no apologies nor any excuses.

hello friends.

here goes an attempt to blog on a fairly regular basis. i really haven't felt the "call" to share anything with you all... so instead of forcing it i just retired for a bit... a sabbatical if you will.

let's see... life is great. its grand. its wonderful. its beautiful. its fantastic. i'm alive and i am so thankful for that gift... all too often i take for granted that i was given the chance to wake up yet again.

the past couple months have been really nice. life has slowed down a bit.

the rest is copied from my monthly personal update letter i send out through YFC. i think it gives a nice little picture of where i am at.

Hey Guys!

Merry 2009! The Holidays were filled absolute enjoyment. I was able to return to Michigan for a few weeks and spend some much needed quality time at home with my family and also a bit with my friends. It was splendid and I loved every second of it. The last 10 days of the holiday break were quite magnificent. I spent them in middle of the Colorado Rockies with a bunch of friends from my summer at Noah’s. Most days were spent skiing pristine mountains such as Copper, Breckenridge, and Monarch while the “days off” usually involved a lazy morning of coffee and community ending in a little snowshoeing along the Arkansas River or up Cottonwood Pass. The time in Colorado was incredible and I cherished every moment. Like usual, it was darn near impossible to return to Indiana to a full load of classes and homework. Such is life…

Let me be honest for a few sentences. Campus Life towards the end of last semester really became a burden. It no longer was a passion. It was simply just a job. And I hated it. I didn’t hate Campus Life, no I love Campus Life and what it is. But I truly hated how it had become a job and nothing more. I can’t tell you a specific event or happening that caused this collapse, but I can tell you it was a slow fade. So… I ended the semester fairly frustrated and discouraged.

Through the frustration, however, I was really able to work through some things. I prayed for a new rekindled passion for these kids. And amazing how this works sometimes… I got what I asked for. I woke up one morning thinking of all these new games and events we could do and I continually was thinking about kids all day. I haven’t been able to get those kids and that school out of my head for the past week. I am so excited to get back at it. With perfect timing like usual, I have been bombarded with just loads of encouraging emails and notes and those have meant the world. I have no idea where we are headed this year… but that is all a part of the beauty of it. We shall see where He leads.

So I leave you with this, a few encouraging thoughts for you and me in this next year: “Be bold and courageous. When you look back on your life, you'll regret the things you didn't do more than the things you did. When facing a difficult task, act as though it is impossible to fail.”

“'To get something you never had, you have to do something you have never
done.' When God takes something from your grasp, He's not punishing
you, but merely opening your hands to receive something better. 'The will of God will never take you
where the Grace of God will not protect you.’”

2009… Wow. Time flies when your having fun. I LOVED 2008. I truly did. It was great. Full of memories I will never forget. And the question that begs to be answered now, “What could possibly be in store for 2009?” The year of 2008 rocked my world. Can it get better? The answer is a simple and resounding, Yes.
Be blessed! Don’t forget you’re alive.

Peace and blessings friends.

abe