2008 was great. Here's to 2009 being more than fine!

It was great to see so many loved ones over this last Christmas week. If we didn't see you I apologize, its amazing how fast 7 days fly by.

Brooke and I have had a whirlwind of a year. A new pup, a new degree, and a new local are just a couple of the highlights. The more important part of the last year was what we learned. Now I know what your thinking "Oh great...another story of cliche remarks and boastful accomplishments." WRONG! This will be a thrilling joy ride of mind blowing proportion that will cause joy to pour out of every part of your body!

Lesson #1- Don't get a Master Degree if your cost is more than your potential benefits.

Seriously though, I love what I do and would never trade it. It is the most fulfilling work I have ever done monetary reimbursement. But give me a paragraph to vomit all over this issue. It isn't until you trade those thousands of dollars for that paper thingy we call a degree and begin paying back what you borrowed that you realize what you have done. Don't get me wrong this degree will pay off in the long run but when I look at this wonderfully lopsided income to education debt ratio I want to scream phrases such as "IF ANYONE COMES NEAR ME I WILL SLAP YOU RIGHT IN THE NECK!" and "THANK YOU OH WONDERFUL INSTITUTION THAT INSTILLED ME WITH SUCH WONDERFUL KNOWLEDGE...AND RACKED ME OVER THE GLOWING HOT COALS OF DEBT!" On top of that they harass me every 2 months with a phone call asking me to further donate money.

Lesson #2- Training a dog is more important than you will ever know.

Sergeant Pepper, the Jekyll and Hyde of dogs. Some of you may have met him in the last year but many of you have not. He was, at 4 months old, the sweetest pup in the world of dogs. He continued on this track even after we had him neutered last summer. Side note, I hear there are prosthetic testicles one can have implanted in place of the dog's real deals, they are called Nueticles. Anyway, we were told that neutering would help prevent aggression in male dogs, it was a funny joke that vet played on us cause I think he just got pissed once he realized his balls were missing and all that remained was a tiny flap of skin. What fun is it lapping only at a flap of skin? So he's been pissed at the world since. Mainly at other dogs and small children. We have been doing a lot of behavior modification training but it takes a lot of time and effort...and patience. So this all goes to say, buying a puppy equals cute, but not training it through and through in its first few years equals disaster.

Lesson #3-Trust that God knows what hes doing in your life.

One can panic all one wants, the outcomes to major events usually come out the same. Brooke and I have grown spiritually so much since we got married. We test each other and God. In return he tests us, rather we interpret that he is testing us. There are three things that can dominate conversation in adult life: Sex, Money, and Children. Though all are great things, becoming consumed in them is a mistake. The specifics of God and life, though entertaining to discuss, ponder, regurgitate and scream about, are often pointless. I know some of you may feel a little concern for my proclamation of this, but its true to me right now and will remain until my faith evolves again. Yes my faith evolves. I believe its supposed to, not even Jesus had it figured out by his 30th birthday and now that I am approaching that age I feel OK with where I am right now. I thank Nicci for helping me come to grips with some of this stuff. It takes hearing different perspectives to truly come to find that you are OK...I am OK...you are most likly OK. Its the moment when discussions stop, consideration of other views stop, and refining of beliefs stops that you should become concerned.

We hope and pray that God blesses all of you this next year with the love, joy, and happiness that he has blessed us with.

Love Alan and Brooke