Dear Jessie,
Today was a good day. Last night I started sleeping on the ground, midway through the night a drill sergeant woke me up and told me to get into bed. After he left I was trying to think of another solution for my back and then it came to me. I have 2 sets of sweats - so I put these in the middle of the bed. Today my back felt better then it has in many days. I am happy to repot that I have no doubts anymore that I will have to come home early.
Guess what? I cursed! I said the "F" word without even knowing it. I had a delayed reaction. I was repeating what someone else had said and it ook me a minute to relize what just came out of my mouth. Don't worry - I won't be cussing when I graduate.
We have a test on combat life saving and if you pass it the first time D.S. said he would give us 30 minutes on the phone, so I am going to study really hard. I may not be able to write you as much because I will be studying. Good night.
Friday, August 31, 2007
8-31-07
Hey Sweetie:
Amy, Lara, Jane, Caleb, and I are heading up to campus to walk around and help Amy find her classes and I'm going to put these two letters in the mail for you. I'm going to take care of your deferment form while I am here. The bishopric was at our house last night to visit Lara and Adam, so I went over there while the bishop was there and got your form signed. So I'm going to take your form onto campus today.
The lyrics for today are a little cheesy, but it's a song I heard on the radio last night and of course I thought of you. It's Avril Lavigne's “When You're Gone”:
I always needed time on my own. I never thought I'd need you there when I cried. And the days feel like years when I'm alone. And the bed where you lie is made up on your side. When you walk away I count the steps that you take. Do you see how much I need you right now? When you're gone, the pieces of my heart are missing you. When you're gone, the face I came to know is missing too. When you're gone, the words I need to hear to always get me through the day and make it okay. I miss you... I've never felt this way before. Everything that I do reminds me of you. And the clothes you left, they lie on the floor and they smell just like you. I love the things that you do. When you walk away I count the steps that you take. Do you see how much I need you right now? When you're gone, the pieces of my heart are missing you. When you're gone, the face I came to know is missing too. When you're gone, the words I need to hear to always get me through the day and make it okay. I miss you... We were made for each other. Out here forever. I know we were. Yeah, yeah... And all I ever wanted was for you to know, everything I do I give my heart and soul. I can hardly breathe I need to feel you here with me. Yeah... When you're gone, the pieces of my heart are missing you. When you're gone, the face I came to know is missing too. When you're gone, the words I need to hear to always get me through the day and make it okay. I miss you...”
Like I said that song is a little cheesy, but it says a lot of things I feel. I want you to know how happy I am even though I do miss you. I've missed you more here in Utah staying at your house with your family. I also went to our house last night to get a few things I forgot like a UCCU check book and a recipe, etc. It was hard to be at the house and I missed you a lot, but at least I can look forward to when we will be there together again in January. Also, Aaron and Salisa put a lot of our stuff away, but they did it very carefully and they took most of our things off of the walls like our picture boards, but they told me that they took pictures of the walls so that they can put it back exactly the way it was. I think they are going to do a good job living in our house. I took Jane swimming yesterday and she had fun. Then Tim watched her and took her on the swings (I took some pictures that I will send you later...I'm taking lots of pictures for you, I try to take pictures every day) while I did laps in the pool and it felt so good. I did it until I was totally out of breath and exhausted. It was pretty awesome. I haven't been walking here since I don't have a double stroller so I think I'm just going to do laps every day while I'm here. Do you guys have any place to swim at boot camp?
Love-Jess
Amy, Lara, Jane, Caleb, and I are heading up to campus to walk around and help Amy find her classes and I'm going to put these two letters in the mail for you. I'm going to take care of your deferment form while I am here. The bishopric was at our house last night to visit Lara and Adam, so I went over there while the bishop was there and got your form signed. So I'm going to take your form onto campus today.
The lyrics for today are a little cheesy, but it's a song I heard on the radio last night and of course I thought of you. It's Avril Lavigne's “When You're Gone”:
I always needed time on my own. I never thought I'd need you there when I cried. And the days feel like years when I'm alone. And the bed where you lie is made up on your side. When you walk away I count the steps that you take. Do you see how much I need you right now? When you're gone, the pieces of my heart are missing you. When you're gone, the face I came to know is missing too. When you're gone, the words I need to hear to always get me through the day and make it okay. I miss you... I've never felt this way before. Everything that I do reminds me of you. And the clothes you left, they lie on the floor and they smell just like you. I love the things that you do. When you walk away I count the steps that you take. Do you see how much I need you right now? When you're gone, the pieces of my heart are missing you. When you're gone, the face I came to know is missing too. When you're gone, the words I need to hear to always get me through the day and make it okay. I miss you... We were made for each other. Out here forever. I know we were. Yeah, yeah... And all I ever wanted was for you to know, everything I do I give my heart and soul. I can hardly breathe I need to feel you here with me. Yeah... When you're gone, the pieces of my heart are missing you. When you're gone, the face I came to know is missing too. When you're gone, the words I need to hear to always get me through the day and make it okay. I miss you...”
Like I said that song is a little cheesy, but it says a lot of things I feel. I want you to know how happy I am even though I do miss you. I've missed you more here in Utah staying at your house with your family. I also went to our house last night to get a few things I forgot like a UCCU check book and a recipe, etc. It was hard to be at the house and I missed you a lot, but at least I can look forward to when we will be there together again in January. Also, Aaron and Salisa put a lot of our stuff away, but they did it very carefully and they took most of our things off of the walls like our picture boards, but they told me that they took pictures of the walls so that they can put it back exactly the way it was. I think they are going to do a good job living in our house. I took Jane swimming yesterday and she had fun. Then Tim watched her and took her on the swings (I took some pictures that I will send you later...I'm taking lots of pictures for you, I try to take pictures every day) while I did laps in the pool and it felt so good. I did it until I was totally out of breath and exhausted. It was pretty awesome. I haven't been walking here since I don't have a double stroller so I think I'm just going to do laps every day while I'm here. Do you guys have any place to swim at boot camp?
Love-Jess
P.S. Adam just found out that he wasn't accepted into the Construction Management program because of his grades (he got a C+ in Calculus and Physics). Bummer huh? He's going to retake those classes this semester and try to apply again.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
8/30/07
The above sounded pretty bad, it really wasn't that bad. I just needed to vent. BIG NEWS FROM LONDON! I think I found the problem with my back - again. It's the bunk! Remember on my mission I had to sleep on the floor? I'm pretty sure that is what's happening here.
I also received 2 letters today. One from you with 3 awesome pictures and one from your parents - B-day card. Have I told you that I really like that you are sending me lyrics to songs? I sing them while I am in the shower. I really do miss music. I really wish we could bring I-pods and maybe cell phones. These days are finally starting to go by a little faster. I feel we have gotten into a rythym and I will just stay in that rythym.
The picture of Jane putting on the slippers is really cute - but the best is the one of us kissing in the pool. I really miss your lavios mmmm...Sorry I'm back. Now - I still haven't cleared it with Drill Sergeant but I think sleeping on the floor should do the trick. The floor here is lenolium tile that gets swept every day so I should be fine. I have also been issued a sleeping bag that I could use, but its so hot here I rarely sleep with any covers. They have fans going all night but the thermostat is set at 78 so it stays pretty hot in here.
I also really like the Sudoku you have been sending me. That reminds me - I saw one in a magazine on the plane out here and they had written all around it but not much in it and at first glance I found 2 numbers that he hadn't.
Here is what I read tonight:
The Allegory of the Olive Tree - Jacob 5. I don't have enough time to really study so you can go ahead and read it. I went through every cross reference and it is really cool.
Love-Bradley
P.S. Tell your parents thank you for the card.
I also received 2 letters today. One from you with 3 awesome pictures and one from your parents - B-day card. Have I told you that I really like that you are sending me lyrics to songs? I sing them while I am in the shower. I really do miss music. I really wish we could bring I-pods and maybe cell phones. These days are finally starting to go by a little faster. I feel we have gotten into a rythym and I will just stay in that rythym.
The picture of Jane putting on the slippers is really cute - but the best is the one of us kissing in the pool. I really miss your lavios mmmm...Sorry I'm back. Now - I still haven't cleared it with Drill Sergeant but I think sleeping on the floor should do the trick. The floor here is lenolium tile that gets swept every day so I should be fine. I have also been issued a sleeping bag that I could use, but its so hot here I rarely sleep with any covers. They have fans going all night but the thermostat is set at 78 so it stays pretty hot in here.
I also really like the Sudoku you have been sending me. That reminds me - I saw one in a magazine on the plane out here and they had written all around it but not much in it and at first glance I found 2 numbers that he hadn't.
Here is what I read tonight:
The Allegory of the Olive Tree - Jacob 5. I don't have enough time to really study so you can go ahead and read it. I went through every cross reference and it is really cool.
Love-Bradley
P.S. Tell your parents thank you for the card.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
8/29/07
Dearest Jessie,
I'm having a pretty tough day. My back is really hurting. I haven't told anyone yet but I think I might have to. Going to sick call is an all day process and I don't want to miss something important. If I go to see a doctor about this there is a chance I could be medically discharged and I have worked too hard for too long to let my back mess all this up. We go on 4 different day marches with ALL of our gear. The last one is a 15K. I don't know if my back can handle packing 80 lbs. of gear for 6 or 7 miles. My emotions have been running a little high today as well so when I didn't get any mail from you that tipped me over. I went to the bathroom and broke down. I prayed really hard for help. I really want this to work!
I miss you so much. That would be one good thing if I was discharged. I would get to see you and my little girls. How are they doing? Is Maren laughing anymore? Is Jane still throwing fits? Are they getting any worse?
We did an obstacle course or team work exercises today. It was pretty fun. Things like getting everyone from point A to point B using 2 2x6's and a rope without touching the ground. My group did pretty well.
I'm having a pretty tough day. My back is really hurting. I haven't told anyone yet but I think I might have to. Going to sick call is an all day process and I don't want to miss something important. If I go to see a doctor about this there is a chance I could be medically discharged and I have worked too hard for too long to let my back mess all this up. We go on 4 different day marches with ALL of our gear. The last one is a 15K. I don't know if my back can handle packing 80 lbs. of gear for 6 or 7 miles. My emotions have been running a little high today as well so when I didn't get any mail from you that tipped me over. I went to the bathroom and broke down. I prayed really hard for help. I really want this to work!
I miss you so much. That would be one good thing if I was discharged. I would get to see you and my little girls. How are they doing? Is Maren laughing anymore? Is Jane still throwing fits? Are they getting any worse?
We did an obstacle course or team work exercises today. It was pretty fun. Things like getting everyone from point A to point B using 2 2x6's and a rope without touching the ground. My group did pretty well.
8-29-07
My dearest Bradley:
My grandfather passed away this afternoon during a nap, in his sleep. I'm sad because I will miss him, but it is such a good thing because he was pretty miserable there at the end. I'm in UT now with your family, but I will be back in time for the funeral because it will be next Thursday and I'm going home on Wednesday (your birthday). Anyway, I'm just really happy that my grandma and my grandpa get to be together again.
“We might kiss when we are alone. When nobody's watching, we might take it home. We might make out when nobody's there. It's not that we're scared, it's just that it's delicate.
Here's my update on the girls: Maren is getting so big and chubby. She eats so much, she just chugs down the formula all day long it seems like. I'm already going to need to get a bigger bottle because she is never satisfied with just one 4 oz bottle so I always have to get up and make another. She is so smiley, she just smiles all of the time. I haven't been able to get her to laugh since that first time, but I'll keep trying. Also, she is consistently sleeping through the night, which is great for me, and she's even starting to get on a pretty good nap schedule. She is sleeping right here next to me in the bouncer that I borrowed from Lara and Adam, and she is kind of snoring, so cute! Jane is having a lot of fun here with your family. She just started to say “meow” when she sees a cat or a picture of a cat. She is still wearing hats and dancing and talking up a storm. She still hardly ever chooses to walk on her own, only when we stand her up and tell her too. She still prefers to crawl. She's in a funny eating stage where she only lets you feed her like 2 bites of something and then even if she liked it she's over it, she wants to feed herself. Also food is more fun to play with than it is to eat for her these days. She's playing with the little red push car from “Cars”, “Oh yeah, Lightning is ready!”
I haven't gotten a letter from you for a couple of days so I'm hoping to get one tomorrow. Are you able to mail letters every day or do you have to save them up and mail a couple at a time? Also, does the mail come in every day or are mine building up before you receive them? Brad, I love you so much and I'm so proud of you. I just feel like I can't tell you those things enough. I feel them too big for words. In my prayers tonight I was trying to express to Heavenly Father how much I love you and need you in my life and how grateful I am to Heavenly Father for Him giving you to me and letting you be in my life. You are my everything and I can't wait to we can be together again and be a whole person together. Keep working hard and know that we are all doing great here, but that we miss you!
Love-Jess
My grandfather passed away this afternoon during a nap, in his sleep. I'm sad because I will miss him, but it is such a good thing because he was pretty miserable there at the end. I'm in UT now with your family, but I will be back in time for the funeral because it will be next Thursday and I'm going home on Wednesday (your birthday). Anyway, I'm just really happy that my grandma and my grandpa get to be together again.
Well the flight to Utah this morning was very interesting. I had both girls by myself and it was quite a challenge, but ended up working out really well because everyone around me was bending over backwards to help me because they could all see I was in a precarious situation. I got a ride to the airport from Sara and my cousin Vange and they helped me get my bags and the car seats checked. Then I had Maren in the Baby Bjorn, the back pack (which I was using for the diaper bag) on my back, and Jane on my left hip. I was going to have Jane in an umbrella stroller, but at the last minute we couldn't find it and we think that it got stolen (not ours, my parents), it was in the parking garage. So I got to security and could tell that was going to be tricky, especially because I had the laptop in the back pack that I was going to have to take out. So, I asked an airport employee if there was someone available to help me get through security. The lady next to me over heard my request and offered to help. So she carried Jane through security with her boarding pass and I took Maren and the back pack and it was still a little tricky, but much easier than it would have been by myself. Once we got through security, got the laptop back in the back pack (which the guy behind me helped me with), and got our shoes back on, we went to our gate. I found a couch and sat down next to this young married couple who happened to be LDS, lived in Provo, went to BYU, and was majoring in Construction Management. So they helped with Jane (kept her entertained) while we waited to board the plane. I was able to pre-board with the girls and I still had Maren in the Bjorn and I was able to strap Jane in to her seat. Once everyone was on the plane I could tell that I was going to have an extra seat so I knew Jane would be able to play on those two seats and on the floor since I was sitting in the aisle seat so she wouldn't be able to get past me. Maren was pretty upset because she was really tired and every time I would get her to sleep I would have to bend over and do something for Jane and that would wake her up. So, there was a nice LDS couple across from me that the wife offered to hold Maren for me. So I took her out of the Bjorn and she slept in Julie's arms the entire flight and I was able to play with Jane. Then that same couple helped me get my luggage in SLC and get out to the car where your mom was waiting. I really couldn't have done it without them. But the good thing is now I know I can do it by myself when I come in to UT in October before I come to you in OK.
