Wings of Dreams Airfest 2012

Andrew, Noah and I guarding the Mustang

This year I had the privilege of participating in the 2012 Wings of Dreams Airfest in Keystone Heights, Florida.  As part of Gainesville’s Civil Air Patrol squadron, my job was to control the crowd and guard the airplanes (including a Mustang!).  I was very busy the first day, due mainly to the airplanes that kept on flying in and out.  At one point in the show on Saturday, around five or six airplanes left at the same time- all in a row! 

Overall, the 2012 Wings of Dreams Airfest in Keystone Heights, Florida, is a very fun, interesting, historical, and fantastically exhausting experience.

I am on the far right, my brother Noah is the third from the right.

I am on the left, on the flightline, next to the two men.

I am on the third from the right (or the left), Noah is second from the right.

Andrew and I watching the ShandsCair Helicopter land.

Olustee & The Cavalry

  

           The Battle of Olustee re-enactment, which is held every February in northern Florida, is a must for anyone who is interested in Civil War History.
            I attended as an observer on Sunday, February 19th. My father and older brother had spent the night there with a local re-enactment group. The camp, where they slept, was full of white canvas tents and period tools.
            While I was there, I saw their cavalry, comprised of many horses, gallop and canter out firing at the troops.  During the battle the soldiers demonstrated a maneuver called "the square"., which my father and brother were involved in. In this maneuver troops form a square to keep the cavalry from coming in.  During this strategic move, the cannon fired on them, and due to pyrotechnics on the field, an explosion occurred within the square! 
            The battle was very engaging, the pyrotechnics were impressive, and the re-enactors were both realistic and believable.  

Nehemiah Cook

Fort Myers & Horses

 Psalm 145:9 - "The LORD is good to all, And His tender mercies are over all His works."

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This year we traveled down to Fort Myers to engage ourselves in a surprise birthday party for our grandfather, which took place two Sundays ago.  We ordered eight pizzas for 20 people-all of the pizzas were eaten.  I had a great time swimming in their pool and watching old videos of my older sister when she was younger.


On our way back, we stopped at a Burger King, which had horses in a field nearby.  One of them reminded me of Belle, an Arabian back at Eagle's Rest (as shown below).  It was nice to be able to see horses that looked like ones back home while eating at a Burger King!

-NehemiahC

Alligators, Roller Coasters, and Cookies

1 Chronicles 16:34 - "Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever."

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Recently I visited St. Augustine with my family, and visited the Alligator Farm, a zoological park featuring Alligators, Crocodiles and other wildlife.  While we were there, a kind worker let us feed the alligators.
I saw Maximo, the huge alligator that has been there for a long time (as long as I can remember), some monkeys, an albino alligator, and other wildlife.

At Busch Gardens I rode about 15 times on the roller coasters there.  They had a new one called Cheetah Hunt that would zip the riders up to the top instead of having a long suspenseful wait.  This coaster lasted over a minute!  I also visited Jungala, a place with a lot of fun suspended rope "tubes", and X-cursions, where they had different wildlife in little habitats.  While I was there, I saw a snake with stitches in one of the habitats.  I also saw a horse model made out of wood! 

We had a great turnout for the Cookie Bowl!  We had two teams, the Allies and the Chainsaws.  We had a few quarterbacks, including my neighbor, my brother, my friend and myself!  I had a lot of fun, and during halftime we had cookies and Gatorade, courtesy of my sister, and my parents, respectively.  One of my neighbors won the halftime reward for the best performance! 
When I left to go to Liberty Riders (I had to ride that day), I had finished my role as a QB for my team, leaving it tied 42 to 42. 
When I came back, I learned the final score: 126-119. 
The Allies won in overtime!

-NehemiahC

Pictures courtesy of Joseph Cook (top and middle), and Elizabeth Smoak (bottom).  Thanks so much! :D

Horse Show @ Clay County Fairgrounds

Psalm 20:7-8 -"Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the LORD our God."

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Recently I was blessed by being able to go to and participate in a horse show at the Clay County fairgrounds in Green Cove Springs, Florida.  I was #299, which was a significant number to me!  :D I rode Onyx, the beautiful paint mare from Eagle's Rest.

I was able to do two activities- Toilet Paper Pairs and Ride 'a' Buck.
 

