Ralstins Words

Well, it is a New Year: a time for reflections, and thought. How was the past year past? How did the past year help me grow? What can I do better this year? What do I have to look forward to this year? These are few questions that might come to ones mind. It is a time of celebration for with every New Year comes new possibilities and experiences. I would like to show you my reflections and expectations for this New Year.

2007 was an interesting year for me. I made it through my first year at Tabor. It was an awesome year one that has changed me. The friends that I meet there are one that will be with me the rest of my life. I dated Shea Thompson in February: it was a fun time for both of us. However, it ended in tragedy the summer of 2007. We lost the emotional connection in our relationship and had to end it. We have still remained friends, which is a good thing.
During spring break of 2007, I went to California for training. On the weekend we were able to go to San Francisco. It was interesting to see Chinatown. It is the closes example of a different culture I have been able to se up close. as close as I have been able to see a different culture up close. Furthermore I received a lot of good medical training that can be useful in a combat environment or an emergency. Right before the summer began I got my transfer to the 331st Med Group to be the Chaplain assistant. It has been a fun and interesting experience for me. So I am finally moving on in my military career. The summer was the most interesting of all. Shea came with me for the summer to visit my parents, which made it a bit more interesting. I worked for my dad doing odd jobs around his warehouse. In July, my best friend Seth finally launched his podcast company, Dewoh Studios. It has started off very well. At the end of the year we had a few shows and a bit of money under our belts. And, it is only the beginning. As the summer came to a close things became a bit more complicated. Shea and I started having problems with our relationship and it was time to find a loan for Tabor. Furthermore a youth I am good friends with and have been helping, her mother died and she became pregnant. What made it worse was that the father was twenty-two. I really could not do any thing to help her until I returned to Wichita. I have never felt so helpless. However, the situation helped kindle the passion for youth I once had. Shea and I wound up breaking up. One of the good things that happened was that my sister became engaged to a nice young man. His name is Anthony. He proposed to her at the Beau Rivage one of the nicest Hotel and casinos. They plan on getting married in August of 2008.
I when I returned to Wichita, I helped the young lady as much as I could. However, in the end she lost her child. I was arrested for driving with a suspended license that I did not even know was suspended. I spent half a day in the jail. A little later in the year, my best friend Seth proposed to his girl of four years, Sarah Wallace. She, of course, said yes. They plan to get hitched in May of ‘08. At Tabor I took youth ministry classes, which added fuel to my passion for youth. At the end of this year, I went home with a heavy mind. I had not been able to find any one to cosign a loan for me and had no way of paying for Tabor. Furthermore, I spent a lot of time arguing with my parents about attending Tabor. This year made me smarter and wiser, as well as stronger spiritually, emotionally and socially.

What can I look forward to this coming year? If every thing goes well, I will be completing my second year of Tabor and doing awesome things with Dewoh. If not, I will just be doing awesome things with Dewoh. If I can not find a cosigner then I will have to leave Tabor. I will then move to Wichita and find some work. I am planning on doing a few shows for Dewoh and going to Chaplain Assistant School in the fall. In the summer I plan to be roaming the U.S. doing different things: some ministry some military. I know for sure I can look forward to two weddings: Seth & Sarah’s and Heather (my sister)& Anthony’s. Something I am also looking forward to is my research on some touchy topics in the Church. I want to have my own thoughts and research on the matters so that I can teach it with a clear conscience. Furthermore, I look forward to strengthening my relationship with my friends and with Christ. One thing I am hopping for is that the Cubs or the Braves will go to the World Series.

What are my New Year’s resolutions? They are the following: finish reading Sex God, by Rob Bell and Sunshine, by Robin McKinley; To get on a good work-out program and stay on it, so that I can easily pass the P.T. test for the military; To post on my Blog at least once a week. To get my independent studies done by the end of the month; To read all the Harry Potter books, all of the Robin McKinley books, the Sword of Truth, and all of the Tracy Hickman and Margret Wies Dragonlance books I have not read; to find a way to pay for Tabor; To strive for better social skills: and I am going to try to understand football.

This year looks to be quite an interesting year. As with every year, are going to be good and bad times. I just have to rely on my faith, family and friends to get me through it.
So you have seen a glimpse into my life and my expectations for the New Year. I hope that the year ahead works very well for you and that you make the most of it. Make sure that you live life to the fullest. I leave you with this quote from the Crow:
“It can’t rain all the time.”