“We might kiss when we are alone. When nobody's watching, we might take it home. We might make out when nobody's there. It's not that we're scared, it's just that it's delicate.
So why do you fill my sorrow with the words you've borrowed from the only place you've known? And why do you sing Hallelujah, if it means nothing to you? Why do you sing with me at all?
We might live like never before when there's nothing to give. Well, how can we ask for more? We might make love in some sacred place. The look on your face is delicate.
So why do you fill my sorrow with the words you've borrowed from the only place you've known? And why do you sing Hallelujah if it means nothing to you? Why do you sing with me at all?”
Here's my update on the girls: Maren is getting so big and chubby. She eats so much, she just chugs down the formula all day long it seems like. I'm already going to need to get a bigger bottle because she is never satisfied with just one 4 oz bottle so I always have to get up and make another. She is so smiley, she just smiles all of the time. I haven't been able to get her to laugh since that first time, but I'll keep trying. Also, she is consistently sleeping through the night, which is great for me, and she's even starting to get on a pretty good nap schedule. She is sleeping right here next to me in the bouncer that I borrowed from Lara and Adam, and she is kind of snoring, so cute! Jane is having a lot of fun here with your family. She just started to say “meow” when she sees a cat or a picture of a cat. She is still wearing hats and dancing and talking up a storm. She still hardly ever chooses to walk on her own, only when we stand her up and tell her too. She still prefers to crawl. She's in a funny eating stage where she only lets you feed her like 2 bites of something and then even if she liked it she's over it, she wants to feed herself. Also food is more fun to play with than it is to eat for her these days. She's playing with the little red push car from “Cars”, “Oh yeah, Lightning is ready!”
I haven't gotten a letter from you for a couple of days so I'm hoping to get one tomorrow. Are you able to mail letters every day or do you have to save them up and mail a couple at a time? Also, does the mail come in every day or are mine building up before you receive them? Brad, I love you so much and I'm so proud of you. I just feel like I can't tell you those things enough. I feel them too big for words. In my prayers tonight I was trying to express to Heavenly Father how much I love you and need you in my life and how grateful I am to Heavenly Father for Him giving you to me and letting you be in my life. You are my everything and I can't wait to we can be together again and be a whole person together. Keep working hard and know that we are all doing great here, but that we miss you!
Love-Jess
P.S. I'm sleeping in Amy's room because she moved out today and is going to live in her dorm now. BYU starts on Tuesday, September 4th.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
8/28/07
Dearest Jessie,
Believe it or not I am writing you during some free time I have today. We were practicing making our bunks perfect as fast as we can then they said finish them and they took off.
We had another P.T. test today. A week ago I ran a mile in 7:28. Today I ran it in 6:44. It felt really good. I really strode out and focused on my breathing. I am proud of myself. But now I have set the bar for myself. I have to do better every time. I really want to hit that 13 minute two mile mark.
We spent 2 1/2 hours today before lunch and the 3 more after lunch in a classroom being taught the weirdest stuff. For example, a soldier can be written up for rectal sex. We had a health nurse come and talk. She talked about hygiene and washing your hand 40 times a day, then she started talking about sex. It got really graphic. She had 2 guys come up and with a plastic penis and condemn demonstrate how to put on a condemn. It was so gross.
I am really looking forward to seeing you in October. Have you recieved the email from here giving you all the information about family day? I wonder if they will shuttle you out of if you'll have to rent a car.
It feels good to finally have some time behind me even if it is just 2 days of week one. I am hoping these first bad weeks go by fast so we can go have some fun without the drill sergeants going nuts all the time.
I just got your first 2 letters!! They are so great. The pictures are perfect, even Drill Sergeant said the girls were cute. They made me so happy. I hope I get some more tomorrow. Your request for my scriptural insights might be a little weak because I don't have a lot of time to really get into it. I usually just read a little because sleep time is a precious commodity. But I did read one chapter that I really liked.
Jacob 4:6-7 Cross references with Ether 12:4. The hope that turns to "substance" or faith makes them powerful instruments in the Lord's hand but at the beginning it says they "search the prophets"=study the scriptures. Even powerful instruments strengthen their faith the same way as everyone else. Then verse 7 brings us back down reminding us that none of this is possible without the Lord.
I love you more than anyone has ever loved another. Thanks again for the letters.
Brad xxoox - 9526 x and o on top of each other = at the same time
Believe it or not I am writing you during some free time I have today. We were practicing making our bunks perfect as fast as we can then they said finish them and they took off.
We had another P.T. test today. A week ago I ran a mile in 7:28. Today I ran it in 6:44. It felt really good. I really strode out and focused on my breathing. I am proud of myself. But now I have set the bar for myself. I have to do better every time. I really want to hit that 13 minute two mile mark.
We spent 2 1/2 hours today before lunch and the 3 more after lunch in a classroom being taught the weirdest stuff. For example, a soldier can be written up for rectal sex. We had a health nurse come and talk. She talked about hygiene and washing your hand 40 times a day, then she started talking about sex. It got really graphic. She had 2 guys come up and with a plastic penis and condemn demonstrate how to put on a condemn. It was so gross.
I am really looking forward to seeing you in October. Have you recieved the email from here giving you all the information about family day? I wonder if they will shuttle you out of if you'll have to rent a car.
It feels good to finally have some time behind me even if it is just 2 days of week one. I am hoping these first bad weeks go by fast so we can go have some fun without the drill sergeants going nuts all the time.
I just got your first 2 letters!! They are so great. The pictures are perfect, even Drill Sergeant said the girls were cute. They made me so happy. I hope I get some more tomorrow. Your request for my scriptural insights might be a little weak because I don't have a lot of time to really get into it. I usually just read a little because sleep time is a precious commodity. But I did read one chapter that I really liked.
Jacob 4:6-7 Cross references with Ether 12:4. The hope that turns to "substance" or faith makes them powerful instruments in the Lord's hand but at the beginning it says they "search the prophets"=study the scriptures. Even powerful instruments strengthen their faith the same way as everyone else. Then verse 7 brings us back down reminding us that none of this is possible without the Lord.
I love you more than anyone has ever loved another. Thanks again for the letters.
Brad xxoox - 9526 x and o on top of each other = at the same time
Monday, August 27, 2007
8/27/07
Dearest Jessie,
I conquered the Treadwell Tower. It was really easy. We had to repel down a 60 foot wall and then climb or slide on some ropes courses. One we had to slide on top of one single rope. You had to leave one leg hanging down to keep your balance and then slide up or down the rope. We marched a mile adn a half with some of our gear and it really hurt my back. I was in a lot of pain and have been for a while. I have been thinking that this might get me kicked out of the Army, but I don't want you to worry, I think I have fixed it. If I purposely lean back with my shoulders it feels good. I just need to remember to sstand that way whenever we are standing (which is most of the day). I am hoping one of your letters will arrive tomorrow or maybe Wednesday.
Tomorrow is going to be a hard physical training day. I am ready. I want a good hard day. I have a goal to get the perfect score on the P.T. test. I need to run 2 miles in 13 minutes, do 75 push-ups in 2 minutes, and do 81 sit-ups in 2 minutes. I think I'm already pretty close on the push-ups. The sit-ups will need some work and the running will need a lot of work. The last 2 miles I ran was in 16 min and 30 sec.
For some reason we are getting up at 3:30 tomorrow morning and going to bed one earlier tonight. It might be to work out in the cool of the morning longer because it gets really hot here.
The new drill sergeant is not as bad as I thought. He came in going a little crazy this morning - tipping bunks over - mine included, but he is 5'5". So if he ever yells at me he will be looking up at me like the other 2 as well.
I love you more then all the luggage in the whole world.
Brad
P.S. What would you think about visiting me on a weekend while I'm in El Paso.
I conquered the Treadwell Tower. It was really easy. We had to repel down a 60 foot wall and then climb or slide on some ropes courses. One we had to slide on top of one single rope. You had to leave one leg hanging down to keep your balance and then slide up or down the rope. We marched a mile adn a half with some of our gear and it really hurt my back. I was in a lot of pain and have been for a while. I have been thinking that this might get me kicked out of the Army, but I don't want you to worry, I think I have fixed it. If I purposely lean back with my shoulders it feels good. I just need to remember to sstand that way whenever we are standing (which is most of the day). I am hoping one of your letters will arrive tomorrow or maybe Wednesday.
Tomorrow is going to be a hard physical training day. I am ready. I want a good hard day. I have a goal to get the perfect score on the P.T. test. I need to run 2 miles in 13 minutes, do 75 push-ups in 2 minutes, and do 81 sit-ups in 2 minutes. I think I'm already pretty close on the push-ups. The sit-ups will need some work and the running will need a lot of work. The last 2 miles I ran was in 16 min and 30 sec.
For some reason we are getting up at 3:30 tomorrow morning and going to bed one earlier tonight. It might be to work out in the cool of the morning longer because it gets really hot here.
The new drill sergeant is not as bad as I thought. He came in going a little crazy this morning - tipping bunks over - mine included, but he is 5'5". So if he ever yells at me he will be looking up at me like the other 2 as well.
I love you more then all the luggage in the whole world.
Brad
P.S. What would you think about visiting me on a weekend while I'm in El Paso.
8-27-07
Bradley:
How are you sweetie? I hope well! Guess what? My dad found us a great cruise to Acapulco. Tell me what you think... It is scheduled to leave out of LA on December 18th which is a Tuesday and it is an 8 day cruise so it goes through Christmas Day and gets back on the 26th which is a Wednesday. Here's the schedule: depart, day at sea, day at sea, Acapulco, Acapulco, Ixtapa, Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas, day at sea, back to LA (see the map below). The cruise line is Norwegian (my dad has been on Norwegian and likes them) and this cruise costs $649 + taxes per person. That price is for an inside cabin or we could get an outside cabin (like a room with a port hole) for $699 + taxes per person. I think this cruise sounds great! It's a little more expensive than we were planning on and it's a little risky because it starts on the 18th, but 6 weeks from October 29th is December 10th so I think you will be back in plenty of time. I'm going to send an email to Sgt. Williamson asking him if he knows when you should be done with AIT so that we can know for sure if those dates work. Also, the price is ok because we are getting more than $400/month more per month (we were thinking $600/month for me, but we're actually going to get more than $1000/month). So that extra $ more than pays for our cruise. Also, it makes us gone over Christmas so Dan and Danni can come out. Plus we'll already be in California and we can leave the girls with my parents. Plus we'll be celebrating Christmas, our 3rd year wedding anniversary, and our reunion after being apart for so long! I think that calls for a rocking cruise with really fun stops. As far as having friends come with us, if we decide to do this cruise, we could just send out an email to the people who might potentially want to go with us and just say, “here's what we're thinking about doing. If you want to do it too then call this number and book your rooms and if you can get yourself to CA you'll have a place to stay and a ride to LA.” Truthfully, I think it would be fun to go with friends, but I also wouldn't be sad if no one could/wanted to come. Our other two options would be to either go on a 7 day cruise to Mazatlan, Cabo, and Puerto Vallarta for about $550. Or the same 4 day cruise that we did last year to San Diego, Catalina, and Ensanada for $200. Well, that's all I have to say about that right now. Next time we talk on the phone I'd like to get your opinion on all of this so I can book our tickets if you give me the go ahead.
Here is the song that has been stuck in my head today:
“Catch a falling star an’ put it in your pocket, never let it fade away! Catch a falling star an’ put it in your pocket, save it for a rainy day!
For love may come an' tap you on the shoulder, some star-less night! Just in case you feel you wanna’ hold her, you’ll have a pocketful of starlight!
For when your troubles start multiplyin’, an' they just might! It’s easy to forget them without tryin’, with just a pocketful of starlight!
Catch a falling star an’ put it in your pocket, never let it fade away! Catch a falling star an’ put it in your pocket, save it for a rainy day!”
I was able to take the laptop back to Costco with just a different pair of headphones thankfully. So now we were able to get our money back and we have our new one and it's all set up and working great, so we should be good to go in the computer department. This is really a great laptop. I downloaded something called Open Office which is like a free Microsoft Office so now we have a program like Word, Excel, Power Point, etc. Also, Heroes works on this machine, which is a bonus. I haven't tried any other games like War Craft, but I'm sure they'll work too.
I also went to Camp Pendleton and got my military ID and got enrolled in DEERS so now I can go to the doctor. We had to drive all through Pendleton because we had to go to a couple different buildings to get all of the paperwork done. Anyway, I got a good look at base life (at least a Marine base) and I got to see what the housing on base looked like at it was pretty good. I wonder if we will end up living on a base after we graduate from BYU and start working for the National Guard full time. Anyway, it was a fun eye opening experience and I thought of you the whole time of course. I wonder what Fort Sill looks like... I LOVE YOU!!!
Love-Your Sweetie
P.S. This is still on the DL so don't tell anyone, but guess what? Nicole is pregnant and due at the end of April! Isn't that so exciting!?!?
