I decided to wait until tonight to write up my thoughts about the upcoming year. It’s no secret that 2016 held very little to celebrate for me. The election season stole so much of my joy – everything from Donald Trump winning the nomination to North Carolina’s Pat McCrory losing his reelection bid for governor – was all bad, awful, no good stuff.

A death in the family and other disappointments just made 2016 a year I was glad to see gone.

Entering into 2017, with a Trump presidency about to be a reality, and Roy “Droopy” Cooper as the guy sitting in the North Carolina Governor’s mansion (I just can’t call him “Governor”), I decided to focus on and share some things I’m looking forward to in 2017. After all, it can’t be all bad, right?

• Babies! Tomorrow, there will be an addition to the Wright family, so that’s a great way to start a new year. Baby Wyatt Smith will be the latest nephew to be added to the brood, bringing the number of nieces and nephews I have up to 20.

I know. We’re a fertile bunch.

• My 1 year anniversary as front pager with RedState. I began contributing to the diary section of RedState in late December 2015 or early January 2016. This was after being a fan of Erick Erickson’s work and reading the site from early on. I never thought I would be a front page contributor. I was brought on board on March 16, 2016. This first year has gone by quickly, and I can honestly say I love it!

I also hear Caleb Howe is arranging for a lovely fruit basket, in order to commemorate the occasion.

• The second half of “The Walking Dead,” Season 7. This is, hands down, my favorite show in the world, right now. The first episode this season was so brutal and heartbreaking (Yes, I cried), that it rattled a few longtime viewers and sent them packing. Not me. I’m not that easily scared away, and the introduction of the baddie cult-figure, Negan, is one I’ve been anticipating for several seasons. And the battle of the communities? Alexandria, the Hilltop, the Kingdom – an alliance to strike back at Negan and his Saviors – it will be epic!

The start of the second half begins February 12, 2017. I don’t expect any more deaths, at least, not on the level of losing Abraham and Glenn, but I do expect that the mayhem will live up to my expectations.

• Several excellent movie releases. I’m a real movie buff. It’s one of my favorite things in the world. I’m not one of those people who feels self-conscious about walking into a movie theater alone, sitting at the very front, and totally abandoning myself to the big screen fantasy for a couple of hours, either.

Two movies that are dropping in 2017 that I’m really excited about are Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy 2,” due for release on May 5, 2017, and the sequel to Keanu Reeves’ 2014 cult smash, “John Wick.” February 10, 2017 is the nationwide release date for “John Wick 2” and I am stoked!

The new “Guardians of the Galaxy” looks to be just as action-packed and humorous as the first, and I suspect will be the tie-in for the coming “Avengers: Infinity War” release, where it is rumored that Peter Quill and company will make an appearance, alongside Iron Man, Captain America, and the rest of the Avengers crew.
 

Keanu Reeves has had a series of clunkers since “The Matrix,” but “John Wick” was a hit and received excellent reviews.

It was dark, gritty, and if you’ve never heard of “gun-fu” you have to watch to find out what that is. You won’t regret it. This was a true popcorn movie, worth the night out, and earned a spot in my ever-expanding movie library, once it was released to video.

The sequel looks to be equally exciting, so come on, February!
 

• Mixed bag. Sometimes you just don’t know what’s coming or what to expect, but you hope for the best, anyway. We’ve got a new government, that in spite of Trump, may just manage to be not awful.

With every new year, there are new fads, new music releases, new movies, and new adventures.

I’m meeting new people through my work at RedState all the time. I enjoy the challenges of writing and discussion. I don’t even mind the disagreements, so much. It’s all a part of it.
 

I’m looking forward to getting into reading for pleasure again. I’ve got several Brad Thor books I want to catch up on, as well as Tim Tebow’s latest book, “Shaken,” which was released in October.
 

Whatever else happens, I would like to think I’m prepared to face it with the strength and resolve of a highly favored child of the most high God. I don’t intend to stay chained to 2016, going over and over in my mind about all that went wrong.
 

I would wish that for all of you. Find those things you can enjoy and look forward to in 2017. Yesterday’s gone and we don’t live there, anymore.