Looking back over this past year, I had logged more than 300 or so miles of running. To some that isn't a lot, but to me, that is a freakin crap load and an accomplishment. This has been a year of trials, a year of starting over. A year of getting my feet wet in Seminary!!! A year of opening communication with your best friend who is half way around the world fighting for our country. A year in which I watch my cousin's kids grow up when there dad was also over fighting the war for our country.

A year ago I created a list of what I wanted to do over this past year. Now looking back, I am amazed in a sense of all that I did accomplish, but still finding out that I did not follow up on some things as much as I wanted. No big deal there is always next year right.....

As I start to reflect on this year more, I can only think of one way to truly begin and that is by thanking Tim Stewart. You see, Tim and I go way back. I do not think it was until this year when he was shipped half way around the world that our friendship really grew. I have always seen Tim as one of the most faithful and respectable men of Christ. I continue to hold that and can even more now. Tim, your conversations till the early mornings have been amazing and continue to be. Thank you so much for the questions asked and for answering or helping me answer some things. You truly are a man of God who fully is finding his way throughout this world and what he has to do to make it a better place for the kingdom. I look forward to when you get home. Know that you have a lot of family and friends continuing to pray for you and anticipating your return. HH-->

I sort of have this problem. I am someone who wants answers right away. Better yet, someone telling me or helping me find the answers. Seminary is taking that thought process out of me. This has been my biggest thing this year, starting Seminary. I do not know if I can put into words what my mind and thought process has gone through. How I have been challenged in so many ways. I heard it best when one of my profs said, "You (the class) walk into class with an orientation to what you know, what seems to happen is a disorientation and our job is to reorient you as the semester ends." I think I would push that a step farther and say that reorientation might come later in the other classes I will be taking. This is a continuing hard thing for me to learn, considering I want all the answers right away. Meeting others has been a great thing also in my beginnings of Seminary. I look forward to what the future holds in my studies and growth within Seminary.

I hate moving, I seem to do it a lot and this year was no exception. My almost two years spent in Chicago came to end around March. Due to some circumstances within my household(my fault), I then moved to St. Louis for a few months with my sister. It went from a tough transition of living on my own, to living with my sister, and then eventually moving home. I don't mind living at home. My parents have been so loving and amazing to let me come back into there home. It is a house, but the principle behind being 26 and living with your parents, kind of tough.
This has been another year of holding jobs for short amounts of time. I can say that I continue to try new things with jobs. I was able to work outside in landscaping all summer. I continue to search for that perfect job of doing exactly what I want and when I want........can't we all dream somewhat.

I look back to a year of transition for me. I have grown in faith and trust of Christ in so many ways. I start more firm in areas that I did not think I could. My thought process of learning and understanding continues to be chipped away with every class or every conversation I have with friends--thanks Simkins and Luz, you truly have added a "post-modern", or call it what you want to this conservation brain of mine. I continually look forward to what lies ahead for each of you. Luz thank you also for letting me come along side of you and work at the church. It has been really cool to work with someone who has ideas beyond my thoughts and sees the bigger picture of life in more colors than I have ever noticed.

Finally this year has brought me two little blessings in the life of my cousin's kids. If and when I learn to download pics, I want you all to see how precious and beautiful these kids are. Nothing can put into words hearing a child's laugh and taking away all that could be wrong for you at that time. I cannot even begin to tell you the countless times I spent rolling around on the floor, dancing to the wiggles, watching dora, and honestly loving ever minute of it with those kids. It has been hard to see these kids grow up while there dad is in Iraq, but my selfish side has enjoyed every bit of time I spend with them.

I leave you all with this from a book I got today on Christmas:

"It's no secret that I like to get to know people-and not just the outside stuff of their lives. I like to try to understand the meaning of who people are and what they're saying to me." The World According to Mister Rogers

My life is always going to be on the run. It is a good thing I have got a great pair of running shoes and a partner to always run with me.