Marching Along...

I happened to check out my SIL Sarah's blog tonight and it inspired/shamed me into posting. To get everyone up to speed, Justin was officially a United States Army soldier on July 8th this was his Turning Blue ceremony where Infantry Soldiers receive their blue cord. He was also named Honor Grad for his platoon. The graduation ceremony was held on July 9th and I must say Ft. Benning does a fabulous job conducting the graduation for the soldiers and families. Justin had the weekend to spend with us but had to report to Airborne hold over Sunday night.

Training Continues....

Well we all had a wonderful weekend with Justin. I'm so amazed at how much he has changed. Maddie and Lindsleigh enjoyed every minute they had with Uncle Justin. Maddie got her an army costume just like her Uncle and she told me in the store "Aunt Kylie, now that me and Uncle Justin have the same Army costume that means that we are bestest friends forever" talk about holding back tears. Lindsleigh crawled up on the couch with us and tried to push me off...of course she was grinning the whole time..lol..Sarah says it was destiny that she became my niece I probably would have done the same thing. Taking him back was so hard, but the countdown continues only 28 days until graduation.

The good news: Thursday prior to our visit Justin was offered an Airbourne/Ranger contract. This is what he had wanted to do when he enlisted so looks like things are falling into place. What this means for us is, after graduation he will continue with 11 weeks of training at Ft. Benning. Twenty-one days he will be in Airbourne Training then the remaining 9 weeks will be Ranger Training. If he passes the Ranger training course then he will go on to school. I get to have him close to home for a little longer :)

A Months worth of updates...i've been slacking

Well it's been just over 2 months now since Justin left and alot has changed. I knew going in to this our lives would definitely change and alot of adjustments would be made. My thoughts were eventually...not that things wouldn't change but the adjustment part. You see Justin and I had only been married for 8 months when he left. So when we talked about him joining the Army we had a plan (i'm very much a planner) I've always been very independent and not overly emotional so I figured that 14weeks of training would be a cake-walk, not that I wouldn't miss him I knew I would just thought I would be fine. Oh was I wrong, I became an emotional basketcase didn't know I had that in me. I'm doing alot better now, i'm very blessed to have an amazing family and friends who have been the best support and love while my husband is gone. Now about Justin :)

First he has lost 30 lbs (trust me I was in shock the first pic I got of him) I certainly know he has a deeper sense of appreciation for small things. Finally he's found a career. Justin has been in some type of leadership position throughout training and according to his Drill Sgt is doing a phenominal job. His platoon is ahead of the others in the Company and have won the most competitions. They are close to completing the 3rd phase (Blue phase) of training and will have 2 more to go before graduation. Then on to the next installment. I've been getting phone calls every weekend for the past 4 weeks which I love and look forward to all week long. This next weekend June 4-5 Me, Justin's Parents (Pam & Randall) his Sis (Sarah and her girls Maddie,4 & Lindsleigh, 17mos) are all going to see him for a 36hr Family pass we are all so excited. Hopefully depending on where he is stationed after his graduation he may be able to come home for 10 days.

Letters Home

I got another letter on Wednesday this one was quite a bit longer. Justin wrote it on Sunday which is a free day after any cleaning assigned is done. This letter had detail about the events of the past week which was really nice to read. He said that they had done First Aid training and he had of course excelled...but with his EMT classes he should and the Drill Sgt made him platoon medic. He said that was cool for about 5 min until he realized that meant that he had to carry alot more stuff everyday. He was also nominated platoon leader and as he put that he feels like he's running a "daddy day care" most of the time...but i'm proud of him either way. They went to Eagle Tower which is repelling and he liked that said it was fun and he was really good at it. He's ready to move on to the next Phase as are all the guys. He said that he may be able to take a short leave after his graduation between his trainings to come home and if so all he wants to do is get movies and sushi and cuddle on the couch...AWWW!!!! I LOVE MY G.I. JOE

Finally a Letter....

Typically Monday's are not the best day of the week but this one was...I checked the mail when I got home as has become my normal routine, half expecting to be again disappointed but this day was different the only thing I could see was Justin's handwriting on the envelope.

