9-8-14
I HAVE A MARINE!!!
HE CALLED!!!! It was the experience of a lifetime! Mighty Mike Company finished The Crucible on Saturday and they received their Eagle, Globe, and Anchor pin shortly after marching back into base:)) After that they had a huge breakfast!
Yesterday was Liberty Sunday. It was cut short by a storm. My phone rang at 3:07 and as soon as I saw the area code I lost it! I could barely answer it. He sounded good, just tired. His feet have the first blisters and he said The Crucible was more intense than he could have ever imagined. I was so emotional at just hearing his voice, I can't imagine how it will be seeing him in person! I can't wait!
Thank you to everyone who has kept him in your prayers and those who have listened to me talk non-stop about missing him. Thank you especially to my mailman who hasn't issued a restraining order for stalking him:)
Please continue to keep all the new Marines and their families as we travel to Parris Island to grab them:)
Monday, September 8, 2014
Saturday, August 30, 2014
8-30-14
Well, if all goes according to plan, I will wake up (that is if I sleep at all next week) next Saturday with a brand new Marine! Such crazy emotions going on! Pride in him for the choice that he has made but sad also, because my "baby" has left home. I cannot wait to meet the man and Marine that my son has become:)
I know sending my second recruit to them next summer won't be any easier, but I also know that his little brother is his biggest inspiration! Happy 24th birthday, Jamie -- I know your brother is wishing you the same. It won't be long until we can celebrate with him. I am immensely proud of you also.
I had a letter on Thursday and he included a silver cross necklace. In his letter, he told me to "Take care of the necklace because it was mine now". I can't wait to hear the story behind that comment.
We most likely won't get more mail, with The Crucible and graduation so close at hand, but I sure can hope. I'll still be writing for a few more days, but think that mid-week will be my last - they won't get to him before I do. Strangely, I think it will be difficult to stop writing the letters because, in a way, I feel like I am able to "talk" to him through them.
One of my students wrote a letter to him for me to mail, but thinking I will save it to make sure he gets it when he gets home. In it, she asked him if Parris Island was "BUTTIFUL". I had to inwardly laugh and say to her "He probably thinks so".
Well, the lists are being made, hotel is reserved, and car is rented.
Please keep both Warren Dudley and Logan in your prayers, as well as the rest of the recruits of 3rd Battalion as they embark on their crucible week.
Well, if all goes according to plan, I will wake up (that is if I sleep at all next week) next Saturday with a brand new Marine! Such crazy emotions going on! Pride in him for the choice that he has made but sad also, because my "baby" has left home. I cannot wait to meet the man and Marine that my son has become:)
I know sending my second recruit to them next summer won't be any easier, but I also know that his little brother is his biggest inspiration! Happy 24th birthday, Jamie -- I know your brother is wishing you the same. It won't be long until we can celebrate with him. I am immensely proud of you also.
I had a letter on Thursday and he included a silver cross necklace. In his letter, he told me to "Take care of the necklace because it was mine now". I can't wait to hear the story behind that comment.
We most likely won't get more mail, with The Crucible and graduation so close at hand, but I sure can hope. I'll still be writing for a few more days, but think that mid-week will be my last - they won't get to him before I do. Strangely, I think it will be difficult to stop writing the letters because, in a way, I feel like I am able to "talk" to him through them.
One of my students wrote a letter to him for me to mail, but thinking I will save it to make sure he gets it when he gets home. In it, she asked him if Parris Island was "BUTTIFUL". I had to inwardly laugh and say to her "He probably thinks so".
Well, the lists are being made, hotel is reserved, and car is rented.
Please keep both Warren Dudley and Logan in your prayers, as well as the rest of the recruits of 3rd Battalion as they embark on their crucible week.
Sunday, August 3, 2014
Halfway to Marine!
8-3-14
Well, he's halfway to Marine! They will start week 7 tomorrow and in just 38 days, 10 hours we will get to see him! We got our graduation packet this week and a letter on Saturday. Each letter shows me the change that he is going through - he sounds more determined than ever.
Today, there was another picture! I can't tell you how relieved and happy it makes me to "see" him. Thankfully, it's about time to get back into the classroom - exactly 4 weeks from the day we start back to school, he will graduate. I'm sure that being crazy busy with school starting will help those last few weeks go as quickly as possible.
