Tattoos & Memories

As Sunday was Father's Day, I've been thinking about somethings my dad said or taught to me as a kid and what it has meant to me over the years. One of my favorites deals with his opinion of tattoos.

"There is no way you are ever getting a tattoo. I will use a sandpaper or a cheese grater to remove it. The only way you can ever get one is if you are in the military or prison."

After I had enlisted into the U.S. Army, it took me all of a week to realize that I could now get a tattoo. The thought of my dad's disappointment in me had always kept me from doing it, more than the idea of the pain of its threatened removal. I may get one after training still, certainly not to spite him, but in honor. Something that has meaning of the things he, and others, have taught me.

I love and respect him, always will. He's taught my siblings and I many things that have served us well. My stubbornness/persistence is one of those qualities. I've often heard that my physical appearance, mannerisms, and even my voice is a replica of his, though I have yet to grow a mustache. He taught me that qualities such as hard work, loyalty, discipline, and honesty will help me prove myself in this world even when others abuse them to their own advantage.

He was the best coach I ever had. Partly because he knew how to push me; partly because he was so damn hard on me. He knew I needed firm direction and it often angered me. Somehow it made me do better. Probably because at times I wanted to send a line drive right back at him and knock him off the pitcher's mound . He picked up on that as well and would push my buttons so that I would focus that anger into becoming the best athlete I could be.

He said evening prayers with us and taught us our Catechisms by listening to night after night of misspoken bits from memory until we got it down pat before Midweek School out at Hanover. He went to church with us and knew we'd need our faith in a faithless world.

He reserved praise for moments when we'd truly earned it so we didn't have an inflated sense of confidence like so many other people of our generation. We know our limits and work to improve them, not ignore them and ask for what we do not deserve.

I'm thankful for the great example my dad was for me. I'm thankful he cared enough to punish me when I had done wrong, even if it hurt at the time. I'm thankful he works so hard to care for my family. I pray that if I manage to find a woman that'll marry me, that'll be able to be the kind of husband/father as he has been and still is.

I called him on Sunday to say Happy Father's day and we talked for a bit, but I'm not very good at vocalizing things like this. Neither of us are amazing orators, nor do we say a lot about these emotional and sentimental things, but I figured writing it out was my best way of saying thank you. I know mom (she deserves credit as well, and I would've written one for her if I'd thought of it at the time, I'll certainly make it up to her) prints these out and gives them to dad to read. He knows how much he means to us even without these words in an eloquent speech, but now the rest of the world can see it as well. I'm proud to have his name, James, as my middle name.

Books I've Been Reading & News I've Been Following

I've been quiet in the blogosphere lately, so I figured a look at my bookshelf would be worth a little time. Lately I've been reading whatever I can get my hands on about the global war on terror (GWOT). Most have been from the perspective of an officer, but a couple have been from that of a embedded journalist. 

• The Unforgiving Minute: A Soldier's Education by Craig M. Mullaney (Army/West Point/Afghanistan/Iraq)
• One Bullet Away: The Making of a Marine Officer by Nathaniel C. Fick (Marine OCS/Iraq)
• Joker One: 

  A Marine Platoon's Story of Courage, Leadership, and Brotherhood

   by Donovan Campbell (Marine OCS/Iraq)
• Kaboom: Embracing the Suck in a Savage Little War by Matt Gallagher (Army ROTC/Iraq)
• Generation Kill by Evan Wright (embed in Iraq invasion)
• The Forever War by Dexter Filkins (embed in Iraq)
• The Good Soldiers by David Finkel (embed in Iraq)
• War by Sebastian Junger (embed in Afghanistan)
• Faith Under Fire: An Army Chaplain's Memoir by Roger Benimoff (Iraq)

A couple of other books that I've been tearing through are ones suggested to me by the above books or other military personnel.

• Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace...One School at a Time by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
• Stones into Schools: Promoting Peace with Books, Not Bombs, in Afghanistan and Pakistan by Greg Mortenson
• The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien (Vietnam)
• Small Unit Leadership: A Common Sense Approach by Col. Dandridge M. Malone

Perfect preparation prevents piss poor performance people.  That's what I've been reading or have on my to read list. I'd recommend any one of these books, but The Unforgiving Minute and Kaboom are probably my favorite so far. 

