I am blessed

For some reason tonight I am feeling blessed

Blessed to be saved. To have Jesus Christ in my life.

Blessed to have a wonderful husband who loves me the way I am, for who I am. A husband who works hard to provide for his family.

Blessed to have Aron as my son. A Marine. Watching him start his life. Engaged. I could not be more blessed for the girl he has choosen.

Blessed to have Marcus as my son. A smart young man. Watching him choose his path in life.

Blessed to have Ryan as my son. A unique person. Watching him grow taller and learning new things.

Blessed to have Michael as my son. A young boy with a great personality. Watching him still being my baby for one more year.

I am blessed to have saved boys. All of them living for God. Decisions they made on their own.

Tonight I give God the glory for feeling his presence, for feeling blessed.

Graduation

I can't believe that we are the proud parents of a Unites States Marine!!! We are so thankful of God's grace. His protection that he put upon Aron while there. Here's is a slideshow of some of the picutes. I hope you enjoy them!

Slideshow generated with Smilebox

It's time

Is it really time to go? Tomorrow we will leave to get our MARINE!!! I can not begin to tell you the since of pride that I am feeling right now. I would of never thought in a million years that he would grow up to be a Marine.

When he left I cried for the first 2 weeks. The first month lasted forever. And honestly I can't begin to tell you where the heck the last 2 months went. And now I sit here and we leave tomorrow.

God has been so good to me durning this time in my life and I have grown closer to him. I have fallen at his feet in prayer many of times. Learing to lean on him and trust him. HE has made my heart content.

Now I have to deal with the realization that Aron is not staying home. He is simply coming home to visit. It's time for him to start his own life. I know that God will be with me through this season of my life.

Thank you to all of you who prayed for Aron (and me) May God bless you all.
Keep praying for him as he serves as a United States Marine!!!

Aron's wish list

***WARNING POSSIBLE WEIGHT GAIN MY APPLY WHILE LOOKING AT THS PICTURE**

3 packs of OREOS (regular, heads & tails, and chocolate cream filled)
2 packs of snowballs
1 pack waffer cookies
No bake cookies especially made by Nana(Paula)
1 bag of Almond Joy Pieces
3 butterfingers
3 crunch bars
M&M's (regular, peanut & pretzel)
Kit Kat
Reece's
Hershey's(cookies & cream, regular, w/almonds)
Skittles
Raisentts
Reece's Pieces
Almond Joy
Twix
Mr. Goodbar
Cookie Dough bites
Dove Chocolate
Peeps!!!

I'm sure he will eat it all while he is here for 10 days. So much for those 5 lbs he lost!!

Questionnaire #2

1. When you stepped off the bus at MCRD and placed your feet in the yellow footprints your first thought was:

A. I've changed my mind. I would like to go home now.

B. Bring it on-OOHRAH!

C. I want my mommy!

D. Working at Fry's sure looks good.

A. They were jumping around screaming and running. Like little demons. Literally spit in your face, ears ringing, getting pushed around......crazy!

2. The first time you and your SDI stood face to face, nose to nose, you:

A. Threw up and then fainted.

B. Want to throw up and faint, but were to scared to.

C. Repeated silentlly to yourself: "Find a happy place, find a happy place."

D. Glared back at him.

B. When they scream, seems like his mouth is the size of your face.

3. If you had a chance to talk to your recruiter, after the first few days of boot camp you would say:

A.You LIAR! I am NOT having fun!

B. This isn't as tough as you said it would be.

C. Did I do something to you in a past life?

D. What made you think for one minute that I could do this?

A. & C. But, it is his job to get Marines...hahaha

4.When you recieved your inoculation shots, you:

A. Cried and then fainted

B. Screamed like when you were two years old and had to have a shot.

C. Went to the end of the line so you could go again.

D. Told the doctor: "My butt muscles are so hard you better get a bigger needle!"

Was sore for a min. Then the next day my left cheek killed!

5. What time do you get up in the morning?

A. O'dark thirty

B. Whenever you feel like it.

C. When some DI starts yelling.

D. After a full eight hours of peaceful sleep.

C. Actually the lights come on and they yell at 4-5 Am

6. When you wake up in the morning you:

A. Wonder if the psychopath in charge will let you live one more day.

B. Hope the second psychopath in charge yells at soeone other then you.

C. Hope that this is all just a bad dream.

D. Hope to hear mom in the kitchen, and smell bacon cooking.

A,B,C,D: All apply! It's the worst. Can't wait to come home.

7. On a scale 1 to 10, how would you rate the chow? (10 being awesome)

Depend....6-7 Can't wait for a home cooked meal!

8. During upper body strike training you:

A. Came out bruised and battered

B. They guy you were fighting came out bruised and battered

C. Pretended you were hitting a certain manager from Fry's.

D. Told the instructor that you believed in non-violent conflict resolution.

C. I relly did. hahah.....We hit pads, we fight for real on the crucible.

9. When the DI yells your name you:

A. Pretend you have amnesia and dont know your name.

B. Hide

C. Ignore him and continue doing what your doing.

D. Throw up and faint

B. No, when they call you better get there fast as heck!

10. When a DI walks on deck everyone says:

A. S'up dog?

B. Run for your lives!

C. We missed you!

D. Absolutly nothing

We have to say Good (proper greeting of the day) Sir!!!!! and stand at attention.

11. When you have fire watch it means you:

A. Roast marshmellows over a bonfire and make Smores.

B. Make sure no one plays with matches.

C. Play with matches.

D. Ask if there is a way to get fired from the Marines.

A. I wish! Definatley gonna do that when I get home though. No, to much to write about firewatch. Ask me about it after grad and I will tell ya about it. It sucks!