Hotel is reserved and car is rented. Now, I'm making lists - lists of things to order and take with us. Of course, he is helping me out with that because he sending me a list of food he wants for our family day picnic. Anyone want to make a donation to the Oreo fund?!?
It is amazing to me what he has been able to endure. One thing he mentioned was rappelling off the tower. He said that his experiences at Carowinds had helped him with the height - he may just get a trip while he's home.
Please keep all of the recruits in your thoughts and prayers.
He's the one in the fashionable glasses:)
Well, he's halfway to Marine! They will start week 7 tomorrow and in just 38 days, 10 hours we will get to see him! We got our graduation packet this week and a letter on Saturday. Each letter shows me the change that he is going through - he sounds more determined than ever.
Today, there was another picture! I can't tell you how relieved and happy it makes me to "see" him. Thankfully, it's about time to get back into the classroom - exactly 4 weeks from the day we start back to school, he will graduate. I'm sure that being crazy busy with school starting will help those last few weeks go as quickly as possible.
Hotel is reserved and car is rented. Now, I'm making lists - lists of things to order and take with us. Of course, he is helping me out with that because he sending me a list of food he wants for our family day picnic. Anyone want to make a donation to the Oreo fund?!?
It is amazing to me what he has been able to endure. One thing he mentioned was rappelling off the tower. He said that his experiences at Carowinds had helped him with the height - he may just get a trip while he's home.
Please keep all of the recruits in your thoughts and prayers.
He's the one in the fashionable glasses:)
Friday, July 18, 2014
7-18-14
Phase 1 is done!!! Swim week is over!! I am so glad that this week is over. Phase 2 of their training starts on Monday -- with the Gas Chamber. Recruits will learn to use masks and will have to break the seals on their masks to experience first-hand the effects of the tear gas -- YIKES! We are averaging a letter a week - sometimes several to different family members in the same envelope:) for which we are extremely grateful.
I am a member of two wonderful support groups on Facebook. We all chat late into the night. I hope we get to meet at graduation so I can tell them that knowing my feelings aren't uncommon mean to me. They even post pictures of the recruits from different platoons. I cannot express how actually laying eyes on my recruit has made me feel!
I am beginning to explore graduation gifts. At present am leaning toward a ring.
Please keep him and his fellow recruits in your thoughts and prayers. Only 8 more Fridays before graduation:)
Phase 1 is done!!! Swim week is over!! I am so glad that this week is over. Phase 2 of their training starts on Monday -- with the Gas Chamber. Recruits will learn to use masks and will have to break the seals on their masks to experience first-hand the effects of the tear gas -- YIKES! We are averaging a letter a week - sometimes several to different family members in the same envelope:) for which we are extremely grateful.
I am a member of two wonderful support groups on Facebook. We all chat late into the night. I hope we get to meet at graduation so I can tell them that knowing my feelings aren't uncommon mean to me. They even post pictures of the recruits from different platoons. I cannot express how actually laying eyes on my recruit has made me feel!
I am beginning to explore graduation gifts. At present am leaning toward a ring.
Please keep him and his fellow recruits in your thoughts and prayers. Only 8 more Fridays before graduation:)
Friday, July 4, 2014
Weekly Training Schedule @ Parris Island
7-4-14
Happy Birthday, America!! Perhaps this year, more than any other, the meaning of this holiday has been more meaningful than before!
Our recruits are finishing up their 3rd week of training -- 1/4 of the way through! I hope they were able to see a little of the fireworks that Parris Island had.
Hurricane Arthur missed them - thank goodness! Praying for the coast of NC and VA.
We got some wonderful news today! Cory Dismuke has been medically cleared and is expected to rejoin the next recruit class!
Warren's mom ran in a marathon in Atlanta today - she did great!
Me, I have been reading most of the day, except for the time that I took my nap:)
On to week 4! Please keep them in your prayers.
7-4-14
Happy Birthday, America!! Perhaps this year, more than any other, the meaning of this holiday has been more meaningful than before!
Our recruits are finishing up their 3rd week of training -- 1/4 of the way through! I hope they were able to see a little of the fireworks that Parris Island had.