Moving to something much less serious, I've been absolutely obsessed with the college football conference expansion talk. What's going to happen to my beloved Cyclone Athletics? 

If Mizzou and Nebraska bolt for the Big 10, the Big 12 South teams will go to the Pac-10 to form the Pac-16. Baylor isn't part of that talk but Texan politicians will do just about anything to follow UT, Tech, A&M, OU, and OSU. Colorado will be taken by the Mountain West Conference along with Boise St. If that happens ISU, KSU, and KU are left out in the cold. 

The Big East is being eyed as a tasty tidbit by the ACC because SEC expansion rumors towards Miami and Florida State (ACC members) are out there as well. But all that may rely on whether Notre Dame joins the Big 10 or stays 1-A Independent. The Big 10 may stop expansion there. 

Levels upon levels of "what ifs". I just hope my Clones find a strong home and good competition that will be visible on the national scale. I like the suggestion that we coattail into the Big 10 with Nebraska, Mizzou, KU, and KSU, thus creating the Big 16. CyHawk rivalry becomes conference game and we get to play border states like Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois? Very attractive, but unlikely. 

A new conference where we're still with KU and Kansas? Raiding and pillaging some smaller conferences for some other Midwestern teams sounds more attractive than playing in the WAC, MWC, or C-USA. 

For now we sit and wait to see what happens. 

Running Like Forrest

After an intense run yesterday with a Naval ROTC/Beta Sigma Psi/Peer Minister friend I couldn't help but think damn this isn't going to be easy. I've been doing a lot of weight training and push-ups since January, which according to a few friends the results are starting to show. Cool. Unfortunately, I've never been a huge fan of sit-ups or running, which has shown for about four years.

Notice the correlation between college and that? Yeah, I've gotten soft. I'm working on that and trying to build some consistency into my workouts and runs by making them a major part of my life as they were in high school.

It would have been easier if I had maintained my physical attributes rather than letting them fall apart. But could've, would've, should've don't matter now and wishful thinking isn't going to help. Things are happening now and it will take perseverance and consistency on my part to get to my physical fitness goals.

I've got to do this for myself and for the people I hope to lead someday. A lieutenant that can't do what his men are doing isn't worth the butter bars they pin on him. A little push from friends and family by giving me good-natured ribbing by calling me "Slim" or my brother's go-to, "Fatty" , will go a long ways towards keeping me motivated.

In order to break a large rock you have to give it a consistent and repetitive beating with a sledge hammer. It doesn't happen with one swing. You may even have to change it up a bit by turning it on one side or another. By chipping away at it, taking smaller parts off or maybe putting a good crack in it, you will gradually break off enough pieces that you can dispose of it.

That's how I'm trying to look at my training. Running at least two miles a day on weekdays, a couple  weightlifting workouts spread throughout the week, and then sets of push-ups and sit-ups after the runs are all things I'm doing towards getting into shape for basic. A simple, consistent workout schedule throughout the rest of the summer will help me reach my physical fitness goals. 

It may get a little more difficult when I get back to the farm in the fall as I won't have access to a weightlifting facility, but I'm sure I can manage. I'll just Rocky IV it (definitely no chance of me looking like that any time soon). Plenty of random heavy stuff to lift around there and lots of room for running.

I can lean on two quotes that I are quite representative of military training.  

Pain is just weakness leaving the body. 

That one reminds me that the current pain is temporary and will subside as I get into better shape. Self improvement is never easy, and I'm not about to take the path of least resistance.

The more we sweat in peace, the less we bleed in war.  

This one reminds me that my training isn't just for me, but for the soldiers that I hope to lead. The U.S. Army truly has an invested interest in weeding out those that they see unfit to lead others, as incompetence can get people killed. I pray to God every night that I'm up to this task. The better prepared I am, the better off everyone in my future unit will be.
 
So here's to busting that damn rock into million pieces, mile by mile and workout after workout. "Gonna quit? Hell no! Gonna run, all day, all night, all the way, everyday, driving on, all right!"

DONE! BOOYAH! Wait a tic...

