For the last several months we have been working on our yearly "Big Dog" edition we affectionately call Horizons.

In just a few weeks, we will publish this annual edition and there will be a lot of pride in it, a few tears and maybe even a little blood if I get a paper cut.

Horizons 2005 will be our largest project ever as we produce several sections dedicated to life in Butler and Lowndes counties.

A peer of mine at the Alex City Outlook recently wrote that it is also a valuable lesson in time management.

I tend to agree with her.

When we began generating story ideas late last year, Feb. 23, seemed to be years away.

Now, here we are on the cusp of February.

This will be my third Horizons edition I've had the pleasure of working on here at the Greenville Advocate, although the first one was way back in 1997.

It is a pleasure to work on this edition because I know I was extremely proud last year of our efforts and I hoped you liked it as well.

This section takes a lot of extra effort from our entire staff as many work on weekends or late into the night.

We began brainstorming for our stories for this year back in October. We looked through other editions and we also pulled out the little list of stories I make through the year that I think would be good for the section.

As of this reading, we have two sections down and others nearing completion, but we still have miles to go.

Until this week, we have simply put in our spare time on this project, but now that crunch time is here, I know that spare time will become mandatory time. For us to be successful with it, it will have to change.

Now don't think I'm complaining because I'm not.

On Feb. 23, Horizons will be over for another year, we, along with you, will see the product that took up so much of our time.

As I said after last year's, this is what a parent must feel like.

This year’s theme is &uot;Better than ever,&uot; and the edition will highlight how we in Butler County are making our mark not only here, but also nationwide.

I do hope that you will read this year's Horizons edition and that you'll give us feedback on it.

There will be many photos this year and you might just find yourself here or there.

This is our labor of love for our community and it shows we do believe that our home, is indeed, better than ever, and it is our own personal promised land.

Jay Thomas is managing editor of the Greenville Advocate.

He can be reached at 382-3111, ext. 136 or via email at jay.thomas@greenvilleadvocate.com.