Hindsight.

Today is a pretty significant day. Sure, it's "tax day" this year, but that's not what I'm talking about. This is an anniversary of the beginning of two big relationships in my life.

Four years ago today my friend Cara and I had our first email exchange that led to the friendship we have today. It was one of those things where we just "clicked" and became friends. It's funny that the best friendships I have never seemed like they required any work. They just happened.

Cara was the secretary for the Electronic Media folks at the Community of Christ Church and e-mailed me on April 17, 2003 to ask what to do with my pay stub for work I'd done there. One thing led to another and we're good buddies now. For quite a while we talked on the phone every day ate lunch once a week to catch up on stuff. Good times. Cara, you're a blessing.

Another big anniversary started one year ago in a fast food restaurant. I had been driving randomly down M-291 highway here in Independence searching for a place to eat. I ended up going to Wendy's there and saw my future in-laws and son. Glenn, Sally, and Benjamin were dining there and I stopped to talk to them when I was leaving. Benjamin introduced himself to me and seemed like such a great little kid. He was outgoing, friendly, and so full of cheer. Glenn and Sally gave me an update on how their daughter and my old friend Glenda was doing. I gave Glenn another of my business cards -- he'd received one a while back but washed it in the laundry -- and then said goodbye and left.

That evening my relationship with Glenda sparked again and would eventually become our marriage. She called me to say hello, and after a brief "what have you been up to?" exchange, we ended the call with the intent of contacting each other again sometime. That sometime didn't come until more than a month later, but it DID happen. What I find interesting is the blog entry I wrote that night with the subject line, "A Lot To Look Forward To.":

Today was a good day. After more than a year of work and hope and stress, the City Council approved our purchase of a new routing switcher and related equipment for my job. We're talking almost $200,000 worth of equipment and related stuff. This will allow our video productions to go "to the next level," and basically set us up for proper expansion and upgrades in the future. It feels good to have had a hand in such a big project, especially knowing that the equipment is going to improve our jobs so much.

I also got in contact with an old friend again today. Glenda used to be a classmate and really good friend of mine in grade school and junior high. Unfortunately, our lives eventually took us in different directions and we fell out of touch. Well today at lunch I saw her parents again. After a nice chat I left my business card with them to give to her and she called me tonight while I was headed home from work. It was good to hear her voice again and it'll be nice to catch up with her as time goes on.

My, oh my, did we catch up. A year later we're married and very happy. We feel much more purpose and direction for our lives. God has truly blessed us.

Smiles.