The Ball Drop in Buffalo, NY

It never ceases to amaze me how quickly life can change.  Here’s a little list of some highlights from 2009.

Recap of 2009:
- Resigned from ministry
- Wrapped shooting my first feature film
- Moved twice with a combined 7,400 miles
- Started two jobs and got fired at both
- Lived on my own for the first time
- Saw the Pacific Ocean
- Lost 30lb.
- Did silly things with new people in new places
- Met many new friends that I’ll have forever
- Met someone else who is really special
- Grew in my faith through failure and victory…

It’s been quite the year…a difficult one.  I wouldn’t have traded it for anything though!  So many wonderful doors shut and new ones opened.  I kept searching for what God wanted me to do and where he wanted me to go in 2009.  Not just locationally but career.  Was Standing Firm a reality or was he going to bring something else along?  Would I meet someone for the first time?  Where would she live?  Was Standing Firm going to find distribution?  Lots of big questions, and lots of mistakes on my part.

All the traveling this year showed me how much I should be back home.  He let me get a taste of new places to fill that thirst I had but brought me back home after taking a sip.  I’m ok with that, because it was what I needed.  I needed to see new places, meet some new people, experience some new things, and get outside of the bubble I was in!  I’m happy to be back in Western New York.

I lost many jobs this year.  Not just the major ones, like the ones I moved for, but other small ones that in a time of financial despair, I lost without warning.  My finances hit their breaking point, with me feeling very worried in September and October that I was going to be in ruin.  Now before 2009 even ended, he brought along two jobs, both of which beneficial to my portfolio and career, that will take care of me the entire year of 2010, one of those two being possible to extend for years to come.  That’s quite the change from a few months ago right?  God has been really really good, and I don’t deserve a thing.

Little did I know that he would also bring along someone special for me.  What’s that you just read?  Yea, you heard me.  I have a girlfriend  All my whining in the past wondering why God was having me wait…even wondering why he wanted me back in NY.  I know now!  I will discuss this person more as she allows and is comfortable but what I will say is she is amazing.  I’ve never met anyone that hits all the requirements I would have in a woman, plus some.  God brought us together in a very interesting way, and I’m very excited to see where 2010 takes us in our relationship together.  We’re going to just grow in the Lord with each other, and trust his guidance along the way…moving as he leads.  We held hands at the first time when we went to see the ball drop in Buffalo.  I’ve never held a girls hand before that wasn’t my moms, not like this.  How could this be possible?  I’m 21, but I say SO WHAT.  I thank the Lord for keeping me from relationships until now, until I was spiritually ready to do it the right way…HIS way.

As the timer said 1:30 to go in 2009 I took my glove off and looked her in the eye.  I held my hand up and she smiled putting hers in mine (knowing she was the first to hold my hand this way) and we counted down 2009 together, looking forward to what God has in store.  I’m so Blessed to have found someone like her.  I always used to have a problem looking a woman in the eye (leftovers of a past I’m glad God has delivered me from), but last night looking her right in the eyes I told her she made me want to be the greatest man of God I could be.  I don’t deserve any of this…

Two months ago I looked into the future and saw nothing but a blank void.  I knew God was there, but he kept in the dark what he would be building for me.  I’m so glad he did, or the surprise wouldn’t be so incredible!  2010 is going to be one fantastic year, I can tell.

So Far in 2010:
- Started a new relationship with a wonderful woman of God
- Found a fulltime position in internet/social marketing for a feature film
- Landed a job on-set for a feature in TN and TX this April
- Become regular maintenance/tech guy @ ChristianMovies.com
- Close to securing all we need for Standing Firm towards an eventual release in the summer

Thanks for reading, and may God Bless you this year!

Kyle Prohaska