"Toilet Paper Pairs" is riding a horse western style (which means the reins are controlled with one hand instead of two) while holding onto one end of a strip of toilet paper that is (in this case) 8 squares long that another rider on a different horse is holding on to too.  The judge tells the pairs to do various things such as walking, trotting, and reversing the horses (for the more advanced riders he tells them to canter, lope, etc.).  I had a lot of fun participating in it, and my partner and I both got 4th place ribbons! :D
 

"Ride 'a' Buck" is riding a horse western style, bareback, sitting on a dollar bill and making sure it won't fall out/off, all at the same time.  If it does fall out/off, the person and horse are eliminated, and they go to the center of the ring and wait there until it's all over, as they do in Toilet Paper Pairs.  I received a 5th place ribbon for Ride 'a' Buck! :D

I had a great time, met some people I hadn't met before, received some good tips for riding, and had a great time riding (as well as cleaning tack before, and brushing down the horse, etc.).  :D
 

I was also blessed and thankful to have my family come out to see me and Onyx :D, and to be with friends that I knew and trusted! :D

I'd like to be in another horse show, Lordwilling.  This show was a lot of fun, and I learned a lot! :D

In Christ,

Nehemiah Cook

Photo courtesy of My Mother.  Thank you, Mama! :D

From my Journal: A test of faith

[Journal entry #37]
Today is May 11th, 2011.  I have been earnestly praying since Sunday that I would be able to do a pony club that involves grooming horses...I know that it will only be possible if the LORD wills it...
"Let not your heart be troubled," Jesus said, "You believe in God, believe also in me." I realize that this is a test of faith, trust, and obedience from God to me...
I'll just have to "Trust in the LORD with all your [my] heart, and lean not on your [my] own understanding.  In all your [my] ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your [my] paths."
"Nothing is impossible for those who love God, and are called according to His purpose." (paraphrased)
I will be strong and courageous. I will not fear, nor be dismayed, for the LORD my God is with me wherever I go.

 Blessed be the name of the LORD!

 Nehemiah Cook

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[Journal entry #41]

Today is August 24th, 2011. ...I was told that I might not be able to do the activity at Ms. Cindy's this year, but I know that with God all things are possible. If the LORD JESUS wants me to do it, He will provide the opportunity and allow me to do it. I believe that this is a test of faith and obedience in Him, and that God is trying me...No matter what happens, whether this opportunity becomes reality and I am blessed with this, or this is taken away,  I will praise the name of the LORD, and bless His name.  No-one else could give me this hope and want, and no-one else can take it away...                                                           Nehemiah Cook

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[Journal entry #42]

Today is August 25th, 2011.  I am still earnestly praying for peace, contentment, and God's grace and will for my life, my future and everything I have longed to do.  Right now, part of me is calling to give up this dream of riding horses at Ms. Cindy's, telling me it would be best for me to do that {give up the dream}.  But the other part is calling me to have faith, hold on, and fight the good fight.  I believe my adversary doesn't want me to go to Ms. Cindy's, but I know that whatever happens, God's will will be done.  I feel like there are many obstacles to overcome in order for this to happen, but God is bigger  -there's no word to describe how great He is. I can only do this through Him.  Praise His name! Everything is possible through Him.  Hallelujah!                                                                                                                        Nehemiah Cook

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[Journal entry #45]

Today is September 4, 2011.  After a long day of many Spiritual Battles of choosing to believe God or not about His promises, I have found rest in Him (see song in back of journal).
The Lord Jesus Christ answered my prayers about going to Ms. Cindy's this year! ...The Lord has come to me in prayer and has taught my soul so many things, and contented it.

-Praise the name of the Lord!-

His Servant,
                   Nehemiah Cook

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[Journal entry #47]

Today is September 20, 2011.  I am Really blessd to be able to go to Ms. Cindy's this year.  I thank God often for that.  It's amazing that God cares for me and wants me to have this opportunity.  I am praying that I'll learn quickly and well and that I'll have a lot of knowledge about horses, etc....
Yesterday at Ms. Cindy's, Ms. Cindy let me ride Onyx, a beautiful paint mare.  She is so sweet, and I ... her! I think that, Lordwilling at Horse Shows, I'll be able to ride her....I have learned that talking to a horse isn't silly, it's smart.  I'm sure they understand what I say.

-Hallelujah!-

His Servant,
                  Nehemiah Cook
p.s. Ms. Cindy taught me how to direct a horse, and I'm confident that I can ride now!

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[Journal entry #56]

Today is November 12, 2011. [it was really November 11, 2011. :D]
-I drew chalk horses in Starke today on a sidewalk.
I wrote this under the biggest one:

PHILIPPIANS 4:13
" I can. Can you?"

-Can you?

                         Nehemiah Cook


-The picture above is courtesy of Mrs. Geiger.  Thank you, Mrs. Geiger! :D 

News, etc.

The next Order of Alfred the Great meeting will be on Monday, November 14th, 2011 at 2:30 pm.  We will have the regular schedule of events, and maybe even a battle! We will close the meeting no later than 3:45pm.  For those of you who have questions, please contact me at: nehemiahcookemail@gmail.com, or my home phone number.  If you have pads, cleats, or anything protective, you may wear that during the meeting.  Lordwilling I'll see you then! -NehemiahC