I am finished with classes for awhile folks. My last presentation was Tuesday and last two exams were  today. I am celebrating my graduation with my family and friends in the park on Friday, but for now, Cinco de Mayo will be a good reason to beber tequila y cervesa con mis amigos en una fiesta. That is how much I remember of my three years of Spanish from high school. That, vaya con Dios, and ¿Dónde está el baño?. Three most important phrases as far as I can tell. Might have to be #14 on the bucket list to improve mi espanol. 


Anyways, the internship is still going on, so technically I won't be a true graduate. Once I complete the required 400 hours and write up the seven page paper at the end, then I can call myself an alumnus of Iowa State University's Greenlee School of Journalism & Mass Communication.


Holy crap, I'll be an alum. Just realized that the perks of being a college student are vanishing. Ehh, here comes a list of things that I'll have to deal with now. 


I'll have to pay extra to see Cyclone football and basketball games unless I hijack tickets from my little sister who will be my replacement here. Being as obsessed with the Cyclones as I am will probably get jokes from many people, especially bandwagon fans (cough cough), I mean anyone who cheers for a team that goes to bowl games or March Madness every year. Never mind, that has happened my entire life so nothing new about that. I'm still SO PROUD, LISTEN TO ME, SO PROUD to be a Cyclone. Sorry, had to let my inner Coach Rhoads out for a bit. You know what they say, loyal sons forever true.


I'm going to get those annoying phone calls from the ISU Foundation begging me for $500 (hell no), $250 (no, but I too lived in Larch), $150 (no, I was Journalism major), $100 (this is getting old, no), or $50 (you're damn persistent, I'll give you $25) donations. I know those rates (or something close to that) and conversation because I worked there spring semester freshman year. 

In a couple of years, when I have time to visit for Veishea, Homecoming, or meet up with college friends, I'll get dirty looks at the Welch Ave bars for being "old". At least I'll be a man in uniform, the ladies will love it. Just kidding to mi familia (but really, unintended benefits like this are few and far between). 


Amazing how quickly life changes. I'll go from a student to an alum plus the title of U.S. Army Officer in a year. Please remind me to slow down, smell the roses, enjoy life, carpe diem, whatever. I get caught up in things and forget to enjoy the experience. I've got about six months of life to enjoy before Army training takes over an insane amount of my time. Might as well enjoy and remember it (responsibly, I'm not an idiot) because I won't get to redo this period of my life. 

Bucket List

I've always wanted to put one of these together but never thought to take the time and actually think one through. A classmate is doing a term project and a funny episode of Yes Dear inspired me. As I'm currently bogged down with finals work and studying, I decided to take a break and let my mind wander for awhile. Here goes my bucket list, and forgive me if it doesn't follow a coherent line of thought as I'm just putting this down into words for the first time. A lot of the ideas will be random and in no particular order, but others are reasonable goals for my life that I value or think would be amazing experiences.

1. Skydiving- Cliche, but still awesome. I think I can cross that off my list and get paid for it if I get the chance to go to Airborne School in the Army. Might as well get paid to jump out of a perfectly good airplane than pay to do it. 
2. Surf in Hawaii- Anyone who knows me knows that I love Jack Johnson's music. If I could have just one day where I get to chill on a beach and learn how to surf, that would be a dream come true. 
3. Get Married- Growing up I learned to value family. My parents, aunts and uncles, and grandparents were excellent examples of happily married couples. I hope to find someone that will be happy to put up with my shenanigans, perseverance (aka stubbornness?), and randomness. 
4. Go to Washington D.C.- Never been to our own nation's capitol, but I've been to Budapest and Bratislava, the capitols of Hungary and Slovakia. I figure I want to see the offices where the men who guide this country make decisions that shape the lives of millions. 
5. Start a Family- I've got to have some mini-Russ's for sure. Many will joke that is the last thing the world needs. I'd like to have a couple boys to teach how to play baseball, football, basketball, and to have shared interests with. And I know I'd be a good father of a little girl, who I probably would be overly protective of and spoil a bit. 
6. Publish a Book- Not sure what it will be about yet. I've created a book proposal about growing up on family farm in Iowa, like a memoir, but maybe creating my own fictional story would be a good exercise of my writing skills. Who knows. 
7. Get an Advanced Degree- I'm just finishing my bachelor of arts degree, but I want to find the time to earn a masters at some point. We're never finished learning in this life, and I know there is still plenty of room in the ol' noggin for more information. 
8. Complete Ranger School- If I get a combat arms military occupational specialty (MOS) and get to Airborne School, I will give Ranger School a shot. It will be hell from what I've read, but what kind of soldier would I be if I didn't try. I'd be more disappointed with myself for not trying than trying and failing. Plus who doesn't want to lead the way and live a life full danger? I want to be an Airborne Ranger! 
9. Visit Germany- All my life I've been told I'm of German heritage and it would be cool to see where my ancestors are originally from. I love bratwurst, sauerkraut, and beer, I'm Lutheran (Wittenburg & Augsburg anyone?), and there are so many places with histories that are hundreds of years older than anything in the U.S. 
10. Hike Through a Mountain- It sounds like a challenge that would be a visual, mental, and physical experience that could rival anything but the birth of my firstborn and wedding day. 
11. Become an elder or hold office in a church- I've seen my family serve our church for several years as elders, sunday or vacation bible school teachers, counsel or board members. I consider serving the church that you're a member of an important duty. 
12. Throw out the first pitch at a St. Louis Cardinals game- Not only would I throw out the first pitch, I'd make it a dirty curveball or cutting fastball. I'd practice for months just so I could make a perfect pitch. I'll definitely shake off the catcher's sign. 
13. Go to a Green Bay Packers game in Lambeau Field- I've never been and have been a fan all my life. I'd wear the ridiculous cheesehead, a Reggie "The Minister of Defense" White jersey, and scream GO PACK GO the whole game. 

