Some of the information below I posted originally in 2009, and I am repeating it here as most of it has not changed. On the other hand, I have added some addendums in parenthetical statements. I hope you all have a blessed 2023!
2022 was a rough year for me and my family. In the fall of 2021, one of my best friends (Mike Mitchell) passed away. Then in January of 2022, my mom went to be with Jesus. January also saw us without a dog for the first time in 26 years. I don't want to talk about it. Then in February our "adopted" daughter, Jane Marczewski, lost her battle with cancer. I also was no longer serving as the director of the PhD in Theology and Apologetics program after the spring of 2022. May 2022 saw us going through mom's stuff with my brothers and their families. My daughter finally was allowed by her doctors to begin to ride her horse again in 2022 (she had a fall in December 2021 that caused issues). We celebrated our first Thanksgiving without mom and our first Christmas without her.
Yeah, 2022 was a tough one. Not an exemplary year for us, and yet God is faithful and good. We look to the future to see what God will do. As I repost this reflection, I wanted you all to know that my friends and family are used by God to make all of this bearable. Thank you!
Another year has come, and I wanted to share some reflections with you all.
1. I am not a patient man, and waiting in airports is not my favorite activity. (Note: I have not waited in any airports for about 3 years, but I still do not like waiting)
2. As an aside and with reference to the same issue: I do not like lounge singers. (Note: No lounge singers have been around me for a while, so this opinion may have changed)
3. Traveling is fine, but I like coming home best of all.
4. It is easier to take down a trampoline than it is to set one up.
5. it is easier to fall off a trampoline than to relive your youth ("I'll bet I can jump higher than you" is not a proper challenge for an over 40 person to issue to a 9 year old!)--(Note: I have not actually jumped on a trampoline in about 10 years, and seeing as I am now over 60 I seriously doubt it will happen. Nonetheless, this is still true)
6. Preparing lessons, sermons, or lectures on a weekly basis is not as easy as you think.
7. I hang out with some amazing people . . . true scholars who sometimes overwhelm me with their knowledge and love for God as well as wonderful young adults whose passion for Christ pushes me to desire to be more like Him.
8. I have a great family and great friends.
9. My daughter is simply amazing. I wish I had her creativity. (Note: My daughter is a wise and mature individual. She has endured more stress and problems in her 26 years of existence than some will encounter in an entire lifetime. Nonetheless, she handles all of this with a sense of humor and with trust in God. I am honored to be her dad!)
10. My son is astounding. If I had half his energy (or brains), God knows what I could have been. (Note: The energy is not as high now, but my son is amazing and wicked smart. He is also one of the most compassionate people I know, and he believes in real justice. If there is a wrong to be righted, he will work hard to make that happen. I am honored to be his dad!)
11. I love my wife more every day. No matter what the economic, political, or seasonal outlook, she gets prettier and smarter every day. (Note: This is still true, and I am a blessed man!)
12. I am addicted to board games. . . and dominoes . . . and coffee. . . and meat . . . and chocolate. Not necessarily in that order. (Note: I should add . . . and cookies . . . and coffee . . . and books)
13. You can never have enough books, especially comic books (I may have another addiction, huh?).
14. I miss my dog. (Note: This is harder since we no longer have our dog)
15. January is a fine month, but I like it better with snow.
16. Christmas ends too soon.
17. Another year of college football is almost over, and I already miss it.
18. I'm not very good at writing reflections.
19. I better stop now.
20. No, I mean it, I have to stop!
21. Aaargh! Quit reading! Can't you see it is tempting me to continue!
22. The End
Maybe . . .
Sorry for the rambling . . .
Happy New Year!
May God's grace and finest blessings be yours in 2023.
Thanks for reading!
