He Laughs: Only one life, 'twill soon be past; only what's done for Christ will last.

This is one of main focuses of a book that I've been reading lately. The book is "don't waste your life" by john piper [sic]. I'm finding it very useful as it shows how to be focusing much more on Christ in everyday life. Also, it's strongly emphasizing the importance of making sure that the two main purposes of man (glorifying God and enjoying Him forever) are not as two purposes, but one united purpose with two facets. This book has really been a blessing in my life so far, and I'm only up to the third chapter! :P

OK. Other than that, what have I been doing lately? Well, I've been keeping quite busy. Let's see. I'll start out with my Eagle Scout Court of Honor.

The COH went quite well. I had an aunt and uncle come out from Pennsylvania for it, Grandmother came up from Cincinnati with another uncle of mine, and Colin McClintock from Elkhart RP came with his dad and younger brother. Since I don't get to see any of these people very often, it was really enjoyable! :) The ceremony went quite well, and the cake was delicious. I have some pictures, so let's go into those.

Mr. Stoner, who was our first scoutmaster. He was the ceremony's MC.

Dad presenting me with a US Flag flown over the US Capitol Building on the day that I made Eagle.

Dad talking and me grinning about something or the other. :)

Mom pinning the Eagle Medal on me. For those of you wonder, yes, she did use the backings on the pins! :)

Me putting the Mentor's Pin on Grandmother. I would have liked to have given it to Grumps (diagram that), but, since he passed away last December, Grandmother filled in.

Here was the scrumptious cake.

A picture of my project a few days before the ceremony.

Me with Mr. Morton, a man from church.

Several of Milkdud's family, who helped out a good bit with the ceremony. Thank you! :)

Me outside having fun waiting for people to come out so I can startle them.

OK. Well, that's if for the ceremony. By the way, the last three pictures were from the Mortons, while the others were all from Nathaniel, who, by the way, we took out to Geneva last weekend. As with the past two summers, it was really nice having him here, and I'm going to miss him a good bit. While out in Pennsylvania, we got to visit with my grandpa a bunch, and a little bit with my grandma, who isn't doing the best. Also, I'll bring this up now, since it's a good transition to my next topic. We had to go to Geneva, obviously, so we also went out to the Community College of Geneva College (CCBC), which is where I'll be doing my flight training in college. I found out that, if I come in with my Private Pilot's License, I'll automatically have 7 credits, and if I pass a $75 test, there's another 3 in. In addition, if I get my Instrument Rating, I have another 6, and 3 more possible with another $75 test. I could end up getting 19 credits with $150. :) However, that wouldn't count the money I'd already have spent here at home. :P

Another thing with this is that my parents are urging me to take a year off between high school graduation and going to college. I'm much more seriously considering this, especially since they've been more and more thinking it's a good idea. If I would end up taking a year off, it wouldn't be for just lazing around. God willing, I would be getting a job (hopefully at the airport), getting my instrument rating (assuming funding is possible), starting to drive (which actually is probably going to be more like this next spring/summer), and possibly getting a car.

Well, as you've probably gathered, I've been flying a bunch. As of today's lesson, I'm up to 7.4 hours and 37 landings. I'm going tomorrow to the Delaware County Airport to get my FAA Medical, and hopefully I'll be soloing this week--going up by myself, with no instructor on board.

Also, last weekend, we had an airshow at the local airport, where I'm learning. Boy, was it fun. I got to go up 3 times, but only once did I actually get to fly. That once made up for all the others. I got to fly what's called an SNJ, a WWII Navy advanced trainer. Other than the takeoff and landing, I got to fly most everything. It was amazing how easy to fly it was--almost easier than the plane I'm learning in! We got to do a bunch of stuff ranging from the normal items in the lessons to a couple basic aerobatic maneuvers. It was a blast!

I have a few pictures that I'm going to put up from the airshow, so here ya go.

Bellefontaine, the county seat.

A few houses out in the country. We tried to figure out where this is, but haven't succeeded yet.

Looking out into the countryside.

Me in the SNJ

Taxiing out to the runway.

After we got back and taxiing in. After looking at my expression, I think I had a good time! :D

Me afterwards with the pilot, who's certified as a flight instructor, so I got it in the logbook! :)

Lewistown, a local village.

The SNJ on the ground.

Later that evening with my across-the-street-neighbor, who I took up (not me flying) for his first flight.

Cockpit of a Cessna 172. These pictures (at least the previous one and on down to the last one) are from a borrowed camera, which was really a great camera!