Thanksgiving was Great and the Canyon was Grand

For Thanksgiving we had a small group come together to celebrate the day. It was a great day of feasting and resting as the turkey settled in. After the big day of food we all retreated to our own homes and rested for the big day a head of us.

On Friday after Uncle Fred got done with work we went and picked up the rental van, loaded up, and headed toward Williams. It is a small town just west of Flagstaff and south of the South Rim. We went out and ate at a small dinner and took the night easy before the big day.

Saturday morning we got up had breakfast at McDonald's and then were on our way to the . It was a great time. We went to the South Rim, which is the main place for tourists who don't go down into the canyon. We first went to Mather Point. It had an amazing view of the canyon to the west and Isis Temple, a peak, was pointing to the heavens. In the bottom of the canyon is the Colorado River and along the river is a place called Phantom Ranch. In a canyon that is basically rock this provided a beautiful and green oasis across the way. It is a point used for river runners and hikers as they make their way through the canyon.

Next was Yavapai Point which also had some amazing views of the canyon from a different perspective. From the angle of the point you could see down into the canyon to the Colorado River and see a suspension bridge built in 1928. It is 440-foot-long and 5-foot-wide. Most of the materials were carried by mule, but the one ton suspension cable was carried down by the shoulders of 42 men that appeared to be a great snake to viewers from the rim.

Then we came to El Tovar Hotel which was elegant and rustic at the same time. Very nice furniture that made the room fell rich with walls of wood holding the heads of hunted animals ranging from dear, wolf, elk, mule elk, to a buffalo. It was quite a site and across the way was the Hopi House. Architect Mary Colter was very familiar with the southwester pueblos building style and crafted it to appear in that manner. On the inside is a gift shop with very nice and expensive crafts, many made by Native Americans who live on reservations around the area.

As the day was getting late and we still had to drive all the way back to Mesa we decided to make one more stop and then to call it a day. We went to the farthest point to the east called Desert View. Desert View is marked by its 70-foot tower over looking the eastern part of the canyon and the Little Colorado River Gorge. The "Indian Watchtower" designed by Mary Colter was inspired by an 800-year-old tower built by the native Indians. It is a spiraling master piece decorated with wall painting by artist Fred Kabotie and rock art by Fred Geary. From the upper room you can see one of the best views of the canyon with the Colorado winding through it.

Well our day was on the down slope and we stopped in Flagstaff to eat at McDonald's and then to home. It was a great trip, both to the canyon and to Arizona as a whole. We had a nice dinner Sunday night and then I left out Monday morning. Nancy picked me up from the Airport, and after some confusion we finally met up and headed our way home stopping for dinner along the way.

Now this week I have to prepare as I get read to go up to Kentucky to meet with my councilor about classes at Georgetown so I'm excited about that and nervous at the same time. But I can't wait to get started on my upcoming adventure.

The Trio

Yesterday I arrived here in Mesa, Arizona.  It was a good flight of which most of it I slept through.  After arriving we went to Denny's for a nice lunch and then I retreated to Mom's house to hang out with Mom and my bro.

Matt for some time has been talking some trash about how good at basketball he is.  Unfortunely his talk wasnt followed by the walk as I beat him in three games.  But man, he is huge.  He is so much taller then I remember and as he is growing up he has slimmed too.  But it was fun hanging out with him and my mom for the afternoon.

Later on we went to my Uncle Fred and Aunt Marie's house to see my cousin Tim and his son Brent and Brent's mom Allison.  Man, I know babies dont like me, but this one was the worst of all I have ever seen and this one is my cousin.  I would just look at him and he would give me one of the most aweful faces ever.  And when I came close to him he would tell me to go away.  But at the end of the night, with Allison's help, Brent gave me a high five so that was good.

I retreated to bed early last night being so tired from a long day and woke up today to my mom chewing my bother out.  He was suppose to get some English done so that he could miss yesterday to come meet me at the airport and he didnt do it right.  So now he is in trouble, but at school at the moment.

Well I most likely wont post till after Thanksgiving so Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.

Almost Going West

Today is now Monday, which means that tomorrow I will be leaving on my way to Arizona. I am really looking forward to my trip out West to see my mom, bro, and family. I went to Wal-Mart tonight to get a jacket for the trip since I am expecting cold weather when we make our journey northward to the Grand Canyon, God willing.

