Wowzers... what a year!! I'm not sure there have been so many major life moments to cover in a single year!! Lots of changes, lots of all-time highs, and yet also some all-time lows!! As a reminder (for those who have actually read all of the previous years), not everything on the top 10 is positive... they are simply moments that had the biggest impact on our lives. There were at least 25 key moments this year, so the fact that we got it whittled down to 15, I was amazed. HA! However, to honor the tradition of only picking a top 10, I had to move 5 into honorable mentions... so hard, but I think I can make a solid case for life impact by those top 10 in a huge way. Additionally, this isn't something I publicize, though public, this is really just "accountability" for me to take the time to remember every year. So without further ado...
Honorable Mentions:
*) Link Year Graduation (Very cool moment we got to share with Jackson, as he graduated from his "gap year" program in Branson. His year consisted of working, studying, reading, and defending his beliefs... not to mention a long trip to New Zealand, which I know will be one of his top ten moments of the year. Update on his life since... he started working at a gym as a personal trainer and quickly got promoted and is now the head guy and also started his own company... so proud!)
*) Kanakuk 100 Years Celebration (This was such a sweet moment for our family as Kanakuk, the kamp where Courtney and I met, celebrated its 100th summer, and ALL three of our kids got to serve and we got to sneak a pic during the 4th of July celebration. So fun!)
*) Senior Spring Concert (Though we have attended several of these concerts over the years... this was the first one I was asked to sing at since I was in school. Creighton asked if I'd be interested in singing a duet with her this year for her senior year... so stinkin' fun!! We sang "Love is an open door" from the Frozen soundtrack.)
*) Fellowship Men's Retreat (Like many of the moments being discussed on this list, a men's retreat is not anything new, BUT this year was the first time Jackson came as a man and not just my son... It was a very special time to see him connect, pray, converse, and even crush an F3 workout. This year's event was with Fellowship Bentonville at the Buffalo River!)
*) Sibling Day(So it was actually the second sibling day, but the first one where we were able to enjoy the entire day in Tulsa... We enjoy breakfast, talking, thrifting, more food, more food, and of course, much laughter! We may have also shot a calendar for our parents... enjoy October.)
Top 10 Moments of 2024:
10) #WalkReadConnect (At the beginning of '24 I made one singular commitment... to Walk, Read, and Connect often. Looking back now, it's amazing to see how God was shaping me to just relearn how to be present... Present in a walk outside, present reading for pleasure and not JUST to "learn" or self-help, which is my normal pla,y and of course to be present in connection with old friendships and relationships I just hadn't made time for for many years. In the end, we totaled 100+ walks, called or had lunch with every friendship since high school, and read 15+ books: Leaf by Niggle, Extreme Ownership, 24/6, David & Goliath, Mind Shift, Blink, To Hell with the Hustle, Ragamuffin Gospel, What the Heck is EOS, Traction, The Dichotomy of Leadership, Seven, Bleachers, The EOS Life, Hawaii.)
9) Rae's Graduation (Last year, we had Jackson's graduation, so I thought this one would be easier, but when it's your daughter, it just changes everything... again. So proud of this top 10%, 4.0+, college credits, club VP, FCA leadership, true student-athlete. She worked so hard for so many years and endless nights of study, preparations, and class projects. So happy for her moving on to the next level at MidAmerica!)
8) College Volleyball (What a sweet moment this IS... you get lucky enough to play college ball yourself, you even get to watch your wife coach college ball the first two years of marriage and then you go on to watch countless matches of school ball and club ball BUT now to see her reap the rewards of her time, dedication and effort for herself... is so sweet. Additional fun this year was seeing her FINALLY getting to play libero, a position she was born to play. Onto next season... Go Neers!)
7) Selling our NWA House (This should probably read: selling our Dream Home. And man, what a hard decision AND process this was... In 2020, no one wanted to be looking at homes but we knew we were supposed to be in Bentonville, so we pushed forward and were able to get the literal home of our dreams... everyone got their own room, an amazing open living room for people, sick game room upstairs, "Berg Gym 2.0" and a neighborhood where we had zero concern for them to walk around after dark. Probably still my favorite home, but it was exactly what was needed in that season. P.S. took us months, countless showings, and dropping the price nearly $60k but we got it sold and for that I am thankful.)