12. What kind of belt do you earn in the Marine Corp Martial Arts Program?

A. Black belt

B. Pink belt

C. Garter belt

D. None, you just get belted alot.

D. Kinda more PT in that then you think. But I think we earn a tan belt.

13. Why is the thrid hat known as the kill hat?

A. Because he pushes us until we drop dead.

B. He specializes in the third ring of Hell.

C. Because he is three times as nice as the other DI's and has a killer smile.

D. He is to crazy to be the first or second hat.

B. All the green belts are crazy. Again I will explain more later.

14. Which of these apply to your M-16A4 rifle.

A. Carries a 30 round magazine

B. Coes in a variety of colors with matching shoulder straps.

C. Can fire 800 rounds per minute.

D. Kicks harder than dads old WWII rifle.

A. I loved it, but now I hate it. We take it everywhere.

15. My rifles nickname is:

A. Shasta McNasty

B. The Bronsonator

C. Dancing Queen

D. The Eraser

I dont have that kind of nickname for it. How about you guys think of something for me. The DI's say our rifles are our (WARNING EXPLICT!) "bitches"

16. During swim week we had to:

A. Execute a perfect belly flop.

B. Train in full combat gear.

C. Engage in a fun game of Marco Polo.

D. Swim or die

B. Sucked! But I passed! The 1st time!

17. What are the daily sevens?

A. I have no idea.

B. The seven times a day we are given a coffee break.

C. Seven more ways for the DI's to make our lives miserable.

D. Sets of exercises.

A. Never heard of it..hahaha

18. How many times have you been "quater decked?"

A. None

B. I've lost count

C. I volunteer for it everyday!

D. One time.

B. It sucks! I'll I.T or "quarter deck" the boys when I get home.

19. Where do you want to eat your first meal after graduation?

A. I just want a MRE

B. In-n-out burger

C. Alfonsos

D. Baskin Robbins

All the above! Anything! MRE's are good. But I want real food.

No, acutally I really want the endless shrimp from Red Lobster!

20. What do you want us to bring to California when we come to graduation?

A. Tania

B. Oreos

C. Contacts

D. All the above.

ALL THE ABOVE! I really need some contacts. Bring them and give themto me on Family Day. Bring chocolate! And def Tania, and the rest of the family,...hahah! I have an ongoing listof just plain junk food, straight forward asking for diabetes junk food, for hwen I get home. It's probably gonna be pretty disgusting for the 1st few days. I am going to pig out! And i'm gonna destroy a Maverick or something on the way home! Seriously!

Yes, I know......

Yes, I know it's been FOREVER since I posted. There really is no excuse si I'm not not going to ever try to come up with one. First I need to say "Happy Birthday" to my wonderful husband! You are the best. I love you so much!

Another "Happy birthday" to my son Marcus. He turned 17! I can't believe it. The morning of his birthday I said "Happy birthday. 17 hu? Where did the time go?" He replied "Out the window" As much as I didn't want to realize it, it has. Time went by so darn fast.

Alright let's get started with this cause I have A LOT of typing to do. Aron is doing very well at bootcamp. We are starting to get a letter a week now. They are given alittle more time to write. He is ready to come home and eat,eat, eat!! Missing all the junk food. Dave has sent off a few questionars. He is so creative. Aron said he loves them and so does the guys in his platoon.

There are 2 so I will start with the short one and just give the answer he circle and what he said next to it.

1. How many guys are left in Platoon 1042?
79~ Almost lost one, but he qualifid on the range the 2nd time.

2. Are you over your cold?
Yes, The 1st one ya. But have another one now. But not as bad

3. Any other ilness or injuries?
Yes, Crazy weird rash. I really really need your prayers. I'm being serious.

4. How does Camp Pendleton compare to MCRD?
Worse, It's so dirty and you have to hike instead of march

5. How did you do in swim week?
Good, tough, more so then you think.

6. Do you think you have gained weight?
Weighless, about 5lbs

7. Have you gained muscle?
Can't tell, If I have I have no idea. Lot's of muscle memory and endurance

8. How do you like your haircut?
It's ok. I feel like I look funny.

9. What has been your favorite activity?
Chruch/square away time. Haha, no the rifle range

10. What have you gotten in the most trouble for?
Talking to the DI's like they were my friends they say..hahah...Sometimes your so tired your not even thinking.

11. Do you like your M-16?
Love it and hate it

12. When you answer your DI what do you say?
Yes Sir, or Aye, Aye Sir.

Questions we want to know

Dave send Aron a list of questions we wanted to know. Once again he gave him mulitple choice. But I am just writting what Aron said.

1. What time do you go to bed?
9pm

2. What time do you get up?
Between 4 &5 am

3. What part of yor body hurts the most? We asked this cause he was having some trouble with his elbow before he left. He said his legs. (which is better then his elbow)

4. Are things getting easeir?
A little

5. Do you get yelled at a lot?
Sometimes- The platoon, not me usuallly.

6. Do you have any free time at all?
A few minutes

7. Do you get along with the other recruits?
Yes

8. What do you miss most from home?
Oreo's- sleeping in- golf- Ipod
Aron wrote #1 FAMILY & TANIA and then he circled the rest.

9. Did you have to see a doctor and dentist?
How may cavities? 0 How many shots? too many to count

10. What will be hard to pass or qualify on?
Physical Tests- Written tests- Marksmenship- None
He said I really have no clue yet