We’re only 50 hours away from saying goodbye to 2007, and with that I will close the book on one of the most tumultuous years in my personal history.

With everything that happened both bad and good this year, I figure that as I look ahead to 2008, it’s only appropriate that I link back to some blog posts and recap some events that made this year what it was for me: an unnecessary roller coaster.

Here everything is, in chronological order. To set the scene, beginning January 1, I was jobless and living with my then-girlfriend’s parents. Enjoy the ride through the agony and ecstasy that was 2007, after the jump.

January 11 – The year started off promising as I accepted a job offer from KPTV in Portland, Oregon to be a freelance videographer and editor. Not bad for a first job after receiving my honorable discharge from the Air Force two months prior.

January 19-21 – I worked my second Washington COGOP Winter Retreat (the first being 2004), as I was a group leader for a cabin of four guys. I teamed up with Cris Birch to supervise a group of 8, and the whole weekend turned out to be great. I love everyone back home in Washington.

February 1 – My first KPTV live shot. VERY disturbing story, but the man behind the camera was I and it was my first foray into commercial TV news. (I don’t know if the video’s still available.)

March 7-9 – I was tagged as the videographer for Soul Search, the spring retreat for the folks at New Horizons Church. It was an overall decent weekend of food, fun and fellowship. One incident during the camp really bothered me, and it created a rift when I talked with my church leadership about it.

But overall, the weekend was very encouraging, and I was able to catch one of the most memorable Wa-Ri-Ki moments I’ve ever experienced, on camera. Watch the video and listen to the lyrics, and be blessed.

March 28-30 – Aftan and I visited my parents here in Springfield. The visit was a train wreck, and I honestly believe it set in motion what was to come in April. Evin and I hadn’t talked for awhile but she pulled me aside at church on a Wednesday and gave me a word that changed my perspective on dating Aftan.

April 26 – The only girlfriend I’ve ever had, and my companion for one year and four months, broke up with me from a distance, over the phone. At first I expressed remorse and felt partially that I was the guilty party, but after time and some things that were said and done, I began to recover rather rapidly. If I didn’t have a good support network I wouldn’t have made it.

May 6 – I begin work at the Apple Store in the Washington Square Mall in Tigard. With work becoming more scarce at KPTV, I was fortunate to get a great job in retail for the summer.

May 23 – Michael Perozzo and I attended the Portland Trail Blazers Draft Lottery Party, where we improbably won the #1 pick and eventually went on to select Greg Oden in the 2007 draft. We were at Venue on MLK, and that place was rockin’ when they kept counting down to #1. Blazers Broadcasting was there live and we partook in some small talk with Antonio Harvey and Mike Rice (two Blazer broadcasters). A couple of my KPTV cohorts were there and we hammed it up for a bit. GREAT day.

Check out the video of the celebration, and holler if you find me, Michael and Daniel in the video.

May 30 – Disc golfing with Brian Taylor becomes my favorite summertime event of the year.

June 22 – The thought of potentially moving to Springfield, Missouri started creeping in. At this point it was a long shot, but a good conversation with my parents and a rare (at this time) conversation with Evin helped me seriously start mulling a big move.

June 24-29 – My first time back at Millersylvania State Park since 2002, my last year as a Senior Camper. I worked the COGOP Senior Camp and had a blast. The kids in my cabin were great and it was wonderful to work with folks that I had previously attended the camps with. I also had a great conversation with Josh Brown, a member of the Kirkland COGOP (you all know him better as the kicker for the Seattle Seahawks).

July 20 – Not only do I turn the big two-three, but I make a huge announcement in the process. I finalized my decision to move to Missouri — it shocked a few people but more people said they saw it coming. Meanwhile, people gathered at Crimson House and danced all night once they heard the news.

August 20 – I had the privilege of attending the COGOP State Convention, and I used the opportunity to wish everyone farewell as I would be moving to Missouri in exactly one week.

August 22 – Kirkland Family Church pastor Dave Cabales, one of the best men I ever had the privilege of knowing while growing up in the Northwest, passed away after a few years in failing health.

August 26-28 – I packed everything I owned into my white 1995 Chrysler Cirrus LX and headed out from Portland, Oregon to Springfield, Missouri. The trip was amazing, and I killed it in 28 hours of drive time.

September 24 – Things in Missouri are a bit slow in developing, and it has helped me to become a somewhat introspective person.

September 27 – I started a job in retail. Nothing close to anything that I’ve worked before in terms of job security or morale, but it’s money and God saw fit to bless me with such a job for the present time. I’m still working there.

October 12 – I did my best to put my past relationship behind me for good.

November 13 – I began my foray into trick photography. If anyone reading this would like to be photographed in such a fashion, let me know. I need some shots for a portfolio.

November 22 – Thanksgiving! My first Thanksgiving with the family since 2003, and Jason and I joined four other Crimson House folks in the first annual Turkey Bowl. My team (the White Meat) lost to Jason’s (the Dark Meat) 37-34. Dustin and I were both banged up in the process.

December 23-25 – Christmas celebrations with the family. First time we’ve all been together on Christmas since 2004, and the first time the family has been together on both holidays since 2001. It’s been an amazing holiday with Jason having given his heart back to Jesus, and him and Dad being able to stay an extra few days.

That’s the year in review…hope you enjoyed it. You were able to see some of the fun events through this 2007, as well as the tragic ones that ultimately affected the major decision I made to move here to Springfield. Friendships made and lost, times both good and bad, and decisions wise and stupid made up a very tumultuous 2007.

As you can tell over the final few months of this year, I have been languishing here in Springfield, but I am prayerful and anticipant of the Lord setting some good things into motion for me, and I will remain confident in His Word as he continues to prove Himself faithful over the year to come.

Time flies, and with it another whirlwind year has passed by. Oh and before I forget, here are the top three things I learned in the past calendar year.

3. Sometimes it’s better to just shut up and save one’s dignity rather than say something regrettable. This one is a friendship-saver.
2. A lot of people are really good at making promises and bad at following through with them. Gotta deal with it and move on.
1. Through everything, good or bad, you’ll always have God to hold onto. He’s the only thing in this world that remains constant.

Peace! My next post will be a list of things I hope to accomplish in ’08.