I was going to write a “Year in Review” post but decided against it. I was going to do it by month and write about the things that happened in each month. Most of this year has been more amazing than I could ever describe with words, but there were some unpleasant times also. While typing about some of those, I decided that it was time to put them behind me and not rehash them anymore. I figure most people that know me or who will read this already know most of the “gory” details anyway.
I decided instead to just make a little list of things that happened this year in the order they happened without all of the detail the other post contained. Without further ado, here it is, 2008 in a nutshell.
- I got a divorce
- I started new, deeper relationships with my boys
- I got to live with my sister for about 2.5-ish months, it was good
- I met the most amazing woman in the most amazing way
- I spent around 4k-5k minutes on the phone with Rhoni in maybe 2-3 months (both AT&T so it was “free” …woot!!)
- On Fathers Day, I talked to my Dad for the first time since 2002 and more than I had talked to him in the previous 11 years
- At the end of June, I traveled to Indianapolis and got to meet Rhoni and make plans to move her to Boise
- At the end of July I flew, one way, to Indianapolis, helped pack a car, drove to Missouri to pick up Rhoni’s son, and drove us all back to Idaho
- In the middle of August, I saw my Dad for the first time since 2002 when he came to visit
- On September 15th, Rhoni and me attended The Pursuit for the first time
- Mid -October, I was moved from St. Lukes to the Diocese of Boise
- Somewhere in October, Rhoni realized that God still loved her and was pursuing a relationship with her, this was the highlight of my year and one of the most amazing things for me to witness in my life
- Attended the Membership 101 class at The Pursuit
- Rhoni and I decided that we needed to set a good example for our kids & friends by living godly lives and made the changes needed to fulfill that need
- Planning a wedding, unofficially at this point
- My first Thanksgiving with my “restored & new” family
- Calling my future Father-in-law on Christmas Eve to ask permission to marry his daughter
- Proposing to Rhoni at Grandmas house and hearing her say, “Yes”
- My first Christmas with my “restored & new” family
2008 was probably the hardest and most wonderful year in my life up to this point. I watched my marriage of 10 years end, I watched a father reconcile with his mother & daughter, I spent my first holidays ever away from my kids, I met the woman of my dreams in World of Warcraft, I felt the separation that 2400 miles creates, I found an amazing church and an even more amazing church family, and lastly, and most importantly, I was shown what a loving and faithful God we have.
The gifts that God has given me this year have far outweighed the trials I’ve had to go through. He gives me these gifts, not because I deserve them, not because He has to, but because He loves me in a crazy, insane way.
God is faithful…thats the bottom line.
