2008 End of the Year Review

Here are a few thoughts and happenings from the year of 2008:

If you had told me this time last year that the Giants would win the Super Bowl, I would have said you were nuts. But, the other Manning brother carried them through, and beat the giant New England Patriot team.

We saw a resurgence of the Lakers/Celtics Rivalry in the NBA. The Memphis Tigers almost won the NCAA March Madness Title. They lost to Kansas in OT.

David Cook won American Idol. This was the first season I had ever watched it from beginning to end. I really enjoyed it, and the winner as well. His new album is pretty top notch as well.

I realized in May-July of the summer of 08 that Youth Ministry and having a new baby don't really mix in the best of ways. Its hard to totally devote yourself to two really big things in your life. It was a challenge, and I don't know if I'll ever truly master it. I do know that I have great admiration and respect for those youth ministers with multiple children who still do their jobs so well.

We had our first child in May. Josie Layne was born on May 27th weighing in at 7 pounds 11 ounces. She was 19 1/2 inches long. She is the best thing that has ever happened to me in my life. She is a joy and a blessing from God.

Kristen and I celebrated five years of marriage on September 13. There is not a better woman on the face of the earth. She is patient, loving, kind, and the best mother in the entire world. God knew that I needed someone who could constantly lift me up, and she is the one that does so.

In October, we took our first family vacation in about 4 years by ourselves. We've been on to a few places with the in laws, and those were wonderful, but we hadn't been anywhere by ourselves in such a long time. We spent a week in Gulf Shores, doing absolutely nothing, watching the Hurricane pass by, and enjoying doing whatever else came into our heads. We ate a whole lot of seafood.

My beloved Yankees didn't even make it to the playoffs, even though they had a payroll of about $900 Trillion. They finished behind the Red Sox and TAMPA BAY!!! However in the offseason, they finally signed some pitchers, and even added arguably the best 1st baseman in the game today.

The start of college football brought a new found Alabama Crimson Tide. They finished with one loss on the season, coming in the SEC Championship game to Florida. Congrats to Saban and the Tide.

The Tennessee Titans, amidst what is thought to be the toughest conference in the AFC, went undefeated until the Jets rolled into town about 10 weeks in to the season. They finished first in the AFC, with a first round bye and home field advantage throughout the playoffs. What a difference a year makes! Go Titans!

Several things happened to friends this year. Jason McKnight and his wife Jenny had a little boy, Jonathan McKnight and his wife Rebecca had a little girl, Richard Willis got married, Kevin Westmoreland returned from China, and now he his roommate Kyle are planning on going back, after Kyle gets married to Rebecca Harp (coming June of 09).

We elected our first African American president in 08 by voting for Barack Obama. While I personally did not vote for Obama, I am confident that God will bless him. The sad part about it is that so many people I know, including many Christians and family members, have let their racism slip and let it be known that they will not support him. Sadly, I've heard the beginning to more racist jokes (I leave or step aside if I know they're coming) since Obama has been elected than I have in my entire life. Do me a favor, and please don't tell the racist jokes around me. Have a little class, and instead of telling a racist joke, why not pray that God will use Barack Obama to unite our nation and bring peace, reduce poverty and hunger in the world, and make things the best they can be??

Not all things are the most positive of happenings:

We lost several people at our church this year. Our beloved Jennie Finley and Mack Whitaker were two of many who passed on this year.

About a week ago, my wife and I made a hard decision to adopt out our beloved little pug Chloe. Since Josie has born, she had spent more time in her crate, in the hallway, or in the Kennel than she had with us. We love her dearly, and for that reason we decided to put her up for adoption through a local agency that is absolutely wonderful.

2008 saw declining health for several family members. My grandparents on my father's side or rapidly declining in health. He had a stroke a few years ago, and my grandmother is getting weaker and weaker. Kristen's Granny and Pa in Tallasee, AL are also experiencing some health problems.

2008 will be a wonderful year to remember for years to come, but now its time to bring on 2009. God bless 09 and thank God for the wonderful 08.