This story begins near the end of my senior year of high school. I was well into the process of choosing a college to attend to further my education. This process wasn't as painful as I expected it to be. Pause.
Up until my sophomore year of high school, I was a straight A student. This wasn't because I was intellectually gifted nor because I overachieved, but rather because I put in the time and effort and because I had the one on one attention from being home-schooled for eight years. Then I ran into material I wasn't so familiar with and a few teachers who wanted 150% when only 100% was fathomable. But I made it through my sophomore year with good grades and figured I could handle what my junior and senior years would throw at me...I was half right.
Junior year rolled around and they weren't kidding when they said it was the toughest of the four years. The work load was heavy, I had a teacher or two was slightly nuts, and I realized that the way I learned things became a whole lot harder. I came to the realization that I'm a visual learner. If you tell me how something should work, but don't give me an example or write it down, I might struggle. But as soon as I see the formula, a picture, or an example of how the problem is done, I feel like Thomas Edison when he finally got the light bulb to work. But because schools are under pressure to make sure kids know everything that the board of education requires kids to know, or they have to teach everything on an AP test in a limited amount of time, stuff gets lost. And that's how I felt for all of my junior year. I became burnt out and knew then and there that school wasn't for me anymore. Yet it wasn't something I could stop. Well I could, but I also saw how crucial education is and realized it was going to be a long grind. I couldn't take anymore projects, papers, or tests. I hated nearly every single one. Even if I got an A I still hated it. I had no idea how I was going to make it through, but I knew I had the Lord right beside me every step.
Play. Back to choosing a college. The allure of college never drew me. The thought of moving away, visiting many profound and popular colleges, living the "college life" and "being free" wasn't my forte. I had one school and one school only in mind. The Ohio State University. It was my dream school. From seeing the campus years before, all the photos from friends who went or were currently attending, from the Buckeye's games during football season; that's where I wanted to be. I didn't want to waste my time with college visits or a lot of applications and their nasty fees. I was dead set on OSU. However, like most things in life, the original plans changed.
First of all, I had to decide what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I was fortunate enough to know from my early high school years that I wanted to be an engineer. I loved legos as a kid as well as building, tinkering with, and creating things. Engineering seemed like the perfect occupation for me. Thankfully, OSU has an engineering program. Boom. No need for anything else, my heart was set. Then, there are those people that God places in your life to keep you from making too rash a decision. Those people encouraged me to apply to at least one or two more schools just in case I didn't get accepted into OSU. I figured that was a good idea. I researched a bit more and came up with two more schools: The University of Central Florida and Akron University. Both have really good engineering programs and UCF's would allow students to visit Disney World and study the engineering of the rides there. I also knew people at Akron. Someone also mentioned that I should give Cleveland State a shot, but at first I was a firm no. In all honesty, even though I had heard good things about their engineering program, I didn't like their campus, I didn't really know anyone going there, no good sports teams, and in my mind, it was a bottom feeder school. It wasn't happening.
As I began the application process, money started to play a factor. My parents told me that if there was a school I really wanted to go to, I shouldn't write it off due to the cost. That eased my fears a little, but I still didn't want to have them pay for much if anything at all. I also didn't want to be drowning in debt after I graduated. Those feelings ruled out UCF. Sure I knew about financial aid and scholarships, but the tuition, the fees, the housing costs, etc wasn't worth it for me. Again, CSU was mentioned and since I was now taking cost as a factor, I didn't slam the door on CSU. I figured anyone could get into CSU and if OSU and Akron don't take me then at least I'll still go to college.
Three applications were all I sent. OSU. Akron. And CSU. At this point, I was still wrestling with the Lord about OSU and for some strange reason, there was a little nudge towards CSU. Well the good news was I got accepted into college. Matter of fact, I went three for three on acceptance letters. The kicker? OSU took two months, Akron one month, and CSU...two weeks. I was elated that I got into OSU, but yet there was another feeling to not close the door on CSU. Why? Well when the acceptance letters came in, they came with scholarship money. CSU's offer was $500 more then what Akron offered and as for OSU...zilch. I spoke with the Lord again asking Him if I could still go to OSU, but if He really wanted me at CSU, He had to make it very clear and not just small nudges.
Not long after, CSU offered a scholarship competition to all potential incoming freshman. I figured I'd take a stab and see what I could get. I had to take a math exam and write an essay. Neither seemed hard, but I didn't expect much. Thankfully I was wrong and the scholarship money per year for four years that CSU was offering doubled. Plus, when the financial aid numbers came in, they made up the lack the scholarships couldn't cover and then some. Right then and there, I knew the Lord wanted me at CSU and I had to leave OSU behind. It wasn't the easiest decision, but I had put my trust in the Lord and He provided.
Now because I was on partial scholarships and financial aid, didn't mean the four years was guaranteed to be covered. So I took out loans each year that were slightly less then what the scholarships were worth. Unfortunately, those went straight to the school along with the financial aid so any scholarship money went straight into my account. However, I refused to touch it except to help buy books.
My first two years at CSU flew by almost without a hitch. The fear I had that college was going to be way harder then high school evaporated after I breezed through freshman year. This was partially because I had tested out of zero general education classes and those for the most part were a snoozefest. I did, however, have a couple bumps that affected the rest of my college career. Those bumps were Calc I and Calc II.
Going into engineering, I was pretty good at math...except calculus. In high school, I was so far ahead of the game that I didn't need a math my senior year and could've avoided Calculus altogether...especially since they only offered AP Calc and I wanted nothing to do with it. But my math teacher of two years had faith in me and strongly encouraged me to take it. So I did, but reluctantly. From day one I regretted that decision. Sure if I did well enough on the AP test I could get out of taking that class in college. But I stood no chance. My Calc teacher was brand new at Lakewood High and probably not that far removed from her college years. Strike one. The class was at 8AM first thing in the morning. Strike two. She also taught with minimal examples and rushed each section from the pressure to meet all topics for the AP exam. Strike three. That was the hardest class I ever endured in high school and I probably should've dropped it rather then endure such misery. But I never gave up on a class and I didn't want to let my former math teacher down. I fought tooth and nail through that class and an error on my part almost cost me.
I decided I wasn't going to take the AP exam because I didn't want to pay the ridiculous fee for a test I didn't think I was going to do well on. Well...after the deadline passed to sign up for the exam, the math teachers announced that anyone taking the AP exam, regardless of how well they did on it, would get and A on the final and not have to take it. That hurt. So I ponied up, gritted my teeth and made it through the final exam. Senior year was finished and saying goodbye to high school was bittersweet.
