Anyways...here we go...

- Daily prayer and devotions with my wife

- Read 4 books

- Continue my 30 Day Challenge(s), one of which must be to go vegetarian for a month

The most important and exciting happened on April 4 when Sara and I got married in a small family ceremony at Moonshine Hill in Leipers Fork. I will forever be grateful she said yes. We had an amazing honeymoon being pampered at the Iberostar Grand Hotel Parasio and taking in the sights and amazing food of South Beach Miami.

Together as husband and wife we took a road trips to Memphis to see the Foo Fighters & Motorhead, to Louisville to see Jimmy Eat World for Sara's birthday, and to Atlanta to see the Foo Fighters again. We also saw the U2360 tour in Nashville, Sade, and Death Cabe For Cutie. We saw classic films like Rear Window, Jaws, and A Christmas Story at the re-opened Franklin Theatre. We also went to Disney World for a few days and to PA for a Penn State game and celebration of our wedding with my PA family and friends. We ended the year with trips to Maui for a week where we chilled on the beach, snorkeled,took in some amazing sunsets and I threw it down at Maui Brewing Company. And then to PA to see my family for Christmas.

The Moist family grew with the birth of Aslan Jude.

I read 2 books…completely on my iPhone. RED: My Uncensored Life in Rock by Sammy Hagar and Onward: How Starbucks Fought for Its Life without Losing Its Soul.

I continued my 30 Day Challenge idea this year but did 2 (at the same time) during June. I tackled sit-ups and pictures. I did sit-ups every day starting with 3 reps of 10 and increasing it by 1 rep in each set every day. I ended the month doing a total of 114 on the last day. I also jumped on the Instagram train and took a picture every day (not of the sit-ups). I've continued posting pictures on Instagram...but the sit-ups stopped.

Killer times at the Franklin Main Street Brew Fest with Eddy, JR and Bill…and the Flying Saucer Beer Fest with JR.

My 15 year high school reunion from Harrisburg Christian School.

I saw U2 on the 360 tour for the 3rd time, the 2nd time this year, when I took my brother to see them in Pittsburgh for his 30th birthday.

I met the only child of Johnny and June Carter Cash…John Carter...got to ask him so questions and have him autograph his new book House of Cash.

I got a new tattoo.

And lastly, a song that I worked on as A&R for Gotee Records, "Hold Me" by Jamie Grace, is nominated for a Grammy.

...my wife Sara and for the new adventure we have started together.

...continuing to have a job that I love.

...a family that grew with the birth of Aslan Jude.

...that I will be going back to the island...of Maui...in less than a week.

I flew to New Hampshire to surprise my Dad for his 60th birthday.

All things LOST. The sixth and final season premiered on my 32nd birthday. An episode featured someone I know as an extra. Our Dharma themed finale party.

Sara took me to my first Vanderbilt men's basketball game.

Sara and I took our first road trip to Chattanooga and hit up places like Terminal Brewhouse, Greyfriars, and Clumpies which have now become some favorites.

I signed up for the Mellow Mushroom Beer Club. I would need to drink 70 of their 80 beers to become part of the club. I finished my 70th beer and joined the Mellow Mushroom Beer Club AND got my name on the wall.

In March I took a self imposed challenge of trying 1 new beer a day for 30 days.  After the challenge I kept trying new beers (but not at 1 a day). In all I have tried over 160 new beers this year.

Went to the Franklin Main Street Brew Fest, the 9th annual Music City Brewers Festival and enjoyed a fall beer tasting at Flying Saucer and a winter beer tasting at Stogies.

Road trip to Murray, KY to see tobyMac and House of Heroes but not without a stop in Paris first. Paris, TN that is.

Finally purchased my own record player and got serious about vinyl. Probably a bad thing but  it's a lot of fun.

First visit to Martin's BBQ was when they we were doing a taping for Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.

Took a mini-vaca in Cali in April. Sara had flown out earlier to help her family with the Festival of Life. The Coachella music festival took place while I was there but instead of going to that we enjoyed the pool, the Palm Springs Tramway, and the Beer Hunter.

Went to my first Predators playoff game…they lost.

Finally had my wisdom teeth taken out.

Spent 2 days volunteering to help those that lost everything in the Nashville flood. It was a very humbling and rewarding experience.

