Merry Christmas, and welcome to my annual Christmas blog. This blog is coming to you from a different address this year, as I inadvertently deleted my old blog. It’s a long story. At any rate, I come to you here today to tell you what’s been going on since last Christmas.
This is my sixth year living in Iowa. I continue to live in Urbandale, Iowa, specifically. Although I never pictured myself living in Iowa at all, I am really enjoying it. I have wanted to slow down and grow some roots in a place for a long time, and I have been able to do that here. It's fantastic. Work, family, friends, and faith have all continued to be fantastic in my humble little city.
At work, I have been living the dream. Granted, my dreams are a bit unique as far as work goes, but that’s how it’s been for me. I still work for Heartland Area Education Agency 11 in the Des Moines, Iowa area. I am getting the chance to focus on work in curriculum alignment, research, and consultation that I spent years preparing for. Iowa is embarking on an incredibly large and important initiative to advance teaching and learning by leaps and bounds. These efforts have great potential to support teachers and students if we fully capitalize on this opportunity. And I get to be in the room for a great deal of it. It’s a dream and an honor for me.
All is good on the family front. My brother and sister-in-law are still living in Lancaster, CA. They continue to make progress with their church-planting efforts. The name of their church is The Well. I have absolutely no clue how to do anything they are doing, but from where I’m sitting, it’s a monumentally huge task. I’m very proud of everything they have accomplished so far, and what they will certainly accomplish in the future.
My folks continue to be happy and healthy in St. Louis. My mom is still teaching, and my dad still works for True Value Hardware doing a variety of things, including a heavy dose of driving delivery trucks around the city. I’m lucky to be able to see them fairly often. They were able to visit and see my church’s new worship center, and we got to hang out and relax together. Here’s hoping they get to settle into a new house soon (knock on wood), kick back, and relax even more.
I continue to believe that I have the greatest friends in the world. At work, at church, and all over the country. I have always been blessed to have friends that have amazing character and integrity. I never feel the need to be anyone but myself with them. Most years at this time, I am also thinking about my friends that moved away from Iowa. I inevitably forget to name someone here who is dear to me. I have to give a belated, one-year delayed shout out to my buddy Luke who with his wife moved back home to Michigan. I’m pretty convinced Luke’s and my family must have been at least distant relatives several generations ago somewhere in Europe. It’s crazy. What up Luke!
Anyway, my friend Stephanie decided to move to Hawaii, which by all accounts has been a great fulfillment of her longing for a great life adventure. And she is missed by me and many others back in Iowa. This year, I have had the great opportunity to actually have a friend move back after having moved away. My friend Jen, along with her kids, are back in Iowa from Washington. Thankfully, we were able to keep touch while she was gone. Nevertheless, it’s much better having her back in Iowa.
In addition to all of these blessings, I am very grateful for God’s willingness to always be with me, regardless of how much I fight it kicking and screaming sometimes. I have watched God bless those around me in such wonderful ways. The One Body special needs ministry continues to grow, well beyond the walls of Lutheran Church of Hope. I can only hope that my contributions to this ministry are even a fraction of the blessing I get from being a part of it. And it blows me away every time I get to worship there. It’s absolutely amazing, moving every time.
Most of all, I want to thank anyone reading this blog. I may talk to you a little or a lot, or maybe we have yet to talk face to face. Regardless, I am grateful you took the time to read some of my thoughts here today. And to those of you that I already know, please know that you are loved by me. I hope that this year has been great to you. And I hope that this next year is even better.
God’s Blessings,
Brad