Because I didn't get the college credit, Calc I and II loomed over my head. I went in with confidence that I would beat them this time around. But...again I struggled. The professor spent most classes going over proofs rather then the actual way of doing the problem then had a nasty habit of giving homework problems that were 10x the difficulty of what he taught. Same thing happened for Calc II. Two different professors, same last name. They made me forever loathe calculus. Although I did make it through, because calculus was a prerequisite to every engineering class, there wasn't much I could take until I got by Calc. It was not fun.
After two years, an opportunity to take a year off school and serve the Lord full time arose. It was known as the Great Lakes Christian Internship. I wanted to do it, but I had to be sure that the Lord wanted it too. The pros were I would get a taste of serving the Lord full time, I would get an opportunity to go deeper with Him, I would gain knowledge about the Bible, I would not have to worry about papers, homework, and tests for a year, and I would be doing it with many other people I knew and loved. The cons were that it meant no incoming funds for a year, student loan payments would come after six months, possibility of losing a scholarship, college friends graduating before me, the year could backfire and push me farther away from the Lord, and the effect of returning to school after a year off.
The hesitation was momentary and I felt a good leading from the Lord so I did it. And guess what. The Lord supplied in many ways. First, my scholarship got put on hold so I didn't lose it. Second, the unused scholarship money in my savings was $57 more then what my loans were so I was able to pay off the loans for my first two years of college. Third, the first job I ever had was an on campus job and it paid minimum wage, but because I didn't have a car and I didn't get a phone until halfway through my first year off college, I had enough money set aside to support myself for the year. Fourth after the year ended, I had about $500 left in my bank account. Within a month, $300 disappeared due to an illegal lane shift I made that caused a fender-bender. Yet, somehow, that $200 was enough to cover me until the first paycheck came in.
Going back to CSU felt like I'd never left. I was right back at my job, saw my friends, classes didn't seem different, life went on. As my junior year dragged on, life became less fun. Classes got rough, I was on campus 12 hours a day for most of the week, and I was once again burnt out. To make matters worse, that year was so rough that my grades weren't high enough to keep that scholarship. I felt like I fought through sludge to keep that scholarship and they still took it away.
Senior year didn't get any easier. My friends I started with graduated and CSU did something that they thought was helpful to the students, but for the ones who had been around as long I had, it made our last years a living nightmare. For undergrads, CSU went from a four and three credit hour system to just a three credit hour system. The engineering college decided they didn't want to lose that credit hour, so they changed a lot of their four credit hour classes to three credit hour classes with a 1 credit lab or two 2 credit hour classes. Sure the work load for each class was lighter, but we now had more labs we had to take or an extra class which meant more work, more tests, more blah.
This change among a few other things extended me another whole year and I was already in a five year program. When the FAFSA came in for that final year, their only loan offer was $12,000. I was not taking out $12,000 more in my final year. So what the financial aid didn't cover I had to dip into my savings to cover. And it wasn't cheap. Thankfully those co-ops I did helped to replenish my savings.
At this point I was looking to graduate with maybe $2400 in debt. The co-ops paid well and the story that goes along with the struggles and triumphs I faced in those is a book in itself. To make it short, the Lord came through again. I figured after all I've been through, $2400 wasn't bad at all. I had I thought in my mind that it would be great to pay off all my loans and still have $500 left in my savings. I never asked the Lord for this because I figured He had done plenty for me and my return wasn't sufficient. That my friends is highly foolish thinking. He is my Father and loves to care for me, with abundance, even when I fail, even when I squander what He has given. "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."~Matthew 7:7 "But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."~2 Corinthians 12:9a. People have asked me through college after hearing about the struggles I went through if that year I took off was really worth it. My response, never regretted that decision for a second and was one of the best I made in my life.
People do many things with their tax refund. Take a vacation. Buy a new toy. Usually something that doesn't involve bills, debts, etc. I usually put it into my checking as a funds boost. This year however, was a little different. When the main refund came in, it covered the cash I lacked and then some for the loans. I was ever so grateful. But then the state refund came in and added to the other refund, it was just over $500 beyond what I owed. I was moved beyond words. I didn't even ask Him for this and He gave it to me anyway. He brought me through the seven years to finish college, carried me through the hard times, and danced with me in the joyous times. He allowed me to go through all I went through, to show that His grace was even more. Now here I am with a certified diploma that states I'm an engineer and debt free. But the real truth is, Christ is enough for me and He is all I need.
Tuesday, May 24, 2016
Monday, May 2, 2016
A Pyro's Thoughts
Fire. It burns. It consumes. It destroys. Yet, it warms. It cooks. It creates light. It fascinates me. I'm what some would classify as a pyro (short for pyromaniac), but only in the lightest of terms. The true definition of a pyro is someone who has a strong desire to set things on fire and is usually associated with a mental illness to do these things harmfully and without remorse.
However, my pyro status means that although I do enjoy burning things, I would never do it for damage, malicious intent, or harm. I build controlled fires whenever I can. I play with fire, but only to my limit and not to sheer stupidity.
A magical thing about building a fire is its location. Have you ever built or relaxed by one on a beach? With your toes in the sand, the breeze on your skin, the sound of the waves crashing on the beach, and the sun drifting beyond the horizon? The fire then becomes your main source of light as the stars come out and you sit there with your friends, discussing life, taking in the views, and enjoying life. Have you ever built one in the woods in the pitch black of night? Where you can see millions of stars and only hear the sounds of the woods? Where you can swap stories and tales of legend? Or cooked the best campfire treat in the world...a S'more? Have you ever been warmed by one in a friend's backyard? Where there's not much else to do except sit around it, unwind from the day, and enjoy each other's company? Unless you have experienced each of these, the above words don't do them complete justice.
What draws me to it and enthralls me so, is hard to explain unless you've actually built one of your own, sit next to it, tend to it, and stay there until everything has burned to ash. I generally build them high and roaring. People have said that they can tell that this is a "Josh Watkins" fire. And they love it. But then there are times it is necessary to build a smaller, more average size fire. The best part is, that when you build one, people are drawn to it. They'll come sit around it. Sometimes they'll ignore the fire and enjoy each other's company, but that's the point isn't it? To create something everyone loves, that draws people, that creates moments, memories, joy. This is my ultimate purpose. Is to draw people to my creation and smile as they reach a happy place. As the famous movie line from Field of Dreams says "If you build it they will come."
However, my pyro status means that although I do enjoy burning things, I would never do it for damage, malicious intent, or harm. I build controlled fires whenever I can. I play with fire, but only to my limit and not to sheer stupidity.
