Thank You

Each of the Cadet challenges would not be possible without the many tireless hours and the service or many different people. At Indianapolis it was no different. Many people gave of there time and energy to make an impact in each of the young men’s lives. Thank you all for your hard work and diligent service year after year. To God be all the glory!

II Timothy 4:7-8 says, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” These men and women here have truly fought the fight and finished the race.


Red Unit Leader

Meal Chief and Logistics

Event Leader - Orienteering and Everybody Counts

Registration director and Meal assistant

Meal assistant and Registration assistant

Battalion SMAJ and Event Leader - Drill and Ceremony and Water, Water, Everywhere

Challenge Officer in Charge

Assistant Officer in Charge and Photographer

Green Unit Leader

Blue Unit Leader

Assistant to the Major and Event Leader - Obstacle Course and Travios and Chariot

Thank you all for your service and the many others that are not mentioned.

The Heavans Declare

Psalm 19:1
The heavens are telling of the glory of God;
And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.

As I was walking back from PT this morning this verse came to mind when I saw the sunrise. The Heaven truly do declare what an awesome God we serve.

The sunrise also reminds me of the words to the song, "You Reign". There is peace in my heart...YOU are in control. Thank you Lord for always being in control no matter what! :-)

Morning and night the sky shouts Your majesty
Saying the whole universe is under Your feet
This is the peace in my heart
The strength of my soul
Whatever happens in life
This much I know
You are in control

Indianapolis ACC 2007

Here are some of the highlights from the ALERT Cadet Challenge in Indianapolis IN.

I am the one carrying the green Cadet flag.
Practicing sing during Squad Leader training.

All pictures courtesy of Richard Shoemaker, Brystol Reckner, Bryce Reckner, Nathan Blikstad, Stephen Winchell, and Lt. Dean Winchell.

A Day in Remembrance and Celebration

On Sunday, August 5th, One of the Cadets that had come from Big Sandy with us for the Cadet Challenge received a call from his parents saying that a cadet that we both knew had been killed in action in Iraq. Jaron Holliday was a part of our unit back home, Alpha 2nd Oklahoma. He was killed on August 4th when the vehicle he was riding in hit an IED. Jaron had always wanted to serve our country in the military and he loved his job. He was also a beacon of truth and hope to all those he came in contact with. At the funeral they had a time of sharing and every single person, for and hour straight, mentioned what an encouragement and light he had been to them. The legacy of what Jaron did still lives on both at home and in Iraq with his fellow soldiers.

Major Farr, Peter Farr, and myself were able to fly up to Tulsa for the funeral. It was a great celebration of life with the gospel being clearly presented many times. After the funeral we went out to eat at Chedders restaurant with my family. That was a lot of fun, then we were off to the airport and a two and half hour flight home. It was fun getting to fly with Major Farr. I rode up front on the way down and navigated then Peter switched with me for the flight home. When we arrived back we went over to the Farr;s house and had Ice Cream. Yum!

Friends and Family

Friday night I played volleyball with all the ALERT staff. We had three courts going most of the time. A first at ALERT. We had really good games because the teams were smaller, we had about 5-6 players most of the time. We played till 10:30, then I walked back to my dorm and talked to Rowdy till midnight. At 1:30am Bryce came back from talking with one of the ALERT guys and he and I talked for another hour.

Saturday: We awoke to Bryce's phone ringing, at... 9:10! oops, maybe we stayed up to late. :-) While Bryce went to talk to a friend I took Rowdy around and showed him some of the places he hadn't seen yet around campus. After brunch we changed and headed out to the shooting range. We shot Bryce's 12ga, his new 9mm, and a 22. We had a blast. It was so much fun. Some of the Hendrich's also came and shot with us. Then we headed to Longview or the afternoon. He went to Army Navy Surplus, Academy, Wal-Mart, Tractor Supply, Wal-Mart again :-), and then to dinner at Cheddar's. Dinner was really good and we had such a good time talking, and laughing, and talking more, and laughing more, and watching Bryce talk on the phone. :-) We got back on campus about 6:30 and decided to go shooting again. :-) After shooting up the last of the 22cal. We got the haircutting stuff and Brystol cut Bryce's hair. As soon as she was done cutting his hair his phone rang. :-) He started smiling and made a beeline for the door. :-) So Lynn, Brystol, Rowdy, and I deiced that we were hungry for some Ice Cream. After finding Bryce wandering around on the phone we got his order and drove to Gladewater to Sonic. We all ended up with fruit smoothies rather than Ice Cream, but it was just a good. Then we came back and dropped the girls off and Rowdy and I went back to the dorm, talked for a while, and decided to head over to the Quest cadre barracks. There several of the guys met us at the door and decided that it would be best if they came over and talked at my dorm rather than theirs. After talking for a while I went and called my mom since they were coming over from Dallas to stay here for a few days. This was about midnight, Elizabeth answered and said they had just gotten here but they hadn't found any reception to call me. So went over to say goodnight and some of the Quest Leadership knew my brothers so they came to say hi. we talked with my family for about 20min and then headed back to the dorm at about 1:30. We got in bed AND turned out the light but continued talking till 2:30am! :-)