How are you sweetie? I hope well! Guess what? My dad found us a great cruise to Acapulco. Tell me what you think... It is scheduled to leave out of LA on December 18th which is a Tuesday and it is an 8 day cruise so it goes through Christmas Day and gets back on the 26th which is a Wednesday. Here's the schedule: depart, day at sea, day at sea, Acapulco, Acapulco, Ixtapa, Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas, day at sea, back to LA (see the map below). The cruise line is Norwegian (my dad has been on Norwegian and likes them) and this cruise costs $649 + taxes per person. That price is for an inside cabin or we could get an outside cabin (like a room with a port hole) for $699 + taxes per person. I think this cruise sounds great! It's a little more expensive than we were planning on and it's a little risky because it starts on the 18th, but 6 weeks from October 29th is December 10th so I think you will be back in plenty of time. I'm going to send an email to Sgt. Williamson asking him if he knows when you should be done with AIT so that we can know for sure if those dates work. Also, the price is ok because we are getting more than $400/month more per month (we were thinking $600/month for me, but we're actually going to get more than $1000/month). So that extra $ more than pays for our cruise. Also, it makes us gone over Christmas so Dan and Danni can come out. Plus we'll already be in California and we can leave the girls with my parents. Plus we'll be celebrating Christmas, our 3rd year wedding anniversary, and our reunion after being apart for so long! I think that calls for a rocking cruise with really fun stops. As far as having friends come with us, if we decide to do this cruise, we could just send out an email to the people who might potentially want to go with us and just say, “here's what we're thinking about doing. If you want to do it too then call this number and book your rooms and if you can get yourself to CA you'll have a place to stay and a ride to LA.” Truthfully, I think it would be fun to go with friends, but I also wouldn't be sad if no one could/wanted to come. Our other two options would be to either go on a 7 day cruise to Mazatlan, Cabo, and Puerto Vallarta for about $550. Or the same 4 day cruise that we did last year to San Diego, Catalina, and Ensanada for $200. Well, that's all I have to say about that right now. Next time we talk on the phone I'd like to get your opinion on all of this so I can book our tickets if you give me the go ahead.
Here is the song that has been stuck in my head today:
“Catch a falling star an’ put it in your pocket, never let it fade away! Catch a falling star an’ put it in your pocket, save it for a rainy day!
For love may come an' tap you on the shoulder, some star-less night! Just in case you feel you wanna’ hold her, you’ll have a pocketful of starlight!
For when your troubles start multiplyin’, an' they just might! It’s easy to forget them without tryin’, with just a pocketful of starlight!
Catch a falling star an’ put it in your pocket, never let it fade away! Catch a falling star an’ put it in your pocket, save it for a rainy day!”
I was able to take the laptop back to Costco with just a different pair of headphones thankfully. So now we were able to get our money back and we have our new one and it's all set up and working great, so we should be good to go in the computer department. This is really a great laptop. I downloaded something called Open Office which is like a free Microsoft Office so now we have a program like Word, Excel, Power Point, etc. Also, Heroes works on this machine, which is a bonus. I haven't tried any other games like War Craft, but I'm sure they'll work too.
I also went to Camp Pendleton and got my military ID and got enrolled in DEERS so now I can go to the doctor. We had to drive all through Pendleton because we had to go to a couple different buildings to get all of the paperwork done. Anyway, I got a good look at base life (at least a Marine base) and I got to see what the housing on base looked like at it was pretty good. I wonder if we will end up living on a base after we graduate from BYU and start working for the National Guard full time. Anyway, it was a fun eye opening experience and I thought of you the whole time of course. I wonder what Fort Sill looks like... I LOVE YOU!!!
Love-Your Sweetie
P.S. This is still on the DL so don't tell anyone, but guess what? Nicole is pregnant and due at the end of April! Isn't that so exciting!?!?
Sunday, August 26, 2007
8/26/07
Dearest Jessie,
This Sunday is the last day of zero week. Tomorrow is day 1 week 1 and they say it will be hard. Bring it on - I am done waiting. We also get to meet the third of our three drill sergeants. I think he will be harder than the other 2. He is black, which many of the other drill sergeants are and I think that intimidates me. I'm not scared of D.S. Padilla or Vangadong because they are both short and white - well actually Vangadong is Thai. He's actually from Chiang Mai. Small world.
Tomorrow we get to do some fun stuff. We go to Treadwell Tower and ropes course. I've seen film of other privates doing it and it looks pretty fun. We have to take all of our gear out there, which is a whole lot of stuff.
We talked to a specialist who went to Basic here. He said they had moved into white phase by week two. Do you know about the phases? The 9 weeks are broken into three phases - red, white, and blue. As we progress we recieve more priveleges and more reponsibility. They assign platoon leaders and squad leaders. I think I should get some responsibility.
Not going to church today, bummed me out pretty good. We weren't able to go last week either and I am feeling the effects. This environment is not very spiritual at all. I read whenever I can and pray twice a day and in between. Surprisingly we do have a group prayer some nights. About half join in and afew say some weird stuff.
I love you more than anything else.
Brad
This Sunday is the last day of zero week. Tomorrow is day 1 week 1 and they say it will be hard. Bring it on - I am done waiting. We also get to meet the third of our three drill sergeants. I think he will be harder than the other 2. He is black, which many of the other drill sergeants are and I think that intimidates me. I'm not scared of D.S. Padilla or Vangadong because they are both short and white - well actually Vangadong is Thai. He's actually from Chiang Mai. Small world.
Tomorrow we get to do some fun stuff. We go to Treadwell Tower and ropes course. I've seen film of other privates doing it and it looks pretty fun. We have to take all of our gear out there, which is a whole lot of stuff.
We talked to a specialist who went to Basic here. He said they had moved into white phase by week two. Do you know about the phases? The 9 weeks are broken into three phases - red, white, and blue. As we progress we recieve more priveleges and more reponsibility. They assign platoon leaders and squad leaders. I think I should get some responsibility.
Not going to church today, bummed me out pretty good. We weren't able to go last week either and I am feeling the effects. This environment is not very spiritual at all. I read whenever I can and pray twice a day and in between. Surprisingly we do have a group prayer some nights. About half join in and afew say some weird stuff.
I love you more than anything else.
Brad
8-26-07
Dear Bradley:
How's my main man? I hope that you are doing well. I know that you are in the middle of the hardest part of boot camp right now. I hope that they are not making it too hard for you. Be strong, it will be over soon. It will just get better from here on out and you are getting stronger every day.
Church was wonderful today and I'm going to tell you all about it, especially since you didn't get to attend church. During sacrament meeting we learned about not judging people and a very talented speaker related several experiences that he has had in life where he has misjudged people but learned his lesson that people are good on the inside. It sounds like a simple lesson that we all already know, but like I said he was a very talented speaker and related his thoughts very well. Sunday school I was a little distracted with Jane and we were in the middle of a crazy lightning and thunder storm which sounded cool. During relief society we learned about the talk given in conference entitled “I Know That My Redeemer Lives” by President Monson. The angle that the teacher took was that it is important to know that our Savior lives and to have a testimony of that when we lose loved ones because we know that we will live again and that we will be together again. Whenever either of us worry about each other or our girls we can always find comfort in our knowledge that this life is not all there is, there is so much more!!
The lyrics for today are, of course, “I Know That My Redeemer Lives”:
“I know that my Redeemer lives! What comfort this sweet sentence gives! He lives, He lives, who once was dead; He lives, my ever living head! He lives to bless me with His love; He lives to plead for me above; He lives my hungry soul to feed; He lives to bless in time of need.
He lives to grant me rich supply; He lives to guide me with His eye; He lives to comfort me when faint; He lives to hear my soul’s complaint. He lives to silence all my fears; He lives to wipe away my tears; He lives to calm my troubled heart; He lives all blessings to impart.
He lives, my kind, wise, heavenly friend; He lives and loves me to the end; He lives, and while He lives, I’ll sing; He lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King! He lives and grants me daily breath; He lives, and I shall conquer death; He lives my mansion to prepare; He lives to bring me safely there.
He lives, all glory to His name! He lives, my Savior, still the same; Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives: I know that my Redeemer lives! He lives, all glory to His name! He lives, my Savior, still the same; Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives: I know that my Redeemer lives!”
Guess what? My dad has been working with Jane a lot and today is the first day that she actually chose to walk instead of crawl. She's still crawling a lot, but today is the first day that she has walked without us coaching her, she has just tried walking on her own. Like I was saying earlier, it's so funny to watch her walk because she'll walk long distances but it will take her so long because she takes such tiny cautious steps. Usually, once kids start learning how to walk they just take off running, but not our Jane she has to perfect it first :)
So, I have tickets now, I'm going to UT this Wednesday. Your dad is flying me and the girls to UT for a week (Wednesday to Wednesday) So I'll be flying home on your birthday actually. I think it will be a fun trip and I'm excited for your parents to see the girls, especially Jane, because they haven't seen her since before the Virginia trip. Also, now that Maren is on formula she is really chunking up. She is really getting chubby and it's very cute!
Anyway, I just wanted to tell you about how today was the first day that I felt really pretty in a long time. I wish you could have seen me, I wore my cream sweater and a dark brown knee length skirt with some new brown shoes that I got at Payless last week. I had freshly shaved, smooth, Tan legs. I was dressed modestly, but still very flatteringly. My stomach is finally getting flatter and I don't feel like I look so dumpy. It just feels good, that's all. Your Woman is getting a hot bod, so get excited! I love you Bradley!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love-Jess
P.S. My birthday is one month from today :)
I Know That My Redeemer Lives – President Thomas S. Monson
Recently I was looking through some family photo albums. Cherished memories flooded my mind as I came across image after image of loved ones gathered at family outings, birthdays, reunions, anniversaries. Since these photographs were taken, some of those beloved family members have departed this life. I thought of the words of the Lord, "Thou shalt live together in love, insomuch that thou shalt weep for the loss of them that die." I miss each one who has left our family circle.
Though difficult and painful, death is an essential part of our mortal experience. We began our sojourn here by leaving our premortal existence and coming to this earth. The poet Wordsworth captured that journey in his inspired ode to immortality. He wrote:
Life moves on. Youth follows childhood, and maturity comes ever so imperceptibly. As we search and ponder the purpose and the problems of life, all of us sooner or later face the question of the length of life and of a personal, everlasting life. These questions most insistently assert themselves when loved ones leave us or when we face leaving those we love.
At such times, we ponder the universal question, best phrased by Job of old, who centuries ago asked, "If a man die, shall he live again?"
Today, as always, the skeptic's voice challenges the word of God, and each must choose to whom he will listen. Clarence Darrow, the famous lawyer and agnostic, declared, "No life is of much value, and . . . every death is [:;but a] little loss." Schopenhauer, the German philosopher and pessimist, wrote, "To desire immortality is to desire the eternal perpetuation of a great mistake." And to their words are added those of new generations, as foolish men crucify the Christ anew—for they modify His miracles, doubt His divinity, and reject His Resurrection.
Robert Blatchford, in his book God and My Neighbor, attacked with vigor accepted Christian beliefs, such as God, Christ, prayer, and immortality. He boldly asserted, "I claim to have proved everything I set out to prove so fully and decisively that no Christian, however great or able he may be, can answer my arguments or shake my case." He surrounded himself with a wall of skepticism. Then a surprising thing happened. His wall suddenly crumbled to dust. He was left exposed and undefended. Slowly he began to feel his way back to the faith he had scorned and ridiculed. What had caused this profound change in his outlook? His wife died. With a broken heart, he went into the room where lay all that was mortal of her. He looked again at the face he loved so well. Coming out, he said to a friend: "It is she, and yet it is not she. Everything is changed. Something that was there before is taken away. She is not the same. What can be gone if it be not the soul?"
Later he wrote: "Death is not what some people imagine. It is only like going into another room. In that other room we shall find . . . the dear women and men and the sweet children we have loved and lost."
Against the doubting in today's world concerning Christ's divinity, we seek a point of reference, an unimpeachable source, even a testimony of eyewitnesses. Stephen, from biblical times, doomed to the cruel death of a martyr, looked up to heaven and cried, "I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God."
Who can help but be convinced by the stirring testimony of Paul to the Corinthians? He declared "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: and . . . was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: . . . And," said Paul, "last of all he was seen of me."
In our dispensation, this same testimony was spoken boldly by the Prophet Joseph Smith, as he and Sidney Rigdon testified, "And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!"
This is the knowledge that sustains. This is the truth that comforts. This is the assurance that guides those who are bowed down with grief—out of the shadows and into the light.
On Christmas Eve, 1997, I met a remarkable family. Each member of the family had an unshakable testimony of the truth and of the reality of the Resurrection. The family consisted of a mother and father and four children. Each of the children—three sons and a daughter—had been born with a rare form of muscular dystrophy, and each was handicapped. Mark, who was then 16 years old, had undergone spinal surgery in an effort to help him move about more freely. The other two boys, Christopher, age 13, and Jason, age 10, were to leave for California in a few days to undergo similar surgery. The only daughter, Shanna, was then five years old—a beautiful child. All of the children were intelligent and faith-filled, and it was obvious that their parents, Bill and Sherry, were proud of each one. We visited for a while, and the special spirit of that family filled my office and my heart. The father and I gave blessings to the two boys who were facing surgery, and then the parents asked if little Shanna could sing for me. Her father mentioned that she had diminished lung capacity and that it might be difficult for her, but that she wanted to try. To the accompaniment of a recorded cassette, and in a beautiful, clear voice—never missing a note—she sang of a brighter future:
The emotions of all of us were very near the surface as she finished. The spirituality of this visit set the tone for my Christmas that year.
I kept in touch with the family, and when the oldest son, Mark, turned 19, arrangements were made for him to serve a special mission at Church headquarters. Eventually, the other two brothers also had an opportunity to serve such missions.
Nearly a year ago, Christopher, who was then 22 years old, succumbed to the disease with which each of the children has been afflicted. And then, last September, I received word that little Shanna, now 14 years old, had passed away. At the funeral services, Shanna was honored by beautiful tributes. Leaning on the pulpit for support, each of her surviving brothers, Mark and Jason, shared poignant family experiences. Shanna's mother sang a lovely musical number as part of a duet. Her father and grandfather gave touching sermons. Though their hearts were broken, each bore powerful and deep-felt testimony of the reality of the Resurrection and of the actuality that Shanna lives still, as does her brother Christopher, each awaiting a glorious reunion with their beloved family.
