Merry Christmas

Blessed Christmas, y'all! (I just had to say it that way.)

Last night we watched that perennial Christmas Classic: Love Actually. It's a great date film (a.k.a. Chick Flick). However, one of the things that I noticed about the film, something that I really admired, is that each character, in his/her own way, took a risk. And, each person, in his/ her own way was rewarded for it. Just the stuff of movies? Maybe...but something that struck a chord with me. To take a chance, to risk greatly, and to be rewarded in a way that one maybe didn't expect. It's interesting.

As I posted here a while ago, I went home to Iowa last week. My family still all lives in the area, and that's fine, for them. For me, I want more of a risk to my life. Not that I expect it to always turn out like I had planned, but so that I can see the blessing that is behind it. The risks, chances, choices, that I make and take are all great adventures for me that I am able to have all the time. I guess what I am saying is that each chance that we take has its own reward if we are willing to look for it.

I'll be home for Christmas...sort of

Friday, Sara and I are going to be winging our way to Iowa to see the family. We haven't seen them since April, just before I was mobilized and Billie Mike was Baptized. We're going to be home for the weekend before the holiday because I have to perform Sunday services here at Ft. Benning on December 26. It will be nice to be in Iowa for a few days. Just long enough to remind me of what cold feels like but not long enough to be miserable.

Eeek!

Sorry it's been so long. I'll be surprised if anyone even sees this; you've probably stopped checking by now.

Things are okay. I say okay because I've been having my good days and my bad days lately. Some days, I can do some amazing ministry and really help people. Other days, I can really get screwed by the system and I have to go into fight mode to keep what I have and try to get what I need. The latter are the more frustrating days, obviously. However, there is something to be said for a good fight every once in a while. :-)

Some big news on the personal front: we're selling our house today. Actually, we've already signed all the papers and FedEx'ed them back to the title company in Wisconsin. Ergo, we are no longer Wisconsonians, or whatever. I am now declaring proudly that I am from Iowa. (No jokes, please.) This Army thing really is kinda the best of both worlds: I can claim to be from Iowa without actually having to live there. Not too bad!

Speaking of Iowa, guess who'll be in attendance at the Capital One Bowl on New Year's Day? That's right! ME! My good pal, Greg Suckow, has hooked me up with a way to see the game. I'll keep it on the QT for now in the hopes that I can post some great pics here in the near future. It's kinda funny. I told my wife when I was mobilized in May that, if Iowa played a Bowl game in Florida, I was going to go. She chuckled and said, "They have to make it first." Then she rambled on about how many national championships her Cornhuskers had or something. Which bowl are they in this year, Sweetie? First losing season in how many years, darling? She had to eat some crow when the announcement was made and I started to make plans. Now the plans are complete and I will be in attendance, Lord willing and the creek don't rise.

There's lots more to tell but no time to tell it. I'll put some more up real soon. Promise!