2015 – The Year in Review

 

By this point, I’m under no illusion that I actually maintain a blog, but this is still the best place to post this kind of thing. It’s time for my ritual “year in review” post, and it’s one for the ages.

At the end of last year, I had my eye on a beautiful woman I had been acquainted with for years. Dolly and I began dating in January, and it has gone really well so far. More on that later.

In other news, on January 20th, 2015 I became a homeowner for the first time! I also signed on the largest debt in my life, but I won’t let that little detail dampen the spirit. The quaint brick ranch in the Glencliff area of Nashville is exactly what I had been seeking for a couple of years. It’s close to work, the hardwood floors are in good shape, and I have awesome neighbors. It truly is a blessing from God, even with the added responsibilities homeownership brings.

At this point in the post I typically do a bullet-point list of highlights, so here we go! All of the other noteworthy things from 2015:

• I started my second year of work as a web developer at Kindful. Each week pushes me to further my skills and knowledge as we serve nonprofits around the world.
• For Lent, I once again did “40 Days of Water.” Drinking H2O as my only beverage was a good challenge of discipline, even if the spiritual aspect wasn’t as fruitful.
• In April I had the chance to take a quick trip to West Palm Beach with my mom to see my nephew compete in gymnastics. It was a fun mother/son adventure.
• I also I completed my third half marathon that month. I was older and slower than my previous effort five years prior, but at least I finished.
• As our relationship deepened, Dolly and I went to visit her parents in St. Petersburg in June. It was a whirlwind trip, and I enjoyed getting to learn much more about her.
• Sometime in the summer I finally put together a prototype for an idea I had for years. LunchCasa (beta) is a barebones tool that will tell you where to eat lunch based on your location. Now accepting investors, designers, or anyone else who could make it passable.
• I enjoyed a great family vacation to Gatlinburg and Dollywood in late July. I hadn’t been to the classic theme park since I was a child, and it was a delightful getaway with the entire family.
• On a plain September night, as I was driving home from dropping off Dolly, a white car sped out in front of me on Nolensville Road. Having no time to react, I crashed into them at 40 MPH. The upstanding citizens in the other vehicle fled the scene on foot, and my trusty VW Jetta was totaled. It was later replaced with a silver Nissan Versa.
• In October, I had the joy of traveling to New York City for the first time with Dolly. It was a highlight of my year getting to explore and take in the city with the woman I love.
• For Halloween I dressed up like Baymax from Big Hero 6, and Dolly was Hiro Hamada, the Japanese boy star of the film. It was a hit.
• Throughout the fall I saw several memorable concerts: Norma Jean, Copeland, and Emery to name a few. I am now that old guy who only likes bands from the previous decade.
• For the first time, I didn’t go to Ohio for Thanksgiving. Instead I joined Dolly with her family in Florida where I felt very welcome.
• Throughout the year I read the following excellent books:
  • Prayer by Tim Keller
  • Margin by Richard Swenson
  • Scary Close by Donald Miller
  • When Helping Hurts by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert (If you read any of these books, I suggest this one.)
  • The Complete Infidel’s Guide to the Koran by Robert Spencer
  • The Meaning of Marriage by Tim Keller
• And I encountered these noteworthy albums:
  • Solo by Nils Frahm
  • Coward by Haste the Day (my album of the year)
  • You Were Never Alone by Emery
  • Space EP by The Devil Wears Prada
• Lastly, on December 19th, 2015 I asked Dolly Stang to be my wife, and she said yes! I truly can’t say how blessed I am to have a life with her, and on June 18th, 2016 we will become one.

So it truly has been a big and life-changing year in my world. So much has happened, but next year will be even better. I am so thankful for the life God has given me. Here’s to 2016.

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