A Pilots Life For Me

2007-04-26T13:38:00.000-07:00

Wow I haven't posted in awhile. . . I think I'll keep it that way. This doesn't count because it contains zero relevant information as to my life and current events.

2007-03-21T12:27:00.000-07:00

Badlands Ain't So Bad

This spring break I enjoyed a trip to Medora where we enjoyed the breathtaking beauty of the Badlands. The 4 hour drive went by fast as the landscape slowly changed from flat plains country into smooth rolling hills dotted with dark peaked buttes. Medora, ND is a small town with an even smaller population when the summer months are gone and the winter has set itself for the long haul. When everyone but the hardiest of old timers has left the town the only place to find a warm meal and a good stiff drink is the Iron Horse Saloon. A shy young man who tended the bar, cooked the food and waited on us ran this backwoods joint that turned out some amazing steak and Buffalo burgers.

Talking to my baby

Capturing footage that will never see the light of a TV screen

Faded desert rose holding its ground above a sand stone canyon

Stairway to heaven

Wild doggies on the range!

Dad captured in the canyon forever

Buffalo running on the range

2007-02-25T10:20:00.000-08:00

A TASTE OF MY WORLD

I like this one.

Blizzard February 24, 2007

2007-02-25T09:57:00.000-08:00

TO PEDRO'S FOR DINNER

Taking care of the trash problem. "When will my roommates learn to take out the trash"
-Pedro

1 o'clock picking up Settlers of Cataan after two exhilarating games.

The ladies head home for bed while the men stay to play games.
(From right: Bethany, Paula, Pete)

Game cubing it up! But man, what annoying music.

Stretching after three rigorous hours of playing DAS CUBE. Pete made the five of us fried sausages, potatoes, chips and green beans, very delicious. The rest of the evening slipped away playing Mario Party on the Game Cube. Eric, Pete and I then played two games of Settlers of Cataan which was a rip, ragging hoot of a time! A nice way to spend a blizzardy evening.

2007-02-17T23:11:00.000-08:00

X-COUNTRY

I was once asked to explain what a cross country is and since that was a long time ago I will give a brief definition. A Cross Country is a flight which requires a Flight Plan to be filed with a controlling agency and has one leg consisting of 50nm or more with a landing at the destination airport. This past Wednesday I flew one down to Alexandria, MN (147nm) a quaint little town which resides next to Lake Ida, where I only spent a few minutes on the runway and then was on my way up to Fergus Falls, MN (FFM) or so I thought . . . when my instructor who goes by Chris thought it would be a good time to shut down one of our two Lycoming O-360 engines which caused the aircraft to momentarily bank out of control which I as the student had to quickly correct for. After recovering control of the aircraft and upon completion of the emergency procedure checklist I circled back to AXN for a single engine approach to landing. A turn from Downwind to base and a turn from base to final brought me down to earth again, I cleaned the aircraft configuration for takeoff and away we were.

The route to FFM was relatively uneventful besides my instructor not letting me use any navigation instruments except the Heading Indicator. Fergus is still a part of Minnesota which makes it infinitely prettier than any part of North Dakota. I soon found myself winding my way back home to Grand Forks or as some of my fans call it "Royal Forks"(royal hehe ; ). It was a fun flight nothing big, it took us 2.8hrs to fly and that includes all the taxi times so not bad. Some of you might want to here about my 4.5hr, 250nm cross country coming up so check back in a week or two to see how that went and I might even have some pictures to go with it. If the weather cooperates I hope to fly over to Minneapolis, MN to catch a nice dinner and some of that big town atmosphere?

Sorry no pictures this time, they would have been great if I had bothered to take some. I flew the glass Seminole which has two computer screens to display all of the instruments you would have liked seeing that I think. Maybe next time.

2007-01-31T19:46:00.000-08:00

Ice Fishing Is Da Bomb!

Pine Lake, MN. Fish 37 inches, 15lbs.

2007-01-25T12:27:00.000-08:00

It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the

strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them
better. The credit belongs to the man in the arena, whose face is
marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiently . . . who
knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself
in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of
high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while
daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and
timid souls who have never known neither victory nor defeat.

-Theodore Roosevelt

2007-01-22T21:06:00.000-08:00

The Sailors' Hymn

Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm doth bind the restless wave,
Who bidd'st the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep:
O hear us, when we cry to thee,
For those in peril on the sea.

O Savior, whose almighty word
The winds and waves submissive heard,
Who walkedst on the foaming deep
And calm amidst its rage didst sleep:
O hear us, when we cry to thee,
For those in peril on the sea.

-William Whiting

2006-12-11T13:47:00.000-08:00

CUTEY PIE!

2006-11-28T20:57:00.000-08:00

HOTTY AND ME

CHRISTMAS is just around the corner and I can't wait for it to arrive! The whole point of the holiday is to celebrate Christ's birth by giving selflessly to one another as he gave himself for us starting with his human birth. God's gift to me this year was and has been my beautiful fiancée who makes my life a better one. I love her dearly and I miss her just as much. The old adage "absence makes the heart fonder" is a truthful statement and one that makes my life very exciting.

This Thanksgiving Linn and I went down to Ocean City to hang out and to take some funny Christmas photo booths. We had the time of our lives making them and we couldn't stop laughing at the absurdity of some of our faces. Linnea is cutey the one thing we both agree on.

2006-11-13T18:43:00.000-08:00

Stage Is Completely Done, Praise GOD!

Today I flew for my stage check and I passed, it's all over and done with. I am so thankful to GOD for getting me through it, I tend to get pretty nervous. I wanted to share this and lift a praise to Jesus! Praise HIM! See you all at Christmas.

2006-11-10T12:19:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving Proverb

Let us remember that, as much as has been given us, much will be expected from us, and that true homage comes from the heart as well as from the lips, and shows itself in deeds.

-Theodore Roosevelt

2006-11-08T09:25:00.000-08:00

STAGE COMPLETE

2006-10-31T18:27:00.000-08:00

Yoga

Bored on a Monday night, try yoga! This Monday I was bored and yes I did try yoga, what can I say. I was a little skeptical about it but on Thursday night my friend Jeff told me I should go and this was seconded by Seth and Gina who both do yoga. When the time came I wasn't to sure about going because it had always struck me as a little odd. Well I can now say that I have tried yoga and I can also say that I'm now hooked. I started working up sweat 30min. into the class and by the end my face was drenched. My muscles got a real work out they were stretched, rotated, pulled and now they're very sore. So every Monday, Wednesday and Friday night from now on I will going to yoga class. I am sure I will make a lot weird yoga friends that believe in a so called inner light but hey I'll deal with it.

