So as it seems, once again I have been inspired by someone (Thanks Tim) to try journaling (in this case a blog) once again. I'm sure this will be my usual journal fair... write for a few days and forget about while becomming busy with life. We'll see.

So where am I now? As you may know, Amber, Kyla, and I have moved to Lynchburg, VA. After spending slightly over two years in Madison, WI. We have made the leap to an even smaller city here in central Virginia.

I am attending Liberty Theological Seminary, working at InService America, and attending/serving Blue Ridge Comunity Church. Amber is enjoying being a full-time mom and caretaker of me (well, maybe she's not really enjoying the later). This has been her dream career and with Kyla, it's deffinately a full-time job!

LTS - I'm taking a full-time load having finished my first semester in December and now about half way through this one. I shoudl be able to finish my MAR (Master of Arts in Religion) by December '06. After that I'm planning to possibly work towards a MRE (Master of Religious Education) while heading ultimately towards the MDIV (Master of Divinity).

Liberty has been a great experience so far and I am very happy we have made the move here. 15 credits down, 12 this semester and 18 more to go to finish the first degree. It's been challenging for me as I've never been a great student, but I'm getting the best grades of my life now while supporting my family and trying to serve God all at the same time. It's a busy life, but I'm so glad it's the one God has given me.

ISA - InService America is a call center. We are a company that provides telecommunications for various clients. Yes, in other words... the dreaded telemarketer. The big difference with this company is that it is owned and operated by Christians. about 80% of our business is what is know as Inbound. Most of the Inbound work is for various national ministries in which we take orders, process donations, provide prayer and even lead callers through salvation prayers as needed. It's a really different work environment. Many of our clients are national ministries you may have heard of or even supported.

My experience there began when Amber's cousin Phil suggested I look into applying. Though I had a job with the Home Depot, I was travelling all the way to Roanoke (1.25 Hr one-way) for work. I had gotten a demotion because they didnt have the same job I had in Madison available. with that demotion was a huge cut in pay. Also, being that I was going to take class they wouldnt give me full-time hours. Anyhow... I went and applied and was hirde to work as an Inbound communicator. Shortly after being hired I was selected to be on a test team in which we would be dedicated to one client taking minimal calls but providing a higher quality of service because we would be specialized. This was pretty cool because the client represented 5 ministries I could personally support.

Although this was going well I was frustrated by the lack of organization of the company. Frustrated with this, I told the new Operations Manger that I didn't want to come into his office and simply complain about what was going on because I knew he quickly become the complaint dept. Rather, I was willing to become part of seeing change. I handed him my resume and told him I would be happy to continue doing what I was doing or take on a new challenge. A week late he offered me a position as Supervisor. This was only about a month into my employment with ISA.

The plan was to crosstrain me, having me learn how the Outbound side of the business worked and then come back to Inbound. I started training for Outbound and shortly after the Outbound manager didn't want to let me leave. So, here I stay, an Outbound Supervisor. But it's really been pretty cool. I was given a 50% raise and a LOT of hours. It's been challenging to balance work, life, family, ministry, and school.

BRCC - Every church has an acrostic, right? Ours is BRCC - Blue Ridge Community Church. It's a great place to call home. Amber found this church while I was still working at the Home Depot. It's a great place with realy people who genuinely care about what God wants them to be doing/being. Very down to earth and unpretentious as well. Incredible worship teams and the quality of preaching is almost always very very good (every preacher's got an off day). I've been serving as a High School Guys Small Group Co-leader. Brad (the other co-leader) and I meet with the guys every wednesday night for small group and you almost never know what to expect. It's a really awesome group of guys.

Amber - Awesome, as usual. I don't think I'd even be alive if it weren't for her. She's constantly picking up after me, cleaning everything I dirty, cooks and somehow manages to raise Kyla while doing all that. She's also been attending a Ladies Bible study at Thomas Road Baptist Church (Jerry Fallwell's church). She started the beginning of last semester after I had ben told they it was a Bible study for seminary wives. Turns out the seminary wives are a section of the ladies ministry at TRBC. It's been great for her. She hates to miss it and has built a few close relationships as a result. Kyla loves to attend as well.

Also, as a result of the Ladies Bible study is Amber's friend Julie. Julie is from Korea and her husband, James, is working on his Doctorate at the seminary. Amber has Julie over on Friday mornings to help her with learning English.

Kyla - Wow, 2 years old. She's talking like crazy and getting big. She's got her parents build. Not so tall, not so thin. Amber just took her to the Doctor and she was in the 25% for height and 75% for weight. I could go on and on about her. She loves to attend Tuesday morning Bible study, Sunday School, and the Library. Those are the regular highlights of her week. A couple of weeks ago we got a breif snow shower and I was able to take her tubing for the first time as well as build her first snowman. The snowtube was on the back porch for a week or so and about every time she saw it she'd say, "snowtube, daddy's fun." or something like that. She had a blast.

If you're interested, let me know and I'll send you a link to our photo pages. There's a ton of cute pictures of her.

The Animals - Ginger, yep he's still around. But, he's now being challenged by his younger brother Cooper. Cooper's our new puppy. Getting him was a saga that I won't bore you with. But as Russ (our nextdoor neighbor in Madison) used to say... to make along story short... After picking Cooper out at the local animal shelter we found out the reaon he was so docile was because he was battling worms and parvo. A week at the Vet and a bunch of $$ later he's doing well and having a blast chasing Ginger al around our little house.

The House - speaking of the house. God has blesed us with a cute little house. It was a tough move but we have seen God at every turn.

The Neighbors - We're south of the Mason Dixon... need I say more? No offense to those of our friends who are from here or even further south, but if you've met our neighbors you'd understand. Give us a call and we'll tell you some stories.

I guess that's about all for now. I thought I'd start this with an update as to where we've been over the past few months. I trust all is well with you as you read this. Please drop me a line and let me know how I can be praying for you.