With 2008 coming to an end, I couldn’t help but reflect back on all that has happened to us over this past year. It was filled with both excitement and sadness as we moved and relocated to a new ministry. It provided lots of opportunities for our family to laugh and play. And it gave us much to be thankful for. Here are some highlights…
- Week-long family vacation in Florida
- Experienced Disney World and Animal Kingdom with the kids
- Worked a day as an extra in a new Ricky Gervais/Jennifer Garner movie
- Harbor of Hope participated in One Prayer with thousands of other churches
- With Lynda, had the opportunity to baptize her co-worker & friend, Robin
- Went to NYC with the kids — love to play in the city!
- Attended the Whiteboard Sessions in Reston, VA – got to hear and meet some great pastors
- Aubrey’s pre-school graduation
- Took the ferry out to the Boston Harbor Islands for the kids to play
- Reconnected with a good friend
- Got to lead worship with my great friends, John & Billy, one last time
- Said good-bye to our friends at Harbor of Hope with two great send-off parties
- Said good-bye to our home where we brought all four of our newborn children home to
- Attended my 20th high school reunion
- Drove from Lowell to Rochester with Lynda and our dog Sadie
- Saw Niagara Falls for the first time
- Began new job at RCC – Sr Associate Minister
- Packed all of our belongings in a storage unit
- Flew back to Boston for a Sojourn Collegiate board meeting
- Sold our house in Lowell
- Bought a house in Rochester
- Unpacked all of our belonging from the storage unit
- Kids started 2nd grade & kindergarten in a new school
- Our good friend Karen came to visit us from MA
- Saw Little Big Town & Carrie Underwood in concert
- Traveled to Louisville KY for meetings — got to hang with Brent Storms & Toney Salva
- More friends from MA (Amanda & Caroline) came to visit
- Joined a great small group
- Ate Thanksgiving lunch with Colin at school
- Went to Joplin MO for Thanksgiving — first time at Lynda’s parents in several years
- Still using my $50 Circle K gift card given from my Harbor of Hope friends for 69¢ diet coke purchases
- Staff Christmas party at our house
- Staff “elfing-yourself” for the weekend service
- Christmas in our new home and with almost all of our family (Eddie couldn’t come home)
I’m filled with gratitude as I write these words…and I look forward to what God has in store for us in ‘09.
(Thanks to Mark Batterson for this idea!)
