This year I am significantly delayed in detailing my thoughts for the upcoming year.¬† Its a fresh start – a rebirth of sorts, a way to make up and do-over.¬† I try to reflect on areas of my life that seem the weakest & start my listing there.¬† Since my ’08 was so consumed with working and doing church things, I barely took time for self-reflection.¬† 2007 was so precious in that I spent time “daily” in the word, challenging my body, my mind, my spirit to grow and develop.

This new year is going to be a year of ESTABLISHMENT.  A new city, a new home, a new church, new friends, a new ministry.

This is the FIRST year that I have not stopped everything for a few hours or a few days and taken that time for reflection & staking new challenges. ¬† I started feeling guilty that I had not made the ever present yearly “List.”¬† I kept pondering it in my heart, searching for the time to stop and make it happen -but it never did.¬† I feel like the moment of excitement has passed.¬† The new year is already under way.¬† So I started praying about it and just saying God you know my heart.¬† What do you want from me this year.?¬† I heard him give me a focus word for my year – a new thing – simply one word — EXCESS.¬† I beleive this year will be my year to become what God wants me to be Spiritually, Phycially, Mentally & Emotionally by shedding the “excess.”¬† I am going to seek & discover full life balance through Christ! “He gives me strength!”

We spent last night with the family, one more night.¬† We were supposed to leave yesterday afternoon, but we decided to hang around a bit longer and hit up one more “geocaching” journey with Ryan & Denise & Valerie.¬† David introduced us to this new hobby over Christmas.¬† It’s loggin in coordinances on a GPS of someone’s hidden ‘cache.” and going to find it!¬† I love it.¬† Last night was fun, we went on the Kali-Oka “Haunted Hunt” – Dead Man’s Curve, Cry Baby Bridge & The Haunted Plantation.¬† SOOOooo spooky & soo much fun.¬† I never knew the history around Keith’s parent’s local neighborhood.¬† Cry Baby Bridge has the spookiest sad story, read it here.

Sad goodbye’s last night.¬† My Sister-in-laws, have become my closest friends this year.¬† Valerie & Denise are truly sisters and I have enjoyed spending time with them.¬† Of course I will miss watching Isaiah & baby Judson.

Today we set out early.¬† Keith was shocked.¬† I was up @ 6:00 AM.¬† Ready to leave @ 8AM.¬† I’m not a morning person.¬† But today was full of potential.¬† The morning sky cracked away with glorious expectation.¬† I breathed it in.¬† Keith and I are closer than we have ever been.¬† The challenge of life has truly drawn us closer together…I’m so thankful for him and our deep friendship. People ask us all the time, what we do, why we are so close.¬† We just keep talking thru all of it.¬† The scariness of the future, our fears, our concerns, our joys our contentment – everything, we share.¬† And in everything, we listen.¬† We don’t “protect” each other by hiding the negative.¬† I think relationships gag from withholding feelings from each other.¬† I think when we make the covenant before God, he places a desire within us – that’s as evident as the ring on our hands, to come together to share and unite, but the enemy does his best to reverse that law.¬† God wants to strengthen that in us.¬† The communion inside the union is vital.¬† Even when communion is ugly, scary, embarassing, angry or unhappy – those are the ones that make for the trusting times even sweeter.¬† Kisses are always the best with tears of forgiveness and unity.¬† it’s like in that moment, life does not exist.¬† It’s just the 3 of us.¬† Keith, me and our loving Creator.

So this morning was Keith’s perfect day.¬† An early departure, a beautiful day & a stop along the way at Hardees for a biscuit!¬† He was so cute and so happy today.¬† I have not seen him this way in a really long time.¬† We were at Hardees at 8:30 on a Sunday morning.¬† Very weird.¬† We should have been rushing to church, planning a full day ahead, but rather sat back in the luxury and freedom of uninhibited time.

We arrived at mom & dad’s house just in time for KFC after church.¬† It was a good day.

We said goodbye to Keith’s family tonight.¬† It’s never easy to leave family & move away – but we know our life will be sweeetly enriched wih this move.¬†¬† His parents have given us a home for over a year now & we will forever be grateful.¬† Tomorrow morning we embark on the first day of the next journey for our lives.¬† I can’t wait!

Writing a few thank you notes tonight….in keeping up with another longing to conquer inside of me…following up with people, & sending a thank you!¬† I know it’s valuable and meaningful to actually sit down and write a few notes to people, put a stamp on it and send it out.¬† I think I’m wired so electronically – I’ve forgotten the ever importance of the pen.¬† However, I do adore the feeling of a new leather or wirebound journal in my hands, blank with a great uni-ball fine point pen.¬† It’s like potential harbored in my hands, a journey to be held, not yet explored.¬† Looking back at some of the journals I have kept and worn out, they are tattered with times gone by.¬† Memories that are quickly fading.¬† So I really love the anticipation of life ahead with a soft mix of the nostalgia of what is behind.

Back to Point.¬† Tonight I penned a few notes of cherished thanks to some who have journeyed with us this past year.¬† Over the mountains and valleys of this year – however the course may have lead – they were there.¬† God appointed, fashioned for this experience, one that only He knows the hows and whys of where it has taken us.¬† As I thought about the shear magnitude of what it means to work and live and interact with the same people each day for a year, I’m stirred by the change that takes place when we encounter relationships like this.¬† It’s like a metamorphis of sorts that takes place when we share so much of who we are with people, we share our time, our space our love and live.¬† We affect them, they affect us.¬† No matter what we expect, something will always change.¬† The bible says “Daughters, – Guard your hearts for it is the well spring of life.”¬† It is vitally important that we guard the relationships in our life, because our heart – that is the wellspring.¬† It can be pollulted or refined, depending on our environment. I choose life!

Thinking back to those that we encountered this year, the Lord gave me a scripture to best sum my heart of thanks for their provision and support this past year, Phil 1:3-6…”I thank God each time I think of you…”

Keith and I truly will thank God each time we think of them.¬† I feel like we are on “Paul’s Road” now – moving from faith to faith, reaching the church, challenging the core – seeking growth, spirit and truth, life and change.¬† Now we are on the road again, rejoicing in what lays ahead.

Hey everyone! In case you haven’t heard, we are moving to Montgomery, AL on January 10th.

Keith and I have been praying and preparing for this for a few years. It is our desire to launch out into full time evangelism, following our a brief season of rest & research, some time to prepare for the journey.

Of course, leaving our sweet friends and our fun roles at the church in Saraland has NOT been easy…we are wealthy millionaires with the relationships we have gained over the past year. It will always be home in our heart.

So, what is Evangelism you might ask? That simply means our hearts are full for winning souls and seeing the church grow through discipleship, which is real relationship among believers. Traveling from place to place, using our gifts and talents to further the kingdom will be a highly rewarding journey.

Right now, we are still finalizing our next employment opportunities and living arrangments in central Alabama, but should have something soon. We will be close to my parents again & will be attending their church, Bethel Worship Center in Wetumpka.

This is something that is new and exciting for us and we ask that you keep us in your prayers as God continues to guide us in His ways.

Thanks! We love you all!