I PASSED!!!

So two days ago I went and checked my online status with Home Land Security to see if anything has changed. It now states; "You have been referred to the scheduling unit. Generally an applicant can expect to be contacted to schedule their entrance on duty and/or training in 30 - 60 days. Depending on an applicant's selected locations scheduling calls could be extended an additional 30 days or more. " So I have passed all of the background check and now I get to wait for a phone call. Location wise I put "anywhere, willing to move." So I might hear from them sooner than later. I was told that once I do receive the call they will tell me what station they want me at. Then I have to show up at the station a few days later to do paper work which is said to take three to four days. After that I get a week off to get everything in order to go to the academy which is five months long in the middle of nowhere New Mexico. The academy is said to be like boot camp and I will not be able to leave nor have family show up. So that means I can't see Lani for five months, that is going to be the hardest part of all. Thank you all for keeping us in your prayers, We love you all. Mark

A great camp out!!!

Over this last weekend I went with My buddy Kip out to Joshua Tree to teach a Boy Scout troop how to go repelling. Friday night at eight we set up camp and started on dinner. Man!!! did we eat like Kings!!! Kip and I had steaks topped with sauteed mushrooms, fresh bread and even BBQ frog legs!!! After a great dinner we had a Park Ranger come in to our camp and to check how we were doing. I guess there was a 5.6 earthquake that we did not feel. It was centered only ten miles away. The Scouts had can soup for dinner... Kip and I laughed and remember when we were in their shoes. Next morning we packed up camp and fixed a great breakfast. Kip and I took off to find a spot to repel off of, while the scouts did scout stuff. We found some cliffs that were so crazy that Kip and I could only laugh and smile as we said "wow". After a little while we found a good cliff to teach the scouts how to repel. it was maybe a sixty to seventy foot cliff. Those boys were all brave and went as many time as they could. Kip and Jared went over face first. I tried to go down in three jumps and on the second I rolled my ankle. I was ticked at myself for rolling my ankle because I left my boot loose and not tied tight. This was after I told all of the boys to make sure that their shoes were on tight. So next time my boots will be tied tight. All in all it was a great trip. It was great to get out and do what you enjoy doing. I enjoy showing others the hobbies I am into. I love seeing that spark they get and how they get hooked on it. One the way home Kip and I started talking on a plan on taking our wives out camping to the same spot and see if they like rock climbing and repelling.