2022

2022, if I’m being blatantly honest, was not one of my favorite years. My natural posture is one of optimism, and joy, though this was a year of transition, loss, unexpected battles, and miracles. 

Leaving New Mexico. This was one of the hardest decision I’ve had to be a part of making. A healthy church, thriving ministry, and beautiful relationships I feel were just starting to bloom. However with my health deteriorating due to the elevation (approx 7000ft) we needed to move back to lower elevation. And even though knowing God was calling us away from there, giving up a ministry that I worked hard to develop and relationships with people that I love was DIFFICULT. I still miss them.

We knew God was calling us back to Ohio, at least for a season. And He was calling us there with no jobs, and literally no house to show up to. Most people would say thats idiotic, but honestly, isn’t that what the entirety of our faith is? Hebrews 11:1 – “Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” We knew where He was calling us to, but didn’t know any other details. And that was SCARY. Especially with a wife and 3 young kids. I think we made it all the way to Indiana before we even had an actual house to arrive at. Our church we ministered at in Sabina graciously opened up their parsonage to us. And we were there for ONE NIGHT before we got a call that through a friend of a friend a house had opened up and we could move in THAT DAY! So, still no jobs, but God had given us a house AT JUST THE RIGHT TIME.

So we get to Canton, some amazing friends show up in a blizzard and help to unload our house. Within just a few short weeks God blessed Ashley with a really good job (thankful she still had her realtors license). And then God showed up again. He gave us a house that shouldn’t have been ours, but He made it so. I didn’t even have a job, but God is amazing. 

A few months later, God opened up a spot for me on staff at FCC-Canton, as the Graphic Designer (Part Time position). Levi gets on a really good baseball team and we gain a bunch of new friends from the team, and also in the church. At the end of May we, as a family, got to go on our first ever cruise. It was AMAZING!! 10/10 recommend. 

Then on June 27th our world came crashing down. I had been having headaches for about a week and a scan showed there was a tumor in my brain. The day time stood still. The day I thought my wife and kids would have to continue this side of heaven without me. 4 days and a bit lighter in my skull later, the tumor was out. A few weeks later we found out it was NOT cancerous (an actual miracle) and I was on the way to recovery. And then Ashley goes down. Literally, I was awakened by my oldest that Ash was laying on the ground in tears and couldn’t get up. She wound up having to have major back surgery, while I was still recovering from brain surgery. And on the day of her surgery she lost her job.

God is crazy good though because He blessed Ash with another job pretty quickly and she absolutely loves what she does and has a few pretty cool coworkers/bosses 😜. 

Peyton joined cross country AND WAS SOOOO GOOD AT IT!! Levi was playing fall ball (baseball). Ryann tagging along like the BEST crazy little sister. My job was transitioned from graphic designer to digital communications while I was in recovery. But moment of honesty, my man Seth is WAY better at it than me, I’m a pastor who is really good at communicating, drawing digital squares, developing leaders, and the best G-shaped chord you’ve ever seen. 

I am thankful for the battles God has brought us through this year, even though they were TOUGH. It’s been a hard year. A year that started with loss, and ended with loss (of a new friend). But also with the promise that He still working and He still makes all things new. 

I am so grateful for what God has done for my family this year. For the opportunities He has given. But honestly, I miss being able to pastor people (yeah I know you don’t need position to have influence). It’s honestly what God has called me to and equipped me for. I miss the ministry and relationships I was able to build before. Getting to shift culture and build a culture of engagement and seeing people diving into worship of our King. I believe those days are over for me too. I’m thankful for the opportunity I’ve been given here, because it has stretched me. It has honestly forced me to humble myself and swallow a lot of pride. Both great things. And it has allowed us to develop relationships that I know will carry us throughout this side of heaven. 

There are many things 2022 has given, lots of tears, and lots of joy. I’m not sad to see it go. I welcome this newness of 2023. The anticipation for what God is going to do. We keep “our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, He endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him who endured such hostility from sinners against himself, so that you won’t grow weary and give up.” – Hebrews 12:2-3