When it was my time to speak, I recounted that visit the family made to my office nearly nine years earlier and spoke of the lovely song Shanna sang on that occasion. I concluded with the thought: "Because our Savior died at Calvary, death has no hold upon any one of us. Shanna lives, whole and well, and for her that beautiful day she sang about on a special Christmas Eve in 1997, the day she dreamed about, is here and now."
My brothers and sisters, we laugh, we cry, we work, we play, we love, we live. And then we die. Death is our universal heritage. All must pass its portals. Death claims the aged, the weary and worn. It visits the youth in the bloom of hope and the glory of expectation. Nor are little children kept beyond its grasp. In the words of the Apostle Paul, "It is appointed unto men once to die."
And dead we would remain but for one Man and His mission, even Jesus of Nazareth. Born in a stable, cradled in a manger, His birth fulfilled the inspired pronouncements of many prophets. He was taught from on high. He provided the life, the light, and the way. Multitudes followed Him. Children adored Him. The haughty rejected Him. He spoke in parables. He taught by example. He lived a perfect life.
Though the King of kings and Lord of lords had come, He was accorded by some the greeting given to an enemy, a traitor. There followed a mockery which some called a trial. Cries of "crucify him, crucify him" filled the air. Then commenced the climb to Calvary's hill.
He was ridiculed, reviled, mocked, jeered, and nailed to a cross amidst shouts of "Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe." "He saved others; himself he cannot save." His response: "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."16 "Into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost."17 His body was placed by loving hands in a sepulchre hewn of stone.
On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James, along with others, came to the sepulchre. To their astonishment, the body of their Lord was gone. Luke records that two men in shining garments stood by them and said: "Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen."
Next week the Christian world will celebrate the most significant event in recorded history. The simple pronouncement, "He is not here, but is risen," was the first confirmation of the literal Resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The empty tomb that first Easter morning brought comforting assurance, an affirmative answer to Job's question, "If a man die, shall he live again?"
To all who have lost loved ones, we would turn Job's question to an answer: If a man die, he shall live again. We know, for we have the light of revealed truth. "I am the resurrection, and the life," spoke the Master. "He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die."
Through tears and trials, through fears and sorrows, through the heartache and loneliness of losing loved ones, there is assurance that life is everlasting. Our Lord and Savior is the living witness that such is so.
With all my heart and the fervency of my soul, I lift up my voice in testimony as a special witness and declare that God does live. Jesus is His Son, the Only Begotten of the Father in the flesh. He is our Redeemer; He is our Mediator with the Father. He it was who died on the cross to atone for our sins. He became the firstfruits of the Resurrection. Because He died, all shall live again. "Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives: 'I know that my Redeemer lives!' "21 May the whole world know it and live by that knowledge, I humbly pray, in the name of Jesus Christ, the Lord and Savior, amen.
How's my main man? I hope that you are doing well. I know that you are in the middle of the hardest part of boot camp right now. I hope that they are not making it too hard for you. Be strong, it will be over soon. It will just get better from here on out and you are getting stronger every day.
Church was wonderful today and I'm going to tell you all about it, especially since you didn't get to attend church. During sacrament meeting we learned about not judging people and a very talented speaker related several experiences that he has had in life where he has misjudged people but learned his lesson that people are good on the inside. It sounds like a simple lesson that we all already know, but like I said he was a very talented speaker and related his thoughts very well. Sunday school I was a little distracted with Jane and we were in the middle of a crazy lightning and thunder storm which sounded cool. During relief society we learned about the talk given in conference entitled “I Know That My Redeemer Lives” by President Monson. The angle that the teacher took was that it is important to know that our Savior lives and to have a testimony of that when we lose loved ones because we know that we will live again and that we will be together again. Whenever either of us worry about each other or our girls we can always find comfort in our knowledge that this life is not all there is, there is so much more!!
The lyrics for today are, of course, “I Know That My Redeemer Lives”:
“I know that my Redeemer lives! What comfort this sweet sentence gives! He lives, He lives, who once was dead; He lives, my ever living head! He lives to bless me with His love; He lives to plead for me above; He lives my hungry soul to feed; He lives to bless in time of need.
He lives to grant me rich supply; He lives to guide me with His eye; He lives to comfort me when faint; He lives to hear my soul’s complaint. He lives to silence all my fears; He lives to wipe away my tears; He lives to calm my troubled heart; He lives all blessings to impart.
He lives, my kind, wise, heavenly friend; He lives and loves me to the end; He lives, and while He lives, I’ll sing; He lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King! He lives and grants me daily breath; He lives, and I shall conquer death; He lives my mansion to prepare; He lives to bring me safely there.
He lives, all glory to His name! He lives, my Savior, still the same; Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives: I know that my Redeemer lives! He lives, all glory to His name! He lives, my Savior, still the same; Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives: I know that my Redeemer lives!”
Guess what? My dad has been working with Jane a lot and today is the first day that she actually chose to walk instead of crawl. She's still crawling a lot, but today is the first day that she has walked without us coaching her, she has just tried walking on her own. Like I was saying earlier, it's so funny to watch her walk because she'll walk long distances but it will take her so long because she takes such tiny cautious steps. Usually, once kids start learning how to walk they just take off running, but not our Jane she has to perfect it first :)
So, I have tickets now, I'm going to UT this Wednesday. Your dad is flying me and the girls to UT for a week (Wednesday to Wednesday) So I'll be flying home on your birthday actually. I think it will be a fun trip and I'm excited for your parents to see the girls, especially Jane, because they haven't seen her since before the Virginia trip. Also, now that Maren is on formula she is really chunking up. She is really getting chubby and it's very cute!
Anyway, I just wanted to tell you about how today was the first day that I felt really pretty in a long time. I wish you could have seen me, I wore my cream sweater and a dark brown knee length skirt with some new brown shoes that I got at Payless last week. I had freshly shaved, smooth, Tan legs. I was dressed modestly, but still very flatteringly. My stomach is finally getting flatter and I don't feel like I look so dumpy. It just feels good, that's all. Your Woman is getting a hot bod, so get excited! I love you Bradley!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love-Jess
P.S. My birthday is one month from today :)
I Know That My Redeemer Lives – President Thomas S. Monson
Recently I was looking through some family photo albums. Cherished memories flooded my mind as I came across image after image of loved ones gathered at family outings, birthdays, reunions, anniversaries. Since these photographs were taken, some of those beloved family members have departed this life. I thought of the words of the Lord, "Thou shalt live together in love, insomuch that thou shalt weep for the loss of them that die." I miss each one who has left our family circle.
Though difficult and painful, death is an essential part of our mortal experience. We began our sojourn here by leaving our premortal existence and coming to this earth. The poet Wordsworth captured that journey in his inspired ode to immortality. He wrote:
Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting:
The Soul that rises with us, our life's Star,
Hath had elsewhere its setting,
And cometh from afar:
Not in entire forgetfulness,
And not in utter nakedness,
But trailing clouds of glory do we come
From God, who is our home:
Heaven lies about us in our infancy!
The Soul that rises with us, our life's Star,
Hath had elsewhere its setting,
And cometh from afar:
Not in entire forgetfulness,
And not in utter nakedness,
But trailing clouds of glory do we come
From God, who is our home:
Heaven lies about us in our infancy!
Life moves on. Youth follows childhood, and maturity comes ever so imperceptibly. As we search and ponder the purpose and the problems of life, all of us sooner or later face the question of the length of life and of a personal, everlasting life. These questions most insistently assert themselves when loved ones leave us or when we face leaving those we love.
At such times, we ponder the universal question, best phrased by Job of old, who centuries ago asked, "If a man die, shall he live again?"
Today, as always, the skeptic's voice challenges the word of God, and each must choose to whom he will listen. Clarence Darrow, the famous lawyer and agnostic, declared, "No life is of much value, and . . . every death is [:;but a] little loss." Schopenhauer, the German philosopher and pessimist, wrote, "To desire immortality is to desire the eternal perpetuation of a great mistake." And to their words are added those of new generations, as foolish men crucify the Christ anew—for they modify His miracles, doubt His divinity, and reject His Resurrection.
Robert Blatchford, in his book God and My Neighbor, attacked with vigor accepted Christian beliefs, such as God, Christ, prayer, and immortality. He boldly asserted, "I claim to have proved everything I set out to prove so fully and decisively that no Christian, however great or able he may be, can answer my arguments or shake my case." He surrounded himself with a wall of skepticism. Then a surprising thing happened. His wall suddenly crumbled to dust. He was left exposed and undefended. Slowly he began to feel his way back to the faith he had scorned and ridiculed. What had caused this profound change in his outlook? His wife died. With a broken heart, he went into the room where lay all that was mortal of her. He looked again at the face he loved so well. Coming out, he said to a friend: "It is she, and yet it is not she. Everything is changed. Something that was there before is taken away. She is not the same. What can be gone if it be not the soul?"
Later he wrote: "Death is not what some people imagine. It is only like going into another room. In that other room we shall find . . . the dear women and men and the sweet children we have loved and lost."
Against the doubting in today's world concerning Christ's divinity, we seek a point of reference, an unimpeachable source, even a testimony of eyewitnesses. Stephen, from biblical times, doomed to the cruel death of a martyr, looked up to heaven and cried, "I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God."
Who can help but be convinced by the stirring testimony of Paul to the Corinthians? He declared "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: and . . . was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: . . . And," said Paul, "last of all he was seen of me."
In our dispensation, this same testimony was spoken boldly by the Prophet Joseph Smith, as he and Sidney Rigdon testified, "And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!"
This is the knowledge that sustains. This is the truth that comforts. This is the assurance that guides those who are bowed down with grief—out of the shadows and into the light.
On Christmas Eve, 1997, I met a remarkable family. Each member of the family had an unshakable testimony of the truth and of the reality of the Resurrection. The family consisted of a mother and father and four children. Each of the children—three sons and a daughter—had been born with a rare form of muscular dystrophy, and each was handicapped. Mark, who was then 16 years old, had undergone spinal surgery in an effort to help him move about more freely. The other two boys, Christopher, age 13, and Jason, age 10, were to leave for California in a few days to undergo similar surgery. The only daughter, Shanna, was then five years old—a beautiful child. All of the children were intelligent and faith-filled, and it was obvious that their parents, Bill and Sherry, were proud of each one. We visited for a while, and the special spirit of that family filled my office and my heart. The father and I gave blessings to the two boys who were facing surgery, and then the parents asked if little Shanna could sing for me. Her father mentioned that she had diminished lung capacity and that it might be difficult for her, but that she wanted to try. To the accompaniment of a recorded cassette, and in a beautiful, clear voice—never missing a note—she sang of a brighter future:
On a beautiful day that I dream about
In a world I would love to see,
Is a beautiful place where the sun comes out
And it shines in the sky for me.
On this beautiful winter's morning,
If my wish could come true somehow,
Then the beautiful day that I dream about
Would be here and now.
In a world I would love to see,
Is a beautiful place where the sun comes out
And it shines in the sky for me.
On this beautiful winter's morning,
If my wish could come true somehow,
Then the beautiful day that I dream about
Would be here and now.
The emotions of all of us were very near the surface as she finished. The spirituality of this visit set the tone for my Christmas that year.
I kept in touch with the family, and when the oldest son, Mark, turned 19, arrangements were made for him to serve a special mission at Church headquarters. Eventually, the other two brothers also had an opportunity to serve such missions.
Nearly a year ago, Christopher, who was then 22 years old, succumbed to the disease with which each of the children has been afflicted. And then, last September, I received word that little Shanna, now 14 years old, had passed away. At the funeral services, Shanna was honored by beautiful tributes. Leaning on the pulpit for support, each of her surviving brothers, Mark and Jason, shared poignant family experiences. Shanna's mother sang a lovely musical number as part of a duet. Her father and grandfather gave touching sermons. Though their hearts were broken, each bore powerful and deep-felt testimony of the reality of the Resurrection and of the actuality that Shanna lives still, as does her brother Christopher, each awaiting a glorious reunion with their beloved family.
When it was my time to speak, I recounted that visit the family made to my office nearly nine years earlier and spoke of the lovely song Shanna sang on that occasion. I concluded with the thought: "Because our Savior died at Calvary, death has no hold upon any one of us. Shanna lives, whole and well, and for her that beautiful day she sang about on a special Christmas Eve in 1997, the day she dreamed about, is here and now."
My brothers and sisters, we laugh, we cry, we work, we play, we love, we live. And then we die. Death is our universal heritage. All must pass its portals. Death claims the aged, the weary and worn. It visits the youth in the bloom of hope and the glory of expectation. Nor are little children kept beyond its grasp. In the words of the Apostle Paul, "It is appointed unto men once to die."
And dead we would remain but for one Man and His mission, even Jesus of Nazareth. Born in a stable, cradled in a manger, His birth fulfilled the inspired pronouncements of many prophets. He was taught from on high. He provided the life, the light, and the way. Multitudes followed Him. Children adored Him. The haughty rejected Him. He spoke in parables. He taught by example. He lived a perfect life.
Though the King of kings and Lord of lords had come, He was accorded by some the greeting given to an enemy, a traitor. There followed a mockery which some called a trial. Cries of "crucify him, crucify him" filled the air. Then commenced the climb to Calvary's hill.
He was ridiculed, reviled, mocked, jeered, and nailed to a cross amidst shouts of "Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe." "He saved others; himself he cannot save." His response: "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."16 "Into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost."17 His body was placed by loving hands in a sepulchre hewn of stone.
On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James, along with others, came to the sepulchre. To their astonishment, the body of their Lord was gone. Luke records that two men in shining garments stood by them and said: "Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen."
Next week the Christian world will celebrate the most significant event in recorded history. The simple pronouncement, "He is not here, but is risen," was the first confirmation of the literal Resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The empty tomb that first Easter morning brought comforting assurance, an affirmative answer to Job's question, "If a man die, shall he live again?"
To all who have lost loved ones, we would turn Job's question to an answer: If a man die, he shall live again. We know, for we have the light of revealed truth. "I am the resurrection, and the life," spoke the Master. "He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die."
