Happy New Year to my friends, family and readers of RKWL! What a whirlwind 2008 has been as the first year in our new southern California life as a family. From 2008 the following is a snapshot…

• Kids finish first time being homeschooled for the 2007-08 and enter public schooling. So far so good.
• Both kids get braces. Ouch. Ouch.
• We sell our house of five years we owned in Redding, CA for a decent price in this economy. Miracle.
• I become even more geeky. We have router issues at home now.
• My wife starts a business, or two.
• I  pass my 4oth year in 2008! Ouch.
• Blogging favorites like Worship Mythbusters and a new blog at Tehilla Music started.
• I performed the wedding for my good friend Zach Tanksley.
• My daughter entered High School, and now leads worship with me.
• We are “post minivan” now as a family.
• Cigars are nice. Ahhh.
• iPhones are nice, too.
• 20th year in ministry passed me by. Wow.
• New friends. Missing old friends.
• A quiet small family Christmas.
• Need for long sleeves reduced to half. New sandals, anyone?

For 2009? Let’s roll…

I am ending my trip to Redding, CA after sitting in airports waiting for fog to lift to get back home and even experiencing an airport terminal evacuation. Travel this week was about friends.  I was able to spend most of my time at the Miller’s home and enjoy them while showing support as well. Randy and Kristyn are truly an inspiration. Randy is a family man, concrete contractor and guy in the church worship team who ended up in a cutting edge band (The Myriad) touring the US and on MTV! His battle with cancer is just beginning, but being the toughest dude I know and a person of faith I see God healing him.  That, and the thousands praying for him add to an amazing story of God’s grace and the best of Christianity being expressed.

One cool thing was that I got to see every guy in the men’s groups I started–some were just for moments, but to see these guys thrive filled me up. I visited The Stirring for worship, where my friends the Millers worship and see an effective and growing ministry to this next generation. Serendipitously, I ended up playing piano in the worship band at Neighborhood Church Sunday night–Neighborhood is my former ministry of several years and I was glad to support their efforts. They were announcing the pledges for their building expansion last night.

Between events, my friend and guitar shredder Jim Sletner and his wife were so gracious to shuttle and host me as was my former intern Zach Tanksley. Seeing them and other very special people like the Kerrs and the ever inspirational Garth Schmeck made this worth coming. My trip ended with a coffee with old boss and good friend Erich at Yaks downtown right before heading back to SoCal.

It has been beyond a year now that our family moved from Redding.  Going back to visit reminded me of how much I miss the people and even the smell of the trees. (By the way, not very many trees in SoCal.) It also reminded me of how much these wonderful people shaped me and the best of me today is partly their fault. Some of these people are lifer friends. I would not want it any other way.