I've been trying to think of a cool way to start this post, but can't think of anything. I'm done with West Point. I somehow, with the grace of God and lots of prayers and support from family and friends, managed to graduate and am now a commissioned officer in the Army. It's so weird to think of myself as an officer. It hasn't sunk in yet.

I hope I'll get around to posting more about grad week a little later. Right now I'm busy unpacking and trying to decompress.

Less than 100 hours:)

I found this poem online tonight in my random surfing online:

The Acquittal -- God's Infinite Mercy

by Karen Sullivan Ables

In a far away place and a different time
I Killed my first child, a most heinous crime.

The state didn't come, and I didn't stand trial.
Judge Blackmun was calm when he said with a smile,
"Killing is legal, say we the High Court.
But don't call it murder. Just call it 'abort'"

The judge in my heart would not let the case rest.
I had no defense when once put to the test.
Found guilty I was by my heart's Supreme Court.
"You murdered your baby!" they screamed in retort.

With tears on my cheeks it was too late, I knew
to bring back the life of the child I once slew.
The gavel slammed sown, and it rang in my head,
"You are guilty as charged, and deserve to be dead."

"We now give you torment to pay for your sin,"
was the sentence passed down from my own court within.
"You will never escape. You're branded. Don't hide.
Your just due is death. You should try suicide."

I was beaten in prison by daily attack.
I was paying a debt, so I never fought back.
No hope of escaping, and this I knew well.
I cried out to God from my own self-made hell.

That day I met Jesus; He smiled in my face.
He said, "I forgive you. Come walk in my grace."
"Lord, I believe you forgive me and yet,
Blameless you are. Can you pay for my debt?"

"And, Lord, please don't touch me for: I am unclean.
I'm filthy with murder, a most wretched being."
I poured out my story. He showed no surprise.
I gazed up with awe at the love in His eyes.

He said, "I paid for your crime, yes, was nailed to a tree.
There's no condemnation if you'll trust in Me.
I took on your blame, and your curse on My soul
So you may be free without judgement and whole."

I sputtered, "Dear Lord, where's the justice in this?
I killed my first son, and you offer me bliss?"
Tears blurred my vision, yet there in His face
were eyes of compassion, blue oceans of grace.

I thought to myself, "Now the past has been buried?
I'm free of the guilt that for years I have carried?"
He said to accept. It's a gift that is free.
This is atonement, not justice for me!

My judge was dismissed, my accusers, and jury.
The truth of His love made them leave in a fury.
He smiled, "Walk with Me and come learn of My way,"
and grasping His hand I began a new day.

Grad week is finally here :) The madness doesn't start till Wednesday. Wednesday morning we have breakfast formation on 0555 and then drill from 0700-1015'ish, followed by the Supe's Reception in the afternoon, followed by the Crew banquet in the evening. Thursday morning we have breakfast formation at 0455 so that we can start drilling at 0600-0930.

Off camping for the weekend. My parents get here Sunday. YAY!

I am done with TEEs. :) I would be happier if I didn't have a meeting with my project advisor tomorrow and a dentist appointment on Thursday, but I'll take what I can get.

Welcome to TEE week. My last one (hopefully) as a cadet. There is no Lights Out rule this week due to TEEs and I just now looked at my watch and realized that it's already 12:30. I just finished putting together my Class A uniform. It took awhile because I was trying to get the measurements as precise as possible. Tomorrow morning the TAC NCO is inspecting all of the firstie's and our uniforms.

This evening I cleared my stuff out of the trunk room as well as packed up almost all of my books. My room is a pit and their are boxes everywhere, but hopefully I'll make a lot of progress this week in packing.

Time for bed.

Working with computers brings out the worst in me. My partner and I spent a around 16 man hours on Monday and today trying to figure out how to run a computer exploit....and got nowhere. We are supposed to present and demonstrate our exploit in class tomorrow. Instead of demonstrating it we are going to talk abou the exploit we wanted to use and what we think it would've done.

On a different note, I need to work on not stooping to the ways of this world, but also not isolating myself from others. I especially struggle with this on the crew team.


