Something about the clock turning midnight and once year we make new goals and plans.  We list all the things we want to change about us and the world around us. It happens once a year - New Years Eve.  But I’m not ready to put 2007 behind me, I think I can learn a lot about 2008 from it.

I think 2007 has taught me a lot.  January I learned I was having a little girl and I think I got soft.  Not bad soft, but “grandfather” soft.  If you knew my papa Goad (mom’s dad) who had three girls (no boys) you would understand - good soft.  February and March are big months for Summer and I because you have Valentine’s day and our anniversary.  We both think during February and March we grew closer and learned to harmonize better together.  Nothing external really changed but having a baby together really brings two lives together into one.  The month of May was huge for us because Tatum was born (late).  Our world turned upside down and I will never look back to life without her.  June life slowed way down.  We had a baby and I turned thirty and I feel old (I hope wiser).  But you know what they say - thirty is the new twenty. August I did something opposite of most dads - I started staying home with Tatum on Thursday and Friday.  Something I will always remember and cherish - Daddy/Daughter Days. September we decided to leave Southwest Family Fellowship, probably prematurely?  But it was the timing of God.  I also watched a good friend leave Austin and move out of state.  I learned that friends aren’t cheap and value them when their near.  October we decided to start a church and put our house on the market, November we decided to slow down and wait on starting a church, and December we just waited (do we go/stay, will our house ever sale, what does God want us to do?).  Our 2007 taught me many lessons but the most important was God & family are first - everything else needs to get inline.

What I look for in 2008?  We decided to get completely out of debt.  Everything goes - car debt, student loan debt, credit card debt, house debt!  If we had to ask someone else to use their money to support our life style it is being repaid in full (plus some…interest).  We both are working toward losing weight - me more than Summer (she doesn’t have anything to lose).  We looking at our family time as more valuable than our social time, but I’m personally working harder on friendships.  I’ve always had this fear I will fail my friends so I let few get close - but that is a horrible way to live (without friends).

Here is what I’m asking God about 2008.  Where will we be (location) in December 2008?  Who will I meet this year that I have role in their life to play and the same for them?  Where will we get the money to pay off 100% of our debt?  How will we live after we are debt-free?  What happened to my life purpose - to start churches?  Is my life purpose evolving?  How can Summer and I embrace our purpose together?

Sometimes we have more questions than answers.

Sincerely,
Chris

Categories: life