december 29, 2004 - 4:26pm

if you had told me last year at this time, while sitting in my one bedroom apartment with my parents (who were living with me) in kansas city, pondering another year out on the road with the bank, and struggling to start up my own company with a friend on the side, that so much would happen this year, i would have laughed in your face.

the biggest part of this year was, of course, the fact that i finally made good on my threats and packed up and moved away. to boston, as it were. and despite the challenge of moving WHILE travelling, it couldn't have been easier, all of the ground work was laid for me. i had an apartment, a roommate, and community of new friends to jump right into. spiritually, i have been challenged already even though i've barely even scratched the surface of possibility within this group. i couldn't be more excited to be here, and look forward, with great expectation, to what lies ahead.

in my job, which may or may not have ended earlier this month, i was blessed again with an ever-expanding circle of close friends with which to share a quite remarkable journey. i am constantly awed by the quality of people i get to work, and live with while on the road. friendships that go way beyond current projects and expense reports. i got to spend the entire summer and then some in the northeast. tons of time in new england, tons of time in new york city. it was a great ride and i will NOT complain. i truly hope to continue with it well into the next year. if not, i am not worried. i know that i am taken care of. i've never been one to stress about tomorrow...at least i like to think that.

in march, my parents were able to move to texas and get settled into a great community. they are both healthier, more active, and much happier. my dad's resolution with his accident in 2002 is about 90% complete. the final 10% will just be icing, for the most part everything is going great.

this year, saw it's share of babies and weddings, of course. most notably, a couple of those weddings were of girls that at one time or another held onto portions, if not all, of my heart. though, thank God for definitive closure. i can honestly say that for the first time in 15 years, i am completely undistracted. free to not worry about things like "is this the girl i will marry?" or "why doesn't she see that wee should be more than friends?" nothing like that. and it's great.

yes, this year was full of new beginnings. it was also full of many chapters closing. moving away from home (again. but this time with no fall back) has been mostly positive, but it has also added a physical distance to the emotional distance i have with some of my friends. people change and move on. i hope and pray that i will be able to continue some of these relationships down the road.

all things said, i am happy. i am writing again and will probably actually finish something this time. i cannot wait to get to work together with the people i care about to do the things we've always wanted to do.

i usually have little good to say about a year as it comes to a close. usually, my years are stressful and uneventful. 2004 was neither. and for that, i congratulate it. here's to a great 2005. God bless.