Through tears and trials, through fears and sorrows, through the heartache and loneliness of losing loved ones, there is assurance that life is everlasting. Our Lord and Savior is the living witness that such is so.
With all my heart and the fervency of my soul, I lift up my voice in testimony as a special witness and declare that God does live. Jesus is His Son, the Only Begotten of the Father in the flesh. He is our Redeemer; He is our Mediator with the Father. He it was who died on the cross to atone for our sins. He became the firstfruits of the Resurrection. Because He died, all shall live again. "Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives: 'I know that my Redeemer lives!' "21 May the whole world know it and live by that knowledge, I humbly pray, in the name of Jesus Christ, the Lord and Savior, amen.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
8-25-07
Mr. Military Man:
Hey honey, today was a crazy day. I tried to take our laptop back, but Costco said that they couldn't take it back because I didn't have the head phones that came with it and they're in Utah. Isn't that silly. Anyway, it's going to be fine because Lara was able to find the headphones for me in Utah so she can mail them to me on Monday if I need her to, but first I'm going to try to take it back with a different pair of ear buds and I'm pretty sure that will work. I've gotten the new laptop all set up and it is great, you are going to love it!
I got a letter from you today and I mailed you two letters with two letters in each envelope. I forgot to put pictures in the first envelope, but I included a few in the second. I won't forget again, don't worry. I printed a bunch of pictures at Costco so I will always have pictures to send you. I can't wait until you start receiving my letters because I just know it will bring some strength and happiness to your day because that's what it has done for me. Hopefully you will get the ones that I mailed you today on like Tuesday or Wednesday. Do you get mail every day or do they save it up and then only give it to you a couple times a week?
My mom is trying to cleanse, which means she doesn't eat food or take medicine, she just drinks lemonade (fresh) and salt water and takes herbs and stuff. The first day (which is today) is usually really bad because her body is like in detox from all of the medicine that she has been taking. But then every day just gets better and better and easier and easier and she is going to try to go for a couple of weeks. Even though it is hard for her at first it always helps her migraines. So, in the end, I think it is worth it. I'll keep you updated on how it's going for her.
So, it looks like I'll be taking a trip to UT in a couple of weeks. Your Dad wants to fly me and the girls out there because everyone wants to see them and it's cheaper then everyone flying here plus they're having a hard time finding a time that everyone can go. So it's easier for me to go to them than it is for them to come to me. I'm excited, it should be fun, the plane ride is going to be interesting by myself, but I think I'll be fine. Your dad had to buy Jane a ticket so she'll be able to be strapped in to her own seat. Plus, it's a good test because I am planning on bringing the girls by myself when I go to UT in October so that I can leave them there with your parents and then go to OK to see my honey :) That's going to be such a good day. I had a great dream about you last night. Nothing crazy, just us spending time together doing nothing and lots of kissing. I miss kissing you so much!
The lyrics for today are that remake of Time After Time that I love by Eva Cassidy:
“Lying in my bed I hear the clock tick, and think of you. Caught up in circles, confusion is nothing new. Flashback--warm nights--almost left behind. Suitcases of memories, time after...
Sometimes you picture me--I'm walking too far ahead. You're calling to me, I can't hear what you've said. Then you say--go slow--I fall behind. The second hand unwinds...
If you're lost you can look and you will find me, time after time. If you fall I will catch you, I'll be waiting, time after time.
After my picture fades and darkness has turned to gray. Watching through windows, you're wondering if I'm okay. Secrets stolen from deep inside, the drum beats out of time. You said go slow, I fall behind. The second hand unwinds...
If you're lost you can look and you will find me, time after time. If you fall I will catch you, I'll be waiting, time after time.”
Jane is getting more talkative every day. She loves when the train goes by, a dog barks, or my dad's bird clock chimes. I made what I call a “Daddy Book” for Jane. It's mostly pictures of you and her, but I also put in pictures of other people that I want to talk about and help her remember like your parents and sibs, my sibs, and all of her cousins. It's in a little photo album and at least once a day we sit down on her reading couch and flip through it together and talk about the people on the different pages. The two cute things that she does while we do this is every page we open to she immediately points to you and says Daddy (sometimes even if you aren't in the pictures) which is cute because it's like she knows this is a book about you. The other thing she does is if we're looking at a picture with lots of people I'll point at one person at a time and say their name and then she will try and say it after I do. Sometimes it doesn't sound anything like the person's name, but on some of them she is really good like Lara, Amy, and Tim. Anyway, all three of your girls are doing really well. We are all happy and safe and very well taken care of. My parents take care of me and I take care of our girls. We love you so much! Lot's of kisses! XXxoOOxoxoOXooo
Love-Your Military Mama
P.S. By now you'll have received a few letters from me. Are you enjoying the SuDoku and comics?
Friday, August 24, 2007
8/24/07
Dearest Jessie,
How do you like the new stationary I got? I think it was appropriate - makes things look more official. It came with a cool note book to keep it all together. WE got to go to the PX (store) today so I got some stuff. Today was really boring. We spent a lot of time in classes learning about really stupid stuff. We did some drilling out in the hot hot sun. We learned the counter march where all the columns split up and mingle in a certain way and then come out together at the end.
The drill sergeants have told us a couple of times today that come Monday life is going to get really hard. These past few days they haven't been able to do much because we have had so many classes. We also get to go repel down a really big tower on Monday. I'm pretty excited about that. I wish we could have a camera to take pictures of the cool stuff we did. (within the last minute I have heard about 20 f words).
We got to talk to some guys that have been in here for around 6 weeks. They say after week three boot camp gets really fun. The drill sergeants start messing around with you instead of "smoking" you. (in the last 10 seconds I heard 7 f words).
Is Jane still enjoying her hats? I wish I could see her. She will probably be so much bigger when I see her. Is she walking any more? I hope she is. I can't wait to see you. I need to go to bed. I love you.
Brad
8-24-07
Brad:
Today was my mom's birthday and Nate's. My mom is 52 and I think Nate is 26, yikes :). Anyway, how is the love of my life? You have seemed pretty good when we've talked on the phone and in your letters, but I know that what you are going through is very hard and I want you to know that I think about you and pray for you all of the time.
The lyrics for today's letter is “Feeling Good” from Michael Buble:
“Birds flying high, you know how I feel. Sun in the sky, you know how I feel. Breeze driftin' on by, you know how I feel. It's a new dawn, it's a new day, it's a new life for me and I'm feeling good.
Fish in the sea, you know how I feel. River running free, you know how I feel. Blossom on a tree, you know how I feel. It's a new dawn, it's a new day, it's a new life for me and I'm feeling good.
Dragonfly out in the sun, you know what I mean, don't you know. Butterflies all havin' fun, you know what I mean. Sleep in peace when day is done, that's what I mean. And this old world is a new world and a bold world for me.
Stars when you shine, you know how I feel. Scent of the pine, you know how I feel. Oh freedom is mine and I know how I feel. It's a new dawn, it's a new day, it's a new life for me and I'm feeling good.”
I took Kelli to the airport this morning. She is now flying to go stay with Erika in VA for a few days then she is going back to her mom's in Florida. She is working on selling her house which is good, then she is going to move in with her mom until she can find a good job and then she'll move where ever she finds the job. One thing she talked to me about is working for Wells Fargo again. I'm really glad she's thinking about getting a real, reliable job instead of being a travel agent or a real estate agent. Also, she is going to move where ever she gets the job instead of commuting, so I think she is going to be a lot happier. Anyway, the night before she left we did some music switching so I got the new Michael Buble CD, the new Keith Urban CD and some other good stuff and I gave her some of our music that she didn't have that she liked like Kalai and Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Anyway, the point of telling you all of that is I wanted to explain why I had Michael Buble in my head today.
My friend Cori (you remember Cori, right?) came over today and she is way pregnant! She is due September 25th (almost my birthday :)) and she and her husband are living with her parents right now because he just graduated in April and started a job in Irvine this summer and they haven't found a place to live yet. Anyway, it was really fun catching up with her. This is going to sound corny, but I'm so proud of her because she got more mature and made some good choices in her life and now she is doing really well. In high school, I was afraid she was going to go off the deep end because the church wasn't that important to her and she had a serious non-member boyfriend. Anyway, I'm just glad things are going well for her now. She's excited to be a mom and I told her about how much I love being a mom and told her about my nursing experiences and labor experiences (you know how I love to talk about those things...). We are going to try to hang out every Friday morning until she has the baby because that's when my parents are gone at the temple so it's a great time for me because then I'm not alone :)
I really liked talking to you on the phone today and I'm glad that you named your gun after me. I think it's a very appropriate since you get to be with it all of the time (even sleeping with it), I'm a little jealous :) j/k. I just looked up on Google Images what an M16 looks like and it's a pretty big gun. Have you found out if there are any ways to take pictures while you are there? I can't see how you could, but I would love to see what you look like right now and some of the people that you are becoming friends with and writing about in your letters. I'll be able to take pictures when I come to your graduation so that will be good.
I made dinner for my grandpa tonight and we talked about when he was in the army. He was a Supply Sargent or something and it made him really happy to talk about it, he has good memories associated with that time in his life. He was in really good spirits tonight, but he is not doing well over all. You can tell that his brain is starting to shut down because he gets more and more disoriented every day. It was really fun to talk with him tonight because when he's talking about memories I get to see the old grandpa that I used to know.
Well, in closing, I just wanted to let you know that your two girls are the cutest things ever, and at this rate I just can't wait to meet the rest of our kids :) Maren laughed for the first time today and it was so adorable! Jane is still trying to walk, but she is so cautious like she doesn't want to walk until she can do it perfectly and won't fall over. It's really adorable to watch her take her slow, tiny, perfect little steps. Basically, she is the best! And, they have the best DADDY in the world, you. I love you sweetie!
Love-Jess
P.S. I got the DEERS packet in the mail today and I will take care of that right away.
Today was my mom's birthday and Nate's. My mom is 52 and I think Nate is 26, yikes :). Anyway, how is the love of my life? You have seemed pretty good when we've talked on the phone and in your letters, but I know that what you are going through is very hard and I want you to know that I think about you and pray for you all of the time.
The lyrics for today's letter is “Feeling Good” from Michael Buble:
“Birds flying high, you know how I feel. Sun in the sky, you know how I feel. Breeze driftin' on by, you know how I feel. It's a new dawn, it's a new day, it's a new life for me and I'm feeling good.
Fish in the sea, you know how I feel. River running free, you know how I feel. Blossom on a tree, you know how I feel. It's a new dawn, it's a new day, it's a new life for me and I'm feeling good.
Dragonfly out in the sun, you know what I mean, don't you know. Butterflies all havin' fun, you know what I mean. Sleep in peace when day is done, that's what I mean. And this old world is a new world and a bold world for me.
Stars when you shine, you know how I feel. Scent of the pine, you know how I feel. Oh freedom is mine and I know how I feel. It's a new dawn, it's a new day, it's a new life for me and I'm feeling good.”
I took Kelli to the airport this morning. She is now flying to go stay with Erika in VA for a few days then she is going back to her mom's in Florida. She is working on selling her house which is good, then she is going to move in with her mom until she can find a good job and then she'll move where ever she finds the job. One thing she talked to me about is working for Wells Fargo again. I'm really glad she's thinking about getting a real, reliable job instead of being a travel agent or a real estate agent. Also, she is going to move where ever she gets the job instead of commuting, so I think she is going to be a lot happier. Anyway, the night before she left we did some music switching so I got the new Michael Buble CD, the new Keith Urban CD and some other good stuff and I gave her some of our music that she didn't have that she liked like Kalai and Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Anyway, the point of telling you all of that is I wanted to explain why I had Michael Buble in my head today.
My friend Cori (you remember Cori, right?) came over today and she is way pregnant! She is due September 25th (almost my birthday :)) and she and her husband are living with her parents right now because he just graduated in April and started a job in Irvine this summer and they haven't found a place to live yet. Anyway, it was really fun catching up with her. This is going to sound corny, but I'm so proud of her because she got more mature and made some good choices in her life and now she is doing really well. In high school, I was afraid she was going to go off the deep end because the church wasn't that important to her and she had a serious non-member boyfriend. Anyway, I'm just glad things are going well for her now. She's excited to be a mom and I told her about how much I love being a mom and told her about my nursing experiences and labor experiences (you know how I love to talk about those things...). We are going to try to hang out every Friday morning until she has the baby because that's when my parents are gone at the temple so it's a great time for me because then I'm not alone :)
I really liked talking to you on the phone today and I'm glad that you named your gun after me. I think it's a very appropriate since you get to be with it all of the time (even sleeping with it), I'm a little jealous :) j/k. I just looked up on Google Images what an M16 looks like and it's a pretty big gun. Have you found out if there are any ways to take pictures while you are there? I can't see how you could, but I would love to see what you look like right now and some of the people that you are becoming friends with and writing about in your letters. I'll be able to take pictures when I come to your graduation so that will be good.
I made dinner for my grandpa tonight and we talked about when he was in the army. He was a Supply Sargent or something and it made him really happy to talk about it, he has good memories associated with that time in his life. He was in really good spirits tonight, but he is not doing well over all. You can tell that his brain is starting to shut down because he gets more and more disoriented every day. It was really fun to talk with him tonight because when he's talking about memories I get to see the old grandpa that I used to know.
Well, in closing, I just wanted to let you know that your two girls are the cutest things ever, and at this rate I just can't wait to meet the rest of our kids :) Maren laughed for the first time today and it was so adorable! Jane is still trying to walk, but she is so cautious like she doesn't want to walk until she can do it perfectly and won't fall over. It's really adorable to watch her take her slow, tiny, perfect little steps. Basically, she is the best! And, they have the best DADDY in the world, you. I love you sweetie!
Love-Jess
P.S. I got the DEERS packet in the mail today and I will take care of that right away.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
8/23/07
Hey sweetie - I'm finally here in boot camp. It is a lot better facility than the reception area. It's only a couple of miles away, but our barracks are much more spacious.