2006-10-31T14:07:00.000-08:00

SURPRISE PARTIES ARE THE BOMB!

This past Friday instead of having a Friday night frenzy we had a surprise party for Lyndsey Hassell. Kim, Lyndsey's roommate planned the whole thing out and it worked great. We saw Eric her boyfriend drive both of them up and he must have been quite convincing because she didn't suspect a thing. We saw their car pull up so the lights went out and we waited. . . in the mean time we couldn't keep quiet because we got into the shushing game, which made everyone crack-up. And little did we know that Eric had planned on proposing to her over dinner so they both walked in engaged. It was a pretty exciting party and I ended up staying over until 12am playing games. I have to say that I am really thankful for the family God has given me through Intervarsity.

The awkward hello.

The BIG SURPRISE!

A little Apples to Apples.

A room full of wonderful friends.

Eric, and Chris and Amanda Punt.

And some random fairy dude. . . the women seem to dig the wings.

2006-10-27T16:07:00.000-07:00

WEEKEND GETAWAY

The group of us going met across from the Med. school building to split up and carpool and somehow I ended up with a car full of girls. . . no peace, no peace. I made it through the ride and through the weekend which was just as amazing as last year. It was cold, windy and grey all three days but it didn't seem to dampen out spirits. Friday and Saturday night were spent warm and cozy up at the cafeteria drinking hot cocoa, coffee and tea. Some of us spent the time playing Apples to Apples but I personally played Settlers of Cataan. Which you can see being played below, I am off to the right next to the guy in the yellow shirt who's name is Ben as well.

Dave, Pete and Ben

Benjamin looking sly

Some dodge ball

We played over six hours worth. . . never been so sore in my life.

. . . more dodge ball

Getting cozy. . .

. . . even cozier.

2006-10-15T14:40:00.000-07:00

Love does not die easily.

It is a living thing.

It thrives in the face of all

lifes hazards, save one-neglect.

-James D. Bryden

*This was written without any reference to my relationship, just to clarify.

2006-10-14T14:53:00.000-07:00

FNF

I had lots of fun last night at Friday night frenzy. Their were fourteen of us and they all came over to my apartment for games and food. The first half of the evening was spent playing a game called Scruples a Milton Bradley game from 1987. The game is just as it sounds, you had to answer questions like these "If you caught your dad cheating on your mom with another woman would you tell your mom?" or "You are on a very small sailboat with your spouse and some married friends for a weekend get away and your spouse starts getting frisky, do you?". You had several responses you could give yes, no or maybe. The funny thing was that all of us had to talk each one out and give exact reasons for the actions we would take. After this almost all of the girls spent the evening playing Catch Phrase and almost all the guys spent it playing Settlers of Cattan. Well it was a great night and I can't wait to have them back again.

2006-10-14T14:42:00.000-07:00

I flew a solo cross country today.

2006-10-07T17:57:00.000-07:00

Peaceful colors and a quite night.

You must be wondering what kind of post this is and to be quite honest I don't know myself but hopefully I will know by the end. I did want to say a few things on this first picture which, I took in the dark just before going to bed. How I ended up with such an unusual assortment of stuffed objects on my bed is not a mystery to me, I have my dear fiance to thank for them. I know that she sent me the two lambs so that I would have something to cuddle with in place of her until I came home last summer and also because I had sent her a stuffed bunny at Easter. The two clowns on the other hand were given so as to torment me. Neither of us cares for clowns a whole lot and this is all due to movies like "Killer Clowns from Mars" and other such wholesome Halloween flicks.

Part of me would like to remove the clowns from my bed and banish them to the bottom of a box but some how they seem to remain fixed beneath an unused pillow. I do enjoy having the lambs though I mean who wouldn't, they are soft and not in the least bit frightening. Oh and if you can't get to sleep you can always count the sheep you do have on hand instead of calling those darn unionized sheep from the Certa commercials; talk about over paid.

Haven't YOU ever wondered what you like when you sleep? Well now I know and I have to say for a man who isn't actually sleeping I look pretty peaceful.

2006-10-06T14:45:00.000-07:00

ITS BAAACK!!

AND I'M HOOKED AGAIN, DARN!

2006-10-05T11:32:00.000-07:00

Northwestern Drive (married housing)

Isn't the sky beautiful?! I really couldn't help taking this picture yesterday. One thing I do wish is that the light pole wasn't camping out right in the middle of the picture.

I can't wait to move into married housing and start living my life with my beautiful and soon to be wife. Their is a whole new life to live when you get married new challenges and joys to face but not alone, instead you have someone to face them with. That is something that makes marriage so wonderful, you get to spend the rest of your life with your best and truest friend. And she is my best and truest friend and that brings happiness no one can give but her. I guess that's why I am so in love!

2006-10-03T15:13:00.000-07:00

my world

2006-10-02T08:57:00.000-07:00

Congratulations Jack & Stacy!

A new baby has found its way into this big wide world. Jack beat all his friends to the alter and has now beat us to having a child. Never thought it would happen but it has Congratulations! Children are a blessing from God but aren't you both thankful He only gives you one at a time, hehehe! Though I am far away and probably won't be there for his baptism I give my word to help him grow in Jesus’ love. I can't wait to have kids of my own one day; it's so amazing to see the continuation of your flesh. It must be an even greater blessing to see your children come to the Lord, to see Gods faithfulness is a beautiful thing. I am looking forward to holding him at Thanksgiving. CONGRATULATIONS!!

2006-10-01T15:58:00.000-07:00

><MY HUMBLE HOME><

A picture of me on the porch enjoying the last few rays of sunshine.

These are two of my three roommates, Scott on the left and Seth on the right. They
think they are funny guys but you can judge for yourselves. Both of them are commercial
aviation majors like me, most of you know Grady he is my other roommate and has the
same major as the rest of us.

This is a view of the garages and the mall is in the distance which is not very visible.
(Looking east)

Grady and I share a bedroom and bathroom this is our bathroom, a pretty sweet deal.
Our closet is off to the left where you can see my winter coat hanging up.

