March 17, 2001 – Saturday – 3:09 p.m.

So much has happened. I don’t even know where to begin. I’ve never known faster days.

Anna and I went to Florida over our spring break. Even that seems like forever ago. We had a wonderful time, and I met many amazing people who influenced Anna’s life.

We visited Tallahassee, Melbourne, West Palm Beach, and all the places in between. We solidified many of our wedding plans with her home church there. We will marry ten weeks from today!

This past week I’ve tried to catch up on film and video work. Anna and I also tried to square away our studio apartment; you know, buying bookshelves and stuff. I’m slowing moving my stuff over there.

In fact, I’m here in the apartment right now. She’s off on a film shoot.

I talked to Vince over the phone, and he is coming for the wedding. He will arrive in Miami a week before. I believe all of our Banner Elk friends will be there to spend the week with him.

Today, on this St. Patrick’s Day, I took the time to walk around West Ghent here in Norfolk, VA. Everything I saw became instantly beautiful. This is my neighborhood now. I’ve never lived in such an urban area before.

February 26, 2001 – Monday – 6:12 p.m.

The second month of the year is nearly over. I don’t know how it happened. Just a few days ago I was 16-years-old, and I thought it would be cool to keep a journal. Now I am 24, and I’m so busy with school, work, and wedding-planning that I often forget I have a journal.

So much is in transition at the moment. I’m finishing up my first short films, and, in so doing, I’m finishing up graduate school. From kindergarten until now, I’ve been in school just a few months shy of 20 years. I’m marrying a beautiful blonde-haired girl from Florida; the girl I’ve been dreaming about and praying for this entire time. Everything between this moment and the night I began writing feels like pure story.

I see I was never on my own. God’s been there the entire time. He’s the true author.

November 18, 2000 – Saturday – 1:50 p.m.

It’s been an interesting week. I acted in a video shoot and have been working on Trey’s film. On Thursday night I spent some time with Anna again. We had dinner at The Jewish Mother near the beach. I enjoy her company so much.

I also called Tenielle, and I am going to drive down to see them at the end of December. It was great to talk to her and Jenna.

My mom called this morning. They may not be able to come up to Virginia from Florida for Christmas, so I don’t know what I am going to do. Anna invited me down to her place in Florida, so I might get to see my parents after all.

And so the Holidays are here again. And I have many people to love.

May 12, 1997 – Monday – 10:11 a.m.

After we moved Ryan in on Saturday, we went to see Austin Powers.  It was pretty funny.  Ryan cooked dinner that night.  She is trying to get Curtis to stay down here with her, but his mom wants him in Atlanta.

On Sunday we went to a nearby church, we went to the beach, and I went to see The Devil’s Own, a wonderful movie; the best I’ve seen all year.  We then ate at Applebee’s that night.

I’m having a fun time down here, but Ryan is simply annoying.  I don’t know how Curtis can stand her.  I can’t believe he chooses her over Carla.  Oh well.

Other than that, everything is peaceful.  The beach is wonderful.  Curtis is hilarious.  And God is good.

May 10, 1997 – Saturday – 2:00 p.m.

I’m in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida.  We are here in Ryan’s new studio apartment.  She is unpacking.

I spent Friday driving Kevin around.  We visited Danny and Peter again and then drove to the airport in the evening.  My flight was nice.  I  saw all the city lights below.  Man, I love to fly.

Curtis and Ryan met me at the Atlanta airport.  We drove to his house and then we drove down here to Florida in the morning.  I saw the place where Marcus and I broke down nearly two years ago.

We also drove through Crestview.

I have called Emily.  She is at FSU for the weekend.  She’ll be back on Monday.

Carla is also looking forward to seeing me back in Atlanta.

My collection is stretching all over the globe.

March 9, 1997 – Sunday – 1:37 p.m.

I am in Kate’s red Ford Explorer somewhere around the middle of central Florida.  We left on Friday and arrived at Jim and Lisa’s house early Saturday morning.  We stayed the night, went to the pool with them, then Kate, and Charlie and I went to see Jerry Maquire.