He writes that he is doing very well, he's managed to stay under the radar and not get into any trouble. He was very excited to get all of my letters which he got all at one time, so I assume that they are holding mail. They have been working very long days usually 20 hrs and sleep about 3 or 4 per day. He said that sleep is the only thing of value that they have at this time. He said that he misses everyone and will write again as soon as he can.

Everything that i've read this 1st phase of training is the most demanding on a soldier in every aspect, but the good news is that this is his last week of Red Phase and the next Phase (White Phase) which is still army bootcamp but I read is for the "Rambo's" so should be more fun and I use that word loosely. As they progress through each Phase soldiers are give more freedom to think and do individually or within their team instead of being instructed how to think and what to do. One Phase down and Four to go :)

Powerful Message

I've read this before, but it's so awesome made me cry when i got it again today so I just wanted to share....

The Sack Lunches

I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in myassigned seat. It was going to be a long flight. 'I'm glad I have a goodbook to read. Perhaps I will get a short nap,' I thouiht.Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the aisle andfilled all the vacant seats, totally surrounding me. I decided to start a conversation.'Where are you headed?' I asked the soldier seated nearest to me.'Petawawa. We'll be there for two weeks for special training, and thenwe're being deployed to Afghanistan .'After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that sacklunches were available for five dollars. It would be several hoursbefore we reached the east, and I quickly decided a lunch would helppass the time...As I reached for my wallet, I overheard a soldier ask his buddy if heplanned to buy lunch. 'No, that seems like a lot of money for just asack lunch. Probably wouldn't be worth five bucks. I'll wait till weget to base.'His friend agreed.I looked around at the other soldiers. None were buying lunch so Iwalked to the back of the plane and handed the flight attendant a fiftydollar bill. 'Take a lunch to all those soldiers.' She grabbed my armsand squeezed tightly. Her eyes wet with tears; she thanked me. 'My sonwas a soldier in Iraq ; it's almost like you are doing it for him.'Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to where the soldierswere seated. She stopped at my seat and asked, 'Which do you like best -beef or chicken?''Chicken,' I replied, wondering why she asked. She turned and went tothe front of plane, returning a minute later with a dinner plate fromfirst class. 'This is yours, thanks.'After we finished eating, I went again to the back of the plane,heading for the rest room. A man stopped me. 'I saw what you did. I want to be part of it. Here,take this.' He handed me twenty-five dollars.Soon after I returned to my seat. I saw the Flight Captain coming downthe aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he walked. I hoped he was notlooking for me, but noticed he was looking at the numbers only on myside of the plane. When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held outhis hand and said, 'I want to shake your hand.' Quickly unfastening myseatbelt I stood and took the Captain's hand. With a booming voice hesaid, 'I was a soldier and I was a military pilot. Once, someone boughtme a lunch. It was an act of kindness I never forgot.' I was embarrassedwhen applause was heard from all of the passengers.Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs. Aman who was seated about six rows in front of me reached out his hand,wanting to shake mine. He left another twenty-five dollars in my palm.When we landed I gathered my belongings and started to deplane.Waiting just inside the airplane door was a man who stopped me, putsomething in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying aword. Another twenty-five dollars!Upon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers gathering for theirtrip to the base.I walked over to them and handed them seventy-five dollars. 'It willtake you some time to reach the base.. It will be about time for asandwich.God Bless You.'Ten young men left that flight feeling the love and respect of theirfellow travelers. As I walked briskly to my car, I whispered a prayer for their safereturn. These soldiers were giving their all for our country. I couldonly give them a couple of meals. It seemed so little...A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blankcheck made payable to 'The United States of America' for an amount of'up to and including my life.'That is Honor, and there are way too many people in this country whono longer understand it.'

Learning the term "Hurry up and wait"

Well it has been almost a week since my last conversation with Justin and he said that he had mailed me info with his mailing address. I've yet to receive it. I suppose that "Patience" should be included in my prayers. In the mean time I have handwritten a letter to my husband (not knowing when he might have email access) and have no where to send it. I truly can't recall the last time that i've resorted to traditional penmanship communication. I've decided that i'd rather type my letters I know that may not be as romantic but my thoughts are just to sporadic when handwritten and I don't like that. The important thing is that he knows we love and miss him. IMPATIENTLY WAITING!!!