For now this is a pretty good list. I could literally sit here thinking of random things the rest of the day, but then I wouldn't get any work done at all. What I didn't write on there are the things I hope to do for other people throughout my life. I've no idea what those things are and won't know until they're right in front of me. Helping others achieve their dreams and goals will be more fulfilling than completing this entire list for myself. I leave you with this thought from the apostle Paul in Acts 20:35:

"In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"

Questions on Military Service & Serving God

I've had a comment on my first post that has made me think through my call to serve a little more. In response, I just want to let her know that I've never seen WWJB? (What Would Jesus Bomb?) bracelets, nor would I ever believe that to be an appropriate suggestion that we believe we're bombing "for" Him. That sounds like purely anti-American rhetoric to me. I'm certain that He will forgive me in the long run if it is a sin to defend the nation, people, and values that I hold dear. He does ask us to serve each other and to defend the weak, helpless, sick, and the poor. I can sleep well at night knowing I will be doing so through serving in the U.S. Army.

God calls us to serve him in many ways, each of us to our strengths that he has given us. In 1 Corinthians 12, the apostle Paul talks about spiritual gifts that God has given us. I don't see many of this list in myself. I don't particularly have a talent for bringing others to Christ, singing His praises (many will second this), prophesying, or anything else. But the God given gifts that I do have are not any less than these. I can work hard, am willing to sacrifice and serve, strong, young, athletic (enough), intelligent (enough), unmarried (not a gift but a plus at the moment, not even a girlfriend...holler at me ladies), and having the perseverance to withstand and excel in military training. I see myself as called to be a shepherd dog for the Lord's sheep against the wolves of this world. Retired Lieutenant Colonel Dave Grossman used that metaphor in his book "On Killing". You can read his argument for yourself at the link that I've provided below as he says it best.
On Sheep, Wolves, and Sheepdogs

I don't believe my primary mission in the military is wanting to harm people. I want to serve people by sacrificing my own time away from family and loved ones, my own tears for doing such, sweat through the effort that I'll put into it, and if it comes down to it, my own blood if it means I've protected others from violence. Christ said it himself in John 15:13, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." If I'm told to go to Afghanistan, Iraq, or even Haiti, places where I can help those people, I'll gladly go and with Christ in my heart, the Holy Spirit guiding me, and God the Father protecting me. 

Now I know that evil men have used such reasoning from the Bible and other texts/ideas (atheism for Communists, occult for Nazi's, etc...), for their own purposes before. I do not consider myself one of them. I will serve honorably and to the best of my abilities. If a man intends to harm/kill the soldiers I'll be with or myself, I will gladly hurt/kill him first if I can't capture him. I'm not a conscientious objector. God gave his chosen people in the past (Israel) and legitimate governments of the world today the ability to wage war. If called to do so, I'll be defending my troops who defend other troops, innocent civilians, and so on. 

