Craigs on laughing gas

Craig had his wisdom teeth removed and he was alittle out of it after.

Montana Trip

Here are a couple of the photos from the Montana Hiking/Whitewater rafting trip that my flight went on.  It was alot of fun to be without students and just hang out in the woods just for fun.  We hiked 25 miles in three days on a pretty remote trail and the last two days of the trip were rafting on the Clark Fork river.  That hat I am wearing in the picture I now no longer own because of the Clark Fork.  We flipped twice. Overall a great blessing to beable to go on this trip.  Awesome time.

Lake Place

our last day at home was one of the best.  We were able to go out to the Schmidt's house up at wonder lake.  Here are a couple photos of it.

Colorado

We were able to head out to Colorado over leave.  We had such a great time out there.  Colorado is always a refuge for me.  It was  just what we needed for R&R after team.  We only had four days down there, but we were able to have a pretty full couple days.  Here are some of the photos.

Desert

Here are a couple of Desert photos.  When we were bored we decided to combat psychological stresses with beetle races.  

Integrated

Here are a couple photos from integrated.  This is the phase we were able to practice teach.

Bike Ride

Craig and I went on a bike ride to downtown spokane today.  It was really relaxing.  I was able to get some video of downtown main street.  

Coast/Tropics

Here is a couple pics from Coast Tropics.  The video is awesome.  WE had to eat a slug (see picture) called the "Banana Slug".  When you start chewing this slug its defense mechanism is to release a sticky slime in your mouth.  I was vomiting and picking stuff out of my teeth for 30 min.  Since, I threw up I had to eat another one.  Lucky me! Anyways two phases left....can't wait to graduate.

Evasion

Can't say much about evasion but here is how Craig and I looked after 10 days.

Rocks

WE just got back from Rocks training.  THis phase was really relaxing in teh fact that we got to stay in a nice tent and actually had enough food.  Throughout the three days we were learning rescue techniques for someone that is injured at the top of very steep terrain.  We learned how to get the injured patient down in the safest way possible.  All in all getting one person down a mountain is about a 12 person operation.  We might have to use this training if one of our students gets injured. SERE also helps with civilian rescues so we could also use it in the civilian sector.  Craig and I had a great time.  Evasion is next!

Mobile

Just arrived home from Mobile.  Ouch.....Thats all I can say.  Walking all day in the snow with a 95lb ruck not so fun.  There were some fun parts however.  We learned some very interesting things about navigation that was really helpful.  We also got some great views out there aswell.  All in all it was a very hard phase for me, but made it through a better person for it.  Hope all is well at home.  Rocks next!

back out

Hello everyone back at home.  Just thought I would drop a line let everyone know how things are going over here.  Craig and I just got back from our teaching techs field portion.  We both had a great time and learned more about how our lessons will look when we are instructors.  We got back and had a couple days of and now it is back out to the field for Mobile.  For mobile we will be learning navigation skills using mostly compass and triangulation.  This is supposed to be a really beautiful phase where you can ee some good views so I hope to have some pictures.  We get back noxt Saturday have a couple days off then we are off to roughland evac training.  Hope all is well.   Love love check in again soon.  

Seattle

Hello.........

We just got back from Seattle.  We had a great time.  Its been like 8 years since I have been there so I was looking forward to seeing what I remembered.  Craig and I decided to get out of Spokane on Saturday and just started driving spur of the moment.  We were able to see the cousins which was awesome to catch up with them.  It was really great to see family out here.  

     Seattle was great aswell.  Craig and I spent alot of time at Pike Place Market.  That place is an awesome open air market.  Saturday we smoked a cigar overlooking the harbor....pretty relaxing.  Overall it was a very relaxing weekend.  

     On a side note, Friday before we left Craig and i were able to sit in on a briefing from one of the Rangers involved in Black Hawk Down.  If anybody does not know the story I highly recommend watching the documentary the the History Channel made on it.  This Ranger's name was Keni Thomas and he just told us about a couple of the lessons that he learned through his experience.  One of the things that stuck out to me was a verse he quoted from the Ranger training.  He said that this verse was on the grave stone of the men that died in that fight.  The verse was Isaiah 6:8, " Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said,  "Here am I. Send me!".  

