The twists and turns of life are what keep me excited about tomorrow. At the end of April my eldest son Blake graduated from Navy boot camp. We had the extreme privilege of flying to Chicago to see the ceremony and experience one of the most memorable events in my lifetime.

Well, it’s that time of year when all that is life, starts over, from sprouting grapevines to a litter of newborn bunnies. Exciting to watch miracles in action. The home and garden shows are in full bloom throughout Northern California. If you haven’t been to one, I suggest you go. There are lots of creative ideas for yards, homes, gardens, pools and much more.

It warms my heart when we host our monthly editorial advisory luncheons in San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties. Our goal is to bring business leaders together for a round table chat to gauge the local business climate.

In the past few years we struggled to find good news to report. That can prove a bit tricky when confronted with a sluggish economy, rising taxes, cutbacks and crime. Our mission is to provide positive local business news and connect business leaders together to be a support group for each other.

We are very excited about the Book of Lists coming to you in our March edition of the Central Valley Business Journal. I’m pleased to announce this, as I use the book and your responses to our surveys as a barometer for our local business climate. It appears we have weathered the storm!

As we look to a new year, I pray we learn from our mistakes and embrace our youth with a better understanding of their needs. Business leaders, parents, politicians, doctors and teachers need to do some soul searching and take a hard look at the negative exposure our children receive daily.

I’m proud to live in the United States and I pray for the leaders of our great nation to work together, act responsibly, and grow our economy using good ole common sense. A friend sent me this bit on nostalgia; I felt I had to share it with you. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

With the elections looming overhead like a blimp spiraling down from the sky, I ask you to check yourself before making a decision that will certainly influence how we navigate our future as a super power. For those of you still undecided, I urge you to look back on the past four years and ask yourself honest questions: Are we overregulated by the government? Are more Americans competing for fewer jobs?

Some things are just so painful to report, but I feel so strongly about this situation that my words are my only relief.

As a mother and an American who believes in this great country of ours, I’m proud to announce that my eldest son, Blake, joined the U.S. Navy. What a thrill for our entire family as my father, grandfather and several uncles have served in the Navy. Now the tradition continues.