525,600 Minutes

My highlights from '05:

January

• The first New Years Eve party I've ever hosted - power went out, it was great
  
• Worship@FullVolume rocked with about 500 crazy high school kids at Miracle Camp in Lawton, MI ... dozens of students met Jesus for the first time
  
• Peoria Children's Home visit with Undertone - always a great time

February

• YFC staff retreat in downtown Chicago ... got to see Blue Man Group, and Jamin
  
• Undertone hosted their first concert event in Pekin - about 500 students in attendance
  
• Brandon and I worked on his demo project - turned out great
  
• Went to a Jars Concert with the family

March

• Spent all of Spring break doing homework ... yuck
  
• Celebrated the resurrection of Jesus

April

• Participated in Bradley's 24 hours of music ... outside on the quad
  
• Undertone concert even in Chillicothe - met Jeff Schwarzentraub, a new friend and partner in ministry
  
• Watched my friends Amie & Justin get married
  
• Kyle and I found out we could play Fondulac golf course in under an hour ... played 3 times in one week (over lunch!)

May

• Mom was honored as Pekin's Outstanding Employee of the Year by the YWCA.
  
• Rocked out with 300 kids in Metamora ... saw Batman & Robin fly above the crowd (probably the first time ever in the Metamora town square)
  
• Joe'’s DI Team competed for the Global Finals ...– traveled with them to Knoxville, TN and spent my 21st birthday on a charter bus
  
• Took a summer class on 3D video compositing -– the best class I took at BU

June

• Attended a YFC'’s Summer Institute on Evangelism -– a week at Huntington University ...… fell in love with their passion for relational ministry
  
• Came home for one day: went to YFC's annual golf outing
  
• Left the next day: for YFC'’s Reachout tour ...… 9 kids, 3 volunteers, a big smelly white van, a trailer with 4 million guitars ...… and lots of changed lives.

July

• Dad and I served our 3rd year as part of Pekin'’s fireworks launching crew
  
• Walked 7 times around PCHS praying that God would bring YFC ministry to Pekin
  
• Climbed an 11,000 foot mountain as part of our week at YFCamp. Celebrated as my brother recommitted his life to Jesus, but missed my friends Megan and Dave get married

August

• On the seventh day, we walked around PCHS seven times praying for YFC ministry ...… feet hurt.
  
• Had lunch with my Grandma and Mom at Panera - a vivid memory for me ... hope it always is
  
• Golfed with Doug Cheney, Dad, and Andy Sparks at Weaver
  
• Watched one of my best friends (Renee) marry her best friend (Bruce).
  
• Kicked off the school year with W@FV freshman ecumenical service
  
• Worshipped outside on the quad - the power went out, and the voices got louder

September

• Ben and Jake'’s random road trips ...… much fun
  
• Got to watch my freshman brother play VARSITY soccer

October

• Coondiggers weddin' in Michigan ... road trip, sweet trip.
  
• "“So Pretty Much this is Gonna Rock" Party, version 2
  
• YFC Banquet
  
• GoMAD Conference
  
• Tough decisions ... peaceful answers.

November

• NASHVILLE
  
• Thanksgiving
  
• Had to go to Symphony over Crowder ... whaa?
  
• Cookouts, and ... "Dip it, Pop it, Shoot it!"

December

• 4 A'’s, one B
  
• 3 opportunities to speak at church
  
• www.jakebland.com/christmas