Once upon a hoopty...

It's a new year, and I've been unable to post for about a month, but before I get into well-wishing and dreams for the new year, I think last year deserves a nod. Emotionally, I spent most of the year dealing with the culture shock of returning to the U.S. and living with my parents. It was a period of wheel-spinning on my part, but a time in which I learned a lot about myself and matured in many ways. I was able to visit with many friends from happy times of yore. To steal a layout from a friend:

In January, I rang in the new year with friends in Tallahassee and began working maintenance at my church.
In February, I made the mistake of being attracted to "easy money" which ended up being a job as a vacuum salesman. I didn't actually make it past the orientation. I suppose I can appreciate the experience?
In March, I reached a quarter century of time spent on Earth, quite content with how it has been lived so far, but excited to see what lies ahead. I also got to visit Tallahassee again and was quite famously stood up.
In April, I visited a friend in Atlanta and a broken-down car allowed me to extend my visit.
In May, I journeyed to Virginia to try to put some closure on my overseas term with "debrief" where I ran back into Grace and met some new friends. I also took a trip to Kentucky with my friend Matt, breaking down in Palaski, TN along the way, to preview the Seminary.
In June, my junior prom date and my college roommate were wed and allowed me to be a part of the ceremony.
In July, I took one last trip with Mike to Atlanta
In August, I packed my bags and left for Kentucky with the hope that I would be accepted to the Seminary, find a place to live, a job and a church, all of which came together within the first few days of arriving.
In September, I started making lattes and frappuchinos and began getting serious about researching family history
In October, growing the fro and beard out, I was able to be Bob Ross for Halloween.
In November, I finished out my first semester of grad school much better than my first semester of college (no F's from sleeping in this time!)
In December, I was able to spend the whole month in Pensacola, enjoying the holidays and helping take care of the farm and my sister as she was recovering from her cochlear implant surgery.

The low points to the year come nowhere close to outweighing the highs. It really was an amazing year. Thank you, 2006. And thank you to everyone who helped make it possible.