My study area as seen from my bed. Hehehe. . .I spend a lot of time looking at my
study are from this spot of repose. As you can see I have lots of pictures up reminding
me of my beautiful true love back at home.

My kitchen where you will occasionally see a brisket cooking, tea brewing or
wings frying. It's surprises me how much more I want to cook something when the
kitchen is clean and the counters are wiped off. My roommates lied to me they aren't
as neat as they said they were but for a bunch of pilots not bad.

A look at our front door on the left and the door into our laundry room straight ahead. The
green box you see on the counter contains a quarter of a chocolate cake which Grady has
left sitting there for over three weeks, delicious.

Seth's girlfriend Kitty sitting on the living room floor doing homework, she was there
all afternoon. . .crazy! As you can see we have a pretty sweet setup. ; )

This is a look at 24th Ave S. the road our building is on, nothing special here. For
those of you who had been waiting to see my place I hope you are appeased now.
I have been trying to keep this site updated for all of my fans spread across the globe.

2006-09-29T14:07:00.000-07:00

2006-09-22T11:43:00.000-07:00

FAREWELL CHRIS!

Isn't life funny? I have been going to the University of North Dakota now for just over three years, I happen to be working on my forth. Every year since I started attending I have lost all my friends from that year. You may think I am joking or only giving a half truth but it’s all true. My freshman year I had three friends Ian, Dave and Chester all three left. Ian and Chester went to UND's satellite school in Hawaii and Dave went back to Montana; out three friends. Then at the end of my sophomore year my new friend Ryan decided to drop out of school and go live at home; out another friend. Now my junior year was really awesome I had some really great friends, Chris being one of them. But that year has already come to a close and I have already had to say goodbye to Chris Shaw Gust a truly good friend. He is on his way to the southern end of France to a small town called Reberac where he will be employed teaching elementary children English.

It's kind of crazy how life works out. My freshman year I didn't follow the path Jesus wanted me to follow but instead was foolish and followed the ways of the world. There wasn't a friend of mine that I could have called Christian and so I fell into secular ways. I suffered from depression almost everyday, my heart felled by the weight of my own sin. Somehow I had forgotten what Jesus had done for me on the Cross and the liberation from sin that was extended to me on the day of my salvation. My second semester I began to realize the selfishness of my actions and the consequences I deserved for my disobedience. But then I rediscovered God's grace through his son Jesus Christ and I was once again able to understand and know that all my past actions were covered under His blood, I was set FREE!

Even after all this I still had my struggles and I might have taken the wayward path again if it wasn't for one person at Intervarsity, his name was Chris. It was the second semester of my sophomore year by the time I went, it had taken a whole semester of procrastination to get around to going. But it was where Jesus wanted me to be, something I didn't know at the time. You know it wasn't good worship music or incredible speakers that kept me coming back to IV instead it was one man being obedient to God's love in his life. Every week I came to IV Chris would come up to me and say Hello and talk to me. He even went so far as to sit next to me to make me feel welcome; this is absolutely unheard of in our generation. It was these simple acts of kindness and love that drew me back week after week until it was my home and my community. Chris was showing me what it meant to be a Christian and what it meant to love your neighbor. My life is forever changed by one man listening to the call of his Father.

2006-09-17T15:15:00.000-07:00

POPCORN WEEK

Every now and again IV gets their name put into a raffle, the prize a whole week of selling popcorn. Our student government has a giant popcorn machine in the Memorial Union for student organizations to use. So this whole past week we have been doing this little fundraiser which ends up paying for speaker hotels and our paper campaign. I think we made close to $125 dollar which is pretty sweet. It's really fun because you get to know people in IV better and you meet new people.

2006-09-14T22:16:00.000-07:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FIANCE!

LINNEA RUTH SHELTON IS NOW EIGHTEEN!!

WE CAN LEGALLY GET MARRIED NOW YAHOO!!

I LOVE YOU!!

CANOEING ON THE RED.

2006-09-10T13:57:00.000-07:00

I said I would let you know how my canoeing experience went on Friday and now its Thursday of the following week . . . whoops. I do have an excuse, not a very good one though, I've been busy. But I am a man of my word so I will do what I said I would. Here we go my Friday.

I woke up at 6:30am for an 8am flight, the sun was just coming up and it promised to be a beautiful day. My body felt good and rested but my mind was a different story, talk about feeling spent. The flight was awesome, Grand Forks County is gorgeous in the morning and the sky is of the strongest azure. Grady my flight instructor was rather happy with my flying which always boosts ones confidence level.

My morning carried on rather well excluding the fact that I was a few minutes late to my Aircraft Systems class because of my flight thus missing a quiz. It wasn't really a big deal they aren't worth much point wise. The rest of the afternoon I putzed around doing errands and homework... and I might have snuck in a little recreational reading, hehe. The rest of my day wasn't spent in idle pleasures like my carefree summers but instead was spent like every Monday, Wednesday, Friday afternoon of my academic life -- in class.

As soon as class was over at 4:50 I rushed to the Memorial Union to meet everyone for THE VOYAGE ON THE RED . . . whoops again, as it turned out the rendezvous wasn't until five thirty. It didn't turn out too badly since my stomach was on empty and dinner time was rolling in and fortunately their is a food court in the Union supplying only the finest cuisine Sabbaro, A&W and some little known taco joint -- the whole place is a joke. My hunger and thirst now satisfied on a very old piece of pizza which was probably left over from lunch and even then I'm sure it wasn't worth three bucks and my thirst now quenched by a fruit beverage called "Naked" which oddly tasted like chalk. Soon after I finishing this appetizing meal my people began to arriving in tight little groups.

The group consisted of Chris, Pete, Paula, Sarah, Emelia, Jessica and I, we were a merry little group. We had to rent an extra canoe from the rec. center darn out 15 bucks but the most aggravating things was that it took twenty minutes and then getting it on my car another ten which meant that we didn't get to the water until 6:30. Pete our fearless leader led us downtown and then over Main Street bridge into East Grand Forks, where there is a boat launch. The whole unloading process went quickly but we were delayed yet again because my dear friend Chris was late. Are whole party finally made it onto the water only to be met by the terrific aroma of Simplot the local sugar beet processor. This smell is very pungent and is commonly mistaken as b.s. which I completely understand -- ahahak.

