2008

Well another year has come and gone. Hello 2009, let’s look back through 2008. I tried to write this as a quick read, but I put lots of links throughout if you want to read, see, watch more – which I highly recommend! Please leave us a comment when you’re done – we love hearing from all of you!

(still updating the photos & links)

2008 marked Jen & I’s 8th year of marriage. I love that we got married in 2000! Jen has been the best friend, partner, mother, wife, that I could dream of. I definitely don’t deserve her and I love her so much! This year she landed a job at Callaway Winery where she helps manage the wine club & serves in the tasting room – so make sure you tip when you go taste! She’s not blogging (yet), but you can catch her on Facebook, where she’s really started to get into the whole social media thing.

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Miles goofin off

This year Miles turned 6! I know, that’s crazy! We keep lot’s of pictures on the walls in our house and I look at the one’s where he’s 2 or 3 and it seems like yesterday. I know, people say it all the time, but he’s growing up so fast! This year he entered Kindergarten at Santa Rosa Academy – it’s a charter school, where he goes 2 days a week, the other time he’s being homeschooled. We’re really happy with his schooling right now – he’s able to go to the first grade class for reading & writing, so it’s kind of customized for his ability & he’s doing so well.

Miles also started Taekwondo this year & he’s currently a Yellow Belt. He’s also in AWANA, which is a really cool program at church where he’s learning more about the Bible and just having a blast. His favorite things are: Star Wars, Legos, Transformers, Wii (Guitar Hero, Star Wars the Force Unleashed, Wii Fit), Riding his quad, razor scooter, and bike. He’s all boy and we love him so much and are so proud of him.

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Macy looking cute

Macy is now 2. 2008 was a tough year for her, but you’d never know it by seeing her. She’s quite the little girl. Her favorite color is PINK & she’ll tell you that emphatically. She loves playing with her dolls & new tea & make up set – but not as much as she enjoys trying to score some of her brother’s toys.

As for the tough part of 2008 for her, she broke her leg in April (read backwards from this post), which didn’t heal quite right & sent us on a scary little journey for a few months. Lot’s of tests, needles, casts, x-rays, trips to San Diego, prayer, and stress. I think it was harder on Mom & Dad than Macy – she was a trooper through it all, and today you’d never know she spent 1/3 of the year in a cast! And she decided to end out the year by jumping off the couch into a coffee table which resulted in 5 stitches. I think she’s going to be our dangerous one! She’s so cute, she loves her brother and follows him around (sometimes drives him nuts). We love her so much and are enjoying watching our little girl grow.

As for me, 2008 brought about my 12th year in ministry, my 5th year at my current church, my 2nd year blogging, and my first ever Tiger Cruise. Over the past year I changed roles at my church, moving from Communications Pastor to Executive Pastor – I’m still trying to figure out what that really means, but basically, I’ve been given the responsibility of leading our staff.

In July, I had the honor of flying out to Hawaii to meet Chris Stout and ride across the Pacific Ocean on the USS Germantown as his deployment came to an end. In 7 days, I learned a ton about Chris, the Navy, and just had some cool down time. I missed my family like crazy, but it was an opportunity of a lifetime and I’m so thankful for Chris for allowing me to experience that Read more here, here, here, here & I made a little video from the trip here.

As far as the blogging goes – I still get a lot of flack for it, but I love it. Being a part of this community is a blast. I’ve made some great friends (many who I’ve never met in person). I’ve learned a ton that I never would have in my own (real life) community. I’ve had a platform to share my thoughts & life with friends and family – and it’s weird but we’re able to stay connected via the web sometimes better than in person.

So to you who’ve been a part of this community, I thank you, our family thanks you & wishes you the best for 2009. I’m totally stealing this scripture from Pete Wilson, cuz it’s a great thing to ponder as we enter a new year:

4 “Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be.
Remind me that my days are numbered—
how fleeting my life is.
5 You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand.
My entire lifetime is just a moment to you;
at best, each of us is but a breath.”
Show me, God, my life’s end. Show me the number of my days. Show me how fleeting my life is.

Psalm 39

Here’s some interesting posts from the 2008 archives:

Here’s some notable events of 2008