#10 - Promark Financial: Promark has the most amazing corporate ethos ever. We're a for-profit company that gives away all our profits, and this is in addition to providing custom insurance plans that not only help with basic security but also college and retirement planning. It's an amazing company and I'm excited to be in the mix! By the way, if you haven't had anyone look at your life insurance in the past couple years, let's talk.

#9 - REI: I swear I was born for this job. When I've got my green vest on, I spend my time talking to people about gear and products I'm passionate about. I get to inspire, educate, and equip people for a lifetime of outdoor adventure and stewardship. I feel extra lucky given that I was one of 15 hires out of over 800 applicants at the Denver Flagship Store.

#8 - Friends: You really don't get who your friends are until life blows up. Friends are those who stick around, they listen, they comfort, they question, and they challenge ... but there's never a doubt that love is their motive and they're seeking to operate from understanding rather than assumption. I truly have the most amazing friends in the world and I love you all dearly.

#7 - My Parents: They've taken me in this past year. They've helped me cover bills. They've deferred payments on loans. They've done it without complaining. Could a son ask for more?

#6 - Mt. Calvary and Pastor Roger: When it comes to ministry, I've always had a heart for smaller and urban. Mt. Calvary fits both of those. Mt. Calvary is currently being served by Pastor Roger, a retired pastor who now helps congregations in transition between pastors. Both have embraced me and invited me to be part of a transformation where the struggling church rediscovers its identity and learns how to be an asset to Denver's Cole and Clayton neighborhoods. Things are happening and it's exciting to be in the middle of it.

#5 - Where Grace Abounds (WGA): I found WGA in January at the recommendation of a couple friends. It's been a fantastic place to learn what healthy relationship looks like, process through my own crap, and figure out how to move forward in life.

#4 - Something New: I have something new I'm working on ... something that should go live on January 1, 2012. It takes lessons from the past year, things I learned at WGA, in counseling, through my reading, and other sources, and pulls them together around the common these of life transitions. You can get a small taste and let me know you're interested in learning more by liking the Facebook page.

#3 - Robbie: While I don't see Robbie every day anymore, we spend more quality time together than ever before. We go to the zoo, the museum, the park, and other places together. And of course, there's tons of cuddle time thrown in for good measure.

#2 - Kiana (Ki-who-uh? Here's a bit of background.): I'll use a story to explain this one. On Tuesday, I had a gap between two of my jobs and Kiana had the day off (she's a paramedic). She decided to take the reins on planning for the afternoon, and originally suggested going for a B-Cycle ride around Denver. However, this was just a ploy to get me into some loose fitting clothing, because the actual plan was yoga in the park.

You see, she'd heard the stress in my voice and seen it in way I've been carrying myself, and decided she wanted to help me relax a bit. So we stretched, we bent, and at one point I laughed hysterically for about 5 minutes over the line, "Don't do yoga, do yoga." Essentially, she became my personal relaxation trainer for the afternoon.

In the end, it's been nothing short of a gift to have somebody so aware, in tune, and wanting to pour blessing into my life where it's needed most.

#1 - Grace: Like friends, you don't really get grace till you hit bottom. In the past year, I've come to understand grace in entirely new ways, and I've already seen God take my new understanding and use it to bless others, both through my writing on People of the Second Chance and sermons like this one. In the next few days, I'll be recording and posting a video that shares a variation of the testimony I gave at WGA last September.