Our party slowly made it up river which means going south, crazy huh? It's one of those rare rivers that don't make sense flowing against all natural thought. The smell now left behind we made our way south stumbling across two beavers and a few non-descript birds. Eventually Lincoln park came into view where we decided to put in and a rest. The ladies in our group asked the most dreaded question a man can here "Is there a bathroom?"; wouldn't you know there was. After this stop and a quick pick me up, snickers and oreo cookies we headed for home. The return was an uneventful one with only one change being made, instead of riding with Sarah and Emelia I switched to Chris's canoe and let the woman have one all to themselves.

Later that evening we sat around the telly watching Joe Black while sipping Doctor Pepper until two in the morning. What a day!

SUNFLAKE CITY

2006-09-10T13:56:00.000-07:00

Can you believe it? In a few months this city, this county and this state will turn into a wasteland (see picture below). But the question everyone is asking is how the hell can it look so beautiful in the summer? Some might say it's the good ol' North Dakota charm or they might even mention the good little pixies that run around making everything green and beautiful...nope their all wrong. Its a lie and a trick. The way I see it the whole state is one big trap, who knows how you hear about us maybe you stumbled onto the Teddy Roosevelt State Park website and saw rolling prairies and you said WOW I am going take my family on a road trip and before you know it you live here. Hey its not so bad, it's only below zero nine months out of the year and your a tough guy you can make it. Oh but that's right you have your family with you and after two months their screaming to leave and cursing your name. So what are the upsides? Absolutely nothing unless you are really really into sub zero temperatures even then you might just be wishing you were on a beach in the Bahamas sipping a nice margarita.

But on with the post!

What is it that keeps people here, it can't be the weather, it can't be the bugs or the floods. It must be that famed North Dakota charm again, arg! You know what their isn't answer, who knows maybe if I stay here the rest of my life I'll find out, hahaha!!!!! Anyways here a few breathtaking scenes which I will admit do originate in the prairie dog state.

All of these pictures were taken while I was out for a drive along Demers Avenue. The road went from pavement to gravel three miles outside of town.

WHATEVER

2006-09-08T10:49:00.000-07:00

Life seems so droll here sometimes. Maybe it's just me or do I only post about the weather? I think I only post about the weather and possibly flying. Interesting things just don't want to happen here and I don't know why. I mean today I got up at six thirty tired and plum exhausted and went flying, wow. My life really isn't filled with much excitement.

Later today I will be canoeing with Pete a friend of mine and now Friday Night Frenzy dude. This event tends to be an adventure every year and someone always comes close to losing their life. And now that the bloody cold weather is here we are sure to have a case of hypothermia. I'll let you know how it turns out later. But right now I am just consumed with the utter boredom this city emanates, weird.

I have a few letters to write one to Luke Harr and one to this girl I know. The postal service will take its good ol' time getting them there, something I can always count on. A nap somehow made it into my schedule but I can't say I won't welcome it. Oh and since I'm here to get an education I might do a little home work instead of putting it off until Sunday. One of these days I might actually right something serious...something with purpose. Here has been a snippet of my life and I hope you all enjoyed.

2006-04-20T14:01:00.001-07:00

EASTER ON THE SHORES OF BEAR ISLAND

2006-04-04T11:55:00.000-07:00

Pine Ridge, SD

I guess people are interested in hearing about my spring break. A few hours ago I wasn't feeling inclinded to oblige, but now I might be feeling a little more up to it. At this point I am not going to write a great and epic adventure but give my readers a brief overview of my trip. I have treasured these things in my heart and their they will stay. In part my thoughts are to deep and broad to put down and they would not be understood. I have already tried to share my heart but have only found that some people are to simple to understand. They have never seen a reservation, the battle that is waged, the evil forces that have oppressed and destroyed.

The trip began on a...

2006-03-24T23:45:00.000-08:00

THE BLIND MAN SEES

This spring break I went with my Intervarsity chapter to Pine Ridge Indian reservation for a sort a kind a missions trip. The very last day we were there all twenty five of us students took sixty kids to Hot Springs, SD to go swimming and then out for pizza. Now I usually wear my glasses when I swim in a pool so I went ahead and did the same here. Five minutes into the springs and my right lens decided to pop out and disappear to the rocky bottom. Fortunately I had my prescription sun glasses along. So I had to suffer the last day of the trip looking cool every waking moment, it was so hard, so hard.

Monday afternoon was when I got a chance to find a new pair of glasses. After going to a couple of places in town I decided on Pearl Vision. It just so happens that they are one of only two places in town that can make a pair of glasses in a day. The whole selection process would have been easier if my girlfriend had been there to give me her opinion but that was not to be. I couldn't decide if I wanted them to blend in with my features or stick out. I wanted to go with a similar shape to my old pair and in the end I found these really sweet G. ARMANI's.

I went through one more day of being cool every waking moment and believe me it was hell. Tuesday I awoke once again donning my coolness but alas only for half a day; all good things must come to an end. After my first class I called Pearl Vision to see if they were done and they were; this kind of service can only be found in good old North Dakota. I sauntered in to the shop ready to view a normal Ben. The lady brought my new specs out and tried them on, a few adjustments later I was back to normal. But wait to my surprise the guy who made the lenses came out from the back and he queried the woman "Hey, are those the glasses?" and she said "Yes they are". Well lets just say that he told me they were those beautiful pair of glasses he had ever made. And you know I have to agree with him, they are the best pair of glasses I have ever seen! I have since learned that it is really hard being cool all the time.

2006-03-09T14:45:00.000-08:00

MY DOG

It is a long time ago now that I first received this dear friend. I was five years old and I only had two siblings. We lived at our old white rancher on Brookdale drive over by the old LOWES. I wanted a dog so badly, just like every boy when he's young. I asked and I asked for a dog but mom and dad wouldn't budge, their was to be no dog in their house. So I cooked up an elaborate plan as elaborate as it can be in the mind of five year old. I knew that if I got Hayley and Greg to ask at the same time I did they wouldn't be able to refuse us. They did and once again my attempts to get a dog were foiled.