A magical thing about building a fire is its location. Have you ever built or relaxed by one on a beach? With your toes in the sand, the breeze on your skin, the sound of the waves crashing on the beach, and the sun drifting beyond the horizon? The fire then becomes your main source of light as the stars come out and you sit there with your friends, discussing life, taking in the views, and enjoying life. Have you ever built one in the woods in the pitch black of night? Where you can see millions of stars and only hear the sounds of the woods? Where you can swap stories and tales of legend? Or cooked the best campfire treat in the world...a S'more? Have you ever been warmed by one in a friend's backyard? Where there's not much else to do except sit around it, unwind from the day, and enjoy each other's company? Unless you have experienced each of these, the above words don't do them complete justice.
What draws me to it and enthralls me so, is hard to explain unless you've actually built one of your own, sit next to it, tend to it, and stay there until everything has burned to ash. I generally build them high and roaring. People have said that they can tell that this is a "Josh Watkins" fire. And they love it. But then there are times it is necessary to build a smaller, more average size fire. The best part is, that when you build one, people are drawn to it. They'll come sit around it. Sometimes they'll ignore the fire and enjoy each other's company, but that's the point isn't it? To create something everyone loves, that draws people, that creates moments, memories, joy. This is my ultimate purpose. Is to draw people to my creation and smile as they reach a happy place. As the famous movie line from Field of Dreams says "If you build it they will come."
Sunday, April 3, 2016
Why Baseball? For the Love of the Game
It's that time of year again. The dread of winter is gone, the birds are chirping, flowers are blooming, everything is becoming green again, and Tom Hamilton is famously calling the home run ball. Now I have a sneaking suspicion that a number of you will stop reading here due to the fact that this is a post about baseball. But I implore you, stick with it because it isn't a typical baseball piece.
Baseball and I throughout my young life have had sort of a bipolar relationship. When I was a kid, it was a thrill to be able to go into my backyard or a local park and mash balls in every direction. There's just something about a kid and his dad chucking a few or a group of neighborhood kids getting together to play the game. As I grew a little older, I cared less about playing and took an interest in the Baltimore Orioles and Cal Ripken Jr. I didn't watch many games and I didn't always care whether they won or lost, as long as Ripken did well.
When 2001 rolled around, I took a great interest in professional sports. It started with Nascar and Jeff Gordon. My first race was the Daytona 500, which was Dale Earnhardt's last. My first Super Bowl was XXXVI. Kurt Warner and The Greatest Show on Turf vs. back up and unknown at the time Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. I didn't realize it then but I was witnessing history. I jumped aboard the L.A. Lakers bandwagon with Kobe and Shaq in tow. I was given an Yzerman jersey and the red wings became my hockey team. As my love of professional sports was blooming, I set baseball on a back burner. Sure I still sort of cared about the Orioles, but not enough to follow them or the game of baseball. I was all about the fast cars, the crashes, the hard hits, the touchdowns, the rainbow threes, the slam dunks, the hockey brawls, and the once in a lifetime goals. Baseball was just too slow for me and I was more prone to throwing a pigskin then cowhide. Slowly, but surely, things would happen that changed my mind.
Summer of 2004. I had moved from Southern Pennsylvania a year ago to Cleveland, Ohio and was attending a giant youth conference put on by the churches in the great lakes area. There were around 1000 people in attendance and for one of the activities, they took us all to an Indians game. Maybe it was the warm weather, the roar of the crowd, the ballpark hot dogs, the anticipation of what was to come next that enthralled me. Even though the game wasn't fast enough, there was still something overwhelmingly wonderful about being at Jacob's Field. However, I still did not follow baseball.
Three years later, a little bit of magic happened. The lowly Cleveland Indians began winning. Not only were they winning, but they were winning with authority. I went to three games that year and each one was more exciting then the last. The third one I attended that year was a memorable one. The Indians were playing their dreaded rival Detroit. The stadium was packed with Indians and Tigers fans alike and the atmosphere was alive. The Indians were down most of the game, but then they scored three runs to tie it in the 8th. The heated battle went into 11 innings. Then, with one out in the 11th, Casey Blake took the plate. At this moment, the story of Mighty Casey came to mind. But this story had a different ending. Blake crushed a mammoth homer for a walk off win. The stadium exploded. The Indians made the playoffs and defeated the hated Yankees in spectacular fashion. They almost put away the Red Sox with a 3-1 series lead, but ultimately fell short and just missed the World Series. That season I became an Indians fan.
If you talk to me about baseball today, you'd be surprised at how much I could tell you. If you are a baseball fan, you get it. If you're not and are confused as to why one would be so adamant about this sport, it's simple. For the love of the game. Take the Chicago Cubs for example. They are baseball's first team. They have one of the oldest ball parks loaded with rich history and untarnished by a corporate sponsorship taking naming rights. They last won a world series in 1908, the longest drought in any sport. Unlike most other cities, Chicago isn't championship starved. The Bears won in 1985, the bulls won six championships in the 90s, the White Sox won in 2005, and the Black Hawks have won the Stanley Cup three times since 2009. Until last year, the Cubs were bad for a long time. But Cubs fans, win or lose, showed up in droves, even before they became good again. And I will say this. If the Cubs win the World Series, the city of Chicago (including White Sox fans) will go insane like you've never seen before. They will be the team Chicagoans talk about for years to come. The three stanley cups? A mere afterthought. The 90s Bulls (with the exception of Jordan) a brief dinner tale. The 85 Bears? Replayed ESPN documentaries. The Cubs will be the team talked about for years to come.
Okay, so I just gave the Cubs a lot of love. But what about my beloved Indians? I believe they have a shot. But that all rides on their offense. Even if they lose, there's a saying in baseball that any given day at the ballpark, you may see something you've never seen before. What is it to me? It's listening to Tom Hamilton announce a game as if it was the greatest game on earth. It's watching Cliff Lee, C.C. Sabathia, and Corey Kluber win the Cy Young. It's the history of the 90s Indians. It's watching a 40 year old former juicer turned beloved player who any other sport would've written off long ago smash a 2 run, walk-off, game winning blast to keep a streak alive to enter the playoffs. It's calling off work to go to a potential rained out game where hits were hard to find and in extra innings the Indians go down by two and are down to their last strike on their last out with a washed up pro 0-4 on the day crush a walk-off grand slam right to your section. It's the bench clearing brawls that say if you mess with our man, the whole team is coming after you. It's the unwritten rules, the statistics, the jargon. It's welcoming back an Indians legend and roaring with the crowd every time he gets a hit. It's a slugfest where the Indians trail by one, your section tries to get the wave going but fails miserably until the man leading the charge tells us to believe and try one more time and as we do it succeeds and as it's going around, the Indians clobber a two run double to take the lead and put the game away for good. It's going to eight games and not witnessing a single loss and seeing four walk-off wins. It's spending three hours with people you care about laughing, joking, and sharing something in common for that short period of time. It's for the love of the Indians and the love of the game.
