Reflections Of 2008

It's natural and healthy to look back over the past year. We must learn from our past or be doomed to repeat it. I enjoy thinking about the year my family and I have experienced.

For my family, 2008 marked our 3rd year of living in a townhouse in Maryland. Our search for homes began shortly after I moved in with my in laws in June '04. Then, the housing market was a seller's market. As time dragged on, I began to wonder "am I really supposed to be here?" Sure, I knew God had provided the opportunity, He had answered my prayers of allowing Kim to stay at home with a newly born Georgia, and He had shown me that it's not who you know but Who you know that can open job doors.


I knew all this...but still the doubts came as it neared a year of my being in MD without my family...without any serious nibbles on our Jackson home...with the housing fund from W*USA drying up which allowed me reimbursements on flights.

Fact is, if Kim and Georgia could've relocated earlier, it likely would've been more stressful. Kim would've needed to start work sooner. I would've appreciated God's perfect timing. All things happen for a reason and a season.

Kim and I celebrated 11 years of marriage. Wow, 11 years. We've known each other for about 16 years having met at WHJT, the Mississippi College radio station. She's been my best friend through the years...always perfect compliments to the others personality. I've said that if Kim had been any other woman (and Georgia any other baby) our time apart that first year could've seriously wounded our marriage. In fact, it made it stronger.

Thanks, sweetie, for putting up with me so long. Thanks for inspiring and challenging me, for laughing and crying with me, for being real, and thanks for being such a loving wife and an enduring mother. I look forward to many more years with you!

G turned 4. It's hard to believe that the little girl I flew home to see born in Mississippi is now this high-energy, stubborn, strong-willed, loving princess. I'm overjoyed at spending time with her instead of leaving before she wakes and coming home with barely an hour to see her before bedtime. There will come a day when she doesn't shout "Daddy!" and launch into my arms. But for now, I'm a sponge for these days. They cannot be taken for granted.

We joined First Baptist Church of Laurel on Mother's Day, May 11, 2008. Leaving a church and going to another relatively close is never easy. There's always some hurt feelings, things one could've said better, things one should never said. There are no regrets at leaving Faith Baptist Church of Laurel on September 23, 2007. It was simply time to transition to a venue that would be more challenging for our family. We miss the people but the great blessing is that we're still in touch with many friends from Faith through email and Facebook.

FBC Laurel has proven a wonderful next step in our spiritual growth here in Maryland. I've never been a member of a First Baptist, however, this ministry isn't your typical First Baptist Church...which is refreshing.

I stepped away from broadcasting after 20 years. Having started in "the biz" during 9th grade, all I've known is radio and TV. Two decades is a lot of memories. Being a disc jockey, making commercials, interviewing artists, broadcasting live from events, and many other moments are all warm memories of radio. TV became the next step (adding pictures to sound, ya know?) and my production skills grew. Creating countless commercials, promos, news segments and documentaries was glorious. In 10 years of TV, I've lived a lifetime of moments...and yet, they were spent at only two TV stations - WJTV in Jackson, MS and W*USA in Washington, DC.

I don't think it's the number of stations one works at (it was 8 radio stations) but the memories you create and skills you learn and grow. I certainly do miss the friends and coworkers at all the stations but especially at JTV and USA. Perhaps one day I'll return but I'm where I need to be today.

Being at AOL the last 6 months has been so incredibly rewarding. I work with an exceptionally talented team, have a flexible schedule that has enhanced my home life tremendously, can put to use many of the skills and insights gained from broadcasting, and have time and resources to learn new skills.

There's so many other highlights and even some lowlights - such as it being almost a year visiting Mississippi. That'll always be home.

It's been a very good year. May 2009 be even brighter!