The next morning I awoke and took a shower with my dad. When we got out, my dad told me to look out back and I thought for sure that he had gotten me my dog. I ran excitedly to the windows at the back of the house and peered hopefully into the backyard only to find it full of wet grass and a very stormy sky. My heart dropped down to my feet and right through the floor and settled quite roughly on the dirt. Dad spoke, which brought me out of my reverie, he said: Hey Ben look in the kitchen! OH BOY!!! There was my dog, my very own dog... He was so happy that his whole body was wagging right down to the tip of his tail. My dog came running up to me jumping up and down, barking and licking me, his eyes beaming happiness.

We didn't know what to call him, not for a lack of names but for a lack of good names. So for the first couple of months he was simply known as Dog, until a fortunate outing at Pemberton Park. My family really enjoyed PP back when I was a kid, picnics, bike riding, walking and the beautiful scenery. This particular Fall outing we were simply out for a stroll through the woods. Our walk lead us down to the river where there are wooden platforms to stand on to get a better view of the river and wildlife. We had just passed one of these when it was observed that Dog looked a lot like a piece of fallen Cedar wood. Once we realized this, the name stuck and everyone fell in love with the name, Cedar!

Some how he new that we belonged together, he was my dog and I was his boy. Every night he would jump into my bed and take as much space as possible; I never minded because he made the night safe, he made me safe. His warm reddish fur moving fluidly with each breath never ceased to comfort me. He was a dog that loved white socks, he would lovingly nibble at our toes when we would tease him with our feet. If there was a piece of wood around he would chew it, sticks were one of his favorites. His soul nevered stopped playing.

When he was twelve he started getting a twitch and we didn't know what was wrong with him, so he went to the vets. The Doc diagnosed and treated him for limes disease but we had caught it too late he already had permanent damage. I watched him deteriorate for the next four years. He couldn't make it on my bed anymore, he could barely make it down the stairs to get outside. When I went outside he still followed me and if I tried to leave him inside he would bark until I let him out. I was their when he couldn't bark anymore. I was their when he had seizures. I was there for his life. I wept when they took him to the vets to be realized. I wept when my dad carried him in his arms to be buried. I wept for my friend.

He was and will always be my favorite pet, he was mine, he was my friend. No matter where I went he always went too. When I decided to play in the drainage pond he gladly joined the group, when we played hide and seek he always found us, when we went sledding he followed us down the hill and when I walked home in the dark he marched fearlessly ahead of me. If I went into a friends house he waited until I came out, if I went into the woods to explore he faithfully followed, if I was sad he licked away my tears, if I was happy he played with me, he was my friend. Goodbye my friend.

2006-02-23T12:20:00.000-08:00

HOCKEY ROCKS!

Not a super picture but hey who's complaining?! This was taken on the mainice of the Ralph Englestead Arena. Man is it fun playing on the main ice thesame ice our hockey team plays on. Well this all I have to say, peace!

2006-02-15T22:55:00.000-08:00

NORTHLAND RESCUE MISSION

This is the dorm building which can hold over 100 hundred men and

women. With our very cold winters it's really important that their is

place for the homeless to stay.

The desk I work at.

Here is the little store they run for the residents and non residents

of the community. Everything in the store is free and they manage it

by putting restrictions on the number of items they can take each month.

Hopefully Intervarsity will be getting involved with the Northland Rescue mission on a regular basis. It is the hope of the servant team and the leaders of our upcoming mission trip. We want to build group cohesion by working together and serving others. Only God can truly bring people together, so please be praying that he prepares the two teams in what ever way He feels is best. Everything will work to His glory. Thank you for all your prayers I really appreciate them and I know that it means a lot to everyone here. I hope that you are having a great day who ever you are. Only through HIS shed blood.

2006-02-14T12:49:00.000-08:00

BLUE SKIES WITHOUT GREY SKIES WITHIN.

Today is one those great North Dakota days, blue and windy. It can be really confusing if you haven't lived here for some length of time, especially if you've missed winter. While sitting in your car or house it heats up like a green house, then you move into a shadow and it drops 20degrees. I know it's kind of confusing to some of my more recent readers. For some reason I put a little weather update at the beginning of my blogs.

I finished up 222 on Monday! For those of you who are completely lost when it comes to aviation, which is all of you this is an instrument course. That means when the sky is all cloudy and the sky is grey I can go flying through clouds. The first time is a lot of fun but when you have your eyes glued to the instruments for hours on end it can drive you little loco. Well hey that's enough of flying!

Now that I have a lot of time on my hands I need to figure out what to do with it. What do I do with all this time??? I could work more, read more, volunteer at Northland Rescue Mission. What do I do? Well it's something I am praying about this week, and God will take care of it. I am going on a missions trip for my spring break, which is going to rock! The trip itself is going to be great, one thing is getting me down though. Everyone who was interested in the trip are backing out one by one. I know that it would be a lot more fun if we had more people going, but I know that God will use those of us that go and those who don't. Please be praying that we have open minds and hearts for God to use. Battery is dying.........

2006-02-10T14:32:00.000-08:00

WEDNESDAY NIGHT

My Posse.

The end of the Bible study, now on to brownie eating! Oh and some whole milk.

2006-02-08T13:55:00.000-08:00

MY COMPANION THESE THREE YEARS

A walkway over 42nd. street..

The two main buildings for Aviation.

2006-02-06T22:17:00.000-08:00

HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED?

THE DUDE GROUP IN ALL ITS MASCULINE GLORY!!!

Yes Ladies its the DUDE GROUP!! A bunch of men committed to studying Gods WORD and seeking HIM out! Actually I'm sorry ladies out of the six only two are free. Hehehe! I'm certainly not free, HECK YEAH I'M NOT FREE! Well these are my friends and fellow DUDES in CHRIST. I meet with them on Mondays just like the girls small group in MARY-land.

2006-01-24T10:50:00.000-08:00

Grady and Holly yet another couple within IV. Holly is a graduate of the UND flight program and is currently a flight instructor.

2006-01-24T10:44:00.000-08:00

Sarah Hellyer IV Treasurer and fundraiser coordinator. She always uses my first and last name when she says hi, "Hello Ben Taylor".

2006-01-24T10:39:00.000-08:00

Here is picture of me and to my left is Sarah Hazel.

2006-01-24T10:30:00.000-08:00

Pete and Paula one of the many couples in IV, the two of them started dating at the end of fall semester. Pete is in the small group I go to every week and makes wicked brownies.