Happy Opening Day and as always GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO TRIBE!
Baseball and I throughout my young life have had sort of a bipolar relationship. When I was a kid, it was a thrill to be able to go into my backyard or a local park and mash balls in every direction. There's just something about a kid and his dad chucking a few or a group of neighborhood kids getting together to play the game. As I grew a little older, I cared less about playing and took an interest in the Baltimore Orioles and Cal Ripken Jr. I didn't watch many games and I didn't always care whether they won or lost, as long as Ripken did well.
When 2001 rolled around, I took a great interest in professional sports. It started with Nascar and Jeff Gordon. My first race was the Daytona 500, which was Dale Earnhardt's last. My first Super Bowl was XXXVI. Kurt Warner and The Greatest Show on Turf vs. back up and unknown at the time Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. I didn't realize it then but I was witnessing history. I jumped aboard the L.A. Lakers bandwagon with Kobe and Shaq in tow. I was given an Yzerman jersey and the red wings became my hockey team. As my love of professional sports was blooming, I set baseball on a back burner. Sure I still sort of cared about the Orioles, but not enough to follow them or the game of baseball. I was all about the fast cars, the crashes, the hard hits, the touchdowns, the rainbow threes, the slam dunks, the hockey brawls, and the once in a lifetime goals. Baseball was just too slow for me and I was more prone to throwing a pigskin then cowhide. Slowly, but surely, things would happen that changed my mind.
Summer of 2004. I had moved from Southern Pennsylvania a year ago to Cleveland, Ohio and was attending a giant youth conference put on by the churches in the great lakes area. There were around 1000 people in attendance and for one of the activities, they took us all to an Indians game. Maybe it was the warm weather, the roar of the crowd, the ballpark hot dogs, the anticipation of what was to come next that enthralled me. Even though the game wasn't fast enough, there was still something overwhelmingly wonderful about being at Jacob's Field. However, I still did not follow baseball.
Three years later, a little bit of magic happened. The lowly Cleveland Indians began winning. Not only were they winning, but they were winning with authority. I went to three games that year and each one was more exciting then the last. The third one I attended that year was a memorable one. The Indians were playing their dreaded rival Detroit. The stadium was packed with Indians and Tigers fans alike and the atmosphere was alive. The Indians were down most of the game, but then they scored three runs to tie it in the 8th. The heated battle went into 11 innings. Then, with one out in the 11th, Casey Blake took the plate. At this moment, the story of Mighty Casey came to mind. But this story had a different ending. Blake crushed a mammoth homer for a walk off win. The stadium exploded. The Indians made the playoffs and defeated the hated Yankees in spectacular fashion. They almost put away the Red Sox with a 3-1 series lead, but ultimately fell short and just missed the World Series. That season I became an Indians fan.
If you talk to me about baseball today, you'd be surprised at how much I could tell you. If you are a baseball fan, you get it. If you're not and are confused as to why one would be so adamant about this sport, it's simple. For the love of the game. Take the Chicago Cubs for example. They are baseball's first team. They have one of the oldest ball parks loaded with rich history and untarnished by a corporate sponsorship taking naming rights. They last won a world series in 1908, the longest drought in any sport. Unlike most other cities, Chicago isn't championship starved. The Bears won in 1985, the bulls won six championships in the 90s, the White Sox won in 2005, and the Black Hawks have won the Stanley Cup three times since 2009. Until last year, the Cubs were bad for a long time. But Cubs fans, win or lose, showed up in droves, even before they became good again. And I will say this. If the Cubs win the World Series, the city of Chicago (including White Sox fans) will go insane like you've never seen before. They will be the team Chicagoans talk about for years to come. The three stanley cups? A mere afterthought. The 90s Bulls (with the exception of Jordan) a brief dinner tale. The 85 Bears? Replayed ESPN documentaries. The Cubs will be the team talked about for years to come.
Okay, so I just gave the Cubs a lot of love. But what about my beloved Indians? I believe they have a shot. But that all rides on their offense. Even if they lose, there's a saying in baseball that any given day at the ballpark, you may see something you've never seen before. What is it to me? It's listening to Tom Hamilton announce a game as if it was the greatest game on earth. It's watching Cliff Lee, C.C. Sabathia, and Corey Kluber win the Cy Young. It's the history of the 90s Indians. It's watching a 40 year old former juicer turned beloved player who any other sport would've written off long ago smash a 2 run, walk-off, game winning blast to keep a streak alive to enter the playoffs. It's calling off work to go to a potential rained out game where hits were hard to find and in extra innings the Indians go down by two and are down to their last strike on their last out with a washed up pro 0-4 on the day crush a walk-off grand slam right to your section. It's the bench clearing brawls that say if you mess with our man, the whole team is coming after you. It's the unwritten rules, the statistics, the jargon. It's welcoming back an Indians legend and roaring with the crowd every time he gets a hit. It's a slugfest where the Indians trail by one, your section tries to get the wave going but fails miserably until the man leading the charge tells us to believe and try one more time and as we do it succeeds and as it's going around, the Indians clobber a two run double to take the lead and put the game away for good. It's going to eight games and not witnessing a single loss and seeing four walk-off wins. It's spending three hours with people you care about laughing, joking, and sharing something in common for that short period of time. It's for the love of the Indians and the love of the game.
Happy Opening Day and as always GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO TRIBE!
Thursday, March 17, 2016
The Immortal Wasp
This
is the con about writing here once a month. I have so many different blog
thoughts and I’ve started a few of them only to never finish them and leave
them as unsaved drafts to forever sit in a ghost-like abyss. Stuck between
worlds never moving in either direction. Maybe I’ll release them one day as a
whole, but for now they are quite irrelevant. I also cheated those of you
consistent readers last month with a blog post that took all of two seconds to
write. I have tons of ideas, but as I thought about writing each one, something
more important came up and I began to write, but I had to stop. Time passed and
each burning idea became an afterthought.
Currently
I’m writing this in a long car ride so I’m doing this in a word doc to paste
later. Hey don’t judge, I’ve got time to kill and I’m partially writing for you
the reader…so yeah.
Anyways,
a lot has happened to me recently and I need to release my mind. I’m on my last
spring break ever and I’ve never left town for it. This time, I decided after a
weekend church conference that I was going to hop in a car and visit three
cities in three days preaching the gospel. Normally, one wouldn’t do this, but
I had no other plans so why not? I love travel, challenges, adventure so I
went. The trip contained a lot of firsts. It was the first time I was in
Chicago, the first time I had deep dish pizza, the first time I was in
Kalamazoo, Michigan and the Bowman’s house, the first time I was on five
college campuses in three days, and the first time I rode with different people
and cars for each stage of the trip.
