The First Post of 2011

Okay, so I'm cheating on this one...

This is my part of several e-mails between all of my siblings.  The names are of siblings, in-laws or relatives. I'm sorry that you are not privy to the other letters, but they are not mine to share.

If you have some suggested reading material, feel free to comment with your thoughts.  Generally speaking, I read more nonfiction than fiction, and would like to read more of the classics.

Here are my opening thoughts for 2011:

So I end 2010 at the same weight as I started it...bad in that I really need to lose some of this weight, good in the sense that I'm also pretty level for the past few years. (weight-wise) 

This year I will continue in battle with the idea that I posted on facebook--‎"The more weight you'd like to permanently lose, the more of your lifestyle you'll need to permanently change" -- Dr.Yoni Freedhoff

I'm doing well in already reducing portions and no seconds (except the roast at Theresa's this weekend was really good and worthy of a small second helping!)  I'm bringing less food to the midshifts, and I'm drinking more water, less diet soda.  We'll see how it all pans out.

Although I'll be eligible to retire 1 year from this Friday, three years of no raises and a thrift savings account that tanked may keep me working a little bit longer...it's time to really start crunching the numbers and see what retirement income will be and figure out what additional income will be from ministry and magic.

One other consideration--I've found an accredited Bible college that waives tuition for bi-vocational pastors and I have been told that as a bi-vocational evangelist I would qualify for their program. They are located in St. Louis and I could do all of my work online. If I continue working until I get my bachelor's degree, I could do it for the cost of books. I think that if I work right through it I can do it in about 18 mos.

I want to do more reading this year.  I received The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde for Christmas and am looking forward to reading it. True Gritmakes the list because of the movie remake and conversation with Mike G. Last Days of the Late Great State of California is another Mike G recommendation that sounds pretty interesting. I'm reading Antiquities of the Jews by Flavius Josephus--that's a year long project along with daily readings that will put me through the Old Testament once and the New Testament twice this year. The Qu'ran also makes the must read list for 2011.

All in all, life is pretty good.  I'd like to eat out less in 2011 and invite people over more.  I'm really considering a garden this year, but know that it is more work than it seems it should be.  

Last year I threatened Rick Rohman that I was going to crash his Fourth of July get-together and he said that was impossible because I have a standing invitation.  Maybe we should plan on a family crash and make it a joint reunion/dad's birthday/4th of July bash with the Rohman clan.

Just a thought...

I'm still greatly impressed and somewhat humbled that you all traveled so far to be with us for Aaron and Jenny's wedding this past summer.  I wish that I could have spent more time with you but trust that you all had plenty of time to visit with one another.  We'll be traveling to Chicago in May for Jenny's graduation but don't know if the schedule will allow us time for visiting.  I would like to make the trip with time to stop in Chillicothe and/or Bolingbrook at some point this year. As Theresa mentioned, you are all among my favorite people. As a family, we are truly blessed.

My simplest of goals is to be happy.  There isn't really much that just ticks me off anymore.  In fact, it's much more likely that I will be the one that ticks somebody else off by being brutally honest or just not knowing when to keep my mouth shut or my pen capped.  Apparently not all of the Hill traits are virtues!

Love you guys!

And here's to a healthy and happy 2011 for all of us!

John