It has been an interesting year in my life – I was very sick earlier this year. Dale might want to go more in depth at a later date. As I look back at not only the major decisions but also the everyday decision I have done this year, I have seen a growth in my life.

One of best decisions I made this year was to make friends with a young mother named Niki. We spent quite a bit of time together, most of it at a café in the Virginia Museum of Nature History here in Martinsville. Most of the time was spent just talking about nothing important. I tell people that Niki was my sanity. Those who know her laugh when they hear that. It was in those times with Niki that I remembered why Dale and I are in ministry. Sometimes you can you’re your focus on why God called you. It was a place and time that I did not feel like I was being judged. Also she liked talking about that military as much as I do.

I have tried new things this year. Dale and I were taken to Japanese restaurant. It was the first time I have ever eaten Japanese food – it was very good. We got to live on a military base for a few days this summer, where I was yelled at by MP. I have started helping Dale with this blog, learned to like yogurt, live without chocolate and McDonald’s fries.

This year our oldest daughter went off to college and we are learning how to live with an adult child. There are times when I do make mistakes.

Then there are those moments where I should have stopped and think before I said something or did something — like the time I lost my Marines t-shirt. I took some time to look for it but I also went off the wall because I thought one of the girls took it. After Anna found it in the basement; I apologized to the girls.

For the most part I think I have done well this year and I know there are still some things I need to work on in the year 2008. Have you taken time to reflect on the life that you lived in the year 2007?