The U.S. military is not the enemy. The men who hide behind the elderly, women, and children and set bombs on roads where anyone can be injured by it are the enemy. Do not confuse our actions and those of the terrorists. We are there for peace and prosperity for all. They want to control everything. We did not start this. Al Qaeda, the Taliban, and Saddam did by their actions, we responded. I'm not about to say the U.S. military hasn't had setbacks or people who weren't of good moral reasoning. Every group has them. For the majority we try to help build, educate, and protect; terrorists, enemy combatants, and insurgents try to kill, maim, intimidate, dominate, and destroy. There are those in the Christian church who do the same thing, as well as in Islam. They don't serve God, but their selfish goals.

I cannot in good faith allow people continue the fight without me in it with them. I don't want to sit on the sidelines any longer. The apostle Paul said in Romans 14:16, "Do not allow what you consider to be good to be spoken of as evil." The United States of America, its military, my faith, and my family are a few of those things that I will not allow to be spoken badly of when it is undue. All of these "groups" have made mistakes in the past, but that certainly doesn't mean that they're inherently evil or out to destroy the people of Iraq or Afghanistan.

So if I have to fight and kill those who mean me and others harm, I will. If I get to pass out soccer balls, give people clean water, build schools, dig wells, or never even catch a whiff of combat by doing some support job, I'll do that as well if I'm told to. I'm not looking to kill, but it won't do anyone any good if they kill me or my troops because I'm afraid of taking a life. And if the fight does find me, so be it; God have mercy on me and those who come against me cause I'm going to do my damnedest to defend my fellow soldiers, nation, family, and innocent civilians.

Peculiarities of a Farm Boy

Folks, I'm going absolutely insane. There is sunshine, grass is turning green, the temperature has been over 70 degrees for a couple days and I'm about to lose it. Not because I hate this weather, I absolutely freaking love it. It's the fact that I'm a responsible student and worker (not trying to brag), showing up to classes, club meetings and my internship, all of which are indoors. The best hours of the day for working outside, getting dirty, and doing something, anything physical are flying by like a fox with its tail on fire.

This isn't anything new to me. Every year around this time and at the beginning of the fall semester when I'm stuck indoors, I want to be outside doing a physical activity. I understand that a large number of people think they get this as well, but they don't think about putting some red landscaping brick in front of random houses that would improve the aesthetics. Or how that backyard is large enough to put a garden in and what vegetables I'd plant in it. That lawn looks like crap, I could mow it better if I was blindfolded and high on peyote (note: I do not partake in drugs other than caffeine and alcohol, which are, as Homer Simpson would say "the cause of and solution to all life's problems). If I drove out into the country right now I'd stare at the fields to see if they are ready for spring planting.

This wasn't something I'd do four years ago. I wanted to get the hell away from farming and not look back. If I never had to walk beans, haul/harvest grain, set or remove fence posts, or deep-till a field again I'd be happy. That isn't true anymore. I've realized that the further I get from being outdoors and doing actual work, I go a bit nutty. By actual work I mean putting in a physical and mental effort in a job that requires commonsense, something the average American unfortunately is missing. Also a connection to the land that I haven't understood until recently in my college career. I've seen it in my grandpa and dad so much that I understand that those men will either be physically forced to retire or die doing what they love. I may have some of that stubbornness in me as well.

Don't get me wrong, I love writing. I've put a lot of effort into this and don't intend to drop it like a bad habit I picked up in college. I'm going to continue writing while I'm in the military and will hopefully find a job after my service where I can do everything that I love. I know it's not likely, but I read recently that the addiction to hope-dope never ends.

I think that the military will give me a good period of time where I will be able to judge whether I'm infatuated with picking up on part of our farm operation or truly need to do it. It will also give me plenty of outdoor and physical activity that I'll be able to gripe about it again to no one in particular, as well as experience in managing a large group of people, finances, and supplies. I'm beyond excited for that opportunity and ready to get through basic training then officer candidate school. I've decided if I can hack it, I'm going to attack the first opportunity to go to Airborne and Ranger school with the zeal of a Chicago Cubs fan and a new season (that damn hope-dope is wicked). I think I'm crazy and stubborn enough (both qualities of an Iowa farm boy) to make it.