Afterwards, some people came over for dinner and we played card games.  We went to their church this morning, had lunch together, and now we are on the way to Tampa.

Charlie and I had a great long talk last night.  He is wonderful. I’m learning a lot about myself.  I told him about Abigail, and he said that me sharing my feelings with her ended the mystery and girls are addicted to mystery.  Perhaps I need to learn how to play relationships games, even though I hate them.

We just did the Spook Hill thing in Lake Wales, Florida.  Weird.

Jim’s church has tons of old people in it.  That’s basically all it is.  One old lady even passed out during the service.  It was kinda scary, but Jim said it happens nearly every Sunday.

It was so great to see them and the kids.  The weekend was full of laughter and I look forward to the week ahead.

Lord please show up and change me into the person you want me to be.

October 13, 1996 – Sunday – 9:45 a.m.

We are on the road right now, somewhere around Jacksonville, FL.

Yesterday was so awesome.  We rented wave-runners and went out in the Gulf of Mexico.  It was so much fun; it felt like I was flying just inches above the water.

That evening Syndi and her boyfriend Eric came to pick me up.  We went to this really huge multiplex with 20 screens and saw Tom Hanks’ That Thing You Do.  It was so funny.  A really great movie.  Syndi looked good; she grew her hair back and colored it blonde.  She is happy down here and it was great that I simply got to see her, the girl I held under the waterfall at the end of my Freshman year.

The other thing happened yesterday is that we heard on the radio that Tommy Moe was going to be at a Ski and Sports Shop.  Tommy Moe was a gold medalist in the 1994 Olympics.  Dan has posters of him in his room.  So we all went and got free T-shirts, he autographed them all and we got our picture taken with him.  Dan was really excited.  “I can’t wait to tell my parents that I went to Flordia to meet Tommy Moe!” he said.

That evening, whenever Syndi and Eric brought me back, I went for a walk around Kate’s neighborhood.  I prayed and sang to the Lord.

He is so great to me.

The air was so warm.

The midnight clouds so pretty.

My dreams are coming true.

I’m doing that thing that only I can do.

October 12, 1996 – Saturday – 7:30 a.m.

We went to Busch Gardens yesterday.  It was a lot different from the one in Williamsburg, VA.  I had a nice time.  I saw a cool dolphin show and went on the Montu, easily the best roller coaster I’ve ever been on.

They have a spa here.  I’ve spent some time just relaxing in it.  We are going to the beach today and then I’m going to try to meet up with Syndi tonight.  I called her last night.  She was surprised.  She sounded great.  I miss her.

One more day here and then we’ll head back.  This has been a much-needed little break, but I’m looking forward to going back.  I need my space.  I’ve gotten along with everyone and the weather has been nice, but I’ve come down with a cold and just long to be alone.

Thank you for these days in Tampa Father; may they always be precious.

October 10, 1996 – Thursday – 11:50 p.m.

We left for Florida last night.  We are here now.

We spent the day resting, sitting in a spa and tonight we went out to eat and to the mall.

Tomorrow we go to Busch Gardens.

I have Syndi’s phone number.  I will try to get a hold of her.

I needed this vacation.

I needed to let go.

August 5, 1995 – Saturday – 7:10 a.m.

I am awake.  Everyone else is not.

Emily is sleeping down the hall.  She is here.  I am here.

This is the same girl all of those letters came from.  This is the house she wrote them in.

But I feel that these four days here are just a small part of our story.  I don’t know what is going to happen.  I am glad in a way.  There is a mystery here.

Why has this girl been placed in my life?  Why have I been placed in hers?

Father, I know that you know these days here are special to me.  Do a work in our hearts.  Teach me.  Use me.  Hold me while I am here.

However this turns out, where ever we end up, I still have the Creator of the Angels who loves me more than I will ever know.

You are wonderful Lord!