stephen wayne hammond

2008- a look back

As we get ready to tackle the new year that is called 2009, I wanted to step back into time and remember some great things that happened for me and my family in 2008.

• January our family met some new friends that would change how we view suffering, friendship and hope.  Although our lives aren't connected physically any longer we are eternally grateful for the journey with them through the year.
• In February Lanette and I celebrated 10 years of marriage!  Our church was very cool and took up some funds to help us get to Cancun (a dream of ours since we were married). We love one another and look forward to the next 10 years. 
• Mosaic continued to grow up in some really cool ways.  We lost a few close friends during the year but God provided our church with the greatest 'increase' we had seen in our 3 short years. Our attendance in small groups doubled and our Gathering attendance hit an all time high.  Add to that the fact that we commissioned another elder, drilled 3 wells in El Salvador, committed to partnering with an orphanage in Mexico, came alongside the Arlington Life Shelter to help take practical steps to eliminate homelessness in Arlington and gave away a bunch of our money to help the needs of the poor and it was by far our greatest year ever as a community. 
• We had our first emergency room visit when our dog bit our youngest son Bryson and it required 14 stitches to repair him.  Needless to say we lost a dog as well.  We still miss Cali but it was the best for us.  And Bryson now has a 'war scar' to go along with his warrior's heart and spirit.
• I got to go to El Salvador to help dig a well with a team from Mosaic.  Very cool.  
• I coached Harrison in 2 seasons of baseball.  He's a little stud.  Made the All-Star team (again) and represented Arlington in a local tournament.  I love hanging with that dude! Despite him being a great athlete, he is an even better leader to his peers.  (Plus he loves to swing business deals in the Butler cafe during lunch by selling items he gets at Target to his friends for an upcharge of 50%.  Hope he is tithing!)
• Madison continues to bless us with her ability to create.  She is the artistic one.  She dances and colors in ways that amaze us.  
• Bryson is the athlete.  The tough kid.  Nothing fazes him.  Just yesterday he came bragging that he is going to have to get fillings.  "Bring it on" is his attitude.  
• Square One, our church planting arm, had it's ups and downs.  We lost some major donor support (so if you want to fund new church starts let's talk) but our planters are doing a heck of job changing cities.  It's fun to coach these guys to great things in the future. 
• I am learning how to lead better.  Starting with learning how to say "No, I can't do that" to "You are wrong and here is why."  I need to learn more about humility and grace no doubt, but for the most part if you are in my life I hope to continue to be a better leader for you in the future. 
• Holidays are always great.  This year we were blessed in so many ways.  We finally paid off ALL our debt!  We were able to lease a new vehicle for myself.  We grabbed another large dog (welcome our golden retriever, Lady, to the world) for the kids.  Upgraded our home computer (Lanette got a Mac desktop for Christmas) and to top it off found a brand spankin' new Wii on our doorstep on Christmas Eve. Someone from Mosaic (we think) dropped it off as a blessing for all our family does for others.  WOW!   

That's a snapshot of our year.  God was good through it all.  We are a blessed family, doing everything we can to be a blessing to others.  

The best is yet to come! 

Where did the time go?

Have you been in the middle of something and then decided to check your watch to see what time it was, and bam, you realized "I have been here ___ hours! The time has just flown by."

I was in a moment like that last night. Lanette and I were invited, along with another great couple we love and respect, to eat dinner and at some friends home. While the food was just awesome (both Eric and Kellie are great cooks!) it was what took place after the meal that made the evening so enjoyable, enough so that 2 hours later we were all going "where did the time go?" The conversations, stories, tears (I won't reveal which person was crying, but I will say it was one of us men) and laughter turned a regular dinner experience into one of those evenings that you were just thankful God was still allowing you to breath. It was refreshing. It was encouraging. It was sorely needed.

For some of us our "where did the time go?" experiences take place on ball fields while for others of us they take place alone in the park. Some choose to spend time with friends over great drink and food while others prefer the walks under the moon with an intimate friend. I am not sure what kind of environment will have you looking at your watch and wondering "where did the time go?" but I am sure that those kinds of experiences are needed if you are going to truly appreciate life and living. I pray and hope you can create a moment for yourself like the one we had last night. I am confident you won't regret it and I am pretty sure you desperately need it, like now.

Have you had some moments like these? If so, share them with us. We need more help in understanding the role of great friends in great times.