Time Flies... I'll swat them later.

Wow... long time since my last entry.

I got a new laptop.... a few years ago.

I figured out that I could use Puppy Linux to get my crashed computer working enough to copy everything to an external USB Hard Drive. So Yay!

Karysha and I have been happily married some 5.5 years as of early December, 2011.

I've lost touch with many (most) of my online friends in that time, much to my chagrin and regret, but life's priorities naturally change. I'd love to reconnect with them though.

I switched jobs from Wal-Mart to a place called the Valley Center for Advanced Personal Success, which is a behavioral/vocational day program for developmentally disabled adults. It was hard at times, and a real learning experience. It stretched me in many ways, taught me new levels of patience and compassion, and provided a decent contribution to mine and Karysha's living. Meanwhile, she stepped down from her position so we could have more time together, and eventually quit the company she worked for. She got a job as a security guard, and we made ends meet, usually... mostly. And I still needed to find a better job.

We also worked/volunteered in the children's ministry at our church, which was a lot of fun, and a real blessing to be a part of. I received a lot of positive feedback from the other workers, children, and parents, which was gratifying, but the real reward was getting to work together with my bride as a team, in the service of the Lord.

We lived in the central valley of Northern California for close to 4 years, give or take a few months, and then a number of factors prompted us to move across country to Virginia, as of about 6 months ago, give or take a week or two. Her job transferred. Mine didn't.

I eventually got a part time job with an electronics retailer, selling cellphones and such. I like it. A lot... but I don't get enough pay or hours to make ends meet.. So I still need a better job. But I'm applying, and I'm hopeful.

Meanwhile, I finally made my home-schooling education (elementary through high school) official by obtaining my GED! (Don't ask how I managed to earn a associate's and a bachelor's without one. Only God knows.)

Since we got married I haven't really photographed many new sunsets or clouds. We haven't lived anyplace with quite the same kind of view... but one never knows what the future holds. Perhaps I'll take up writing...

Another thing I've realized is that I need to get more serious with God... as is always going to be the case. For every new level my relationship with Christ reaches, I realize that there is so much more to Him, and so much more I ought to be doing in response to what He has done for me. I am also more convicted of my sin, and more amazed by His ceaseless love and lavish grace to me, the complete opposite of what I know I honestly deserve.

So yeah.... that's a rough summary of what's been going on since my last journal post... of course, in 5+ years, there's a ton of stuff I could add, but.... for now, I need to go fill out some job-applications.

``` VR