It seems the older we get, the faster the years fly by. And 2018 was no exception. Over the weekend, we were thinking about the past year. Each year, we comment on how time seems to fly. And each year, we get to the end of December and think "where did the time go"?

There are some projects around the house we didn't quite get to, and we didn't get to escape on a vacation to somewhere warm. We wish we had spent a little more time on the Clark Fork River over the summer, and we wish summer would last a few months longer.

It's easy to think about all the things we should have accomplished in the last year. The better option is to take a step back, wipe the slate clean, move forward and be grateful.

We're grateful that Sanders County experienced a beautiful extended fall in 2018. One of the things we love about this area is we get to experience all of the seasons, and Mother Nature never disappoints.

We're grateful for our small communities. Whether your family has been here for generations or you've just moved to the area, Sanders County is a welcoming place. Olive Garden's slogan used to be "when you're here, you're family." We think that applies to Sanders County, too.

No matter what is happening across the country or in politics, we hope you'll be grateful for the uniqueness of our valley and work in 2019 to keep our communities awesome.