2009!

As I sit in the living room with family I have not seen in years in a room that changed over this year, I reflect upon this past year and all that it has brought. 2009 was certainly a year of change - from losing my car to falling in love, getting engaged, moving, two more semesters accomplished and a crazy part-time job - and I learned and have grown so much from it all.

There seems to be something at the end of the year that causes us to look back on what was and look forward to what is to come. It's a very powerful force that causes us to want to change ourselves, our situations, problems, and discover new opportunities. I am excited and look forward to all that 2010 has in store for me, my family, and my wife-to-be Sunnee. Although 2009 was a very tough and changing year for us all, it is encouraging to look back and see God in it all - to be reminded of His goodness and faithfulness in the lives of His children.

I am so excited to get married in 2010, to buy my first house, to accomplish two more semesters at school, to go to Uganda with Sunnee, and to experience, treasure, and enjoy every little moment God gives me to love and be loved. Life is such a blessing and is so fragile. Lord, in this new year, help me to treasure all that you have given me. I hope to seize everything 2010 has to offer!

Breaking Through

It's funny how I get home and eat Top Ramen, but when I'm at school I don't eat it . . . go figure.

I cannot believe this year has almost come to a close; 2009 has flown by! It brought with it a lot of changes. I am hoping and believing for even greater in 2010. Lately, I have been really thinking/hoping/praying for a break through in this season I am walking in. It is very tiresome and I am growing weary. I know I must trust in Him to see me through though. Please pray that with this new year comes the job I have been praying for. I know He is faithful and will work His plan out.

Grandpa and grandma are here visiting for roughly 4 weeks. It is nice having them here and spending time with them; I have not seen them in over a year and a half. It snowed yesterday, as I was on my way home driving from Florida. I arrived here in flip-flops, not the best choice of footwear for snow! I survived though and spent today at church picking up sheep and donkey poop in the hallways. Oh how I love Christmas time! :)

Exam Week

So today I took 3 of my 7 exams. I already took 1 on Sunday the 13th for my Tidewater Community College online math class. My final grade: an 89.18%. I am so heated. Oh well.

Today, I took Accounting, Principles of Management, and Personal Finance (That's my kind of day!!). By Friday evening, I will have another 20 credits under my belt. That means I'll have 86 down and only 42 more to go!! Waa-Hoo!!

So lately Sunnee and I have been looking at houses around Lakeland. There are some seriously good deals down here! Florida was one of the worst states to be hit in the Real Estate bubble burst. I think it was the second or third highest state with foreclosures. Thus, the home prices have hit rock bottom; and with the government extending the $8,000 tax credit into next year, buying a home is a rather appealing thing right now... To be honest, we have seen the Lord in all of this: from making the decision to get married to looking for a home to trying to find jobs in our fields. God is so faithful - let me encourage you, when you trust God and take a step of faith in the direction you know He is calling you, He will show Himself strong on your behalf!

There is one house in particular that I have really been praying for. It's right next to campus and is a steal of a deal. It needs some TLC, but I would be totally willing to put some time and energy into it! I am really praying hard about it. Please stand in prayer with me!

I will drive home Saturday morning (13 hour drive!) to Virginia and come back to Florida around January 8th. Not looking forward to the cold weather but I am certainly looking forward to seeing family and seeing my grandparents whom I haven't seen in almost 2 years!

Update

I seem to have less and less time as time continues; and because of that, my blog suffers.

Quick update: I am taking 20 credits this semester (never again!), leading a freshman mentorship group of 10 guys, preparing to lead a team to Uganda in June 2010, and helping to plan and pay for a wedding. Crazy? Just a little. I am praying for a job for next semester, particularly somehere in finance or accounting. I want to use my education! Looking forward to getting home for Christmas, Grandpa and Grandma will be visiting for a few weeks.