We
talked to a lot of people and handed out thousands of invites, yet the results
were few. However, people got saved. Even if the 20+ of us did all that work in
all three cities and only one person got saved, it was worth it. One soul being
saved from hell and turning to God makes the heavens rejoice. I personally
prayed with four people to receive Christ. That’s four more people to fight for
His kingdom. Four more saved from the clutches of sin, the devil, and hell.
Four more to be called a child of the Living God. Praise Him!
Yet,
things happened that affected me. And things that have already happened came
back to haunt me again. I’m about to be raw and lay it all out there so prepare
yourself emotionally…you have been warned.
On
the way to Chicago, I found out one of my best friends had gone missing. I’ve
been worried about him for a long time. What he’s gone through, how his life
has been, everything. It finally got bad enough that he left and told no one.
It’s been a month since anyone has heard from him. I don’t think he’s in
serious danger, but I’m terrified for where his thoughts could lead him. I feel
like I didn’t do enough to be there for him. And now I don’t know how long
it’ll be before I see him again.
Secondly,
I talked with a brother who was married to someone who I knew from back in PA. She
had gotten a call from another sister I knew back in PA who had hightailed it
to Nashville to join this strange group of “believers” and asked her to come
check it out. She did and never came back. She still keeps in contact, but only
once in awhile. This group has taken money from the former sister and when I
talked to the brother about the situation, he informed me that the group has
convinced other women (widows, ones with money) from all over the US to join
and recently the leader’s child got sick and wasn’t taken to a doctor because
they believed the group’s faith alone would heal the child…the child died. My
fears were confirmed. It’s a cult. A blasted cult. They prey on vulnerable
people. People I’ve known for so long and care about and it sickens me.
Recently,
a person I knew when I was younger and served me in jr high passed. He wasn’t’
doing so well and just like that he was gone. He’s the third person in four
years that meant something to me who has passed before the age of thirty. It’s
an emotional toll that is for sure worse for their loved ones than for me, but
I’m living with this constant fear of “who’s next?” and “how soon.”
Lastly,
there’s the hope that I graduate this spring. I’ve been mentally done with
school for so long that it’s not even funny. Sure, one doesn’t have to finish
in four years, but when it becomes seven and you see your friends graduate, get
jobs, and you’re stuck studying and doing meaningless projects…it takes a toll.
And the added tuition bills aren’t fun either.
Now
take me rightly. I know the Lord is here and He will carry me through all of
this, but when everything piles up and takes time to remedy, and your heart
aches for all these people and their situations that affect me directly…it
hurts. It drains me emotionally. I also don’t want to put that burden on every
single person that asks me how I’m doing. Because day to day, I wake up fresh
and feeling better, but my thoughts and concerns still prick me. They’re like a
wasp that keeps stinging me and I can’t kill it no matter how hard I try. This
is where my trust in the Lord needs to be at its strongest. And I do trust Him.
I just need Him to take care of some of these things a little faster.
Monday, February 8, 2016
The "I Challenge You" Secrets Revealed
A little over a year ago, I got really bored and wanted to put out a challenge for people to figure out/get to know me a little better. I also offered a prize of $20 to the first person who successfully completed the challenge. Well no one was successful and before anyone gripes that it was too hard, it was supposed to be! I'm not going to give away $20 just like that. Now that the contest is officially closed, and in case anyone was curious, here are the questions with their answers.
1. What is my favorite flavor of ice cream? Mint Chocolate Chip
2. What is my dream car (year, make, and model)? 1970 Chevelle 540 SS
3. Who was my middle school celebrity crush? Mary-Kate or Ashley Olsen
4. What year did I officially become a Cleveland Indians fan? 2007
5. What is the first movie I saw in theaters? Star Wars Episode III Revenge of the Sith
6. What is my favorite food? French Fries
7. What is the fastest time I've ever run a mile (min and seconds)? 6 min 30 sec
8. What was my favorite childhood movie? D2 the Mighty Ducks
9. What was the first thing I wanted to be when I grew up? Marine Biologist
10. How many M. Word Document pages long is the story I wrote titled "A Young Love"? 154
11. How many Mountain Top Conferences have I been to? 12 (at the time it was 11)
12. How many American States have I visited? 12
13. What public arcade game did I achieve a high score on? Arctic Thunder
14. What is the biggest fish I ever caught lengthwise (in inches)? 28" (at the time it was 24")
15. How many days of school did I miss from 7th-12th grade? 6 days
16. What color and brand was my first bicycle? Color: Black, Brand: Huffy
17. What band instrument did I play freshman year of high school? Baritone
18. What famous criminal's autograph do I have? Jerry Sandusky (I have two)
19. Who is my favorite Pokemon? Nidoking
20. How many times has my name or picture appeared in a newspaper? 3 times (that I can recall)
In all honesty, even though I didn't get much interaction as I wanted, my boredom was cured and anyone reading this just learned 20 new things about me. Any questions on why my answers are such or reactions to them, I'd love to hear them.
1. What is my favorite flavor of ice cream? Mint Chocolate Chip
2. What is my dream car (year, make, and model)? 1970 Chevelle 540 SS
3. Who was my middle school celebrity crush? Mary-Kate or Ashley Olsen
4. What year did I officially become a Cleveland Indians fan? 2007
5. What is the first movie I saw in theaters? Star Wars Episode III Revenge of the Sith
6. What is my favorite food? French Fries
7. What is the fastest time I've ever run a mile (min and seconds)? 6 min 30 sec
8. What was my favorite childhood movie? D2 the Mighty Ducks
9. What was the first thing I wanted to be when I grew up? Marine Biologist
10. How many M. Word Document pages long is the story I wrote titled "A Young Love"? 154
11. How many Mountain Top Conferences have I been to? 12 (at the time it was 11)
12. How many American States have I visited? 12
13. What public arcade game did I achieve a high score on? Arctic Thunder
14. What is the biggest fish I ever caught lengthwise (in inches)? 28" (at the time it was 24")
15. How many days of school did I miss from 7th-12th grade? 6 days
16. What color and brand was my first bicycle? Color: Black, Brand: Huffy
17. What band instrument did I play freshman year of high school? Baritone
18. What famous criminal's autograph do I have? Jerry Sandusky (I have two)
19. Who is my favorite Pokemon? Nidoking
20. How many times has my name or picture appeared in a newspaper? 3 times (that I can recall)
In all honesty, even though I didn't get much interaction as I wanted, my boredom was cured and anyone reading this just learned 20 new things about me. Any questions on why my answers are such or reactions to them, I'd love to hear them.
