Today is my 33rd birthday. Birthdays have a way of making me take stock of my life, and even though I'm not freaking out today, I still like to look back. (BTW I really freaked out over turning 29.) I figure that, even with wishful thinking, at least a third of my life has passed. So, just for fun, I’ll break down my life so far into thirds and share some highlights.

Age birth – 11: I really accomplished a lot, relatively speaking. Mostly, like other kids, it’s learning stuff. Here’s a partial list that is in no particular order.

Successfully navigated the birth canal
Learned to walk
Learned to talk (possibly learned this one a little too well)
Inherited my brother and promptly, through regular beat-downs, established my dominance
Survived a bout with a life-threatening illness.
Learned how to use the toilet and clean up after myself (very important skill)
Learned to tie my shoes even though in the early 80s we all thought velcro would replace laces
Learned to ride a bike (this one took me a while)
Learned to read and write
Successfully passed Kindergarten through 5^th grade (I turned 12 during the 6^th grade)
Moved 10 times or so through 4 different cities (Franklin KY, Somerset KY, Bristol VA, Hopkinsville KY, Cerulean KY)
Became a Christian
Participated in a school play
Got pretty fat
Made it to the dice and bowtie (I can’t remember which is better) levels of Megamania

Age 12-22: Not so much about learning stuff, as accomplishing stuff or failing to accomplish stuff. This is obviously what I would refer to as my formative years. I am who I am mostly because of these 11 years. Again, here’s a list.

Managed to get through 6^th-12^th grade in one try (I won’t be saying that later on)
Survived the divorce of my parents
Saved the princess in Super Mario Brothers
Saw my Dad become a Christian
Inherited a step family (which included 2 more brothers and a sister. Again I had to establish my dominance through regular beat-downs)
Actually went on a few dates
Played trombone in High School band
Totally graduated high school (again, it only took one try)
Lost a bunch of weight then got fat again
Moved away from home for college at UK
Spent a summer in Washington & Oregon as a NAMB summer missionary (This was life changing. If you are in college and want to be used by God, apply at apply.namb.net)
Spent a summer as youth director at the church I grew up in
Went to the 1997 final 4 and had great seats (Sadly, Kentucky lost)
Served as youth minister at Durbin Memorial Baptist Church
Flunked out of UK
Moved about 6 more times during this period
Worked for Universal Property & Casualty insurance company (I didn't live in Florida. It was operated by Kentucky National.)

Age 23-33: I realize that I'm just beginning my 33^rd year, but I can talk about the previous 10.

Was licensed to the ministry
Served as youth minister at Mexico Baptist Church
Went back to college
Successfully led Sam Fisher on 4 missions
Made straight A’s with only one B my second trip through college
Ordained to the ministry
Graduated from College (after a mere 13 semesters and 2 universities)
Moved to North Carolina
Attended my first Southern Baptist Convention
Graduated Seminary
Served as youth & children’s minister at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church
Moved 4 more times
Became youth minister at LaGrange Park Baptist Church
Fished almost all the lakes on Fort Bragg
Survived a bout with a silly, non-life-threatening disease
Started this rocking blog with tons of awesome readers
Produced this list which became more boring as it grew longer

Making that list was kinda fun. Hope you enjoyed it