2006-01-24T10:29:00.000-08:00

Christina our last IV President and now our IV Staff worker. She is a great cook and serves the servant team incredible meals every sunday. Shawanda works out at the AirForce base and will be getting out this summer.

2006-01-24T10:18:00.000-08:00

Eric was one of two in my Bible study last semester. He is a really cool guy and a fine racquetball player.

2006-01-24T09:43:00.000-08:00

From left to right: Jinae IV's InReach girl, Jessica coordinates SmallGroups and Chris our awesome LargeGroup coordinator (and personal best friend)!

2006-01-24T09:42:00.000-08:00

David Terry Intervarsity worship leader and husband to Christina (Dave posed especially for everyone back home).

Once In Every Life

2005-11-30T22:27:00.000-08:00

This title really doesn't mirror what I feel inside or what I am actually planning on writing about. You know it might be a fitting title I guess we wont know until I am done.

I went home for Thanksgiving that's Salisbury, Maryland to you. The flight was out of Minneapolis the only major hub we have up here. I had a nice five hour drive to MSP, the great thing is that I have friend down there. The two of us went out to Perkins because ironically enough they are one of the only dining establishment open after 12am. I didn't get much sleep that night because I was talking to Ryan. We don't talk on the phone at all so whenever I see him we catch up. I had to wake up pretty early to make my flight and I still only made it there 45 minutes before it departed. The consequence of my actions came back to haunt me.

As I stood before one of the new super cool high tech self check in counters my mistake became apparent. The new system lets you choose your seat, well it didn't give me a choice and my seat number was in the 30's. It turns out that the back of my seat was in direct contact with the..yep you guessed it, the bathroom. The one upside to having to endure those rather noxious fumes was that I met a fan of Jane Austin, Charles Dickens and even my friend Alexandre Dumas. It's rare to meet someone out of the blue who even knows who the heck these people are. Anyways it passed the time until I got home. Home.....is there anything as sweet.

After five hours and a smoothie in the Chicago airport I had made it home. They say home is where the heart is and my heart is certainly in Maryland. It was the best homecoming I have ever had. I surprised two women I care for very much and one I care for most of all; she knows who she is (Yes its you). The weird thing was that we were both wearing brown sweaters completely unplanned; I mean they looked a lot alike. The ride home was great and I got to spend my first few hours home with the person I most wanted to see. It was really wonderful. We went to lunch at RED, HOT AND BLUE a little barbecue place, enough said.

The weekend is to long to relate at least right now maybe tomorrow I will feel up to it. To say the least I made it back on icy and snow swept roads to sleepy little Super Forks. I didn't get in until 7pm, I was then called to work and after that I had a hockey game. So I was pretty beat Tuesday night and this morning. Traveling is really great with other people, well I guess it was great to have some time to think. I always do my thinking while I drive, just letting the music flow through me and letting my mind find a place of peace.

My heart is still turned homeward, always homeward and as the song "Homeward Bound" says "Home where my thoughts keep going, home where my love lies waiting silently for me". I will be traveling home soon to see if my heart will keep staying behind, left in a place that I love.

2005-11-15T23:59:00.000-08:00

Snowy Road with Snow Diamonds

Winter Blues and Diamond Drops

2005-11-15T23:49:00.000-08:00

The season is upon us here in North Dakota. We have been waiting, knowing that it would inevitably come. Winter is finally upon us after a month and a half of Fall; a record from our normal week of Fall. Every year at the end of summer when the temperatures begin to wane and the first frost settles on the trees, our Fall has come. At the end of the week all the leaves have turned there various colored shades and they have begun to shed there summer plumage, for cold naked forms standing bear in the cold North Dakota wind. Like old men weathered by years at sea these familiar forms stand stoically out my window, the old fir tree alone still bears it's evergreen cloak.

I have been very thankful for the warm weather that has stayed above thirty two degrees and I know many others are to. It is a rare occasion when one is able to walk outside in a light jacket or sweater and still be warm in mid November. We have been fortunate to be blessed with such fine weather, but now our winter has returned like a faithful friend from a short journey. We have seen her to often to not be fond of her. As I watch new students trek to school, buried deep beneath there coats, gloves and thick hats, I can't help but remember my first winter here. It's funny how they complain and bundle up so on a mild winter night. When I come in from the cold, stomping my feet outside the door before I enter my house, I can't help but smile, letting the warmth of the house steal over me; but more is effected, I feel it spread over my heart and soul making them glow with inner happiness.

A tear comes to my eye even as I write. There is so much joy to be found in God's creation, in the natural beauty of nature and in the beauty of our friendships and the people we love. When the two come together how can we, simple people of North Dakota complain when we have been blessed with hearth, home and family. Little snow drops have been falling all day, each one looking like a little shiny diamond. How highly do we value diamonds, but how much more precious are the loved ones that God puts in our lives. How much more should we value them and prize them above anything else and treasure them as gifts from God. When I see a snow diamond I don't see a bit of frozen water I see someone that I love. All day little bits of heaven have been falling, reminding me of all those I care about wherever they might be. So please remember those you love this holiday season and don't forget to tell them how much they mean to you. Have a wonderful holiday season and I hope with all my heart that God will bless you, as you share with all the people you love this winter season.

November a Happy month!

2005-11-09T20:15:00.000-08:00

It is very interesting to observe how Christmas music makes you feel. I was looking forward to Christmas but I had not given it to much thought. And then just the other day I was at work and I caught myself singing "Silent Night" and "O Little Town of Bethlehem". And now I can't stop talking about Christmas everywhere I go. Just the other day I went to an Intervarsity leadership meeting and I was wearing a red sweater. Doesn't sound to unusual does it, well the whole evening I was ripped on about Christmas. Well I might have mentioned that I started my Christmas shopping but hey that's no reason to get down on a guy.

Today since I am still in the mood I went online and found the lyrics to some of my most favorite Christmas songs. I hit the jackpot and found some of the greatest songs ever written! Here are a few of my favorites: "Away in the Manger", "O Come, O Come Emanuel", "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" and "While Shepherds Watched there Flocks by Night". Don't you just love the classics hymns; they remind me of my childhood Christmas's. There are some really great new ones that I love but that is for another time. The season is still upon us and I have few weeks until come home for Christmas.

Hockey

2005-11-01T22:36:00.000-08:00

Here are some pictures of me and a guy Ryan I know.

2005-11-01T20:51:00.000-08:00

My friend Ryan known as dog boy!