Today was a great day. I got to do something I really enjoy, teach. Tim was away at a youth leaders conference so I took the responsibility of the High School class for the day. I taught on church discipline and I thought it went well. It was rough teaching again; I'm a little rusty and I was never all that great, but I had a blast doing it.

A missionary from Brazil spoke this morning and it was quite enjoyable. Instead of it being mostly about his ministry, like most do, it was about our ministry and how we are to advance what God has called us to do, whether home or abroad. After that we went to the church wide luncheon for Thanksgiving. It was a fun time, but honestly I prefer El Tap. One thing bad happened. Josh and I were suppose to hook up for some disk golf and bad communication lead to us not playing. I thought we said to meet at the church around one and he thought we were suppose to meet at the High School. I still think I'm right, but I'm very forgetful so I have no clue.

After a great lunch I went to change clothes and headed back to church for a game of football. It was fun even though my team lost. I got a little to into it once and a while as my competitive attitude took hold of me. If I never learn to control that better I might have to give up sports eventually. But thankfully the guys I was playing with kept me from getting to crazy.

The evening service was good tonight. I was so tired, but Jeff maintained a lively sermon and I made it through. After ward we took a large group to IHOP for a good meal and great conversation. Then to the Marble Slap for some ice cream.

We headed back and went to Ashley's house for a second and then Erin and I went to Wal-Mart to get some stuff. As we were walking in Erin spotted Rye's car with her and George in it and we snuck up and scared the snot out of Rye. It was quite funny. We went in and got a few things. I got to see George a little. Not enough to say I know much about him, but he seemed okay from the outside. He is a little, well it is easy to see why Rye and him are friends. But I don't mean that in a bad way. After Erin finally got all the stuff she wanted, or at least thought of, we headed to Church and I dropped her off.

It is now 12:23am and I have a dentist appointment with Dr. Boston at 8:30. I missed my appointment Friday which really ticked me, but I'm easily ticked. So I need to get to sleep, but before I do that I'm going to read a little of The Chronicles of Narnia, by C. S. Lewis. For FBC persons don't forget that visitation is tonight at 6pm and for non-FBCians, who are Christians, please pray for us as we go out to spread the good news.

Relaxing Day

This was a great day. I woke up early around 7:20ish when Nancy said good by to Dustin before she left for work. I went back to sleep. I woke up a little later when Sam told Dustin good by as he left for work. I laid there in my bed thinking about the awesome things I have been able to do as of late. I went back to sleep.

I finally woke up around 10 and got Dustin up so we could cut some fire wood. We did that and he went to see Anna off to Knoxville and I got ready for the Daughters of the American Revolution invitation. Dustin came back and we watched TV after I he helped me tie my tie. I took off and he went to sleep on the couch. I came back and hung out watching TV while he slept till Nancy came home. When she came in I chatted with her and checked my mail. Then she cooked a great meal as always, potato soup.

Then Sam left to go teach and we retire to the living room to watch Kentucky basketball. Lance showed up and hung out with us. Kentucky won, but didn’t play well and I was falling asleep during the game. Around 10ish I went to pick up Leah from her night of cheerleading and grabbed a Coke on the way home.

Now Lance is in the living room working on his homework and listening to classical music, and Dustin is sleeping, and I'm just sitting here thinking about pleasant things. It was a good day. I hope more like this follow.

Back in the Swing of Things

It was awesome to come back home and get right back in the swing of things. Things have been so hectic, yet they have been a great joy. I got back on a Wednesday and headed to Church. What a sweet return that was, back to seeing all of my friends and family in Christ. A large group of us went out to eat and that was pretty awesome. It was cool to see everyone together.

Thursday I hung around the house and Friday we (FBC Youth) took off and headed to our Big House Retreat. That was an amazing weekend. Friday night we had a dinner together and played a little basketball and had our intro-session for the weekend topic of coming to know God better; to better understand who God is. Saturday we got to hear more great teaching from Tim and played a ton of sports. My old knees just aren't what they use to be as I was pretty sore at the end of the day. As the night came to an end we enjoyed a movie, chatted a little, and went to sleep. I want to send out a special thanks to my roomies: John, A-ron, and Caleb for not keeping an old man up all night. Sunday we got to sleep in a little later and were greeted with a wonderful breakfast cooked by Wendy and a few of the girls. We had our last session and a lunch to end the great weekend. We packed our stuff and headed off.