Spring Break Service

So the last time I wrote about how I would be working in Chauvin, Louisiana for spring break. It turned out to be one of the best experiences of my college career for the simple reason of camaraderie. Eight other members of Lutheran Student Fellowship (three Beta Sigma Psi's in there) and myself spent the week serving others as our talents and strengths allowed us to, but we enjoyed each others company while doing it and built stronger friendships than we had before. We spent a lot of time building planter boxes for the elderly of that community. We used a design that our own Dusty Gutzmann created; it worked out amazingly as we put two full grown men inside the box and it didn't budge.We also spent some time on a restoration project out near the Gulf of Mexico where we planted trees/shrubbery to desalinize the land that had been built up to create a buffer island against hurricanes.

We also used our free time to enjoy the beautiful weather and explore the bayou and make a trip to New Orleans. Cafe du Monde was a necessary stop for beignets and coffee. I tried to play a prank on my cousin Nick McVey by blowing the powdered sugar onto his tshirt, but unfortunately he saw it coming and blocked it. My Northface jacket was streaked with powdered sugar all night. On our walk through Bourbon Street we ran into several members of the Texas (no wonder they lost) and Kentucky basketball squads, including Jon Wall who said he was too busy to take a photo with us. Guarantee Craig Brackins or any Iowa State player would have said yes to that opportunity, but I digress.

We made it to the Lenten service at Grace Lutheran Church in Houma on Wednesday night and Pastor Rich had a great sermon, but we didn't overtly talk a lot about God while down there. I'm partially to blame for that, as I didn't put aside time for discussions and devotions, but I wanted the group to experience everything. And how much could I have said that would have affected them personally? These other students know God, have given their lives to Jesus, and probably were thankful for me not preaching to them for once. I felt that I got as much reflection and prayer done while working as we could have if we'd scheduled specific topics and devotion times. I hope the others felt this way as well. Maybe I overlooked their personalities and how they operate versus myself. I do feel I failed in that regard. At Pints and Prophets this evening (didn't consume any alcohol as I'm still abstaining during Lent), a few of the Beta Sigs who were on the trip voiced their same concern. Suppose I learned the hard way on this one...but I'll make sure I don't make that same mistake twice.

I've decided that with each addition to Running Through Cornfields I will include a verse from the Bible that I find interesting, inspiring, humbling, etc for the finale.

Proverbs 27:17 "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." We're not meant to be in solitude all the time, and God wants us to test ourselves against each other. Not in hatred and jealousy to make others look bad, but in brotherhood in order to improve ourselves.

Serving Through Leadership

Well this is the equivalent of spitting into the wind, but I figure I ought to try. As a graduating senior in journalism and public relations at ISU, I need to start writing online at some point. I really don't know how many people will be interested in reading the musings of a corn-fed Iowa farm boy, but who knows. Someone may find it useful or at least entertaining.
The title of my blog, Running Through Cornfields, is something that I feel we're all doing in one way or another. We may be trying to get to a certain goal, but we've got to get through hell to reach it. It'll probably have some kind of misery involved, be confusing, and we may even get lost a time or two. In the end it's the experience and how we treat others during said experience that defines us as people.
I'm looking forward to my training to be a second lieutenant in the United States Army. I want to serve God and my country by serving the men I'll be put in charge of. Jesus tells us that if you want to lead, you have to serve; those that want to be first, must put themselves last. Sounds like the job description of a military officer to me.
Hopefully I can live up to the title of an U.S. Army officer, but that's why I'm hitting the weights and pounding dirt (aka running) to get in shape and learning everything I can about being a good soldier. I'm not sure how many books I've read at this point on the subject, but you can't read enough on history and what other people have gone through, otherwise we're doomed to make the same mistakes.
Right now I'm preparing for a service trip to Louisiana with my church here in Ames. I've been put in charge of eight other college students and we'll be down in the Five Fingers area of the bayous southwest of New Orleans, while the other half of the group goes to Camp Restore in New Orleans. Houma is the largest city in that area, but we'll be in Chauvin working for Bayou Grace. I'm excited to get on the road Saturday morning because the road trip is half the fun; stopping in gas stations, eating Waffle House, and communicating over the radio about random topics with other vehicles in our group. Pray for us to have servants' hearts and the will to get whatever jobs placed in front of us done.