My Acceptance Speech

So I thought this was a good idea, and having watched the Oscars last night and hearing lots of them I thought I would share my own -- not for winning an Oscar, but just to express my gratitude for those that have impacted my life over the past year. Here it goes:

Wow...2008 was a great year. Thank you so much for being in my life this year.
First I'd like to thank my immediate family, who's provided continual encouragement and advice throughout the year as well as several great get-togethers with all 5 of us. Those are becoming too rare, but we had at least 3 of them this year full of laughs and I'm thankful for that. "We're family, we're blood!"

Next I'd like to thank my roommates for being such incredible friends and humble, thoughtful, patient men of God. You encourage me more than you realize. I've truly enjoyed our hang times and continually learn so much from both of ya'lls lives.

Thanks LSB for some great times on the road in Big Brown and for indulging me with the thought that maybe, I can be a rockstar, not just wear the jeans, at least for a weekend :) Those times ministering and making music with ya'll are without a doubt some of the richest, memorable times in all of 2008

Thanks Barrett for showing me how China really tastes, smells and looks day-to-day. And for showing me a life lived with purpose, sold out to a calling. You are a great friend and I look forward to celebrating with ya'll in June.

To my blog readers, thanks for reading, commenting, and giving me an outlet to continue to write.

Thanks coworkers for laughing with me and being great friends; and, for being patient with me when I'm defiant and fly off the handle... God has used you more in my life to shape me than you'll ever know.

To Coldplay, thanks for providing the soundtrack to so many of these memories, and for an unforgettable November 11th.

To Federer and Nadal, thanks for the best tennis match I've ever watched.

*To Josh Darnell, that night we hung out with ya'll I laughed more then than I did all year long. Thanks for that, and for giving me much-needed perspective recently. Godspeed on your recovery.

And to Rachel, thank you for being a constant, patient encouragement to me. So many of this year's highlights were shared with you, and were even highlights because of you. God has used you in my life more than I've expressed and answered so many prayers through you. You point me to Christ so much and I'm so happy we shared so many laughs, songs, theater outings, talks, prayers and sweet times together this year.

There are so many others that had conversations with me and taught me so much, about living without regret, about God's sovereignty, and that sometimes saying nothing is the best way to go :) There's no way to mention you all here, but thank you.

And finally, I'd like to thank the One in the midst of it all, using it all to mold and shape me more into His image, renewing me inwardly more each day. I know every cherished memory, and every hurt, each kiss, each blessing was really you and a gift bought through your Son's blood, grace shown to this sinner.

In looking back here, remembering all God's done, I'm hopeful for what's in store in 2009. For the new friends I've already made. For the trips He has planned and changes in store, career and otherwise. I'm happy to be on this journey and hopeful to see how He proves Himself faithful yet again.

*Editors note: I meant to put this in earlier, so i just added it