Sara and I spent her birthday in New Hampshire with my folks. We had amazing day trips to: Perkin's Cove in Ogunquit, ME (where I enjoyed fresh lobster rolls at Footbridge Lobster and Barnacle Billy's), Portsmouth (where I tried the 10 beer sampler at Portsmouth Brewery), Lake Winnipesaukee in Meredith and of course BOSTON. I even tried deep fried French Toast for the first time at Parker's Maple Barn.

Participated in my 2nd Cow Appreciation Day.

Road trip with Sara and the Powers to Louisville, KY to see Louis of Gasoline Heart perform. But not before we stopped at the Zappos outlet, had brunch at Lynn's Paradise Cafe, checked out the 21c Museum Hotel, and had some killer brews and amazing apps at Cumberland Brewery.

Flew to PA to surprise my fam for my niece Eva's 1st birthday. We had a blast together.

The hardest album I have ever worked on (House of Heroes "Suburba") as A&R and Marketing Manager debuted at #48 on Billboard's Top 200 after it's release on August 3.

I finally got to see Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers when the MOJO Tour hit Nashville. And with some of my favorite people...Sara and the McNeelys.

Another trip to PA for Purple Door and hang time with Eva.

Sara and I got to see the Chihuly Nights exhibit at Cheekwood.

Sara, Tobin, and I "made the paper" after attending the Thompson Station First Annual Sweet Tea Festival at the Homestead Manor Plantation.

Started watching Penn State games with Nashville Penn Staters. Chatted it up with local weather man Dan Thomas.

Sara and I joined the McNeely family of friends for a few days in Las Vegas. I won $80 the first night in a rock/paper/scissors tournament but that was my only win. We had a blast staying at the Encore, catching a FREE showing of Le Reve, walking the strip, and placing a few bets on some horses.

Went to the Titans 2010 season home opener.

Road trip with Sara, Beth, and Frank to ATL to see Jimmy Eat World.

Saw FREE advance screenings of The Town, Due Date, and True Grit courtesy of GoFoBo.com.

I moved into a new place in downtown Franklin. I even got a bike to ride to work.

Met Jim Breuer.

Found out I'm gonna be an uncle for the 2nd time.

Spent Thanksgiving in Omaha, NE visiting Sara's extended family. Had a blast playing "pass the ace". Loved Beertopia and the Element.

Ending the year with Sara in California.

I view half of 2007 and half of 2008 as a time of being torn down to almost nothing while trying to stay alive financially, emotionally, physically, and spiritually through it all. I saw the worst life had to offer but through it all I also saw some of the best it had to offer.

The remaining half of 2008 I view as a time I was able to build a new confidence and see things becoming restored to my life.

2009 was a year where I felt my life became completely enjoyable again. I was in a great relationship. I had a job that I loved. Finances were not a stress. I saw my family grow. I took many trips, experienced a lot of what life had to offer, and most of it for the first time. I was blessed. But with all those great things there was a downside. In some ways I became comfortable again. And with that comfort came many challenges...and regrettably I know I did not succeed at all of them.

I feel 2010 will be a year of change for me. The year has just started and I can feel it. Perhaps all for the good, but maybe for bad...but only at first. I'm not sure where exactly but I feel it coming. And with that change will come more challenges. I pray this year I handle challenges differently. I pray I don't allow blessings to make me too comfortable. I pray I don't allow fear to slip in. I pray I am ready.

Sara and I have been together for over a year now.

Seeing AC/DC for the first time…which included a full size locomotive engine on stage.

LOST on Wednesday nights with Sara, the McNeely's, and Adam.

A trip to Chicago in March with Sara to see the Jimmy Eat World "Clarity 10 Tour".

Signing Abandon Kansas to Gotee.

My first show at the Ryman…Death Cab for Cutie.

A trip to Maui in May with Sara and her family…which included a day trip to Oahu to see filming locations for LOST.

My niece Eva Sephora was born on July 25 to my brother Brandon and sister in-law Samantha.

Holding Eva for the first time on August 8.

Carnton Plantation concerts from SixtyFour and an Eagles cover band.

Seeing Metallica for the first time…which included an encore with Lemmy from Motorhead.

Taking Sara to her first Penn State football game (a white out)…even though I was sick, it rained, and we loss.

Seeing Them Crooked Vultures...which included legendary bassist John Paul Jones.

A trip to FL in October with Sara to see U2 for my first time and go to Universal Studios.

Road trips with Sara that included visiting wineries off the Natchez Trace and Fall Creek Falls.

