What a year!!

Finished with the homecoming of both my boys. That was pretty special since they will both be deployed through the holidays next year. All the family for Christmas dinner and a surprise visit from Wes and Ashley for New Years Eve.

On the last Sunday of the year we were challenged to write down some things we did or changes we made in our own lives this past year that we believe had a positive impact on ourselves or others. And then we were to write down what we intended to do or change in the next year.

After deciding that I had no significant impact on anyone outside of my immediate family(thanks for pointing that out for me) I looked inward and discovered in myself a new appreciation for what I believe. And a new sense of ownership of those beliefs. What I mean is I believe what I believe because it's something I've became aware of instead of something I was told was the right thing.

And with that realization came a desire to lead others to that point. So I'll tell my kids, or whoever, that what their beliefs are should be based on what they know and not what I tell them. If someone says the something is one way then they should look into it before they buy into it. If any of that makes any sense, that's my resolution.

Then just when I think all is right and rolling along good, the explosion comes. Who knows why or when but it comes and he's gone again. Happy New Year, huh? The shame of it all, is that it's happened so often I could hardly care less. How can I live in the kingdom with this in my life and those kind of feelings in my heart? It will be interesting to see how God works in this.