Teaching Techs

Craig and I are about 2 weeks into teaching techs and we are enjoying it quite a bit. We have both given 4 speeches, two 20 min and two 40 min.  We are waking up early for Modern Army Combatives aswell.  We usually start the day off at 4:30 and practice rolling around.  We are learning some basic combat moves and how to submit someone.  I really have never had formal training so it is really cool to see how affective some of these moves are.  After we are done with that at 7 we clean up and for the rest of the day we practice our speeches.   I have always had an interest in teaching so I really am enjoying giving the lessons.  Anywho, we are on base for 2 more weeks then we are going to the field to practice giving field lessons.  We basically will be teaching like we were instructors.  Some of the lessons are fire craft, shelter craft, and skinning.  It will be great experience.

     I will check in again soon.  Hope everyone is doing well at home. 

WAFA

Craig and I can now certified to save your life.  We wrapped up our wilderness advanced first aid class yesterday.  It was a week long class where we learned to basics on how to stop life threatening injuries.  I had a great time through the course.  It actually motivated me to get further medically qualified.  We will see maybe see me getting my paramedics license sometime.  Yesterday was our test.  There was a written portion in the morning then there was a practical part in the afternoon.  We had to diagnose and treat a wound.  It was cool to see the progress in my knowledge base in only a week.  Anywho, here is a picture of me and the guys holding a litter transporting the patient.  

     Craig and I are actually headed into our teaching techs phase next.  The Cadre switched the mobile and teaching techs phases so people would have a chance to let their feet heal.  There were 9 people that were going to be pulled if we did mobile because they had such bad frostbite and trench foot.  Teaching Techs is a month on base so they will get a chance to let their feet heal.  Craig and I both got out of Fam with no complaints with our feet so thank the Lord for that.  Im hoping to get a couple more pictures of Fam up in the next couple of days.  Until then....love.

Fam

Fam....... yeah.  9 days in the woods. We just got back on Saturday and both Craig and I were ready to be back.  One of the mornings out there it was 11 below zero.  Yeah real cold.  But, I have to say that I did have alot of fun.  We both agreed that we learned alot and took away some really good foundational knowledge for the rest of training.  The hardest part abut Fam without a doubt was the cold.  The day to day lessons and fire and shelter crafts were not that bad.  I felt as if i was constantly bettering my skills and leaning alot.  We are now down to 36 of the original 55.  So craig and I are both hangin in there and encouraging eachother along the way.  i took a picture of my hands after Fam.  We develop what they call Fam hands.  Your hands are in the cold then when you warm them up by the fire they start to crack and bleed.  So basically you develop "MAN HANDS".  There will be more updates later.  I did take my camera out there but didn't have time for many pics....sorry.  Hope everyone is well at home. Love.

1 Down

Well, Craig and I are about to wrap up impro week.  This past nine days we both spent over 100 hrs sewing.  So (no pun intended) if anyone needs a a couple shirts fixed or a new purse just give us a call.  It feels good to have started team.  It is nice to actually be making progress after months of waiting.  Craig and i both finished our assignments yesterday so we were able to go to Church today.  It was very refreshing to have that fellowship again.  We've praying alot through team and I am sure that those prayers will continue.  We are both trying to focus on relying on God's strength to make it through this.  We are leaving for FAM on Wed.  We have Tues off to recoup and get our things together.  I am excited it will be a very good time.  We are drinking through a fire hose when it comes to the learning curve but we are both seeing progress in our knowledge already.  Keep up the prayers and we will have photos of FAM when we get back.  Love everyone   

Home

Just got back from a great trip home with the family.  It was really refreshing to get the fellowship of family and friends. Most of the time at home was spent resting.  I met "Brody" my sister's new dog.  He is a typical hyperactive dog.  Craig, Andrew, and I were able to get in some rucking on the winter Chicago's winter weather.  The last day home Wes and the brothers went to St. Charles to smoke a couple great cigars and enjoy relaxing conversation.  The picture is taken at the fox river.  Craig and I are now back in Spokane getting ready for team.  I would have never guessed that last year at this time that Craig and i would both be up in Spokane going through team at the same time.  It is amazing how God orchestrated this.  I moved my things up into Craig's room so we are now roomates, and even though we joke around and get on eachother's nerves sometimes I am really enjoying rooming with him.  He keeps me accountable and I really value that. Anywho, it late and I have to get to bed.

ciao.