This will be the last column that I will share with you this year. Shortly after you read this, 2008 will arrive.

The year 2007 has given me some anxious days, many overloaded periods of anxiety. But, alas, victory has been evident.

I lost my last sister this past July. Her death followed closely the death of her husband. Both of these fine folks experienced a period of poor health lasting for quite sometime. Never do I recall my sister complaining of the many years she suffered in poor health. She loved to tell jokes and hear them from other people.

We enjoyed one last good conversation before she became confused. As I told her good-bye that day for the last time, we made an agreement between us that whichever one reached their eternal reward first, the other would follow. There's no question in my mind that, if there is a kitchen in heaven, my sister will be somewhere near the stove. She was the "queen" of country cooks, and she enjoyed making all kinds of candy. Never did I visit her without her insisting that I sample her recent concoction and that I take some home to my family.

The older I get, the more I realize that this life is a mystery filled with so many different things.

I will never forget the day right after I retired when my wife was diagnosed with chronic lymphatic leukemia. It sort of knocks you off your feet, but it's in the quiet moments that you just know things will be okay regardless.

Then in February 2006, our oldest grandson went in for routine gall bladder surgery and it was discovered that his bile duct had a malignant mass. All praise to the great creator who sustains life, after a lengthy major surgery at the University of Alabama, his surgeon declared him cancer free. There were periods of treatment and setbacks, but our grandson was victorious in the end.

Then in 2007, our granddaughter was diagnosed with cancer in her thymus gland. Again the family turned to our main source of strength and again, after weeks of treatment, our granddaughter is also leading a cancer-free life.

Once again I am reminded of Boys' Town in Nebraska, where one of the boys told his friends, "He ain't heavy mister; he's my brother."

From our ordeals of the past, we, too, can say, "This burden ain't heavy, it's my family."

I don't know what the future holds, but I'm grateful that I know who holds it.

I look forward to more reminiscing with you in the new year.

Lest we forget ...

T&D Columnist Rinehart Chewning is a longtime resident of Holly Hill. His column appears every Saturday. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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