Wild year. One that is hard to encapsulate in a post. Shannon and I were talking on the drive to my parents for Christmas of what we did together in each of our 8 past Christmases. I could not remember last year, but Shannon remembered that our friends the Joneses watched Jacob, my parents watched Ava and Shannon and I took a “stay-cation” taking day trips to different parts of Tennessee. “That was last year. Just 12 months ago?” I replied. It seemed so, so long ago.

So much has happened in 12 months that it is hard to believe it all occured in the same year. Not just living in 3 different places, but our mindsets. In Springfield, knowing only that we didn’t know what our future direction should be. Going to Orange Beach in hopes of finding that answer, but unsure of when and how that answer would present itself. In Franklin, with a clear vision for our future but new challenges in our new lifestyle.

So many people tell you that time flies and that your life, especially with your children, passes too fast. Maybe I will hold that view at some point in my future, but I am 34 now, with a 7 1/2 year marriage, a 5 year old and a nearly 2 year old. My verdict: time is just creeping on and it is great that way. Jacob at 5 years of age, ready to start kindergarten in less than a year; yea, that sounds right. Hasn’t flow by to me. Nearly 8 years with Shannon; I seems longer because I can’t imagine life without my wonderful soulmate.

One thing I am probably going to regret later is using this quote from an 80s movie. At the end of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Ferris says: “Life moves pretty fast. You don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” Everyone seems to agree with the sentiment of how fast life moves, but many don’t apply the solution Ferris suggests. You have to make a concentrated effort to look around to keep your perspective. By looking around, I mean really thinking about what is happening in your life. Going back and trying to recount how you got there, like Shannon and I did trying to remember our past Christmases. But not just now and then, but fairly regularly. Sometimes looking at the big picture but other times looking at the immediate past. It is something I try to do, and I testify that it generally works.

I confess that some periods of your life are a bit more “ordinary” than others which makes it harder to recall, but that also means there are periods of your life which are quite extraordinary. 2009 has been that year. The greatest gifts I received this year, in order:

1. Jacob’s salvation.

2. Seeing the healing of grief in Shannon’s life

3. Receiving direction from God on moving to First Baptist Nashville and our new family direction.

4. Having a wild and unpredictable year which made my 12 months of living seem like 2-3 years of life.

My worst fear apart from the death or harm for my family is having a life without abundance. Without fullness or depth or excitement or challenges or opportunities or goals.  A mundane existence where the days blended together and your life feels like it is flying by you without you making an impact on it or it making an impact on you. 2009 was anything but my worst fear.

Predictions for 2010? Yea, right. Could I have predicted 2009? I won’t even try and make a fool of myself by doing that. But that is the fun of it. I don’t know what is in store and I can’t wait to find out.

My little daughter is probably the toughest 30 inch tall person you will meet. She wears a life jacket at the beach which has a strap which in effect makes it a small leash to hold on to her which is very useful. If you don’t, she will take off and run into the water and the waves. She loves being in the waves and trying to swim. Super duper cute. Yesterday, Shannon was not holding to her leash but standing right by her as she stood just in the water letting the small waves hit. However, a big wave suddenly came in and knocked her down face first into the sand. Shannon went over to pick her up, but Ava just got up, smiled and when “ahh.”

Water was still warm which is not too surprising as we have been consistently in the 80s-90s so far. Hardly anyone was there which is the big plus of living down here in the off season. I do miss a traditional Fall as it is probably my favorite season, but I also enjoy the long Summer. I am been grateful for the experience. One of our reasons for coming here was to experience a tropical life even for just a year, and it has not disappointed. When we moved down here, we specially looked forward to October and November here. So far, so good.

Fall may actually be coming this weekend. Saturday is projected to be sunny with high of 65 and low of 48, first time getting to the 40s. All next is projected to still have highs in the upper 70s.

We will be renting in a  townhome community about 2 miles from the beach. Here are some shots from our new home, at least the model townhome the property uses to showcase itself. We will have the same 3 bedroom/2 bath layout. Good times, good times.