Looking back on 2008

Looking back at the last year, I just make a list of the things that occurred – places I got to go, things I got to see and just normal things in life that happened. They’re in no particular order…just as I thought of them.

-I started a new job January 2, 2008 working for an architectural firm…quite different from the construction company atmosphere and mindset, but I’m still doing about the same kind of work. I really like the company I work for and the people I work with are a lot of fun. It’s not a chore to go into work and we actually have a lot of fun most days.

-I went missing! (If you don’t know this story, ask my Mamaw…or my parents…or my cousin Jen…or my friend Shannon (and her parents!)…or my cousin Jamie…or either of my “Mexican Uncles”…they were all involved in “Operation Find Mel” – although I was safe and sound playing Wii at my friend’s house!

-The never-ending battle between my office-mate and I started when I had him believing that I quit...because of him…the boss helped out by sending an office-wide e-mail about my resignation…and thus the war began…it was priceless (and still is each time I do something new to him!)

-I chopped my hair off (and played a joke on my mom with it – like my ponytail fell off – very funny!)…when did I become such a prankster?

-Shannon and I took a mini-vacation to our favorite little spot in South Carolina – Fripp Island. We had the best time just relaxing and riding around the island on our little golf cart that I swear only went about 2 miles an hour. I think I could have outrun it. It was a fun Girls Get-Away!

-I became a Creative Memories Consultant! I did a total of four shows last year, but it was enough to keep my quota up…although I think I supported my own habit a little too.

-My parents and I toured three Major League Ballparks on a 4 day whirl-wind trip that started by flying to Baltimore to tour Oriole Park at Camden Yards, followed by a bus ride to New York City to sight-see and catch a bonus tour of the Old Yankee Stadium before being torn down. Then we rode another bus to Boston and entered the Promised Land where we were truly in Red Sox Nation as we toured Fenway Park and cleaned out their gift shop (not really cause that place was massive). But we did have to buy an extra bag to get all our Red Sox Souvenirs home! Then we boarded a bus back to NYC to finish sight-seeing there and then bussed our way backed to Baltimore to fly back to Louisville. Whew...I’m exhausted all over again! But it was well worth it.

-My Dad and I got to witness the PRP baseball team win the State Championship which took me back to 8th grade when my brother was playing for the same team in 1994 and they won the tournament for the first time! Panther blood will always run through my veins in some shape or form and while things change over the years and you can’t completely re-capture the magic of watching your older brother receive a medal around his neck for such an outstanding performance, you can still relive it in your memories when the next generation does the same thing.

-My car broke down on the way home from Lexington after my stroll down memory lane (mentioned in the previous point). My dad and I were stranded for a while, but hey – it was Father’s Day, so we got in some good quality time, albeit sitting on a concrete barrier on the side of I-64.

-I was blessed to attend Passion Regional: Atlanta as a volunteer. It was really cool to be behind the scenes this time and I’m pretty sure I found my calling in life, if only I could convince Louie Giglio of the same thing! I got to help with setting up the dressing rooms and green rooms back stage (among LOTS of other things – this just seemed pretty cool to mention). I was able to attend the entire conference as well – I was doing crowd control in the main auditorium so I was in there for every session. Between the worship and the speakers, my heart was blessed and I’m pretty sure I floated right home on a cloud.

-My brother, Brad, accepted a job as a Pastor back in Kentucky – so now they are only about 3.5 hours away instead of 6! YAY! Plus they’re back in the old stomping grounds of college days and living next to a corn field – quite a different pace of life then ATL, but a much needed one I believe. I’m excited for what the Lord is fulfilling in my brother and his ministry. There is still much yet to come for him. Plus his church has potlucks! Oh how I miss a whole table of Mac N Cheese and Hash Brown Casserole! My home church got too big to do potlucks a few years back, but I was in heaven at Brad’s church when on his first Sunday to preach there they had a potluck lunch afterwards.

-I finally purchased a fancy-schmancy digital camera! I have a little “point and shoot” deal that I carry around in my purse, but I was still using a film camera when I wanted to take the really good shots. And let’s face it, film is next to extinct. So, I got myself a good deal at Best Buy and took the plunge. I couldn’t be more excited! Now I just have to figure out what all those buttons do…

-I put my house up for sale…the Lord really placed a strong desire in me to move (still not sure if it’s just across town or what), but nevertheless I wanted to be obedient to Him and where He might be taking me, so I put up the sign. But then after absolutely no luck (not one person came to look!), I took the sign down for the Holidays and the winter months. I will be praying about what to do in the Spring, but I’m still pretty sure of my original decision…selling the house will really free me up to be able to go when the Lord says go!...even if it is just to the East End of the ‘Ville!

-I started a blog! Things in me are changing a lot…and I like where they are going. I’ve never been so introspective and studious in all my life. I even read for fun now! Although I still have trouble sorting through my thoughts (because they get all jumbled up in my head), I really enjoy sitting and pondering life and writing down what I am learning about it.

-I have started attending a new church. At age 29, I decided I needed to find a group of people that were at the same life-stage as me. I had still been pretty involved in the college group at my home church and have some great friends there…but I was 10 years older than half of them! I loved being an older presence in that class and getting to share life with them, but I just really needed a group of friends that were past the college stage of life. I’m so glad that I went searching because the Lord provided me with a great group of folks to learn from each Sunday. I have made lots of new friends and I love the teaching style of my ABF class.

-I was blessed to be able to work a 32 hour work week for about 3 months. Things had slowed down a little at work and honestly, I was just getting restless. So, I approached my boss about the possibility of only working 4 days a week for a while…and he obliged! So, for three months, I was able to study a lot more, get some extra things done around the house, and occasionally just enjoy having an extra day to sleep in. I have since gone back to 40 hours because things at work started picking back up and I needed a little boost in the finances, but I’m so glad I was able to do it for a while and hope that I will have the chance again sometime this year.

-2008 was my last full year in my 20’s. Yup, I will turn 30 this year. It’s official. I’m getting old. This really doesn’t freak me out, but it just makes me realize how quickly time is passing. The fact that I can say “oh, that was 20 years ago” blows my mind. It makes me really want to take advantage of life…not waste a single second.

-I got to go to Kiddo Camp this year! I had been wanting to go as a counselor for several years now but it had never worked out. But 2008 was the year! I had a great, but dramatic group of 5th grade girls who shrieked at Wasps in the cabin, whispered about boys into the wee small hours of the morning, wore my patience thin at times with how catty they could be to each other and blessed my heart with how sweet their voices sounded singing to the Lord or reading a Bible verse. I even had one girl ask Jesus into her heart! The highlight of my week was when the skies opened up in a torrential down-pour and all 150 kids and 30 some odd adults had to sit around the mess hall and just enjoy each other’s company and play impromptu games and sing fun songs. See, sometimes interruptions can be a blessing.

So there ya are....my highlights (and some low-lights!) from 2008. I'm glad that life is about the daily things and that beauty and fun and meaning can be found in those things. As another year is behind me and I look at this full year ahead, I am excited and hopeful and expectant about what it will bring. The Lord isn't through with me yet and actually, I believe He's only just begun.