6) Unemployment (Gosh, I don't know what all I want to write here... so highlights: I left my role at BN after five years, and in so doing, Walmart after ten years, having had zero issues, loving our team, the support of those at BN, and doing impactful work. BUT also waking up and just knowing something wasn't right, knowing some of my "joy" was just gone... There are many things I can point to, but ultimately, after counseling, some meds, and creating space, I just knew I needed a break. Secretly, I knew I would be right back into something after a month off, but you know the joke: "If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans!" Three months passed with no work, and I'd say I hit rock bottom... HOWEVER, God loves it when we finally stop fighting and trust the process, even with no "hope" on the horizon!)
5) Living with the Steele's (There's so much to this story that I will keep close to our chest for our family, as this means so much more to our hearts than it would to others, even after explaining it. But let this moment be remembered and documented as a testament that LITERALLY only God could be writing... 16+ years later, God is so good!)
4) New Tulsa House (That's right... after five years in NWA, it was time to move home. So many fun details to record from Tulsa Remote, to Courtney's work, to old friends reaching out and offering me a new opportunity, to Charleigh getting into her private school (and being so brave), to finding a house that is just what we needed for this season of life. So thankful for this season and can't believe we can be where we are and live the life we are living.)
3) New Job... New Career! (Like so many of these moments this year... the details are endless and full of His fingerprints. Highlights: After months of time off and several job opportunities coming and going, I was finally resolute to do "leadership development" and not settle for anything else, and would you know it, that in that moment, I got a phone call. That's right, after months of looking for jobs, applying for jobs, willingness to settle at a job... the perfect job found me. But better than just a job, it was because of core values, old relationships, and the perfect combination of 12+ years of vocational ministry and 10+ years of retail, training, and development experience. In just 6 months, we've done so much, and I know for a fact that the best is yet to come as we cultivate a new and holistic approach to development for everyone.)
2) Hawaii... 50th of 50!! #BergFamily50StateTour (HOLY SMOKES WE ACTUALLY DID IT!! After 10+ years of taking focused and intentional vacations, work trips, and club volleyball, we made it through every state in the United States. Wildly, we ended our 50-state tour with more "once in a lifetime" moments than I can count... AirBnB ON THE BEACH in Maui, sunrise and sunsets, night snorkling, Nakalele blowhole, scuba and surfing lessons, banana nut bread from the side of the road, shaved ice, Road to Hana, countless whale breaches, turtle interactions, and a stinkin' "doors off" helicopter tour of the islands! I am reluctant to use the word blessed because it's all worldly, but I hope and pray every moment leads to a lifetime of thankfulness and appreciation of what we have given!)
1) 100 Hangouts (It's hard to try and think there could possibly be something more monumental then a new house, a new job, and Maui, but having a legendary marriage was my number one goal for as long as I've been making real goals in my life, and this year we made a huge commitment... 100 hangouts together! So yes, if you do the math, that's so much more than planning a date night once a week, which is a great and noble goal for couples... We just chose to step it up this year after being challenged by a friend (TDoe). It takes a true commitment to be intentional every 2-3 days to spend real time together. It takes countless moments where you have to choose to be intentional, it takes countless moments to be creative and calculated, it takes countless moments for BOTH of us to put in the work, it takes countless moments to CHOOSE US. And after a full year of moments, EVEN in what "luck would have it" be the biggest year of moments we've ever had, it was our best year of marriage yet... 22 years and I can honestly say I'm more in love with this woman than I thought was possible, as I was already at "full" last year!! Thank you, Jesus, for blessing me with this true jewel in "my" crown... Blessed beyond measure!! P.S. we ended the year with 103 and already have one for '26)
It never fails to get to the bottom of the list, and no matter how I am feeling at the time of making the list... I look at the moments, and it's clear that God's fingerprints are all over it. Thank you again, Father, for never letting us go at it alone. God is good and this year was proof... and that has nothing to do with money (just to be clear)!!
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