2008 Reflections

Now that it is December 31st and I have my first real time to stop and reflect back on all that has happened this year I realize what a crazy year this has been. I spent New Year last year in East Texas wondering what I was going to do in 2008. I was in a job that I didn't really like in Midland, a place that I didn't really like living. I began looking for a new teaching position in February and had no luck. Then in March life as I knew it changed completely overnight! (no kidding!) On March 16 I met Kristi. Life then became brighter and I had something exciting to look forward to. Kristi and I spent the 10 weeks of school that were left after spring break talking on the phone constantly and counting down the days till the school year was over and I could get home. As soon as I finished my duties in Midland I moved back to Mesquite. Kristi and I had set a wedding date on the last day of spring break and so we were working toward getting things together for that. In mid June mine and Kristi's relationship went to a new level when I proposed to her on one of the swings at Harding University. (see previous posts for full story) At that point the wedding planning went into a buzz of activity. Even through all of that time I still didn't have a new job. I was looking everywhere I could and nothing was coming up. Finally at the end of the summer, just one day before summer band started across the state my answered prayer came. I had just received word that I had not been selected for a job I had interviewed for when my phone rang. It was Jolette Wine, the new director at Birdville High School. She wanted me to come in and interview for the percussion director position. The next morning, Saturday, I went and met with her for a while and left the interview not knowing what to think. The next day, Sunday, she called and told me that I had the job. I started the next morning, Monday, at 7 a.m. I didn't know what I was doing when I walked in the door but I didn't care God had blessed me with a chance to work at a great school with great people. I love my job to this day and I can't wait to see what the second semester has in store for us.
Meanwhile, a very busy marching season was in full swing in the fall and Kristi and I were fast approaching our December 20 wedding. The list of things to do seemed endless and the amount of sleep we were getting was less and less. But somehow I knew that if we could get to the end of marching season things would get easier and easier they did get. After marching season I was able to put my attention on the wedding and before I knew it we were a week away. The last week before was a flurry of activity, with Christmas being right around the corner we also had to fit in having gift exchanges with both sides of the family. The week flew by and before I knew it was Friday and less than 24 hours away. Friday was a great day, I spent the entire day at the church singing with the quartet and watching the church take the form of exactly what Kristi had dreamed it to look. We had the rehearsal dinner and rehearsal that night which was a lot of fun because I had not seen all of my groomsmen in some time. Then the big day came, the ceremony was beautiful, it was exactly what she and I had hoped it would be. It was happy and emotional but also a worship of the precious thing that God had designed between a man and woman. I stood at the front of the auditorium waiting for Kristi thinking that I could not wait to see her. Then the doors opened and there she was and I am here to tell you gentlemen, you are not going to find a more beautiful woman anywhere. I am sorry I got her, the rest of you are going to be finding second place from now on. After the wedding was over there was an overwhelming quiet that fell on Kristi and I. We didn't have any to do lists or a constant feeling of obligation to get anything done. We were married and now we had a week to run away together and enjoy being husband and wife. We spent the wedding night at the Mansion on Turtle Creek in Dallas and it was wonderful. Then we spent a day and night at our new home together before leaving for Nashville, TN on Monday morning. Our room in Nashville at the Gaylord Hotel was amazing. The hotel upgraded our room for free to a VIP room that overlooked one of the garden atrium's in the hotel. We had a great time being together and being married. We have since returned from our honeymoon and have moved all of her things over to our new place in Lewisville. I love my wife and I have had so much fun figuring out life with her in these past few weeks. Our home, though a total mess right now is already feeling warm and open. I am so excited to see what the future holds for us. I know that 2009 is going to be so much better than 2008 and that is saying something. If 2008 taught me anything it is that God has the power to do anything at anytime. There is no limits to His greatness and no limits to His plans. I confess that my faith has grown because of this year and I proclaim that God has worked some amazing things in my life in a very short amount of time. I pray God's richest blessing on you in the New Year. Have fun and enjoy all that He is giving you because it might just change your life.