Hurricane Arthur missed them - thank goodness! Praying for the coast of NC and VA.
We got some wonderful news today! Cory Dismuke has been medically cleared and is expected to rejoin the next recruit class!
Warren's mom ran in a marathon in Atlanta today - she did great!
Me, I have been reading most of the day, except for the time that I took my nap:)
On to week 4! Please keep them in your prayers.
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
7-2-14
Welcome to week 3! The should be dealing with Pugil sticks, which for the life of me, look like giant Q-tips:) Hopefully, this will let them take out some of their frustrations. Here is what they look like:
We have received our second letter (JOY)! He sounded much more upbeat in this one! He says the food is pretty good, but they are salting everything to try to keep from sweating so much - hate to tell him, it's Parris Island - in the middle of summer - nothing is going to help. He was very proud of the fact that he had been told he made a tight rack - really - prior to this, I don't think he's made his bed 5 times throughout his life! He also has great rolled sleeves - so that's why he obsessed over doing them over and over for months before he left. He wrote that he had developed a love for hard-boiled eggs too.
In his letter, he wrote that it rained last Thursday (the letter was written on Friday) night. He describes it as insane - and that he thought it was a hurricane. Little did he know that off the coast of Florida the first tropical storm of the season - Author - was forming. Should hit the Carolina coast early tomorrow (7/3) and may be upgraded to a category 1 hurricane. I know they will be kept safe, it's just a little more training they will go through:)
News is that his friend, Cory Dismuke, is doing better and may resume training next week. Logan and Warren are rack mates. I can't tell you how relieved that made me feel. Logan has never had trouble making friends, but having a good friend whom you've know for a while, has got to be comforting - especially since you are going through the same experiences.
Keep praying!
Welcome to week 3! The should be dealing with Pugil sticks, which for the life of me, look like giant Q-tips:) Hopefully, this will let them take out some of their frustrations. Here is what they look like:
We have received our second letter (JOY)! He sounded much more upbeat in this one! He says the food is pretty good, but they are salting everything to try to keep from sweating so much - hate to tell him, it's Parris Island - in the middle of summer - nothing is going to help. He was very proud of the fact that he had been told he made a tight rack - really - prior to this, I don't think he's made his bed 5 times throughout his life! He also has great rolled sleeves - so that's why he obsessed over doing them over and over for months before he left. He wrote that he had developed a love for hard-boiled eggs too.
In his letter, he wrote that it rained last Thursday (the letter was written on Friday) night. He describes it as insane - and that he thought it was a hurricane. Little did he know that off the coast of Florida the first tropical storm of the season - Author - was forming. Should hit the Carolina coast early tomorrow (7/3) and may be upgraded to a category 1 hurricane. I know they will be kept safe, it's just a little more training they will go through:)
News is that his friend, Cory Dismuke, is doing better and may resume training next week. Logan and Warren are rack mates. I can't tell you how relieved that made me feel. Logan has never had trouble making friends, but having a good friend whom you've know for a while, has got to be comforting - especially since you are going through the same experiences.
Keep praying!
Friday, June 27, 2014
6-27-14
Well it finally arrived!!! Our first letter. I must say, it was heartbreaking to read. Sounds like he is really exhausted!
Broke my heart to hear that he hasn't received any mail yet and we have written every day. Some of you who have also written may want to try the new address that was included in an introduction letter from his drill instructor.
We were told, by the drill instructor that we can send cough drops/vitamin C drops.
Updated address is:
RCT: Hunt, Benjamin
3rd RTBN PLT 3064 CO M
P. O. Box 16355
Parris Island, SC 29905-6355
Please make sure to follow writing guidelines -- thanks.
Well it finally arrived!!! Our first letter. I must say, it was heartbreaking to read. Sounds like he is really exhausted!
Broke my heart to hear that he hasn't received any mail yet and we have written every day. Some of you who have also written may want to try the new address that was included in an introduction letter from his drill instructor.
We were told, by the drill instructor that we can send cough drops/vitamin C drops.
Updated address is:
RCT: Hunt, Benjamin
3rd RTBN PLT 3064 CO M
P. O. Box 16355
Parris Island, SC 29905-6355
Please make sure to follow writing guidelines -- thanks.
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