More Shooting, Another Party, Forgetting to Catch My Breath...

Dear Friends,

I truly did feel like I was forgetting to breath this week sometimes. Work continues to go at a lightning pace requiring me to feel like I'm in constant catch-up mode. However, the training continues to go well. We did our squad live fire this last week, and it was great. This next week we are going out to the field for 9 days. It will be good training, but I have a feeling that the boys will be pretty beat up after it. It really is the last big training event before June though. I could use prayer myself that I get some good training and knowledge out of it personally.

We also has another party at our house on Saturday with the theme of "M": we had a Mormon (complete with white shirt, bike helmet, and genuine smile), a movie star, a metal-man, a mafia hit-man, and much more. It was basically an excuse for us to have people over again. I think that it was a hit. We may have to get a bigger house if more people keep coming over. Anyway, I have to get back to some work, but I will write again in 2 weeks after I get back from the field.

Crazy Week...3 More To Go

Dear Friends,

This last week has been pretty crazy at work. We did a live fire exercise, and we are now preparing for another one next week...and the week after that...and the week after that. Basically, the next month will be very busy. I always feel like I'm one step behind, and there is a lot of training that needs to be done. Also, there is not a lot of time to do it. I'm lucky to have good Soldiers to work with though. I'm confident we'll get to where we need to be.

Life around the house has also been busy but fun. We had a good showing of new guys at our house dinner on Thursday. I walked into the house after 3 days straight in the field, smelling like BO, and it was a pleasant surprise to have a good showing of folks at the house. Luke's little bro left today, but he had a blast while here. He's a good kid. Anyway, this weekend I plan on relaxing and eating a big steak dinner. I think I'll go for a walk too. Until the next time!

p.s. Tim passed Benning Phase of Ranger School!

End of the Ski Season?

Dear Friends,

The big news this week is that Luke's little bro Seth is in town. He came up on Friday, and we've been trying our best to show him a good time since. We went skiing on Saturday at Crystal Mountain but had to end early 'cause Seth took a pretty nasty fall. We have some pretty sweet pics with the rescue workers of Ski Patrol though (don't worry...he's fine). Anyway, we saw a movie later that night and have been trying to do as manly of stuff as possible (ie. throw knives, eat beef jerky, wrestle large mammals, etc). Seth has been enjoying himself. This may have been the last time I go skiing though this year. I've decided that I am gone too much on the weekends and probably need to relax for the next month or so.

In other news, work is busy but enjoyable. I feel incompetent every day but in a good-spur-me-to-be-better type of way. Ministry is also going well with the Navs. Despite everyone leaving post and our schedules getting busy, now is the time that God has decided to give us some new guys in the Bible Study. I love God's sense of humor. His timing never seems logical until years after the moment. I'll write again soon. I've attached a pic of Seth and Luke on the mountain. Also, for those of you who have never met Andrew...he's the guy leading the ministry up here at Lewis (pic of me and him).

Skiing Like The Videos...

Dear Friends,

Have you ever seen videos of skiers gliding down the mountain, floating atop 3 feet of fresh powder, and eating up 6 foot drops like they were going over a small bump? Well, that was me this weekend. My roommate Eric and I went to Snoqualmie and experienced the best snow conditions I've ever seen. The snow had been pouring down for the past week, and it was awesome. I am truly spoiled with the mountains here in Washington.

Anyway, work continues to roll along. We have learned that we are definitely deploying early before next Christmas. What that means for me is a busier and more condensed training schedule. I've got a good team now, but it should be pretty challenging to get the platoon to where it needs to be. You can remember me in prayer by asking God to make me a strong leader for these guys. They deserve it.

Stuff with the Navs is also going well. We've seen a bit of a dry spell due to most of the units here at Lewis going out on training rotations in anticipation for the upcoming deployment, but I am hopeful that the ministry will continue to grow. There will always be a need for Jesus in the Army. I'll be sure to write again soon. Next weekend I may be going for a little trip!

Rockstars In Washington...

Dear Friends,

Work this week...well, I didn't get a lot of sleep and we shot a whole bunch of mortars. We also released over half of our soldiers in the mortar platoon to be divided out to other parts of the Battalion. The long-story-short is that I now have a much more manageable group of soldiers. I'm looking forward to the smaller group.

Anyway, the roommates and I had a great time this weekend...grabbing some meals, hangin' out, and throwing a Rockstar Party. You are probably asking what a Rockstar Party is. Well, combine Rockband the video game, 20 people, and your imagination. It was pretty sweet. Famous artists such as Michael Bolton, Katy Perry, and Bill & Ted (from Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure the movie) were in attendance. So I must be going, but I will talk with you all again soon.