I've actually written less blog entries this year than any other year. I attribute that to an insane schedule and heavy demands on my time at church this year. I promise I'll do better in 2016.

I'd love to hear in the comments what your favorite post on the blog from 2015 was. It may not be represented here. To review the year, just click on the Archives link at left (or here). Leave your vote in the comments.

Here's my top 10 posts of 2015:

10. When will football catch up with Kevin Kelley? (September 5)

He’s been featured in so many sports articles and newscasts now. He’s known as “The Coach Who Never Punts.” Kevin Kelley is the football coach of my alma mater, Pulaski Academy, in Little Rock, Arkansas. Ironically, they are the Bruins (same colors and mascot name as Blacksburg).

9. Merry Christmas from Starbucks… or not? (November 9)

I had no idea Christians could get so stupid. Well, I did, but I just hated to see the latest “outrage.” Starbucks released their new holiday cups recently, and they’re all… (wait for it) … red. Solid red. There’s not a snowflake or even a “Happy Holiday” on them. So apparently, people are blowing up the internet with how Starbucks hates Christians or something...

8. Congratulations, son (May 22)

I was 29. Carolyn was 26. We had been married for almost five years when March 18, 1997 landed us in Baptist Medical Center of Little Rock. This was the first time in our marriage that we were happy to be in the hospital. In fact, it was prior visits to and encounters with doctors and chemotherapy and radiation that had led us to believe we wouldn’t be in the hospital on that March for the reason we were.Carolyn was pregnant. Very pregnant...

7. Denied (January 17)

Denial. When it’s a river in Egypt, it conjures up placid boat roads and dusty history. When it’s in reference to an appeal for a PET scan to Anthem, it’s not cool. We got the word yesterday (Friday) that Anthem had officially denied our oncologist’s appeal of their initial denial of a PET scan for Carolyn...

6. The “Supreme” Court, indeed: thoughts on the same-sex marriage decision (June 26)

Image: Mark Fischer/Flickr

It was a text message from one of our young adults in our church that alerted me to the results of the ruling:

"Hey I know this is so random but I’m sitting here watching the news about the Supreme Court decision for same sex marriage and I’m struggling. I have no idea what to think or how to handle it… I’m sad because it’s just another example of the world turning from the Lord, but so many of my peers’ eyes are on my reaction as a Christian. How do I still love but not agree? I don’t know what to say 🙈" ...

5. Immeasurably more (January 30)

Yesterday, we received a $2500 gift in the mail which met the goal of the GiveForward campaign! With joy and thanksgiving, I welcome Carolyn as a guest on the blog to share.The goal has been met!!! ...

4. College bound (August 21)

Last night, I sat beside the bed of my 18 year-old and told him, “I’ve been telling you I love you for almost every evening for 18 years. Tonight is your last night before you leave for college. I want you to know… I love you.” ...

3. A little down: health update (January 20)

I will commit to churning out a non health-related blog post this week just to lighten the mood here at Notes from the Trail. Let me bring up to speed those of you just now tuning in — my wife Carolyn is in Little Rock tonight, having had a PET scan Monday. She received the results from today (Tuesday). We’re trying to discover what’s up with some lymph nodes that tested for growth in a CT scan in March...

2. A new medical journey(May 7)

Today we received surreal news. Our daughter Adelyn (15) was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. Normally in our household, anytime we mention the word “medical,” we are updating family and friends about Carolyn’s health journey.It was an aha moment because she had been exhibiting several of the typical symptoms for diabetes, especially over the past week. However, you’re never really ready to begin a new health chapter so suddenly...

And the #1 most-read post of 2015?

1. Relief (February 19)

The doctor called just moments ago. Carolyn called me soon after. The results from her biopsy last week? Cancer free. No trace. She giggled as she shared the news, and in the giggle, I heard relief...