.: living into the words :.

I wake to find myself in a new year... with a somewhat different life. This past December 30th, I had the honor of marrying my best friend. Before I knew it, we were being whisked away to Seattle, then Leavenworth, then back to Mount Vernon to begin forming our new home together. We are both still catching ourselves in moments of reflecting upon what a beautiful ceremony and reception it was. I must admit, it was hard leaving that lodge when we were surrounded by such love and encouragement. We continue to be blessed by everyone around us. The thought keeps wandering through my mind that this is what the view is like from the other side, though a side no better than where we have just come from. Just different! Well, the time has come to jump in both feet and begin this new life that 2007 beholds. A new year means whole new opportunities, as well as chances to redo those that went down in flames. A new year holds new memories to be discovered in the midst of living fuller lives. A new year creates a sense that the slate has been wiped clean, though we are still the creatures in progress, moving towards what we have only seen glimpses of. But this new year for me means learning anew what it means to share my heart, mind, and life with another individual. The love of my life moves in closer than ever before, as do I to her. We share this new life... and the possibilities are limitless. Adventures happen upon us. Risks await us in any given moment. Life takes a turn that we were deeply hoping for. And now we live with the hope and prayer of living into the realities that we proclaimed to one another a little over a week ago. May the Father guide us in and through it, surrounding us with the voices that will prompt us towards greater faith. That begins by relentlessly choosing to abandon the offers of safety that many in our position hold so tightly to!