Totally 80s News Night

WXIA, Atlanta Georgia
3:32am

I walk into the Newsroom for my early morning post-golive shift, and blaring on the loudspeaker is a medly of totally 80s music. It's fun...keeps the overnight crew from falling alseep. Makes you want to put on your legwarmers, dance your butt off with some Prince, or Cindy Lauper. LOL!

Been quite the crucible of life change lately. After a whirwind experience in St. Louis I went home for a few days and then it was off to Atlanta for 3 weeks.

Edit training went well...it was tough but I made it through another week of Edius Training. Had a real classroom to teach in, which was nice for a change. It was demoralizing at times, but I pressed on.

One night, when I was at an all-time personal low in morale...and just couldn't do this anymore....the Lord encouraged me with Areosmith's "Dream On".

"Sing with me,
Sing for the years
Sing for the laughter,
Sing for the tears,
Sing with me,
Just for today,
Maybe tomorrow,
The Good Lord will take you away"

Dream on, Dream on!
Dream until your dreams come true!
Dream on! Dream on!
Dream until your dreams come through!"

That song gave me hope...it got me fired up. Seemingly stuck in a reppetitive rut, in a job I no longer enjoyed...I was anything but overjoyed to be teaching Grass Valley's Edius in yet another news station. At times I literally wanted to die. I felt abused and oppressed, "No one should ever have to go through something like this" I said to myself. "It just never ends....and it's driving me crazy...I was burned out 4 months ago....I just can't go on..."

But that song...that one song...that I played over and over and over and over in that empty little classroom reminded me to "dream on", not to give up and to believe God for big things. I remembered my calling, my vision, my hope and my plans. I remembered the dream to be a pastor teacher and to travel the world and to impact millions and to one day be on television... to be a wealthy, powerful leader on the earth who had truly learned from experience...I remembered the dreams God has put in my heart of being a soldier and of raising up an Army...of being a military instructor and of excelling at my craft.

I remembered that this was all temporary and would be over soon. I remembered that it was in this time of testing and trial and affliction that I would grow the most and resolved to grit my teeth and get through it with honor. I would not flip out, have a melt-down, go off or quit. I would not give up...I would be faithful until the end of this journey and I would learn to take it one day at a time.

And then Kelly came to visit me! :)

Oh my God! I have never been so happy!!! We both really missed each other and it was a trip we were both excited about...I used hotel points and frequent flyer miles to fly her down to Atlanta for the weekend. We had the most amazing time!!! :)

We went to dinner Friday night at this really nice Italian Restaurant in an Art Gallery district in Atlanta...spent a lot of time just cuddling on the couch that night watching "Date Night" (Super funny movie). I took her home to her hotel by the Airport and picked her up the next morning.

Saturday we enjoyed the Aquarium together. Oh my gosh! It was so awesome! I have never seen such amazing sights!!! Whale Sharks!!! They have a HUGE 6.5 million gallon tank...the world's largest, and inside are beautiful Rays, Hammerhead sharks, fish and yes...4 whale sharks! SO COOL!~

Kelly and I were in LOVE!!!! We were both giddy with excitement and just silly with out-of-control love for each other. We kissed while standing in line for things and made people laugh we were so cute. :)

Saturday night we went out to IHOP-Atlanta for church, and it was powerful. The message was on the Cross and our identity and our self worth in Christ. Kelly and I were both deepy moved and affected by the service. It was really powerful. I couldn't help but notice sitting directly in front of us was a Bible with a cover featuring the words "He has made everything beautiful in His time."

That seems to be a life verse for Kelly and I.

Sunday we didn't have much time...but managed to get in a little history at the Civil War/Atlanta History Center. Very nice museum.

It was hard to say goodbye to my girl...I took her back to the Airport and kissed her goodbye.

I worked the next week and competely poured myself out. I was toast, done, finished.

The next week, however...help came. John King has hired my replacement. His name is Pat Sipes, and he's done a lot of work with Grass Valley, the maker of Edius. I think he will do a great job, and am excited for him to join our team.

...and here I sit.

In between life seasons.

Done with Bitcentral...on my way out the door...on site at yet another TV Station...listening to 80's music and laughing at the oddball personalities on Television News.

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Source: http://walkingtoandfro.blogspot.com/2010/08/totally-80s-news-night.html