Anxious Legs...

Dear Friends,

My Christmas leave is coming to an end, and I have to admit that it is the perfect amount of time to be on break. I've been able to see lots of family and friends (though not all), and I have enjoyed being "lazy" for a change. Going from an average of 160 lbs. and 2-3 hrs. of sleep a night for the previous 40 days to the new record 184 lbs. and 10 hrs. of sleep a day has been good for recovery. However, my legs are becoming more and more anxious. The majority of me wants to go back to Ranger School in a weird sort of way. Yes, it is miserable at times and I want to finish it ASAP, but right now I just want to get back to the routine of training. I just want to get immersed in it one more time.

Anyway, Swamp Phase in Florida is my last obstacle in Ranger School. It should be tough, but I'm more confident now than ever before about God's provision. I've thought too many times before that something would be "impossible" for me in this school...pass a phase, fight through an injury, or simply just keep walking. After all, God tends to laugh at that word. In the end, my goal is to graduate on Jan. 25. Then I'll have to play it by ear. Your continued prayers and letters will be appreciated again as I look to finish this phase of training strong. Take care!

Promises Kept...

Dear Friends,

This past week can be summarized as a week of promises kept- mostly from David F. to D. Fahs. There were many times in the mountains of Northern Georgia that I found myself making commitments to do certain things during my upcoming break. Most notably I told myself that I would deny my hunger urges nothing. Thanks to this "eat everything in arms reach" diet I have put back on the 25 lbs. that I had lost. In addition, I have spent much time next to fireplaces (since I dreamed of fires every night), a ridiculous amount of time sleeping (average 3 1-hour naps per day), and a good amount of time seeing friends and family ( because that's ultimately what the holidays are all about). Overall, I've kept the promise of letting my body recover. Now that I am refreshed I am trying to get back into decent shape. It is tough to be sucking wind 5 minutes into a run, but I'll have to start somewhere. My full recovery will have to wait until sometime in the Spring...whenever I graduate.

So yeah, I am still in Chicago and enjoying my rest. My only remaining goals are to hang out with friends (especially my best friends from high school who I have somehow managed to avoid for my first 6 days here...my sincere apologies especially to Micah- and B.P., whom I may not be able to see now) and enjoy my freedom. Merry Christmas!

Now On Leave...After Climbing My Mountains

Dear Friends,

Once again God has proven faithful to me. By His strength I passed Mountain Phase of Ranger School, and now I am on my 18 days of holiday leave before moving on to Swamp Phase. This phase was even more physically challenging than the first. I was never injured, but the level of fatigue and sleep deprivation I reached was unbelievable. As one example, during the final 5-day field training exercise I got a grand total of 2.5 hours of sleep (with 72 straight hours of no sleep in the middle of it). I just got to a point where I would look up at the Mountains around me and say to myself, "The God who created these mountains will give me the strength to continue climbing them." I can't tell you how many times I thought that I would not be able to go on. The emotional, mental, and physical fatigue were beyond description. I owe my success so far to no one except Jesus. If I make it straight through Swamp Phase in Florida too, then I will say the same thing.

In summary, I can describe Ranger School so far in two ways:
(1) It has been the most horrible experience of my life. I still don't have feeling in my toes, I can barely do 25 push-ups, and I feel sad seeing over half of my friends not move on to the next phase because they are being recycled or dropped from the course.
(2) However, this course has also proven to be the greatest blessing of my life so far. God has taught me faith of a new level, thankfulness for all the blessings of normal life, and reliance on Him.

I feel as though this holiday break will be the best of my life so far because I have such an appreciation of all that I have. It is no longer just about getting the Ranger Tab. Of course I want it badly, but it represents so much more to me now. I'll be in Chicago from Dec 19 to Jan 1. Please call me over this Christmas Break. It may be the last extended period of time that I'll be in Chi-town for quite awhile. Bye!