Sunday: Bryce had gotten up a little before seven and gone to lunch with a squad mate of his from basic, Lt. Pierce. Rowdy and I got up at 8:45 showered, dressed, and were out the door in about 20min. Since Bryce still wasn't back from breakfast Rowdy and I took my family's van and picked up Brystol and Lyndsae, then got my family from their dorm and drove to the Behr's house for the Campus church service. After church we talked with Brystol, Lynn, and Bryce for about 20min then they, Reckner's, had to go eat with the Henderich's. So I took my family around campus and showed them all the different places things happen. They we had a few crackers and cheese, talked for a while, got my hair cut, and walked to supper. After supper I had to do dishes with the rest of the single staff guys. Mom wanted to see what my dorm was like but since girls can't even come near the guys dorms I showed her what one of he empty ones that is like mine was like. Then we went to the evening service.

Shooting in the afternoon.

Rowdy

We decided that while Bryce was on the phone after his haircut that we were feeling a little left out so we decided to take a few pictures!

Lyndsae

Brystol

Rowdy

Me

It has been a while

Last week I was home with my family. It was a blast. The time home is never long enough. Every moment was filled with one activity or another, and the few other moments were filled with much talking. Thursday night we drove over to Arkansas and spent the night at my grandma’s house. Early Friday we drove up to Silver Dollar City in Branson MO. We had a great time there. Getting totally soaked, sitting inside at two of the shows, flying across the tracks of several roller coasters, or walking from one end to the other. We spent the whole day laughing, waiting in lines, and then doing that all over again, then we headed back home. On the way home Elizabeth and I were the only ones awake. The drive went quickly because we were having a great time talking.

Saturday we worked over at Dad’s new office building. We spent the all day cutting up the trees they had knocked over with the backhoe. It was a lot of fun. I ran the saw most of the day. For dinner we all went out to Ricardo’s, a Mexican restaurant that we all love eating at. It was good as always.

Sunday afternoon I drove back and starched all my uniforms and Ironed one set for Monday. Monday thru Thursday I took the First-Aid class with Quest for my re-certification for my CPR and First-Aid. The class was good but there wasn’t a lot of new stuff on the first-aid side. However, on the CPR they had changed several things in the three years since I got my last certification. On the CPR test I missed one question then I aced the First-Aid test. Corporal Kordik bought the four of us that aced the test all a Sobe. He is such a cool instructor.

This morning about 5:30am Bryce Reckner, Lyndsae, and Rowdy Lax came in. Bryce and Rowdy are staying in my room, so I am sure this will be a great weekend.

Psalm Eighteen

Psalm 18

Who is our God? What does he mean to you? What is our should be our response to Him for what He has done for us? Psalm 18 really shows us who our mighty God truly is, and what our response to Him should be.

Verses 1-3 "I love You, O LORD, my strength." The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.

Can we truly say that? I know that when the hard times come, when the world is pressing in, that I should turn to Him. My Rock. Yet sometimes we have a hard time doing that. Why? Is it because of our pride and ego, wanting to do it all by ourselves? Lord I pray that you will help me to turn to You, to run to You, in my times of need.

So what is our response to the God who created us and has provided protection for us?
Verse 46 "The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of my salvation".

Verses 49-50 "Therefore I will five thanks to You among the nations, O LORD, and I will sing praises to Your name. ...And shows loving kindness to His anointed, to David and his decedents forever.

What a great God we serve. Thank you Lord for all you have provided for us.

This week I am working with my dad at the office. I have been working on the plans for the new office and warehouse he purchased this spring. And have also done some demo work at the new office.

Yesterday we had a missionary friend over for lunch. We had a great time listening to her stories and all that she had to share. it is amazing what our God is doing.

In September I will be going to Malaysia with ALERT Cadets for the ATI Regional Home school Conference there. Back in January I applied for my passport and it finally came about the middle of June. Six months later. So much for the 8-10 weeks they say. So now I have all the documentation I need.