Well, you may have to bare with me during this post! I might ramble a little, but I am just sitting here thinking about this last year and decided to try to put some thoughts down. When I think back to where Stephen and I were on Jan. 1, 2008...I am amazed. We have had an incredibly eventful year. One that sort of makes you tired when you look back on it! : )
In January of 2008, I was still working at ACU, Stephen and I lived in Aspen Place and Stephen was starting his last semester of grad school. Just one month later...big changes! I left ACU and we moved! It was an adventure to live downtown, and I really enjoyed getting to experience a different type of job...I learned a lot and made some great friends. THEN...we began the 3 month period of being out of town on the weekends. Seriously, it was crazy! We had friends getting married, and then both my brother and my cousin got married out of town...more trips. We got so used to packing up and driving back and forth on I-20. My sister graduated from college down in Huntsville, TX too! One of those out of town weekends was spent visiting with and interviewing with a potential church for Stephen to be a minister at. Within a week of that, we knew where we were going to go next. And, then it was time to move again. This one was sad. And, happy. We were excited about what lay ahead, but sad to leave so many friends. Just before the move, Stephen graduated from ACU for the second time. His grad school education was such a blessing to us, and I was really proud of him!
So, we moved here right in the middle of a youth minister's busiest season....SUMMER! We took several trips with the kids, planned our first big lock-in and enjoyed spending time with our families more often.
THEN...I started grad school! I feel like the big transitions in life just kept coming and coming...
Of course, I am focusing on the good or exciting things...because those are fun to talk about. We had our fair share of tough times this past year too. Yet, we still believe that God loves us, and that He is bigger and more magnificent than we can even imagine. Our faith and our hope is in Him. We aren't promised an easy life, but we are promised certain joy in sadness, and I find joy in knowing that I am a stronger person after the trials of 2008, that Stephen and I are more in love and are stronger together, and in knowing that I am now more equipped than I was before to help others.
So yes, just as I warned, I have sort of rambled. I am excited about 2009. I am happy this year to say goodbye to 2008 and to look ahead. Stephen actually preached for the first time on a Sunday morning this last Sunday (it is streaming online too)! He was anxious the night before, but did an incredible job...and when he got up there, he looked SO calm. In his sermon, he reminded all of us that above everything that we do, everything we strive for...Jesus is first. That by Him, through Him, and for Him, everything was created. Nothing else is more important to focus on. I want to try to live in 2009 like Jesus truly is the most important part of my life.
And, I guess to end my post, I will leave you with a few pictures to say Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year to you!

My parents beautiful tree this year. I LOVE Christmas trees...the lights are my favorite

Stephen and I as we rang in the new year last night. We joined our friends from church for a sports-themed new year's party. I sported my Boys jersey...even though they embarrassed me during the last game, I am still a fan. Stephen sported his Ultimate Frisbee shirt!

Friends that we spent New Years Eve with! We had a blast...Wii Tennis, Wii Fit (this was hilarious), catch phrase, buzzword, and lots of great food and conversation)
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!