2008 was a great year for me.  There was just something throughout it that felt different.  Lots of cool stuff happened this year and so I decided to look back and share my "Best of 08" list.

(listed in no particular order)

• LASIK surgery.  After using contacts and glasses for 12 years...my dream of getting LASIK came true this past May.  You can see pictures after the surgery HERE.
• New Car. One day before owning my Chevy Blazer exactly 6 years...I bought a brand new 08 Honda Civic.  Check out that story HERE.
• New Office.  After working nearly four years in a modular (AKA nice trailer) I finally got a real office in the main building at church! Amazing how much a change of environment can change things. You can check out my new diggs HERE.
• Eric.  After 9 months of filling the role as Interim Minister of Students...Sunset hired Eric Venable as the new Minister to Youth & Families (AKA my boss).  This has been answered prayer and allowed me to return to focus on my passion for middle school ministry. Excited to see where he takes us in 09!
• Becoming a mentor.  It was 08 that I began to "officially mentor" two guys.  While they are very different and it challenges the heck out of me...it also has added a wonderful new dynamic to my life. I encourage you to invest your life into anothers...you dont have to be a pastor!
• Mom quit smoking. So this one might seem out of place since it's my blog and not her's...but it was HUGE for her and something I've encouraged and prayed for her to do for years. Recently I had given up...thinking she would never kick the habit.  She had smoked for over 30 years. This December marks 8 months that she is smoke free. Go mom!
• The Shack.  Other than the Sacred Romance, no other book has impacted my life like this book has.  I recommend it for everyone...but specifically for people who have grown up in a church or have gone through a crisis in their lives. You can read about some of my posts on reading The Shack HERE and HERE.
• Trips to Monastery.  This year I found a sanctuary in the middle of my busy life...a place to connect with God in new ways.  I went twice to the Mt Angel Monastery and each time found it to be a very valuable experience. I will definitely be returning in 09. Check out my post on my first trip HERE.
• YOU. What were your BEST of 08' moments that I was part of?

It has been fun to journey back through the past year...reading many posts in my blog from 2008. If you have a blog I encourage you to do it...if you don't you can click around some of my old entries HERE.

Now its time for me to finalize my goals for 2009...I will be posting them soon.

Happy New Year! And may 2009 be one of the very best years of your life.