Friday, January 15, 2016
What a Year. Here Comes Another
We are fifteen (nearly sixteen) days into the new year and it still doesn't feel like it. Even as I come to blows with the fact the 2015 is indeed a thing of the past, it will not cause me to never reflect on what a great year it truly was. I did a lot of things different and some remained the same, but the truth of the matter is that none would've come to fruition without my Lord Jesus Christ. So join me as I take a look back on 2015.
I began 2015 with an internship at Oatey (a plumbing products company) as part of my program for my Mechanical Engineering degree at CSU. I didn't take any classes, but rather worked from January to May, gaining experience as well as cash for the summer. What I did there was a lot of solidworks drawings, used a CMM machine to measure drains, and tested valves where sometimes the pressure blew and I ended up with a face full of water. My friend from CSU, Rutwick, also got a job there so it was an enjoyable experience working with him.
It was the first year that college football introduced playoffs and they didn't disappoint. The OHIO STATE BUCKEYES, a team that used 3 QBs, that entered as the 4th seed, that everyone had written off, took down the Crimson Tide and steamrolled the Oregon Duckies to be the champions they truly were and thus establishing that playoffs in college football were needed and are here to stay.
In February, the saints here in Cleveland were graced by the presence of the saints from London, Canada as we swapped stories, ate delicious cheesecake, and enjoyed each other's presence.
The winter blues are real in Cleveland and one way to beat them was to disappear to Hocking Hills for the weekend with good friends. A hot tub outdoors in the winter is fantabulous might I add.
Ever wonder what it's like to spend a weekend with 150+ college students all loving the Lord, being silly, and enjoying life? If you do, I'll say it's awesomely wonderful and rewarding. The first of the two covered The Meaning of Life: Through the Eyes of God. The second covered Real Life. Both very eye opening, awesome, and so meaningful.
May rolled around and my time at Oatey ended. I was free for the summer and decided to kick it off with a bang. My buddy Ryan and I took a trip east to see one of the greatest races run throughout the year. The Indy 500. What a weekend that was. We stayed with the Merriweathers during the weekend and their hospitality is always a wonderful treat. We toured the track, saw the Hall of Fame, experienced the culture, and even saw Florida/Georgia Line concert. The race was even more exciting, being with thousands of fans, watching Jeff Gordon drive the pace car, the crashes, and the race to the finish, it was awesome. I also had the pleasure of running into an old childhood friend, Cameron Salyers. It was really good to see him again.
May didn't leave without leaving me one last gift. I hauled in an 8lb 28in Walleye off the shore of Lake Erie. That was A) my biggest fish ever, B) Fish Ohio worthy, and C) I caught a Walleye before Nathaniel. A couple weeks after, I hauled in a 26in Channel Cat out of the Rocky River. Also Fish Ohio worthy. A nice start to my fishing season.
June brought my first Indians game of the season, my first trip to the NFL Hall of Fame, and witnessing the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat as the banged up Cavs took the Warriors to six games in the Championship. That was disappointing, but I still believe in Cleveland. Go Cavs!
Every summer, the churches host a multitude of young people's events. I attended three and each could have a blog post of their own, but this'll have to do for now. The first was Jr. High Camp. I have been every year since 2004 (except 2014) for 11 times total. One of my first real experiences with the Lord was during my first and only year as a junior higher at JHC. It's had me coming back ever since. Even though it's an exhausting week that is never drama-less, to see these kids taste eternity and know that you helped them with that is worth more then any petty thing one goes through. The second was Mountain Top and I haven't missed one since I've lived in Ohio. To gather young people all across the Great Lakes area and other parts of the world into one place to be with other believers and experience who Christ is together is beyond words. It's that wonderful Christian high being so filled with the Holy Spirit that overwhelms you so that everything else becomes a temporary blur. The third, Vision Week, is a week long training where we dive into a part of the bible and get enriched by what is heard. Sometimes, even though I've read those passages many times, new revelations are procured and they enrich and nourish.
This past year also marked the 10th anniversary of my class being the first 8th grade graduating class from Riverside. To do something special, a classmate, Matt, organized a reunion. It was incredible to see a group of people I hadn't seen in 10 years. It wasn't just students either. Former teachers and our principal were there as well. If another one occurs, I'll make it a point to be there.
July, one of my favorite months of the year, didn't disappoint. A group of thirty of us took a week to renovate the Magnolia House. I've used this house for many things throughout the years and it was pretty cool to give it a little face lift. Sawing through ceilings, knocking out old cabinets, jack-hammering through walls, painting, making everything look pretty, was tiring, but fun.
I'm from Southern PA. I grew up on country music. I love country music. My favorite artist of every genre is Kenny Chesney. He came to Cleveland this summer and I bought tickets. You wouldn't think he's a 40+ year old by the way he does his shows. It was fantastic! One of the best concerts I've been to...ever. Especially the moment he sings "Anything But Mine" and gets to the first two lines of the chorus "In the mornin' I'm leavin', making my way back to Cleveland," he stops and lets the crowd sing that line back to him and it's an awesome moment. I hope he returns this year.
I took a weekend to visit two very good friends of mine in Columbus, Paul and Sarah Mann. Both of them did the year long Christian internship with me from 2011-2012. As we grow older and more of life's responsibilities kick in, it gets harder and harder to see friends. So I texted Paul (while at an Indians game) and by mid July, I was in Columbus. The weekend was fantastic as we went to a Jazz and Rib fest (the ribs were delicious!), the Columbus Zoo, Hot Chicken Takeover, and even got to hang with Steve Mann at his house for an evening. I thank the Lord for putting them in my life.
August couldn't wait to push July out the door. Two good friends of mine, Josh Malek and Audra Wayco said "I do" on the 2nd. The weather was fantastic, the ceremony beautiful, and two people became one in the One who created marriage Himself. God. As soon as the wedding/reception ended, I drove straight to the above mentioned vision week.
The week following VW, with barely 24 hours to catch my breath, I hopped in a rental van with my family and headed for southern central PA. This is always a grand week which included putt-putt, malls, good food, a small tour of Gettysburg, my return to Hershey Park for the first time in over 12 years, Tropical Treat, seeing many friends, and good relaxing fun.
Speaking of Hershey park, this was my first time in a long time that I've been to more than one amusement park in a year. My friend Ryan and I made the trip to Cedar Point and what started as a gray, windy day, ended up being a sunny, fun experience for the ages. I finally got to ride the Gatekeeper and crossed an item off one of my multiple bucket lists which was to ride all the coasters at Cedar point. Looks like I'll have to go again this year to ride their new one, the Valravn.