2005-11-01T20:50:00.000-08:00

Playing hockey at the Olympic Stadium.

Something neat!

2005-10-29T12:34:00.000-07:00

How beautiful you are my darling,
How beautiful you are!
Your eyes are like doves behind your veil;
Your hair is like a flock of goats
That have descended from mount Gilead.

Song of Solomon, NASBible

Hello!

2005-10-26T12:47:00.000-07:00

It has been awhile since I have posted anything, anything at all. As soon as I get some pictures back from my Fall Retreat with Intervarsity, I will post a small piece about that adventure.

My life has taken on a rather interesting pace. Tomorrow I am going to drop one of my classes, my only M, W, F class to be precise. That means I will only have class on T and TR. Has everyone figured out the the whole abbreviation system for weekdays? Good. Anyways this means that I have extra time for work, flight and study.

Have I ever told you how much I like flying! If you ever get a chance to fly at night, on a clear, clear night with a half moon, then go for it. Their is nothing as beautiful or exhilarating as a VFR night flight! Millions of tiny little diamonds dancing before your eyes. When you look down you can see the ground stretching endlessly in all directions, melting seamlessly with the deep purple sky. The dim lights of distant towns shining with small town warmth. But you know, you feel all warm and cozy up their in that plane, you feel at home, the heater going, the gentle vibrations of the engine and propeller rocking you in its arms. The little lights below the instruments putting off a soft glow so as to not ruin your night vision.

You slowly scan the instruments now and again to make sure everything is going smoothly; airspeed good, one hundred knots, altitude just fine steady at thirty-five hundred, engine instruments golden and in the green, everythings A okay. Your eyes quickly complete this scan barely even realizing you're doing it; something you've done a million times. Outside the world is moving by at slow pace but just fast enough to soak it all in. Occasionally off in the distance you see a red light or green light blinking, a fellow pilot out for a midnight stroll. I wonder sometimes if they enjoy it as much as I do?

If you fly high enough you can tune to the local frequency and hit the talk button 7 times and watch all the the airports insight light up like Christmas trees. Almost all airports have lighting systems, with blues, reds, greens and whites; they really do look like Christmas trees. One of these days I will take my friends up flying so they can learn to love what I love.

Flying is great when you don't have to do stage checks and all that crazy school jazz. It is still fun but not in the same care free way. I am off so all of you have great day, week and month.

The Magical Fruit....

2005-10-16T13:18:00.000-07:00

And for those of you out there with crude minds it's not beans! It's PEZ, doesn't everyone love PEZ! I know that I do! Not only is the candy the best in the world but you get to eat it out of a wild dispenser.

The choices are nearly endless; I have now collected a Winnie the Pooh, Wonder Women, Miss Piggy and Goofy PEZ dispensers. Their are even vintage PEZ dispensers that you can find in antique shops and other random places.....like garage sales. If I ever end up collecting some trinkets it going to be something that promotes eating. While makin it fun so you forget the billions of calories(energy) that you are intaking.

Today I figured I would fill my Winnie the Pooh dispenser, with some totally awesome, and favorite strawberry PEZ. Then I was going to saunter into work, whip out my PEZ dispenser, flick back Winnie's head and bite down on a scrumchous strawberry PEZ. The sound of the crunch reverbarating off the walls, all heads turning to see which man dared eat a PEZ at work and yes I would be that man. As it turned out I completely forgot to fill and bring Winnie to work, so my plan's were thwarted from the beging by my own memory. One these days the people at work will hear that sound and their lives will never be the same. This is Ben's mouth saying goodnight and eat PEZ all day, it's what your mouth wants.

Just a thought.

2005-10-14T15:39:00.000-07:00

It is sweet to toil for those we love.

-Maria Custer

Sad Cypress

2005-09-24T21:26:00.000-07:00

Come away, come away, death,
And in sad cypress let me be laid;
Fly away, fly away, breath;
I am slain by fair cruel maid.

A. Christy

Saturday.

2005-09-24T21:19:00.000-07:00

I am having one of those days where I feel like pouring out my soul to someone and since there is no one, I will let it flow into this pitiful post. Today I feel like I could love the world; their are so many emotions flowing through me today. They are not all good and not all bad; some are quite neutral. What shall I say? How shall I begin to decipher the inner workings of my mind, heart and soul?

This summer a lot of new things happened to me, things unexpected and unforeseen. Before I continue I must mention that there is a most excellent sunset occurring out my window and I must pause for but a moment to admire its natural beauty. As I was just gazing out I recalled my adventure in New Mexico which occurred a few years back. The memory of what it felt like to be alone on God's Earth and under His sky. To be out in the wilderness, where I always find peace; peace that I don't find anywhere else. How good it feels to be utterly alone, with the smell of soil and sand under your boots; the even cadence of your steps moving you higher and higher into God's country.

My soul found refuge among those hills, with rolling shadows, cast from clouds high above. To hear your heart sing, simply rejoicing in the all wonderful creation before you. How I long to be up in those mountains again, sleeping under the stars; a chill breeze cooling you after a long march. One moment you are preparing your meal, then you look heavenward and all else is forgotten. Upward wounds your soul to dance among the glittering spectacle before you. For a second you are free, free to soar unfettered by your feeble frame; in that instant you experience more than a life spent.

When inwardly their is turmoil or peace, their are moments when your soul escapes you and it must find a way to express itself. For me my writing, though it may seem jumbled and disorganized to an observer. It has a form and composition pleasing to my eyes and ears. When I read it I am comforted, when I see it I am relieved. All that is within, all that is pent up and un-vented goes into these works. Maybe that is the wrong term, these are not works, they are something much simpler. These are not composed for others viewing but for my own satisfaction. Others may read them, Linnea in fact may read them if she remembers to check it. She is the only one I have told the address to. Even if she does read these words, it will not matter I will continue to write as if no one is reading them. I like this site. I can write here and not be disturbed. It almost follows a journal format. Here ends all I have to say.

A true Heart!

