Weekend to Remember

Wow, what a weekend. It all started on Friday and ended Tuesday morning. Ringing in a new year is always exciting but this one was a once-in-a-lifetime weekend, and one that range in emotions from despair to sheer joy. THAT's why I haven't been blogging. Without going into too much detail, there are a couple of points of interest I'd like to share.

God is working in my life everyday and on Friday He really smacked me upside the head. I'm a Christian. I believe that Jesus is the savior, died for my sins and rose on the third day for my salvation. I'm also a sinner. There's been one sin in particular that keeps creeping into my life. I would confess that sin, knowing God would forgive me but I kept getting something wrong. I wouldn't get rid of it. I'd keep doing it. I'd always hear God telling me I was screwing up, but I'd ignore it. In other words, I had my fingers in my ears.

Well, God finally got tired of whispering it to me and pulled my fingers out of my ears and yelled right at me. There was no mistaking the message. It's easy to keep heading back to the same sin when there is no accountability, only self will. It's no secret that we, humans, aren't very strong. It's been said that God speaks loudest in our sorrows or that we don't listen until something is taken away. Well, that almost happened to me and it woke me up. First came the excuses, then came the realization that it was all my fault. Every bit of pain I was feeling was caused by me. God just took his protective hand away to prove a point. I don't ever wish to feel that way again, but I thank God for that momentary pain because now, I'm a better Christian for it.

That was Friday, and soon enough it was Monday. Monday, of course, was New Year's Eve, and the anniversary of the first time that Trista and I met. We both attended a party at the Toman's in Paden City with several mutual friends. Six years later, here we were in Erie, Pa.--a long way removed from Paden City.

I know most of the folks reading this blog already know exactly what happened, so I'll cut to the chase. I asked Trista to marry me, she said yes, and if all works out, in roughly nine months, we'll be married.

It was no surprise to her that I was going to pop the question, because she picked out the ring and we bought it together. But I planned a little scavenger hunt that led to a few gifts, including the ring. It was a great evening and it was a lot of fun to share the news with our friends.

Like I said, it was a crazy weekend. One with a lot of ups and downs. But it was one I wouldn't trade for any other.