When we arrived our drill sergeant didn't waste any time. He just got right into it. That night we all got only 45 seconds to shower. Then we went straight to bed. Today - the crazy thing they did to us was give us a full duffel bag of gear, had us put on our body armor and drive back in a cattle truck with all of that on. It felt like a million degrees. I think out of all the drill sergeants we got a pretty laid back one. We still do lots, but he isn't so scary. Maybe because he's a small white guy and not a big black guy.
I thought I was going to be able to call you tonight to give you my address, but I think drill sergeant changed his mind. I am having a pretty tough night tonight. Thinking of you three and looking at my pictures of you sometimes gets me going.
My back has been hurting. All of the standing at attention for long periods of time isn't good for it. I may try to get a heating pad for at night.
Well, some of the new boys here just found out I was L.D.S. We didn't talk about it much, but I found out something interesting. The one friend that I have made is an inactive member. He is a cool guy - big - as tall as me and thicker. He's from Kansas. His last name is Eirocotts - it's Polish. Well, I found out for sure that graduation is on the 26th of October and if you were to come out (which I would really prefer) there is a family day the day before on Thursday the 25th. I was thinking maybe you could just come out without the girls and leave them with your mom. Bringing both would be a lot of work for you even if my mom or your mom came. Well, I love you so much.
Your Brad.
P.S. Just in case you couldn't read the envelope:
5611 Northeast Rothwell Street Unit A1
Rough Riders
Fort Sill, OK 73503-8024
When we arrived our drill sergeant didn't waste any time. He just got right into it. That night we all got only 45 seconds to shower. Then we went straight to bed. Today - the crazy thing they did to us was give us a full duffel bag of gear, had us put on our body armor and drive back in a cattle truck with all of that on. It felt like a million degrees. I think out of all the drill sergeants we got a pretty laid back one. We still do lots, but he isn't so scary. Maybe because he's a small white guy and not a big black guy.
I thought I was going to be able to call you tonight to give you my address, but I think drill sergeant changed his mind. I am having a pretty tough night tonight. Thinking of you three and looking at my pictures of you sometimes gets me going.
My back has been hurting. All of the standing at attention for long periods of time isn't good for it. I may try to get a heating pad for at night.
Well, some of the new boys here just found out I was L.D.S. We didn't talk about it much, but I found out something interesting. The one friend that I have made is an inactive member. He is a cool guy - big - as tall as me and thicker. He's from Kansas. His last name is Eirocotts - it's Polish. Well, I found out for sure that graduation is on the 26th of October and if you were to come out (which I would really prefer) there is a family day the day before on Thursday the 25th. I was thinking maybe you could just come out without the girls and leave them with your mom. Bringing both would be a lot of work for you even if my mom or your mom came. Well, I love you so much.
Your Brad.
P.S. Just in case you couldn't read the envelope:
5611 Northeast Rothwell Street Unit A1
Rough Riders
Fort Sill, OK 73503-8024
8-23-07
Brad-
Hey BABE! Our new computer should be coming today and I'm way excited. I'm going to get it all set up and take back our Costco one on Saturday. I'm not sure if I was able to tell you over the phone, but this computer is going to be great! It has Windows XP, 17” screen, 160 gig hard drive, wireless, etc. I also got a good deal on in. I'll be getting about $1,000 back when I take back our HP and I paid $1,130 for the new one after taxes, shipping, handling, etc.
I got your 5 page letter today and it was wonderful. I LOVED your poem! I thought the first verse was so funny I recited it to a few people and now I practically have it memorized: “I once met a girl named Jessie, At first sight I thought she was quite sexy, I tried to kiss her, She said 'Hey Mister,' I'm really not that kind of hussy.” It was so clever/creative! I didn't know that you had it in you because you've never really written me a poem before. Also, the second and third verses were really cute and more mushy and they probably made me cry :)
Today's lyrics are of a song that Grandy sings to the girls so I had her teach it to me: “Way up in the sky, where the little birds fly. Down, down in their nests, the little birds rest. With a wing on the left and a wing on the right. 'Shhhh,' the little birds are sleeping. Then up comes the sun, the dew falls away. 'Good morning, Good morning' the little birds say.” It's a fun song and Jane really likes it because there are totally actions involved.
Here are my tentative travel plans for your graduation in October. I'm going to fly with both girls to UT on like October 22nd or 23rd. Then I'll leave the girls there with your parents and fly to OK on like 24th so that I'll be there for the 25th which is Family Day and the 26th which is your graduation day. Then I'll fly back to UT like the 27th or the 28th depending on when you have to leave to go to TX. Then I'll stay in UT through Stephanie's wedding which is November 2nd. Then I'll fly home with the girls, back to CA, on like the 3rd or 4th. What do you think?
I can't believe I'm going to get to see you before December, I'm so excited. I hope that my coming to you graduation will give you something to help you get through the hard times to come. I know you worry about us here, but we are all doing REALLY well. Even though we miss you and wish you were here with us, we are all doing great and I want you to try not to worry too much. You are such a part of me and you are in my every thought. I didn't know to what extent until this separation, but I want you to know that I feel you with me and I feel your love so deeply and I can't wait until we are together again. It's going to be a great reunion and I think about that moment all of the time. I'm so proud of you and everything that you are doing. Keep being brave and working hard. I love you, I love you, I love you...
Love-Jess
9526
P.S. Speaking of children's songs, I just found out I was singing one wrong and I feel really silly and I think you are really going to make fun of me...I've been singing “The farmer and the dale...” and it's really “The farmer in the dell...” ha ha ha “I think he was there for like six years or something...(Seven Years in Tibet)”
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
8/22/07
Dearest Jessie,
I'm glad we got to talk for that short while. I'm anxious to see how tomorrow goes. We all pile into a spiffied up cattle trailer like we're a bunch of cows to travel over to where Basic Combat Training takes place. I wonder how hard it will actually be. We watched a video of actual footage from Fr. Sill - the gas chamber looks pretty crazy. Supposedly everything in your nose, eyes, and throat just go crazy. Privates were coming out with all kinds of junk coming out of their nose and mouth. I heard that you can feel it on your skin burning.
I will miss the friends that I have met here. There are some pretty cool people - just plug your ears to some of their language. We were separated into our platoons that we will have over in Basic and no one that I really got to know was put in my platoon. They did it alphabetically so we didn't have a choice.
Have I told you about Grandpa Frogley's watch yet? Well it has a brown leather band on it and it is very hot here in Oklahoma so my wrist sweats a lot. The watch band soaks up the sweat and sits at night. I tried to soak in in soapy water but now it smells even more weird. So I just keep it in my pocket where it won't get any worse.
We have to get up at 3:30 tomorrow to deep clean the barracks before we take off. Did I tell you that the phone is totally broken now? It does not work at all. So if you could figure out what I could or should use that would be great. I might be able to buy one here. At AIT I think we get the weekends off. So I could buy one down here.
My back has been hurting quite a bit because of all the stationary waiting hours on end. We get put in formation and then wait and wait and stand without moving at all - I guess - agitates my back pretty good.
I'm glad we got to talk for that short while. I'm anxious to see how tomorrow goes. We all pile into a spiffied up cattle trailer like we're a bunch of cows to travel over to where Basic Combat Training takes place. I wonder how hard it will actually be. We watched a video of actual footage from Fr. Sill - the gas chamber looks pretty crazy. Supposedly everything in your nose, eyes, and throat just go crazy. Privates were coming out with all kinds of junk coming out of their nose and mouth. I heard that you can feel it on your skin burning.
I will miss the friends that I have met here. There are some pretty cool people - just plug your ears to some of their language. We were separated into our platoons that we will have over in Basic and no one that I really got to know was put in my platoon. They did it alphabetically so we didn't have a choice.
Have I told you about Grandpa Frogley's watch yet? Well it has a brown leather band on it and it is very hot here in Oklahoma so my wrist sweats a lot. The watch band soaks up the sweat and sits at night. I tried to soak in in soapy water but now it smells even more weird. So I just keep it in my pocket where it won't get any worse.
We have to get up at 3:30 tomorrow to deep clean the barracks before we take off. Did I tell you that the phone is totally broken now? It does not work at all. So if you could figure out what I could or should use that would be great. I might be able to buy one here. At AIT I think we get the weekends off. So I could buy one down here.
My back has been hurting quite a bit because of all the stationary waiting hours on end. We get put in formation and then wait and wait and stand without moving at all - I guess - agitates my back pretty good.
8-22-07
Hey Sweetie!
The song that I had stuck in my head yesterday is one by Kalai, Patience Lies. I'll try to bold the things that particularly stick out to me in the song and make me think about you:
"It’s clear now you’re too far away. It’s been too long, you won’t consider it. I follow a lighted path, well beaten. I’m looking for the switch back, it’s not so easy. I’ve read your words line by empty line. True, my fate deserves destiny denied. But I can’t go on watching patience lie. So in my dreams, we’ll share this dance together. And I’ll never wake, I’ll keep my eyes closed forever. I try not to worry, I try not to think about it. I was never in a hurry I never had to complicate my views."
So I finally got your letters today. I got three today (two in one envelope, and one in another) and I must say that they were absolutely delicious. I was so excited and I've read them several times already. It makes me want to be able to send letters to you even more because I know that it will do for you what your letters did for me today and they made me so happy and made me feel very loved by you. One of my favorite lines was "I love you and I miss you more than I ever have." I think that's such a good way to put it, how we are both feeling right now. It's stretching us farther than we've ever been stretched and it's scary, but at the same time kind of cool because we know it's making us stronger. Also, now we know we can handle anything that comes our way. Heavenly Father has promised me/us that anything that we go through, trials, time apart, etc. is only going to strengthen our family. That's a very big comfort to me, and I hope it is to you too. I've already seen it happen with some of the trials we have faced as a couple. Even though the main problem we have dealt with over the last couple years has been incredibly hard it has been such a learning experience for us and brought us close in a way nothing else could have. Heavenly Father has blessed us so much and he will continue to do so if we rely on him and keep him an active participant in our marriage relationship. I know this to be true!
I'm really glad that we got to talk on the phone again yesterday. There just never seems to be enough time or enough words to try and express how I'm feeling and how much I love you. One thing that is nice though is even if we can only talk for a few minutes, I still feel better because we've been able to connect and you are my partner in crime. It's late so I better wrap this up. I want you to know that even though we miss you, your girls (all three of us) are doing REALLY well! We know that you are looking out for us even if you are in Oklahoma. You are the head of our family and I love that! Heavenly Father is keeping us safe, my parents are taking really good care of us, and I'm doing a good job moming our girls. I'm certainly gaining a respect for single mothers, they are amazing. Well, I love you and good night...
Love-Jess
P.S. I love life with you!
The song that I had stuck in my head yesterday is one by Kalai, Patience Lies. I'll try to bold the things that particularly stick out to me in the song and make me think about you:
"It’s clear now you’re too far away. It’s been too long, you won’t consider it. I follow a lighted path, well beaten. I’m looking for the switch back, it’s not so easy. I’ve read your words line by empty line. True, my fate deserves destiny denied. But I can’t go on watching patience lie. So in my dreams, we’ll share this dance together. And I’ll never wake, I’ll keep my eyes closed forever. I try not to worry, I try not to think about it. I was never in a hurry I never had to complicate my views."
So I finally got your letters today. I got three today (two in one envelope, and one in another) and I must say that they were absolutely delicious. I was so excited and I've read them several times already. It makes me want to be able to send letters to you even more because I know that it will do for you what your letters did for me today and they made me so happy and made me feel very loved by you. One of my favorite lines was "I love you and I miss you more than I ever have." I think that's such a good way to put it, how we are both feeling right now. It's stretching us farther than we've ever been stretched and it's scary, but at the same time kind of cool because we know it's making us stronger. Also, now we know we can handle anything that comes our way. Heavenly Father has promised me/us that anything that we go through, trials, time apart, etc. is only going to strengthen our family. That's a very big comfort to me, and I hope it is to you too. I've already seen it happen with some of the trials we have faced as a couple. Even though the main problem we have dealt with over the last couple years has been incredibly hard it has been such a learning experience for us and brought us close in a way nothing else could have. Heavenly Father has blessed us so much and he will continue to do so if we rely on him and keep him an active participant in our marriage relationship. I know this to be true!
I'm really glad that we got to talk on the phone again yesterday. There just never seems to be enough time or enough words to try and express how I'm feeling and how much I love you. One thing that is nice though is even if we can only talk for a few minutes, I still feel better because we've been able to connect and you are my partner in crime. It's late so I better wrap this up. I want you to know that even though we miss you, your girls (all three of us) are doing REALLY well! We know that you are looking out for us even if you are in Oklahoma. You are the head of our family and I love that! Heavenly Father is keeping us safe, my parents are taking really good care of us, and I'm doing a good job moming our girls. I'm certainly gaining a respect for single mothers, they are amazing. Well, I love you and good night...
Love-Jess
P.S. I love life with you!
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
8/21/07
We woke up at 3:30 this morning to start our physical assessment: push ups, sit ups, 1 mile run. They only had us do the minimum of the push ups and sit ups and I ran a mile in 7:25. I didn't want to push it too hard. And my bum still hurts from the shots we got yesterday.
The guys like to hit each other in the butt - immature. This letter is really choppy and full of mistakes. Sorry. Did you like the rhyme I wrote you? I surprise even myself.
Today we are packing up all of our stuff to go across the train tracks to finally start Basic Training. It's about time. I stood on top of my ruc sac to fit everything in. I'm really excited to finally get over there. I asked a guy here, who has already been through Basic, what the worst part of Basic was. He said that he entire first 2 weeks.
I will send you my return address as fast as I can. I love you, Jane, and Maren.
XXOOXxOox
Love-Your Brad
The guys like to hit each other in the butt - immature. This letter is really choppy and full of mistakes. Sorry. Did you like the rhyme I wrote you? I surprise even myself.
Today we are packing up all of our stuff to go across the train tracks to finally start Basic Training. It's about time. I stood on top of my ruc sac to fit everything in. I'm really excited to finally get over there. I asked a guy here, who has already been through Basic, what the worst part of Basic was. He said that he entire first 2 weeks.
I will send you my return address as fast as I can. I love you, Jane, and Maren.