2005-09-19T17:04:00.000-07:00

What! a speaker is but a prater; a rime is but a ballad. A good leg will fall, a straight back will stoop, a black beard will turn white, a curled pate will grow bald, a fair face will wither, a full eye will wax hollow, but a good heart, Kate, is the sun and the moon; or, rather, the sun. and not the moon; for it shines bright and never changes, but keeps his course truly. If thou would have such a one, take me, take a soldier; take a soldier, take a king. And what sayest thou then to my love? speak, my fair, and fairly, I pray thee.
Henry the Fifth, V- Shakespeare

Philmont Hymn

2005-09-12T19:59:00.000-07:00

Silver on the sage,
Starlit skies above
Aspen covered hills
Country that I love
Philmont, here's to thee,
Scouting Paradise,
Out in God's country--
Tonight

Wind in the whispr'ing pines
Eagles soaring high
Purple mountains rise
Against an azure sky.
Philmont here's to thee
Out in God's country--
Tonight

---John Westfall

Latte with Leadership!

2005-09-12T19:44:00.000-07:00

I know a lot of you out there are wondering what Latte with Leadership is all about. Well I am not going to tell you. It was one crazy evening that did not turn out well. At Intervarsity Christian Fellowship we have some 80 odd regular attenders. Do you know how many showed up for the meeting, only five. We are always thankful for the ones that do show up! Intervarsity is all about serving Christ and that's what the leadership team, small group leaders and support staff try to do. We don't always meet God's standards in fact we fail quite regularly. I often fail and you know what He still uses me. He really wants you! He really wants all of us and all our doubts, fears, pride, shyness, hatred and despair. Because he turns doubts to assurance,fear to strength, pride to humility, shyness to self confidence, hatred to love and all your despair to hope. What more can we ask for? The answer is, we truly want for nothing, God provides. He has given us so much, how much more should we desire to serve him! You get so much more out of something by pouring yourself into it. If you want to feel the power of Christ get involved in someones life, be their friend and love them. Share with them the love that God has shown you. Then we will fulfill what we are called to do and one day you will hear "Welcome home, good and faithful servant."

2005-09-10T22:38:00.001-07:00

A girl I know

The Power of Beauty

2005-09-10T22:38:00.000-07:00

The difference of natural and artificial color, seems to me very easily discerned ; that of Nature, is mottled, and varying; that of art, set, and too smooth ; it wants that animation, that glow, that indescribable something which, even now that I see it, wholly surpasses all my powers of expression.

Evelina by Fanny Burney

Burden of Mortal Breast

2005-09-07T01:53:00.000-07:00

Oh author of my being!-far more dear
To me than light, than nourishment, or rest,
Hygieia's blessings, Rapture's buring tear,
Or the life blood that mantles in my breast!

If in my heart the love of Virtue glows,
'Twas planted there by an unerring rule;
From thy example the pure flame arose,
Thy Life, my precept-thy good works, my school.

Could my weak pow'rs thy num'rous virtues trace,
By filial love each fear should repress'd;
The blush of Incapacity I'd chace,
And stand, recorder of thy worth, confess'd:

But since my niggard stars that gift refuse,
Concealment is the only boon I claim;
Obscure be still the unsuccessful Muse,
Who cannot raise, but would not sink, your fame.

Oh! of my life at once the source and joy!
If e'er thy eyes these feeble lines survey,
let not their folly their intent destroy;
Accept the tribute-but forget the lay.

Untitled Poem by Fanny Burney

Music the Expression of the Soul.

2005-09-04T13:19:00.000-07:00

My heart can't help but rise and fall with beautiful soul satisfying music. What is it in a song that can make us cry, laugh; make all the feelings we have in side soar upward, swirling furiously to our heart, our mind and our spirit. Today has been one of those days, when all I have deep inside of me rises to the surface, when I laugh and can't stop, when I am alone and can't stop the tears of loneliness from overwhelming me. More tears have been shed this day then fits of laughter. I alone know why the bitter drops are falling. And it feels good to know that I feel this way. It's just the way I am. I feel my greatest emotions when I am in pain. Not physical pain but emotional. When I was a kid I felt excluded and forgotten at times, but I did'nt mind. It allowed me time for myself to hide in my room and read, listen to music and explore my soul. The pain I feel means I care, I care so much that it brings me to tears. Some people just can't understand that. I am swept away so intensly that I am overwhelmed, I can not stand or speak. If you were to look inside you would see the depth of the endless well of love and joy that I am feeling. If you were to look inside most people I think you would see it rising upwards. It doesn't work that way for me. Right now I could weep like a child in pain being rocked gently in the arms of my parents. I wish I had someone to hold me, to just be there, just to know that they are there. To share all that is in my heart, all my struggles and triumphs, all my fears and hopes. Who are you? Where are you? Have I found you yet? I think so? I believe so? I want to so bad. The Lord God of all, he alone knows. Then I give all to you Lord not an ounce for me, all to you I give.

2005-09-03T13:35:00.000-07:00

My favorite airplane, the Piper Warrior. This is the most stable, loveable plane that God has put on this good earth. I have never had a bad experience flying one these good old gals, they really are a true blue friend.

2005-09-03T13:03:00.000-07:00

The world is at our finger tips.

Yes it's really true! For those of you who read this blog there are a few things you must know about me. For one, I live in a very cold place in the middle of no where. Yes that's right, I live in North Dakota far away from friends, family and a very special someone. You might be asking yourself why, why would he do such a thing? The answer you see is blowing in the wind. Right above you and me there is a wide blue sky that stretches on and on forever and when the sun sets it turns black as black can be. When I was a young fellow knee high to a grasshopper I decided that I wanted to fly and see all that I could see. Well those early dreams did not come to aught, with a loving God to guide me I made this long and arduous journey, thirteen hundred miles from home. For the past two years I have been training to become a Commercial Pilot, yes that's right. Can you believe that the best school for aviation is North Dakota, what irony! This place is cold, I mean bitter cold with an average temperature of negative twenty in the winter, whoa that's crazy, and we haven't even thrown in the wind chill factor which, always makes it at least five degrees colder. But beyond the weather it isn't half bad out here. The sky is always clear and sunny, you can see for miles; none of that east coast haze. My life out here is pretty nice, you know there is school work and flying but you know what? I am part of this really terrific group that serves and loves the Lord, there name is Intervarsity Christian Fellowship. This year I have been given the opportunity to serve as the evangelism Coordinator and it is one of the best things I have ever done. So dear reader you see, life out here can be dull, monotonous and downright boring if you want it to be but if you seek life you will be given life! So yawl have a great day and I hope God blesses and keeps you!