be all that you need & want it to be. Come be with Mom tonight as I ring in the New Year & when I fall asleep. I would really love that. I miss you so much. More than words can say. I love you to the moon & back & all the way around the world. You are my hero, the wind beneath my wings. You will forever live in my heart, mind & soul. Good night & sweet dreams. Until tomorrow..... Happy Early New Year, Tyler!
 Always, Mommy xoxoxo. Muah!