XXOOXxOox
Love-Your Brad
Monday, August 20, 2007
8/20/07
Dearest Jessie,
It was so nice to talk to you for that little while. Jane sounded so cute. I miss her so much. I pray for all three of you all day.
My butt hurts so bad. The syringe was probably a 1/4 inch in diameter and filled for about 2 inches full of some thing. When the nurse stuck it in it didn't hurt that bad, but when she injected the stuff in, it felt like a golf ball was growing larger inside of my butt.
Today was the first day I felt like we got a workout. Everyone was messing around and talking when they shouldn't. So we had to do a lot of sit ups and push ups. It hurt pretty good, but felt good at the same time.
It was so nice to talk to you for that little while. Jane sounded so cute. I miss her so much. I pray for all three of you all day.
My butt hurts so bad. The syringe was probably a 1/4 inch in diameter and filled for about 2 inches full of some thing. When the nurse stuck it in it didn't hurt that bad, but when she injected the stuff in, it felt like a golf ball was growing larger inside of my butt.
Today was the first day I felt like we got a workout. Everyone was messing around and talking when they shouldn't. So we had to do a lot of sit ups and push ups. It hurt pretty good, but felt good at the same time.
8-20-07
Brad:
I've decided that since you don't get to listen to music I'm going to try and send you the lyrics of a song in every letter so that you still feel like you have a little music in your life. Today, the song that I have had stuck in my head is one by the Dixie Chicks (sorry, just try to think about the words):
"When the calls and conversations, accidents and accusations, messages and misperceptions paralyze my mind. Busses, cars, and airplanes leaving burning fumes of gasoline and everyone is running and I come to find a refuge in the easy silence that you make for me. It's okay when there's nothing more to say to me. And the peaceful quiet you create for me. And the way you keep the world at bay for me; the way you keep the world at bay.
Monkeys on the barricades are warning us to back away. They form commissions trying to find the next one they can crucify. And anger plays on every station. Answers only make more questions. I need something to believe in. Breathe in sanctuary in the easy silence that you make for me. It's okay when there's nothing more to say to me. And the peaceful quiet you create for me. And the way you keep the world at bay for me; the way you keep the world at bay.
Children lose their youth too soon; watching war made us immune. And I've got all the world to lose, but I just want to hold on to the easy silence that you make for me. It's okay when there's nothing more to say to me. And the peaceful quiet you create for me. And the way you keep the world at bay for me. The easy silence that you make for me. It's okay when there's nothing more to say to me. And the peaceful quiet you create for me. And the way you keep the world at bay for me; the way you keep the world at bay for me; the way you keep the world at bay."
The reason why that song is highly appropriate for today's letter is because something I've been noticing since you left is how much harder it is for me to deal with stress. I feel like usually I am pretty good at just shaking things off, especially after I'm able to talk something through with you. That's when I realized I don't have my partner, I need you in my life. Now don't worry, I'm doing fine...but it just takes me longer to get over things by myself. You know me so well and you are so good at helping me relax and keep things in perspective and I've come to depend on that in a good way. Like today when we got to talk for a few minutes on the phone and I was explaining my problem to you about feeling more stressed than usual you just said that you were sorry and you told me to just relax and think about you and that's what I did and I immediately felt better. You are going to get me through this Brad, we are going to get each other through this.
Anyway, I'm still enjoying my exercise routine. Here's what's been happening, I pretty much always get in my morning yoga and my morning walk. I always feel so great after that. Then in the evening I'm usually getting in my weights and ab work out. Then I figure that anything on top of that is just bonus. I'm feeling so much better already just from eating healthier and getting my body moving and I think I've already lost some weight. I'm not weighing myself because numbers just discourage me. I'm more focusing on how I feel and how I look and how my clothes fit. My aunt Barbara gave me a good motto to have during this: "move more and eat better." I like that instead of something like "strict exercise and strict diet." That kind of plan wouldn't feel as good and is too restrictive, but as long as I'm trying to be as active as possible, and eat healthy food I know my body is going to respond in a very positive way.
Kelli and Ben both came into town today so this should be a fun week with them here. The girls are terrific. Jane and I had a lot of fun this evening while I was getting her ready for bed. She was in such a good mood and was laughing a lot. We also played some funny games with our tongues, she is so silly. She also did something so sweet today. I was sitting by her and I had Maren on my lap and she was doing great but then out of the blue she bonked Maren right in the kisser. Well of course Maren started crying and I scolded Jane. Jane got a little sad face and reached down to the couch and grabbed Maren's binky and put it right in her mouth and then gave me such a hopeful look that she had made it better. It was so adorable. Her spectrum of feelings is increasing on both ends. She feels and expresses more negative things and feels and expresses more positive things. Well, that's all for now...you're my main man!
Lots of love-Jess
P.S. I hope we get to talk on the phone again.
I've decided that since you don't get to listen to music I'm going to try and send you the lyrics of a song in every letter so that you still feel like you have a little music in your life. Today, the song that I have had stuck in my head is one by the Dixie Chicks (sorry, just try to think about the words):
"When the calls and conversations, accidents and accusations, messages and misperceptions paralyze my mind. Busses, cars, and airplanes leaving burning fumes of gasoline and everyone is running and I come to find a refuge in the easy silence that you make for me. It's okay when there's nothing more to say to me. And the peaceful quiet you create for me. And the way you keep the world at bay for me; the way you keep the world at bay.
Monkeys on the barricades are warning us to back away. They form commissions trying to find the next one they can crucify. And anger plays on every station. Answers only make more questions. I need something to believe in. Breathe in sanctuary in the easy silence that you make for me. It's okay when there's nothing more to say to me. And the peaceful quiet you create for me. And the way you keep the world at bay for me; the way you keep the world at bay.
Children lose their youth too soon; watching war made us immune. And I've got all the world to lose, but I just want to hold on to the easy silence that you make for me. It's okay when there's nothing more to say to me. And the peaceful quiet you create for me. And the way you keep the world at bay for me. The easy silence that you make for me. It's okay when there's nothing more to say to me. And the peaceful quiet you create for me. And the way you keep the world at bay for me; the way you keep the world at bay for me; the way you keep the world at bay."
The reason why that song is highly appropriate for today's letter is because something I've been noticing since you left is how much harder it is for me to deal with stress. I feel like usually I am pretty good at just shaking things off, especially after I'm able to talk something through with you. That's when I realized I don't have my partner, I need you in my life. Now don't worry, I'm doing fine...but it just takes me longer to get over things by myself. You know me so well and you are so good at helping me relax and keep things in perspective and I've come to depend on that in a good way. Like today when we got to talk for a few minutes on the phone and I was explaining my problem to you about feeling more stressed than usual you just said that you were sorry and you told me to just relax and think about you and that's what I did and I immediately felt better. You are going to get me through this Brad, we are going to get each other through this.
Anyway, I'm still enjoying my exercise routine. Here's what's been happening, I pretty much always get in my morning yoga and my morning walk. I always feel so great after that. Then in the evening I'm usually getting in my weights and ab work out. Then I figure that anything on top of that is just bonus. I'm feeling so much better already just from eating healthier and getting my body moving and I think I've already lost some weight. I'm not weighing myself because numbers just discourage me. I'm more focusing on how I feel and how I look and how my clothes fit. My aunt Barbara gave me a good motto to have during this: "move more and eat better." I like that instead of something like "strict exercise and strict diet." That kind of plan wouldn't feel as good and is too restrictive, but as long as I'm trying to be as active as possible, and eat healthy food I know my body is going to respond in a very positive way.
Kelli and Ben both came into town today so this should be a fun week with them here. The girls are terrific. Jane and I had a lot of fun this evening while I was getting her ready for bed. She was in such a good mood and was laughing a lot. We also played some funny games with our tongues, she is so silly. She also did something so sweet today. I was sitting by her and I had Maren on my lap and she was doing great but then out of the blue she bonked Maren right in the kisser. Well of course Maren started crying and I scolded Jane. Jane got a little sad face and reached down to the couch and grabbed Maren's binky and put it right in her mouth and then gave me such a hopeful look that she had made it better. It was so adorable. Her spectrum of feelings is increasing on both ends. She feels and expresses more negative things and feels and expresses more positive things. Well, that's all for now...you're my main man!
Lots of love-Jess
P.S. I hope we get to talk on the phone again.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
8/19/07
We have a couple of minutes after breakfast chow waiting for the bus to come get us for lunch. Drill Sergeant woke us up at 10:30 last night and started screaming and yelling. He tipped one guy out of his top bunk. Apparently he came in quietly first and found the 4 pulling fire guard sitting on the dryer not doing anything and flipped out! I'm getting more used to it. All they can do is yell, push you around, and make life uncomfortable. No big deal.
The buses for the LDS church never showed up! We had to go to the stupid non-denominational church where we "had fun." It was so dumb. It just reiterates in my mind how our church is really lead by inspiration and revelation. I felt like I was in a 4 year old Sunday school class. LAME.
I just had a good discussion with Private Minjarez about the church and life. He met a girl 2 weeks before he came out here and he just told me that she thinks she is pregnant. We talked all about why Mormons can't drink, smoke, have sex before marriage, and I told him his situation is the exact reason why we don't do that - living life by these rules makes life happy.
Sunday is a day full of a lot of down time. I have read and written a lot. I'm trying to get through the 2nd Nephi Isaiah chapters. They are still hard to get into.
I am feeling feelings I had on my mission. Like a desire to write - a lot - like the poem. Also - just to be alone. I don't have a desire to go out and talk and socialize with the other guys. I felt like this on my mission. It's kind of weird.
Time is going so slow. I just want to get to Basic and start all this junk.
Well I will end this really long letter and say - I love you more than anything in this Universe. I hope you are happy.
Love-Brad
The buses for the LDS church never showed up! We had to go to the stupid non-denominational church where we "had fun." It was so dumb. It just reiterates in my mind how our church is really lead by inspiration and revelation. I felt like I was in a 4 year old Sunday school class. LAME.
I just had a good discussion with Private Minjarez about the church and life. He met a girl 2 weeks before he came out here and he just told me that she thinks she is pregnant. We talked all about why Mormons can't drink, smoke, have sex before marriage, and I told him his situation is the exact reason why we don't do that - living life by these rules makes life happy.
Sunday is a day full of a lot of down time. I have read and written a lot. I'm trying to get through the 2nd Nephi Isaiah chapters. They are still hard to get into.
I am feeling feelings I had on my mission. Like a desire to write - a lot - like the poem. Also - just to be alone. I don't have a desire to go out and talk and socialize with the other guys. I felt like this on my mission. It's kind of weird.
Time is going so slow. I just want to get to Basic and start all this junk.
Well I will end this really long letter and say - I love you more than anything in this Universe. I hope you are happy.
Love-Brad
I once met a girl named Jessie.
At first look I thought she was sexy.
I tried to kiss her.
She said - "Hey Mister,
I'm really not that type of hussy."
I decided to trust in my Jessie.
That if I had patience, she might see
The charm that I had
And being totally rad.
She could not possess joy without me.
The day had arrived that sweet Jessie
With me, would be sealed for what might be
The rest of our lives
And beyond, what a prize.
To be one with the Lord and my Sweetie.
At first look I thought she was sexy.
I tried to kiss her.
She said - "Hey Mister,
I'm really not that type of hussy."
I decided to trust in my Jessie.
That if I had patience, she might see
The charm that I had
And being totally rad.
She could not possess joy without me.
The day had arrived that sweet Jessie
With me, would be sealed for what might be
The rest of our lives
And beyond, what a prize.
To be one with the Lord and my Sweetie.
8-19-07
Bradley:
Hey sweety pie! How is the love of my life? I have to say that I have really LOVED talking to you on the phone these past couple of days. I think I would have gone crazy wondering how you were doing and not being able to send you letters. I can't wait until you have a return address so that I can mail you all of these letters that I am writing. Now I know that I have told you some of the things in my letters on the phone, but I can't remember exactly what we've talked about so if you get some repeats, sorry...
The first thing I have is a request...I would really like it if you could include thoughts from you about what you have been reading about and studying in the Book of Mormon and if you've learned anything new. I've always loved and really appreciated your insight into the scriptures and this gospel, so I would just really like that. By the way I really liked talking to you this morning while you were waiting to go to church even though it was 6:30 am and you did wake me up. I hope you know that you can call me any time of night, I'm used to waking up at all hours:) Anyway, I'm really glad that you got to go to church and I hope you enjoyed it. Were there a lot of guys going to church? A lot going to our church? Did you go to all 3 hours or just sacrament meeting? Did it feel weird being in your uniform instead of normal church clothes?
Today I set up a Skype account so that I could talk with your family over Skype and using the web cam so that they could see Jane and Maren. It was a lot of fun and they loved it! If you ever have any chances to get on the internet while you are out there, we should talk on Skype because even if you don't have a web cam I can still turn mine on so that you can see the girls, but they wouldn't be able to see you unless you had a web cam. I think that you would love it. You probably won't be able to use computers during boot camp, but maybe during AIT. Just let me know...
The girls are doing oh so great, of course. Sundays are always hard for Jane because she has to drag herself through church and then her first nap is late so she usually doesn't get a second nap so by the time 7 pm rolls around she's cranky and exhausted. But she's still so adorable and happy. I just went and checked on her in her play pen and she is VERY asleep. She looks like such an angel when she's sleeping! Like I told you on the phone she has started saying Daddy instead of Dada, which I love. Also, she has started climbing into your lap if you are sitting next to her and she wants more attention. She often does it on her little reading couch. She'll hand you a book and then climb in your lap and you can tell she just really wants you to read it to her. She's been throwing a lot of her little fits. It mostly consists of flopping down on her stomach and face in the carpet and whimpering. I'll take that over screaming and hitting fits, which seems to be the kind of fits that a lot of kids throw... Maren is as cute as ever, I think I got her first laugh out of her on Friday, but who can tell for sure. I haven't been able to get her to do it again so maybe it wasn't a laugh, but I like to think that it was. Other than that, she is still sleeping through the night pretty well, but she still wakes up a couple of times through out the night and I end up just having to put her binky back in and reswaddle her and then she goes back to sleep. She is such a love!
