This past Saturday was Halloween, but more importantly, it was the first day of Fall Turkey. It  felt more like Thanksgiving as Mike, Butch and I stepped into the woods around 7:15am; our minds focused on Turkey. We all set up in a line with about 30-40 yards between us. I was furthest left, Mike was to the right of me (in the middle) and Butch was holding down the right flank. Mike hit a few calls and the hunt was on! Instantly birds were responding; some talking to Mike’s mouth call and other conversing with each other. The trees were alive with surround-sound chatter. Then, as suddenly as it had all begun the birds began raining down from their tree-top roosts. Swooping in from the left, then the right, then from directly in front of me, then two at a time…maybe even three as they congregated a mere 20-25 yards to my left. My heart was racing, my legs and arms trembled. I blinked to make sure it was real. The minutes seemed like days as I waited for a bird to give me the shot I’d been dreaming of. Then it happend…the flock began to move away from my position. My heart sank as I saw my window of opportunity closing. But wait! a lone bird had separated slightly from the group. It was coming straight at me. Here was my chance. As it stepped into my shooting lane there was no time for debate…it was now or never. With movement ever so slight, I lined up the bead of my 12 gauge shotgun with this unfortunate turkey’s head, curled the end of my finger around the trigger and BOOM! This bird dropped instantly. The dream had become a reality and the clock hadn’t even struck 8am.

See pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/kevin.hackett/TurkeyHunter?authkey=Gv1sRgCP6c1t7kysPRJg&feat=directlink

brinc. is underway. Cat and I continue to modify and improve each meeting time as we access our goals and get feedback from our leadership group (CORE). It’s proven really valuable to include our students in the decision making process. A few have begun to take ownership of their leadership qualities and their faith as the gospel becomes the motivation for their lives.

Here’s some new pictures of Claire if you’re at all interested. There’s some pumpkin picking, some camo cutie, some game face, some contemplating, and some cake eating…

http://picasaweb.google.com/kevin.hackett/CLAIRECATHERINEI?feat=directlink

Here are the rules for our capture the flag game this Friday. Please read the rules as you will be expected to know them for game time. If you fail to follow the rules or say something like, “I didn’t know that was a rule!” you will face the consequences (TBA).

CTF Base Rules:

• These are the base rules to Capture-the-Flag, as clearly as I can state them.

The game space is divided into 2 territories and 1 neutral space. (There may also be forbidden territory, which no player may enter at all during the game.) The team territories must be separated by at least six feet of neutral space. You are within the other team’s territory if either foot touches or is within that territory.

• Six feet is assumed to be wider than anyone can spread their legs. So no player can be in more than one territory at a time. Note that territory is a three-dimensional volume; you are still in a territory if you jump up from the floor.

If you touch an enemy, and both of you are in your territory, he is captured by you. You must lead him to your jail at reasonable (steady walk) speed. Once there, the prisoner must “enter jail” by touching either the Jail or another prisoner already in jail. A captor may not make any more captures until his prisoner has entered jail.

Prisoners may move around freely, as long as they all remain in constant contact with the Jail (either directly or through a chain of other prisoners.)

• It doesn’t have to remain the same chain. Prisoners may rearrange themselves, or form multiple chains. However, it is considered polite to enter jail and form a single queue (line), so that the people who have been captive longest are closest to freedom.

If you touch a prisoner in another team’s jail, he is freed, as long as his freedom does not break the chain of captivity for any other prisoners. Both of you must then return to your home territory at reasonable speed; you need not remain together. Both of you are immune to capture until you re-enter your home territory.

• If you touch someone in the middle of a prisoner chain, he is not freed and you are not immune to capture; the touch does not count at all. He cannot wait for his neighbors to join hands and then leave; you would have to touch him again after they join.

Please note: you may only free one person from jail at a time. Touching the person at the end of the chain only frees the person on the end of the chain, not the whole chain.

This past Wednesday, FCA moved from the basement of the Covenant Church to the upper floor of the former Boswell Bargains building located on the corner of Center St. and Morris Ave. The breakfast for christian athletes was a success as more than 30 students enjoyed egg burritos,  fellowship and an encouraging message from God’s Word.

Pics: http://picasaweb.google.com/kevin.hackett/FCA_one09?feat=directlink

Super Star Bowling was…super. While Luke Z. and his Strawberry Shortcake costume were nowhere to be found,  plenty of others stepped in to pick up the slack. From “The Smurfs” to “Sponge-Bob” our cartoon character crew was definitely the best dressed.

Pics: http://picasaweb.google.com/kevin.hackett/SuperStarBowling09?feat=directlink

My recent visit to Statesboro GA got me back in touch with one of my good friends Bradley Ward. On the weekend of January 10th, Bradley and I were able to catch up and set out into the countryside in search of some whitetails. We encountered plenty of wildlife (namely a flock of 41 turkeys) but were unable to lay the smack-down on any deer. Although we came up short on our deer hunt, Sunday’s quail hunt yielded greater returns. We lit a few birds up and then cooked ‘em up. Delicious! It was great to meet Bradley’s family and spend some time out in the tree stands. Enjoy the pictures.

Check the pics: http://picasaweb.google.com/kevin.hackett/Statesboro09?authkey=k33mrsO7fXU&feat=directlink

Christmas Vacation was “da bomb” as they say. Cat, Claire and I went up to the Mihm household to enjoy the holidays together. As usual, there was much activity. There was hiking, skating, trekking, tree felling, free style sledding, rope swinging, church going, coffee drinking, passed out nap taking a ton of good eating and more. Claire really enjoyed her first Christmas with the family and we really enjoyed her as you’ll see from the pictures.

http://picasaweb.google.com/kevin.hackett/Christmas08?authkey=YlK6aBXrgcI&feat=directlink

Check the recently added photos at:

http://picasaweb.google.com/kevin.hackett/ClaireCatherineHackett

The object of the game is to get as many cards as you can and avoid getting tagged by the snipers. The Mission is truly impossible…especially when the snipers are football players and/or power lifters (Tyler Z).

http://picasaweb.google.com/kevin.hackett/MissionImpossible