28

So today I'm turning 28. It sounds really old just to see it in writing. The other day, I came across a book that I ordered as a senior in high school (10 years ago) which I filled out with basic information about myself, my friends, and my hobbies. Since I use this blog as a journal, I guess I might as well share some details of my life. This post will be a time capsule for me. If it bores you, don't feel obligated to read it.

Presently I'm 5'11", weighing 190. I've finally started to get a few gray hairs this year; mostly on the sides. I've been working as a minister now for almost 5 years, with the last year and a half at the Old Hickory church of Christ. I've been happy here, just as I was happy in Rose Bud. The people here have been really good to work with; especially the teens. We're about to move up a new group in September of younger teens, and I'm curious about how the group dynamics will change as the group becomes younger on average.

I've been married for four years. Still no kids. Last year we had to get rid of our pet dog, Dora, but we still have our Nacho cat. We've enjoyed living in our home at the edge of Wilson Co. We're close to several nice shopping places. I think marriage has continued to be better every year. I feel like we're always arguing less and laughing more. Carolina has been very supportive of me, and has been good about getting involved in her own little ways at helping at church. She learned a lot about working with little ones while we were at Rose Bud, and she's continued to use that here. Her class is usually full of kids, and they all seem really attached to her.

As far as my hobbies go, I am still passionate about playing guitar, watching movies, and playing certain video games. Unfortunately, I seldom have time for any of these. If I can squeeze anything in, it's usually guitar. I'll have to admit I've really felt a void in not being able to ever perform anymore. In high school, that was one of my main goals in life, and I really enjoyed doing it. Then again, I don't know when I'd have time to practice with anyone. I feel that this is an area of my life that has become somewhat wasted. I worked tirelessly to acquire skills at this for several years, but now I can't seem to find a time or a purpose for those skills--other than the occasional Youtube video. Not to mention that I also own a vast amount of equipment. When my degree is complete, I suspect this will change some.

My grad school consumes the majority of what would otherwise be free time. I've completed 45 hours of my 84 hour masters of Divinity degree at HUGSR. By the end of this semester, if I pass a Hebrew test, with my other classes, I hope to bring that total up to 57. I still want to do a PhD, though I'm uncertain of where I'll do it, in what I want to specialize, or whether I will realistically be able to put the time into completing it.

I've always believed in setting goals. It definitely helps when you write them down. My personal goals for the future are:

• To complete my MDiv
• To exercise more, and with regularity
• To pray and meditate more, and to include my wife more when I do
  
• To start writing songs again
• To have at least one song published in a hymnal in my life
• To have at least one book published in my life
  
• To become moderately fluent in Spanish
  

Perhaps in the future, I will have updates about some of these items. I'm sure that whenever we start having children, that will create a whole new set of priorities.

I appreciate everyone who makes time to stop by my blog. I've found blogging to be very therapeutic, and helpful to me in a variety of ways. I intend to continue doing this for the foreseeable future.