Last night we had the missionaries over for dinner. It reminded me of when I lived at home with my parents and you were on your mission because I always loved having the missionaries over because it would help me imagine what your life might be like and what you might be doing. So being here with you gone again and writing you letters is giving me major de javu of that whole experience when you were a missionary. It's fun being in an area with so many military men. Today I saw an old friend from high school at church that I haven't seen for awhile. She is back here now living with her parents while her husband, who is in the navy, is getting deployed. He doesn't know exactly when he is leaving yet, but they've told him sometime in between November and January. They are having their first baby in October so luckily he'll be around for the baby no matter what. I like talking to other people about their experiences, because it helps me get some perspective on what our future might be like. It's funny because when I tell people that I'm living here with my parents while you are in boot camp they almost all ask me if you are at Camp Pendelton. I think it's funny because the odds of you joining that right branch of the military and then being sent to the right base right by where my parents are would be way too coincidental, it seems very unlikely that would happen, but they don't think about that before they ask.
I love you so much honey, there just really are no words. I'm cooking up some fun surprises for you, just so you know. It's easier to tell you that when we're not physically together because then you can't tickle me until I tell you. You'll just have to wonder what they might be, because even if you ask me in your letters I'm not going to tell you. Even though I have a hard time saying no to you in person, it won't be hard to resist your requests in your letters for spoiling the surprises. So, let it be a comfort to you if you are laying there at night feeling sad. Just think to yourself "I've got some great things coming my way, Jessie's working on surprises for me for when I get home."
Love-Jess
9526
P.S. I don't think you gave your deferment form to Adam and Lara because they can't find it, not even downstairs. Do you remember where you left it? I'll probably ask you about it on the phone if you get a chance to call me again.
Hey sweety pie! How is the love of my life? I have to say that I have really LOVED talking to you on the phone these past couple of days. I think I would have gone crazy wondering how you were doing and not being able to send you letters. I can't wait until you have a return address so that I can mail you all of these letters that I am writing. Now I know that I have told you some of the things in my letters on the phone, but I can't remember exactly what we've talked about so if you get some repeats, sorry...
The first thing I have is a request...I would really like it if you could include thoughts from you about what you have been reading about and studying in the Book of Mormon and if you've learned anything new. I've always loved and really appreciated your insight into the scriptures and this gospel, so I would just really like that. By the way I really liked talking to you this morning while you were waiting to go to church even though it was 6:30 am and you did wake me up. I hope you know that you can call me any time of night, I'm used to waking up at all hours:) Anyway, I'm really glad that you got to go to church and I hope you enjoyed it. Were there a lot of guys going to church? A lot going to our church? Did you go to all 3 hours or just sacrament meeting? Did it feel weird being in your uniform instead of normal church clothes?
Today I set up a Skype account so that I could talk with your family over Skype and using the web cam so that they could see Jane and Maren. It was a lot of fun and they loved it! If you ever have any chances to get on the internet while you are out there, we should talk on Skype because even if you don't have a web cam I can still turn mine on so that you can see the girls, but they wouldn't be able to see you unless you had a web cam. I think that you would love it. You probably won't be able to use computers during boot camp, but maybe during AIT. Just let me know...
The girls are doing oh so great, of course. Sundays are always hard for Jane because she has to drag herself through church and then her first nap is late so she usually doesn't get a second nap so by the time 7 pm rolls around she's cranky and exhausted. But she's still so adorable and happy. I just went and checked on her in her play pen and she is VERY asleep. She looks like such an angel when she's sleeping! Like I told you on the phone she has started saying Daddy instead of Dada, which I love. Also, she has started climbing into your lap if you are sitting next to her and she wants more attention. She often does it on her little reading couch. She'll hand you a book and then climb in your lap and you can tell she just really wants you to read it to her. She's been throwing a lot of her little fits. It mostly consists of flopping down on her stomach and face in the carpet and whimpering. I'll take that over screaming and hitting fits, which seems to be the kind of fits that a lot of kids throw... Maren is as cute as ever, I think I got her first laugh out of her on Friday, but who can tell for sure. I haven't been able to get her to do it again so maybe it wasn't a laugh, but I like to think that it was. Other than that, she is still sleeping through the night pretty well, but she still wakes up a couple of times through out the night and I end up just having to put her binky back in and reswaddle her and then she goes back to sleep. She is such a love!
Last night we had the missionaries over for dinner. It reminded me of when I lived at home with my parents and you were on your mission because I always loved having the missionaries over because it would help me imagine what your life might be like and what you might be doing. So being here with you gone again and writing you letters is giving me major de javu of that whole experience when you were a missionary. It's fun being in an area with so many military men. Today I saw an old friend from high school at church that I haven't seen for awhile. She is back here now living with her parents while her husband, who is in the navy, is getting deployed. He doesn't know exactly when he is leaving yet, but they've told him sometime in between November and January. They are having their first baby in October so luckily he'll be around for the baby no matter what. I like talking to other people about their experiences, because it helps me get some perspective on what our future might be like. It's funny because when I tell people that I'm living here with my parents while you are in boot camp they almost all ask me if you are at Camp Pendelton. I think it's funny because the odds of you joining that right branch of the military and then being sent to the right base right by where my parents are would be way too coincidental, it seems very unlikely that would happen, but they don't think about that before they ask.
I love you so much honey, there just really are no words. I'm cooking up some fun surprises for you, just so you know. It's easier to tell you that when we're not physically together because then you can't tickle me until I tell you. You'll just have to wonder what they might be, because even if you ask me in your letters I'm not going to tell you. Even though I have a hard time saying no to you in person, it won't be hard to resist your requests in your letters for spoiling the surprises. So, let it be a comfort to you if you are laying there at night feeling sad. Just think to yourself "I've got some great things coming my way, Jessie's working on surprises for me for when I get home."
Love-Jess
9526
P.S. I don't think you gave your deferment form to Adam and Lara because they can't find it, not even downstairs. Do you remember where you left it? I'll probably ask you about it on the phone if you get a chance to call me again.
Saturday, August 18, 2007
8/18/07
Dearest Jessie,
Saturday here at processing is pretty relaxed. We woke up at 5:30 instead of 4:30 and we stood in formation for 1/2 hour and then went to chow (breakfast). After chow we marched a little bit, cleaned up the grounds for a while, sat in the barracks for about an hour and then went back to chow. We now have one hour before we have to get back out other for drill. So I decided to get a jump on your letter today.
Wearing these new dog tags really makes me feel like a real soldier. They have my full name, SSN, blood type, and religious preference which is written: "CH-Jesus-CHR-LD." Did you know that my blood type is O positive? I didn't. Does that mean only O positive can give to me or how does that work?
I've been telling all the guys that my little girl can say "doggy." I can just imagine her doing it. Is Maren holding her head up any better?
The drill sergeant we have today is really cool. Just now he marched us around for a while and then sat us down for about an hour and just kicked back and talked with us. I didn't know a drill sergeant could make a joke. He was telling us how to make the most of our lives and to live within our means. And then said how best to take the most advantage of the Army.
I don't think you have to worry about the chance that I might die anymore. When I become an officer - all these people talk about is that the difference between officers and enlistsed men is officers plan what the enlisted will do. It is amazing how many people are coming into this Army. There are 90 people in my platoon and we all came in on the same day. I got side tracked - whatever I do as an officer, I'm pretty sure I will stay clear of the danger. Let all the enlisted men learn to drive the tanks and go into battle. I will help plan how that works.
I had a really good missionary experience last night with my bottom bunk buddy - Private Jordan. He is from South Carolina and is very religious, but open minded. He says he is non-denominational. He is very curious about the church because he has heard only what other people have told him. So I had him read the account of Joseph Smith receiving the Book of Mormon and the testimony of the 3 and the 8 witnesses. He had a lot of questions. So I am hoping we will be able to go to church tomorrow.
I just got done talking to you - it's Saturday night - and I'm happy. I love you so much.
There is a private here that is very Christian from Kansas. There is also a young kid from Idaho who hasn't served a mission yet. They were talking about the Book of Mormon and before I even went over there I knew what was going to happen. It was pretty much a bash without Bibles. He would bring up bogus Christian/Anti stuff and I would expalin how that was crap and he is a really nice guy but it makes me so mad when he says I'm part of a cult. So I'm trying to de-stress into this letter. I just gave my Book of Mormon back to the fellow from West Valley that is having a hard time here. I gave him Ether 12 to read. He said he will have his mom send him a Book of Mormon once he has an address.
I am still so wound up. I feel bad and frustrated for those people. Their religion is so worthless. Say the words "Lord Jesus I accept you!" and your saved! That is the biggest load of crap I have ever heard in my life.
I just hope that it will work out in the next life for people like that. These privates also like really dirty jokes. I try not to listen, but sometimes it's during formations.
I'm thinking of shaving my legs. The tall socks we wear hurt my leg hairs, but if I did that would be one more thing for the drill sergeant to single me out for.
Saturday here at processing is pretty relaxed. We woke up at 5:30 instead of 4:30 and we stood in formation for 1/2 hour and then went to chow (breakfast). After chow we marched a little bit, cleaned up the grounds for a while, sat in the barracks for about an hour and then went back to chow. We now have one hour before we have to get back out other for drill. So I decided to get a jump on your letter today.
Wearing these new dog tags really makes me feel like a real soldier. They have my full name, SSN, blood type, and religious preference which is written: "CH-Jesus-CHR-LD." Did you know that my blood type is O positive? I didn't. Does that mean only O positive can give to me or how does that work?
I've been telling all the guys that my little girl can say "doggy." I can just imagine her doing it. Is Maren holding her head up any better?
The drill sergeant we have today is really cool. Just now he marched us around for a while and then sat us down for about an hour and just kicked back and talked with us. I didn't know a drill sergeant could make a joke. He was telling us how to make the most of our lives and to live within our means. And then said how best to take the most advantage of the Army.
I don't think you have to worry about the chance that I might die anymore. When I become an officer - all these people talk about is that the difference between officers and enlistsed men is officers plan what the enlisted will do. It is amazing how many people are coming into this Army. There are 90 people in my platoon and we all came in on the same day. I got side tracked - whatever I do as an officer, I'm pretty sure I will stay clear of the danger. Let all the enlisted men learn to drive the tanks and go into battle. I will help plan how that works.
I had a really good missionary experience last night with my bottom bunk buddy - Private Jordan. He is from South Carolina and is very religious, but open minded. He says he is non-denominational. He is very curious about the church because he has heard only what other people have told him. So I had him read the account of Joseph Smith receiving the Book of Mormon and the testimony of the 3 and the 8 witnesses. He had a lot of questions. So I am hoping we will be able to go to church tomorrow.
I just got done talking to you - it's Saturday night - and I'm happy. I love you so much.
There is a private here that is very Christian from Kansas. There is also a young kid from Idaho who hasn't served a mission yet. They were talking about the Book of Mormon and before I even went over there I knew what was going to happen. It was pretty much a bash without Bibles. He would bring up bogus Christian/Anti stuff and I would expalin how that was crap and he is a really nice guy but it makes me so mad when he says I'm part of a cult. So I'm trying to de-stress into this letter. I just gave my Book of Mormon back to the fellow from West Valley that is having a hard time here. I gave him Ether 12 to read. He said he will have his mom send him a Book of Mormon once he has an address.
I am still so wound up. I feel bad and frustrated for those people. Their religion is so worthless. Say the words "Lord Jesus I accept you!" and your saved! That is the biggest load of crap I have ever heard in my life.
I just hope that it will work out in the next life for people like that. These privates also like really dirty jokes. I try not to listen, but sometimes it's during formations.
I'm thinking of shaving my legs. The tall socks we wear hurt my leg hairs, but if I did that would be one more thing for the drill sergeant to single me out for.
Friday, August 17, 2007
8/17/07
Dearest Jessie,
I am so happy right now. Talking to you for that little while was amazing. It makes all of this stress much more bearable. Your voice was the prettiest thing I have heard since I left you. I will not be crying myself to sleep this night.
One of my fellow privates is currently borrowing my Book of Mormon. he is from West Valley and hasn't served a mission yet. He said he wasn't planning on serving, but after this he said he might. I feel like I am providing a good example of how happy a life can be after serving a mission.
Did I tell you that they shaved my head nearly bald? They used clippers with no guard on it at all and they probably spent 40 seconds shaving my whole head. They are very fast.
We spent almost all day getting our financial paper work organized today. Thank you again for faxing that in so quickly. Our money will be direct deposited into U.C.C.U. Also, good news! (big news, big news from London). Since you are now living in California we (or you) will be getting over $1000 a month for housing costs. It was only around $700 for Utah.
Grandpa Frogley gave me his watch. His Swiss Army knife watch that he actually wore for a while. It's so nice to know what time it is. It was locked up for the first couple days so when I finally got it, it sure was nice.
Well, in closing, I say again that your voice was a beam of sunlight on my cloudy day. I love you so much and pray that the Lord will watch over and keep you and the girls safe and protected.
Love-Brad
P.S. We got our dog tags today.
I am so happy right now. Talking to you for that little while was amazing. It makes all of this stress much more bearable. Your voice was the prettiest thing I have heard since I left you. I will not be crying myself to sleep this night.
One of my fellow privates is currently borrowing my Book of Mormon. he is from West Valley and hasn't served a mission yet. He said he wasn't planning on serving, but after this he said he might. I feel like I am providing a good example of how happy a life can be after serving a mission.
Did I tell you that they shaved my head nearly bald? They used clippers with no guard on it at all and they probably spent 40 seconds shaving my whole head. They are very fast.
We spent almost all day getting our financial paper work organized today. Thank you again for faxing that in so quickly. Our money will be direct deposited into U.C.C.U. Also, good news! (big news, big news from London). Since you are now living in California we (or you) will be getting over $1000 a month for housing costs. It was only around $700 for Utah.
Grandpa Frogley gave me his watch. His Swiss Army knife watch that he actually wore for a while. It's so nice to know what time it is. It was locked up for the first couple days so when I finally got it, it sure was nice.
Well, in closing, I say again that your voice was a beam of sunlight on my cloudy day. I love you so much and pray that the Lord will watch over and keep you and the girls safe and protected.
Love-Brad
P.S. We got our dog tags today.
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