January - The word intentional. A few years ago I adopted the practice of listening for a specific word from God that I would make my focus for the year; it was my “word of the year.” For 2011, God laid intentional on my heart. I was working about 30 minutes away from home at the time and I would often hear Intentional Living with Dr. Randy Carlson on the radio. His message of living intentionally reminded me of the way God wanted me to live, thus the word of the year.
February - New Acappella contract. I struggled with the decision to re-sign because of several personal reasons that don’t need to be discussed, but this contract was a big deal to me because it had been a year-and-a-half since my original contract expired and I didn’t know if I would ever sign another one, so I signed it. Then, I recorded what would be my last official tune with Acappella.
March – Whoa … We’re pregnant! After having lost a baby to miscarriage five months earlier we were elated and terrified to find out what God had in store for us this time around. March was also the month we said goodbye to our dear friend, brother, and musical giant, Gary Miller. I still miss him when I hear one of his songs.
April – Marathon relay. I was blessed to join Oklahoma Christian University’s marathon relay team this year. My dad’s birthday was the end of April (this was the first one he wasn’t around for) and my wife’s is at the beginning, and I had the opportunity of honoring both of them with this run, although the actual event was on May 1. I ran the last leg which was a 10k, a distance I had never run before. I ran it in just over an hour and never stopped running. I was proud of myself. 
In other news, we helped some of our best friends, Zac and Lacey George, welcome their beautiful baby boy, Joshua, into the world.
May – The California trip. This was the most difficult trip I ever took with Acappella. We left on a 2-week journey when Steph was about 10 weeks pregnant, the same time frame in which we lost our previous pregnancy. Needless to say, we were scared out of our minds. But, we did some good ministry, met some great people, and were blessed beyond belief on that trip.
June – I decided to leave Acappella … then, I turned 35. The decision came quite easily, even though I knew it would be difficult to actually do. After taking the trip to California and knowing there would be more trips similar in nature in which I would have to leave my family for days and / or weeks at a time, I knew it was time to move on. I fasted and prayed for a couple days to figure out what I should do, but I already knew the answer. As much as I fought it, I knew God was telling me to let go and trust that Acappella would be in good hands. As usual, God was right. I turned 35 a couple weeks after I put in my resignation. Then, we found out we were having a girl!
July – One last trip to Oklahoma. We left Tennessee to pack our apartment and move back here in July. Although I hadn’t found significant work, yet (and I had been trying feverishly for a long time to get a job), we were able to find a place to live. So, with Steph about halfway through her pregnancy, we trekked back to OK, packed our apartment, and drove back to Tennessee. Since we have two vehicles, she had to drive one with Gabby while I drove the other by myself. Steph was a rockstar, by the way!
August – Back to school. I had applied for a teaching job that I almost got, but I wasn’t certified to teach. The person at the education office of that school district suggested I get a Master’s degree while I was getting my teaching license. She said it would give me better opportunities for employment. So, I enrolled in Trevecca Nazarene University as a grad student. That’s where I met Dr. Alice Patterson who gave me a lead on a great job… (By the way, I sang my last official concert with Acappella on August 20.)
September – Hail to the bus-driving drum line tech. I was blessed to get a couple of jobs – one as a bus monitor (and driver-in-training), the other teaching the local high school drum line. It wasn’t the best income, but it was income, so, I didn’t complain. Besides, I was in the audition process to be a worship leader at a great church. Although times were tough and we weren’t sure where our next rent check would come from, we held onto the hope God gave us that there would be better days ahead. This was also the month in which I sang my encore concert with Acappella.
October – Hanging on for dear life. I finished my first grad school class strongly, started my second class well, and was working four jobs – bus monitoring (which later became bus driving), drum line instructing, substitute teaching (which later became a full-time general education assistant job), and private lessons – while my wife was nine months pregnant and trying to be sane in our apartment that wasn’t so conducive to sanity (thin walls, poor ventilation, smoke and other smells in our clean apartment, obnoxious neighbors, etc.). We also commemorated one year since Dad’s passing and the loss of our baby in the month of October.
November – New. I was blessed with new work – Worship Minister at the Family of God at Woodmont Hills (thanks, Dr. Patterson); a new job opportunity – middle school band director; and the biggest “new,” the new addition to our family – Raven Catherine Brannon. One year prior, I was in mourning, denial, depression, and a mental and spiritual place I never want to be again. Thank God for renewal!
December – Ending and beginning. We ended the year in a completely opposite way than we began, and not at all in a way we imagined at the beginning of the year. I finished my second of ten classes in my Master’s program, finished working as a bus driver and general education assistant, began work as a worship minister, and finished the paperwork to begin working as director of bands for Springfield Middle School.
What an amazing ride we’ve been on this year! I’m eager to see what 2012 has in store. I’ll reveal my new word-of-the-year in the next post. Until then, enjoy today because we don’t get a do-over.
How was your year?
Peace, Love, and Happy 2011