"…those who are absent are not to be discussed to their detriment, that no belittling stories are told of anyone, nor anything said about anyone unless it passes through the three sieves: Is it true? Kind? Necessary? " - Amy Carmichael

This weekend was a pretty good weekend, although I didn't get any studying done. On Friday the compay had a retirement party down at the train station for our TAC NCO. We presented him with 2005 class pistol as a retirement gift. After the party some of the cows and firsties stuck around to help clean up and then we went to the firstie club. I played a game of pool with Ryan against Joel and Anna. It was a close game, but Joel and Anna eventually won. After that I played a few games of foosball with Charlie and Dave. It was 2 against 1, with Charlie and I as a team. We didn't stand a chance, although I found I play much better in the defensive position than on the offense.

Saturday morning I helped out with the Special Olympics. I was privliged to escort around a 55+ woman who had down syndrome. It was such a joy to spend time with her. Her event was the softball throw, and she was so happy competeing and pointed the ribbon she won to just about everyone. She also really enjoyed the marches the band played, and at one point we were dancing to them. I may have looked very silly dancing around, but it was a lot of fun, and seeing how much fun she was having overpowered any problems about being self-concious that I might have had.

Saturday evening I went over to the OCF house to help Barb prepare for the First Class Only (FCO) event there the next afternoon. I had dinnner there and then helped peel potatos and eggs. After that there wasn't much left for me to do so I read for a bit and then went to bed. It was my first time spending the night at the OCF house, and it made me wish I had discovered it earlier in my cadet career. I went to serve, but I think I ened up being served more than I actually served myself.

Sunday morning everyone staying at the OCF house had breakfast together and then I left to go to Church at the cadet chapel. Around 2:30 I drove back to the OCF house for the FCO function. There were around 20 or so firsties in all who went. It was a good time of fellowship with everyone, and Barb and Barry once again did an awesome job of setting everything up. We keep on being reminded of how fortunate we are at West Point to have the regimented schedule that we do in regards to Christian activities and fellowship, and I really do believe that is true. One of my biggest concerns about my future is about how after I graduate I will no longer have that regimented schedule and it will be a lot harder to stay in the Word and I will struggle a lot more.

Once again, not by my prompting or doing at all, the topic of me getting engaged arose again. This time Anne predicted that I'll be engaged within 3 years, and Jasmin predicted that it'll be to a ROTC graduate. I'm writing these down in here now so that I can look back on them years from now and figure out who's prediction was the most accurate.

Two WPRs tomorrow. Please pray that they go well.

Happy Mothers Day Mom! I love you.

The First Class is so short that we have fewer class days left than the plebes have semesters at the Academy.

At breakfast the First Captain made an announcment from the poop deck. Hearing from the First Captain at lunch or dinner usually brings good news, but when he starts to speak at breakfast everyone in the mess hall simultaniously catches their breath and the mood becomes very somber. Today was no different. He announced the news of the death of two 1998 West Point grads, Capts. Stephen Frank, 29, and Ralph John "Jay" Harting III, 28 who were killed April 29th while serving in Iraq. An article about them is avalible at http://www.wzzm13.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=39416. God bless them and their families.

I wonder if Alyson forgot that we're in PMI for the rest of the year. The sink and counter are clean, and the stopper is up. Her wardrobe is closed though, so perhaps she wanted a clean sink and counter.

Projects day is tomorrow and currently my project is not working. An important lesson learned is to never install an updated version of something without making sure there is a accessible and functioning backup in case the new version isn't compatible. I'm also about to learn how dependable the US Postal system is with their overnight mail delievery. Hopefully Mike, Mikey, and I will all come out okay. If everything fails we'll only have made Dr. F and the NSA look bad. Nothing too bad...(sarcasm here)

A new, just released yesterday, variant of the SOBER worm started attacking West Point yesterday afternoon. I was able to create a rule in Outlook that sends the hundreds of emails that have resulted from the worm into my deleted items. Hopefully DOIM will come up with a final solution soon. They've at least taken the step of blocking all .zip file extensions.

The NSA is supposed to release the official results of the Cyber Defense Exercise today.

All of yesterday I thought there were 26 and a butt days left, but then when I checked the countdown this morning it said 24. Sometimes it's nice to be wrong.

2 weeks of classes left, but really only 1.5. Next week there is one day, Wednesday, with no classes, and then I leave Thursday after lunch for Dad Vails. Almost done.