Seeing Jay-Z and Bruce Springsteen for the first time…a 3 hour set from the Boss included the entire "Born to Run" album.

Witnessing THE Titans win of the year at LP Field with a 99 yard drive and a 4th down last second touchdown pass.

Seeing SixtyFour go from a performance at a housing clubhouse in January to an electric show at 12th & Porter in December.

Spending Christmas in Indio/La Quinta, CA with Sara and her family that included a day at DisnleyLand, my first ostrich burger and date & banana shake, and evenings in the pool with 2 Buck Chuck.

Ending the year in PA with the Moist family.

Groundhog's Day has never been the same since 1978.

Surreal. Thankful. 

Those are the two words that describe this holiday season and the past months. It's been so overwhelming at times that I can't fully express it. When I think back to a year ago and remember how broken and fragile I was and how all I wanted to do was survive the year...and then to see now where I am...it just blows my mind to see how God has rebuilt and restored my life in just 12 months. I'm not sure everyone gets to see things come full circle as fast as I have and I can only thank God for all of that.

If I ever doubted my decision to quit my job and stay in TN I was reaffirmed that I made the right decision when I was asked to return to Gotee Records a few months ago. I am grateful beyond words to have a job that I love what I do especially in these turbulent times and in an industry that is struggling. Surreal was the word that popped in my head last week at The Tonight Show. I never would have thought a year ago, when I was desperately looking for a job just so I could eat, that I would be back at the job I love and at The Tonight Show with some of my best friends. Surreal indeed.

I have been blessed with a family that loves me and has supported me immensely this past year. I remember my sister in-law saying "great things in '08" at the start of the year and thinking to myself "yeah right, I'm gonna be officially divorced in '08, what's great about that?". But great things did indeed happen. I grew closer to my family. We had open and honest conversations we never had. I saw strength in my mother that I did not know existed. I watched the bond between my father and I grow. My sister in-law has become a voice of wisdom in my life. And my brother? Well, he's the best and I love him more than anything. And then I got the news that I would become an uncle. For all of that, I am thankful.

To my friends, you know who you are, thanks for your prayers, meals, hang time, and all you have done for me. I am so proud to have you in my life. Here's to another year of more Thursday mornings, 2-4-1's at Jonathan's, LOST parties, St. Augustine trips, and T-Mac pool parties.

And then there's sweet Sara. A woman of God who simply just glows. A friend of over 7 years. A woman who I find myself drawn to more and more each day. I have yet to meet somebody that knows her that doesn't say the word "amazing" to describe her. I am thankful for her patience, her giving heart, her convictions, and the full of life spirit that emanates from her. 

Despite the fact that I will turn 31 in less than 2 months I feel more alive now than I did 5-10 years ago. I have been through hell but I have come out stronger and better. I have seen the worse in life this past year and also the best of life. It has been surreal and for all the blessings I am thankful. 

Here's to the future!

Sara and I went to Cali for Thanksgiving, specifically the San Diego area. We flew in on Thanksgiving and drove up to Dana Point to meet the family. Overall we were very busy, driving up and down the 5, hitting as many spots as we could.

On Black Friday we spent time in Laguna Beach after grabbing breakfast at The Greeter's Corner Restaurant...

...and then hit up the Irvine Spectrum for some insane shopping while getting some killer food and brews at The Yard House.

The next day we drove north to visit the Zappin's and Oatley's. We hit up Kingsroad Cafe for breakfast, cruised by their friends boutique, did some shopping in Santa Monica, and ended the day with dinner at C & O Trattoria in Venice followed by a walk on the pier. It was a great time. 

The next day we hit up Kono's Cafe at Pacific Beach for an AMAZING breakfast burrito brunch... 

...and then hit up the Coronado area, specifically the beautiful Hotel Del Coronado. 

For dinner that evening we were treated to a home-cooked Korean meal courtesy of a family friend. I even tried the jellyfish. 

Our last day in SD we hit up the San Diego Zoo with Sara's mom. Pandas, gorillas, hippos, rhinos, and elephants oh my!

And yes, I finally had In-N-Out for the first time. 

After returning back to TN, and starting back at my new/old job,  I got the privilege to return to Cali this past week with Relient K. They performed their version of "Sleigh Ride" with Tom Wilson (Biff from Back to the Future) on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Tuesday evening. It was surreal being backstage as the other guests included Jim Carrey, Rosario Dawson, and Fred Willard. 

I even walked away with a Christmas gnome from the set.