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T-Minus 2 hours and 40 minutes…and counting….Becky and I are sitting on our couch listening to Classical music and fiddling around with different projects. By the way, this would be thing #378 that I never knew about Becky: she is not a big fan of the New Years Eve party scene; not that I am but still, i wouldn’t have pegged her as a stay at home with the husband on NYE type of girl. To be totally honest, there is no other place (or party for that matter) that I would rather be at then right here spending a quite night at home.

Anyway, this being the last post of the year and all, I was trying to think of something really inspiriong to say that would be a fitting conclusion to this year and, per usual, nothing came to mind. The thing that did keep rolling around in the back of my head was that for the first year since I can remeber (so like 27 years) I am ready for a new year. There is simply nothing else that i could pack into 2007. It was so jammed pack full of blessing after blessing and trial after trail that I can’t imagine one more thing taking place! Here is the very brief recap:

1. I got married to the girl of my dreams in a wedding that I couldn’t begin to dream of followed by a honeymoon that was more special than i could have hoped. (this one was kind of a biggie)

2. I switched jobs & more or less careers. I went from a Producer at a film company to a Creative Director leading a team of creatives’ and directing a weekly sitcom.

3. I moved…again! and I moved Becky…again! (this one has been happening far to often over the past few years!!)

4. Did I mention that we planned a wedding by ourselves??

5. I turned one year older (this one has been also happening regular over the last few years)

6. We got a new baby! (See “We are expecting!!“)

7. I learned that God’s mercy is overflowing, especially when you have a performance go horrible wrong in front of your new senior pastor. (just beginning to laugh about that one)

8. While most of the above items are physical, the spiritual has been truly a comfort this year. God has deepened my relationship with Him in so many ways, yet in such a way that i see the need to go twice as deep with Him this next year!

9. Umm….I gained another sister, mom, and dad..err..”Chief!”

I am so tired (and overwhelmed with all that He did) that I can’t really think of all the other blessings and trials that I had this year but it has been one amazing roller coster that I would have never survived but for the grace of God and His might strength.

Yes, it is true. Becky and I have been praying and thinking a lot about this and I am happy to announce that we will be welcoming a new addition to our family. It was a little touch and go there because the first couple of times, things didn’t click as it were. But we just got the confirmation that everything has “gone through” and we are to be the proud parents of ‘little’ 35lbs. Hannah. Here is our first picture of her:

That is right! This ‘little’ bundle of joy will be coming to live with us the day after Christmas. Amy and Kenny from Border Collie Rescue brought her by yesterday for a few hours for her and Harley to get aquatinted and for them to check our her new digs. They were absolutely amazing as was Hannah! I don’t think Harley has ever had that much fun. In fact, Becky and I both woke up this morning actually missing her even though she had only been here for a few hours.

UPDATE:

Here is some more info on Hannah… Please go check out the BCRT Website!

BCRT Adoption Ad (Original)

PetFinder Adoption Ad (Original)

Her Photo Slide Show from here foster parents: Here

Doug is always trying to teach me about “the funny”…for example, i ahve learned that comedy comes in threes and that there is usually a straight man (stoic) in funny comedy duos… I believe that I can be that Man…

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTA8irOMQQg[/youtube]

Jarrod showed this to me…I was rolling….with tears. Make sure you listen to it all the way through…

Click Here

Just a few pictures while were shopping at the Apple Store…

I know this article references Prestonwood and that there is a great picture, but to be honest, the best part of this article is the background that it gives Mike Huckabee. I had no idea he was a Minister or his extensive background in politics. He is definitely a front runner for my support.

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Ok, so all I did was change the header image…but it is the thought that counts! Merry Christmas!!

Staci just called to tell me about this shooting at New Life Church…the really wierd thing is that Becky and I were just talking about what an easy target most churches would be for a gunman. Even at Prestonwood, where the security is some of the best I have ever seen, I am sure that they worry about this type of thing all the time. On a side note, I am praying for not just the victims but also for the gunman and his family.

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I was trying to figure out how to keep certain documents private, especially since this is a company computer. If anything happened to it, i wouldn’t want passwords or sensitive files to get out and this is a pretty easy way to have a “folder/drive” that is updateable. Just click on the “read more” link below to see how this guy does it.
One thing thought, Don’t save the password for the .dmg file to your keychain…that kinda defeats the purpose.

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To say tonight’s performance went much better is an understatement…all of the performers were right on cue and all the technical aspects went off without a hitch. I mean regardless of the “wheels off” hole we were in, tonight’s performance was great by any standards. And it was all because of God’s graciousness and the strength He gave us to use the gifts He gave us.

Now was tonight more of a success than last night? To be honest I don’t think it was any more of a success than last night. It certainly went smoother and all of my bosses were much happier…but that is not success to me. Success is God being presented and glorified; Success is giving our plans to God and leaving the results to Him; Success is praying for God to be honored in what we do and leaving the outcome to Him.

I am so thankful that both nights were a success.

Tonight was the first night(since being at my new job) that I have experienced what I would consider failure…there was a small play that was I was directing as part of a Christmas evening and to say that it didn’t go well is an understatement. There was a lot of technical issues, people going over other peoples cues, the music selections were not the best (definitely my fault). There are tons of excuses why, not the least of which was not having proper dress rehearsals; not that they weren’t planned, but at the last minute they were moved around and interrupted outside of my control.
However, none of that changes the fact that it is my responsibility to make sure that regardless of what happens or doesn’t happen prior to the opening line, that the show goes off without a hitch. Needless to say, I am really disappointed in this evening. In reality the majority of the issues were with tech not with anyone up on stage. In fact, the performers did a great job, especially considering the lack of rehearsal time. And the fact that the tech side was to blame makes it even more on my shoulders.

But….

The one thing that Becky keeps reminding me and that is whispered in a still small voice in my spirit is that none of this caught God by surprise. Not the fact that this was the night the Senior Pastor was there, not the fact that there were also over 750 people, not the fact that I am sure there were some non-beleivers watching, nor the fact that this was a presentation of His Sons’ birth. (In fact, I would almost expect failure simply because there is to much potential for me to think that I am to credit if everything had gone off without a hitch) And I turned this show over to Him from the very beginning: both the areas I had control over and those I didn’t. Now prayer and giving a project to the Father is never an excuse to not put forth a 110% effort; but somethings I simple can’t control and regardless, I MUST trust in the fact that He will use this show somehow to bring glory to Himself. I MUST trust in the fact that He will guide the show this evening and while I am going to do everything I can to avoid the mishaps of tonight, ultimately it is His show and He will have His way with it. I MUST seek to pursue excellence and use the gifts He has given me to the best of my ability.
And everything else I leave in His hands. Because if I allow this to taint or distract me from my Joy in the Lord, then I have let this trial become about me and not about what God can do through/inspite of me.