My last blog titled "recent things" was almost a year ago, so this writing is long overdue.  Although I am still 25, I feel very different and have experienced many things in one year. 

One of the most exciting and most important things that has happened to me is I have fallen in love with a group of youth! After almost a year of youth pastoring I have just scratched the surface of how incredible Belmont youth are.

I have also now finished 4 semesters of school and have one more until I graduate.  Grad work has been stressful and it has kept me from being able to write and read at my leisure, but it has been a great learning experience and I am excited to find ways that my degree will fit with my current job and future endeavors.

In the midst of all the good things that have happened in my life recently, there have also been a few tough things too.  Most of which are not mine to share, but God has made himself more real to me as I have had to stand with friends who are hurting. This Christmas season has been sometimes over shadowed by a dark cloud that keeps trying to creep in.  Even during the dark moments, there is a hope that I find in the birth of a savior who already knew my life before I was born.  I take comfort in the fact that He already knows the end to the tough times and even in my own struggles I've never let go of that.