A few other things I'd like to note is that I turned 25 (a quarter of a century!) this year and also this marked the 12th year I've lived in Ohio, which surpasses the length of time I lived in PA. I also got really big into this hobby known as geocaching and am currently 7 caches short of having found 400 total. It's a great hobby, filled with adventure, treasure, cool people, and the places it takes you are amazing. If you want to learn all about it, go to geocaching.com.
Lastly, this past 5ish weeks of winter vacation has been anything but dull. I went to two Cavs games, a Monsters game, a white elephant christmas party, spent two days cutting down and burning trees at Ashland Woods, spent some quality time with people who live far away, but I love dearly, and lastly, the end of 2015 was welcomed with the new friends I met from the land down under.
If you didn't know, a group of six, wacky, funny, crazy, lovable, caring, kind, absolutely fantastic Aussies traveled halfway across the world to not only experience America from sea to shining sea (literally they did, LA to NYC) but to experience the church life with many other believers. At first I didn't know what to expect because in the past, we've had visitors from foreign lands, but never any this young. I kid you not, it was one of the most enjoyable experiences I had over break, Getting to know them, showing them the things (and food) we enjoy and getting to share our Christ with one another was pure bliss. Italy has been at the top of my travel list for years, but Australia may just be my new number one. From your kind words and expressions of gratitude for our hospitality and love, I humbly return the thanks. Who knows, maybe the Lord will have it in His plans for me to come this year.
There are many more things I could expound upon for this year, but I think this'll do just fine. Plus even though a year seems like a moment, a lot can happen in that time. So with that, I close the book on 2015, look forward and say "here comes another." May the Lord be with you all, always.
I began 2015 with an internship at Oatey (a plumbing products company) as part of my program for my Mechanical Engineering degree at CSU. I didn't take any classes, but rather worked from January to May, gaining experience as well as cash for the summer. What I did there was a lot of solidworks drawings, used a CMM machine to measure drains, and tested valves where sometimes the pressure blew and I ended up with a face full of water. My friend from CSU, Rutwick, also got a job there so it was an enjoyable experience working with him.
It was the first year that college football introduced playoffs and they didn't disappoint. The OHIO STATE BUCKEYES, a team that used 3 QBs, that entered as the 4th seed, that everyone had written off, took down the Crimson Tide and steamrolled the Oregon Duckies to be the champions they truly were and thus establishing that playoffs in college football were needed and are here to stay.
In February, the saints here in Cleveland were graced by the presence of the saints from London, Canada as we swapped stories, ate delicious cheesecake, and enjoyed each other's presence.
The winter blues are real in Cleveland and one way to beat them was to disappear to Hocking Hills for the weekend with good friends. A hot tub outdoors in the winter is fantabulous might I add.
Ever wonder what it's like to spend a weekend with 150+ college students all loving the Lord, being silly, and enjoying life? If you do, I'll say it's awesomely wonderful and rewarding. The first of the two covered The Meaning of Life: Through the Eyes of God. The second covered Real Life. Both very eye opening, awesome, and so meaningful.
May rolled around and my time at Oatey ended. I was free for the summer and decided to kick it off with a bang. My buddy Ryan and I took a trip east to see one of the greatest races run throughout the year. The Indy 500. What a weekend that was. We stayed with the Merriweathers during the weekend and their hospitality is always a wonderful treat. We toured the track, saw the Hall of Fame, experienced the culture, and even saw Florida/Georgia Line concert. The race was even more exciting, being with thousands of fans, watching Jeff Gordon drive the pace car, the crashes, and the race to the finish, it was awesome. I also had the pleasure of running into an old childhood friend, Cameron Salyers. It was really good to see him again.
May didn't leave without leaving me one last gift. I hauled in an 8lb 28in Walleye off the shore of Lake Erie. That was A) my biggest fish ever, B) Fish Ohio worthy, and C) I caught a Walleye before Nathaniel. A couple weeks after, I hauled in a 26in Channel Cat out of the Rocky River. Also Fish Ohio worthy. A nice start to my fishing season.
June brought my first Indians game of the season, my first trip to the NFL Hall of Fame, and witnessing the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat as the banged up Cavs took the Warriors to six games in the Championship. That was disappointing, but I still believe in Cleveland. Go Cavs!
Every summer, the churches host a multitude of young people's events. I attended three and each could have a blog post of their own, but this'll have to do for now. The first was Jr. High Camp. I have been every year since 2004 (except 2014) for 11 times total. One of my first real experiences with the Lord was during my first and only year as a junior higher at JHC. It's had me coming back ever since. Even though it's an exhausting week that is never drama-less, to see these kids taste eternity and know that you helped them with that is worth more then any petty thing one goes through. The second was Mountain Top and I haven't missed one since I've lived in Ohio. To gather young people all across the Great Lakes area and other parts of the world into one place to be with other believers and experience who Christ is together is beyond words. It's that wonderful Christian high being so filled with the Holy Spirit that overwhelms you so that everything else becomes a temporary blur. The third, Vision Week, is a week long training where we dive into a part of the bible and get enriched by what is heard. Sometimes, even though I've read those passages many times, new revelations are procured and they enrich and nourish.
This past year also marked the 10th anniversary of my class being the first 8th grade graduating class from Riverside. To do something special, a classmate, Matt, organized a reunion. It was incredible to see a group of people I hadn't seen in 10 years. It wasn't just students either. Former teachers and our principal were there as well. If another one occurs, I'll make it a point to be there.
July, one of my favorite months of the year, didn't disappoint. A group of thirty of us took a week to renovate the Magnolia House. I've used this house for many things throughout the years and it was pretty cool to give it a little face lift. Sawing through ceilings, knocking out old cabinets, jack-hammering through walls, painting, making everything look pretty, was tiring, but fun.
I'm from Southern PA. I grew up on country music. I love country music. My favorite artist of every genre is Kenny Chesney. He came to Cleveland this summer and I bought tickets. You wouldn't think he's a 40+ year old by the way he does his shows. It was fantastic! One of the best concerts I've been to...ever. Especially the moment he sings "Anything But Mine" and gets to the first two lines of the chorus "In the mornin' I'm leavin', making my way back to Cleveland," he stops and lets the crowd sing that line back to him and it's an awesome moment. I hope he returns this year.
I took a weekend to visit two very good friends of mine in Columbus, Paul and Sarah Mann. Both of them did the year long Christian internship with me from 2011-2012. As we grow older and more of life's responsibilities kick in, it gets harder and harder to see friends. So I texted Paul (while at an Indians game) and by mid July, I was in Columbus. The weekend was fantastic as we went to a Jazz and Rib fest (the ribs were delicious!), the Columbus Zoo, Hot Chicken Takeover, and even got to hang with Steve Mann at his house for an evening. I thank the Lord for putting them in my life.