It was an amazing weekend and I enjoyed it a bunch, yet sorrow was in my heart to some degree. I remember back to the days of a different youth that isn’t quite as youthful as they once were. Hard core basketball games with a bunch of guys who were all about the same level. No one person dominated a game, other than Josh when he wanted to. I missed some of the older girls that are gone. But it was great to have Rye there, on the other side this time. She did a great job with the younger girls and it was awesome to see.

Sunday night was church and it was good as always. Monday was fun, I got a car. It was my aunt and uncle's and they hooked me up on a great deal. Thanks guys. Tuesday I missed prayer breakfast like a moron. Wednesday I went to church and then we went out to eat afterward. Thursday I can’t remember. I know one of those days I went to lunch with Tim, but can’t remember which one. Friday I went to the High School for the Happening rally, then to lunch with the group at Pizza Hut, then I spoke at White County Middle School (That was rough. By far the biggest group I have ever spoke in front of.), then had lunch with Rudy (an Army friend), and finally to the Men's Conference.

That was a great opportunity. Dr. Hunt was the speaker and he did a good job of challenging men to be leaders and to remain strong through grace in the race of life. He is a very talented speaker and gifted teacher of the Word.

I woke up early Saturday to go to the second and last day of the Men's Conference. We had a good breakfast provided by the Gum Spring's ladies and heard another great lesson. After that I went to the Church to help get things ready for the Happening. After that I went home to have lunch with everyone and our special guests R.V. and his son, Xavier. That was fun. R.V. is kind of crazy, in a funny way.

Then it was off to the Happening. Man, this may have been the best year that I have experanced. Nancy, Rye, and I were the leaders of the greatest game known to man, Corn Hole. It was a tough competition, but the camps were decided. It was an amazing night. Fun, exciting, and moving. R.V. delivered a compelling and moving message, and through the power of the Word of God and the Holy Spirit sixty-two people gave their lives to Jesus Christ. Ninety-nine rededicated themselves to Christ after they had fallen away from their walk. In total around 620 young people heard the message of Christ death and resurrection and ten percent were convicted and came to saving faith. I want all of you to pray for these people who made a profession of faith in Christ. They are like babies in a forest of wolves and it is our responsibilities as Christians to go out and put a hedge of protection around them so that they may grow in Jesus Christ and be conformed to His image.

It was a great night for me in the fact that I just got to hang out with a lot of friends and the opportunity to meet a friend for the first time. I was excited to hear how Kayla is trying to get back to China. How Kristie is trying to get into Oxford. I got to meet a girl who I have talked to quite a bit while in Iraq for the first time, Michelle. It was a great night of hanging out with Nancy and Rye as we worked together. Another night I hope never escapes my memory.

Then came Sunday, everyone is tired. Sunday school was great as always as Sam leads us deep into the truths of Thessalonians. R.V. spoke during the morning service and delivered another powerful message. A friend of mine, Rudy, came to church with me and that was awesome. It was good to have him there. After that I went to lunch with my normal group,Dustin and Anna, added at the best food in town, El Tap. I had to say good bye to Kristie and Kayla once again as they headed back to school. Played a little football with the guys and I got my "bottom" smoked.

After a shower I headed to Sunday night service and discipleship. We talked about the Happening and discussed what could have been better and prayed for those whose lives were changed. Listened to Jeff bring a message and then went to eat at Yanies. Spent the rest of the evening with Erin, Kara, and Rye and then headed home.

I slept in today and then got up and cut some wood with Dustin. I have to get ready here shortly to go and speak for the Daughters of the American Revolution. That should be fun and hopefully I do better today then I did in front of the Middle School.

Home Sweet Home

The time has come; the day is here; I no longer have to look forward to this day; I am home. It has been a long journey. I can not complain though. I have learned so much, seen so much, and now know more about myself than ever before. I look forward to writing more about my final days of military life, but for now I am still in shock of what I am able to enjoy. Thank you to all of you who were so kind to me while I was gone offering up petitions to our Father. Never did I covet your prayers so much and I trust that with out them this trip would have been most unbearable. God be with all of you.