August couldn't wait to push July out the door. Two good friends of mine, Josh Malek and Audra Wayco said "I do" on the 2nd. The weather was fantastic, the ceremony beautiful, and two people became one in the One who created marriage Himself. God. As soon as the wedding/reception ended, I drove straight to the above mentioned vision week.
The week following VW, with barely 24 hours to catch my breath, I hopped in a rental van with my family and headed for southern central PA. This is always a grand week which included putt-putt, malls, good food, a small tour of Gettysburg, my return to Hershey Park for the first time in over 12 years, Tropical Treat, seeing many friends, and good relaxing fun.
Speaking of Hershey park, this was my first time in a long time that I've been to more than one amusement park in a year. My friend Ryan and I made the trip to Cedar Point and what started as a gray, windy day, ended up being a sunny, fun experience for the ages. I finally got to ride the Gatekeeper and crossed an item off one of my multiple bucket lists which was to ride all the coasters at Cedar point. Looks like I'll have to go again this year to ride their new one, the Valravn.
A few other things I'd like to note is that I turned 25 (a quarter of a century!) this year and also this marked the 12th year I've lived in Ohio, which surpasses the length of time I lived in PA. I also got really big into this hobby known as geocaching and am currently 7 caches short of having found 400 total. It's a great hobby, filled with adventure, treasure, cool people, and the places it takes you are amazing. If you want to learn all about it, go to geocaching.com.
Lastly, this past 5ish weeks of winter vacation has been anything but dull. I went to two Cavs games, a Monsters game, a white elephant christmas party, spent two days cutting down and burning trees at Ashland Woods, spent some quality time with people who live far away, but I love dearly, and lastly, the end of 2015 was welcomed with the new friends I met from the land down under.
If you didn't know, a group of six, wacky, funny, crazy, lovable, caring, kind, absolutely fantastic Aussies traveled halfway across the world to not only experience America from sea to shining sea (literally they did, LA to NYC) but to experience the church life with many other believers. At first I didn't know what to expect because in the past, we've had visitors from foreign lands, but never any this young. I kid you not, it was one of the most enjoyable experiences I had over break, Getting to know them, showing them the things (and food) we enjoy and getting to share our Christ with one another was pure bliss. Italy has been at the top of my travel list for years, but Australia may just be my new number one. From your kind words and expressions of gratitude for our hospitality and love, I humbly return the thanks. Who knows, maybe the Lord will have it in His plans for me to come this year.
There are many more things I could expound upon for this year, but I think this'll do just fine. Plus even though a year seems like a moment, a lot can happen in that time. So with that, I close the book on 2015, look forward and say "here comes another." May the Lord be with you all, always.
Monday, December 21, 2015
12 Years and Counting
August 22, 2015 marked the twelfth year I have resided in the O-H-I-O state. Why is that of any significance? Because it surpasses the number of years (11.25) that I lived in southern-central Pennsylvania. That's an exceptional milestone. If you recall my past blog posts, they mention how it took me nearly three of those 12 years to accept that my move to Ohio wasn't temporary. As each of those first three years ended, I would announce in the young people's meetings that we would be staying another year. Each of those was met with cheers and it made me feel good, but I never had complete comfort, because I was still hoping to go back to what I knew as home.
I haven't made any such announcement since 2006, but this year I wanted to and in a special way, but the opportunity never really presented itself. So, during a young adult bible study that I attend, there was a new guy who came. We were making casual conversation and he asked how we all knew each other. Mark mentioned that we all meet at the same church, but he made distinction that some grew up together and some came in from other places. I then took that opportunity to announce that this year marked the twelfth year we've lived in Ohio, but right before I could make the note of why twelve years was important, a "we win?" came from Hannah, knowing what I was about to say. I then explained that twelve years meant we lived longer in Ohio then Pennsylvania and another "We win!" was to be heard. Even though this wasn't the way I wanted to make this announcement, it felt really good because I was surrounded by people very near and dear to my heart and I have long been at peace to call Ohio home.
Since I never got the chance to say this how I really wanted to, I'll do it here in the next couple of paragraphs or so and who knows, 2015 hasn't been extinguished yet so maybe there'll be a live version.
Twelve years is a long time. But when you reach the age that I have, 12 years doesn't seem that long ago. Besides that milestone, I hit another. I turned 25 this year. A quarter of a century. Some people see that as just another year, but for me it hits closer because I've lost some friends who didn't reach this age. These milestones weren't easy to reach, but they weren't done alone. The Lord put a fantastic group of people in my life. These people shared in the highs and the lows, the nights we'll remember forever and a few we'd want to forget. But one thing is for sure. It doesn't matter if we're from different blood or united in Christ. Dominic Toretto emphasized this the best about those around him. "You're family." This is not limited to those in Cleveland, but those I've come to know well all over the USA since I came out here. In all honesty, that's the truth and I wouldn't trade it for the world. As we say goodbye to 2015 and I enter year 13 in 2016, here's to the past twelve and looking forward to the next twelve with you all. Family.
I haven't made any such announcement since 2006, but this year I wanted to and in a special way, but the opportunity never really presented itself. So, during a young adult bible study that I attend, there was a new guy who came. We were making casual conversation and he asked how we all knew each other. Mark mentioned that we all meet at the same church, but he made distinction that some grew up together and some came in from other places. I then took that opportunity to announce that this year marked the twelfth year we've lived in Ohio, but right before I could make the note of why twelve years was important, a "we win?" came from Hannah, knowing what I was about to say. I then explained that twelve years meant we lived longer in Ohio then Pennsylvania and another "We win!" was to be heard. Even though this wasn't the way I wanted to make this announcement, it felt really good because I was surrounded by people very near and dear to my heart and I have long been at peace to call Ohio home.
Since I never got the chance to say this how I really wanted to, I'll do it here in the next couple of paragraphs or so and who knows, 2015 hasn't been extinguished yet so maybe there'll be a live version.
Twelve years is a long time. But when you reach the age that I have, 12 years doesn't seem that long ago. Besides that milestone, I hit another. I turned 25 this year. A quarter of a century. Some people see that as just another year, but for me it hits closer because I've lost some friends who didn't reach this age. These milestones weren't easy to reach, but they weren't done alone. The Lord put a fantastic group of people in my life. These people shared in the highs and the lows, the nights we'll remember forever and a few we'd want to forget. But one thing is for sure. It doesn't matter if we're from different blood or united in Christ. Dominic Toretto emphasized this the best about those around him. "You're family." This is not limited to those in Cleveland, but those I've come to know well all over the USA since I came out here. In all honesty, that's the truth and I wouldn't trade it for the world. As we say goodbye to 2015 and I enter year 13 in 2016, here's to the past twelve and looking forward to the next twelve with you all. Family.
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