Monday, October 25, 2010

My Marine (recruit) Monday

(newly hung USMC flag on our home)

We got several letters this week.  A couple of days apart so it made the week awesome!!

DAD -
HEY POPS!
THIS IS JUST A QUICK NOTE SINCE I'M UP AT 2:30AM PREPPING FOR TOMORROW, BUT I WANTED TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL THE PICTURES AND HELP!  YOU'RE SUCH AN AWESOME DAD!
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

RECRUIT CATMULL
'SEMPER FI'

MOMMA -
AIGHT SO I GOT YOUR QUICK NOTE ABOUT FLIGHT PLANS AND SUCH.  PERFECT!
I ALSO AGREE WITH YOUR SEAWORLD IDEA.  IT MAKES A LOT MORE SENSE TO DO THAT THAN ANYTHING!  I AM WAY EXCITED.  I'VE BEEN TELLING EVERYONE ABOUT IT : )  THANKS FOR THE PICTURE AS WELL!  IT TOTALLY MADE MY DAY AND EVERYONE THINKS SISSY IS SO CUTE!

THAT KEELEY LADY IS WAY STOKED TO MEET YOU.  SHE TELLS ME IN EVERY LETTER  : )  I BET THAT SHE WILL BE LOTS OF FUN!!  l )  SHE IS WAY NICE AND WRITES ME VERY CONSISTENTLY.  TIB AND THE ERICKSON'S ALSO SENT ME A CARD!! IT WAS BADA$$!

SO THIS LETTER IS GONNA BE QUICK BECAUSE I AM UP AT 2:00AM DOING LAUNDRY TO LEAVE BACK TO MCRD ON SUNDAY : )  FIELD WEEK WAS AWESOME!

THEY HAD US RUNNING THROUGH A MAKESHIFT WARZONE AT NIGHT, WHILE MORTAR ROUND BLANKS SHOT OFF AND 'SAVING PRIVATE RYAN'S' OPENING SCENE WAS BEING PLAYED ON A SUPER LOUD HIDDEN SOUND SYSTEM.  IT WAS SO INTENSE.  WE HAD TO STORM A BEACH MAKESHIFT, HOP WALLS, CRAWL UNDER BARBWIRE, CLEAR OUT BUNKER TRENCHES AND LOW CRAWL THROUGH MUD AND ROCKS!  : )  I HAD SO MUCH ADRENALINE, I ALSO LEARNED A LOT ABOUT IED'S AND LAND NAV.

ANYWAY'S, I HAVE TO TRY AND GET SOME ZZ'S

I MIGHT RECEIVE A PHONE CALL SOMETIME SOON?  PLEASE ALWAYS HAVE YOUR PHONE ON YOU!

ILYPI MOMMA
THANKS FOR ALL YOU DO!

RECRUIT CATMULL
'SEMPER FI'



SISSY -
HI SWEETIE!! I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT YOU ALOT LATELY.  I'VE BEEN AT THE MARINES FOR 8 WEEKS NOW, AND I ONLY HAVE TO BE HERE FOR 4 MORE WEEKS AND THEN YOU AND MIMI AND POPPA AND UNCLE LUKA AND UNCLE TUFFY GET TO COME SEE ME BECOME A MARINE!

AFTER THAT, WE ARE GOING TO THE REALLY REALLY BIG AQUARIUM CALLED SEA WORLD!  WE ARE GONNA SEE THE SHARKS, AND PENGUINS, AND SHAMU!
I AM REALLY EXCITED.  I TELL EVERYONE HERE ABOUT YOU AND SHOW THEM ALL THE PICTURES I HAVE OF YOU : )  THEY THINK YOU ARE SOOOO CUTE.  OF COURSE, BECAUSE YOU ARE.

AFTER THAT WE GET TO RIDE IN A PLANE TO COME HOME TO MIMI AND POPPA'S AND SPEND THANKSGIVING TOGETHER!

I MISS YOU & LOVE YOU MORE THAN YOU KNOW PRINCESS
ILYPI
DADDY



WHAT'S GOOD FAM???

JUST CHILLIN AT CHURCH AGAIN :)  TODAY HAD SOME REALLY COOL PEOPLE SPEAK.  IT WAS PRETTY MOTIVATING!
MOM & DAD - I RECENTLY WROTE EACH OF YOU A QUICK NOTE BUT I HEARD THERE HAS BEEN ISSUES TAKING LONGER TO GET TO YOU ALL, SO I'LL REFRESH WITH THIS RECENT UPDATE.

TODAY I AM 3RD PHASE!! : )
AFTER CHOW, WE HEAD BACK TO MCRD TO FINISH OUT BOOT CAMP.  I GOT MY EXPERT BADGE AND THIS WEEK WE GET OUR UNIFORMS AND I WILL GET MY PFC PINS FOR THEM ALL!  THEY LOOK SOOO GOOD!  IT'S GOT ME SO MOTIVATED!  RIGHT NOW I'M FEELING SO GOOD AND FOCUSED.

AS FAR AS ALL THE PLANS FOR GRADUATION, IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAVE IT SET PERFECT MOMMA!  I THINK ABOUT IT EVERY DAY!  I AM WAY EXCITED  : )

I'VE HEARD THAT I COULD POSSIBLY BE GETTING AN EXTENDED LEAVE TIME SINCE THE GRADUATION DATE IS SO CLOSE TO THE HOLIDAYS!  KEEP YOUR FINGERS CROSSED   HAHA.

HOW WAS MEETING KEELEY MOM?  I KNOW SHE WAS SUPER EXCITED.  SHE IS SUCH A NICE LADY.  YOU GUYS ARE ALL GOING TO HAVE A BLAST AT THE CABIN.

I AM CURIOUS TO KNOW WHAT ALL OF THE HOLIDAY PLANS ARE FOR THANKSGIVING?! I WOULD LOVE TO MAKE TO BOTH FAMILIES AS LONG AS TIME PERMITS IT.  ALL OF US FELLAS HERE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT HOW GOOD WE ARE GOING TO EAT THAT DAY AND HOW LONG OF A NAP WE WANT TO TAKE AND WHAT TO BE WATCHING ON TV AS WE DO IT ALL - HA HA

I CAN'T WAIT TO TELL YOU ALL OF THE STORIES HERE AND FOR YOU TO SEE ALL OF MY DI'S.  THEY ARE AWESOME MEN AND FATHERS!

MOM - IF YOU COULD POST A FACEBOOK STATUS FOR ME STATING THAT I GRADUATE NOV 19TH AND IF ANY OF MY FRIENDS WANT TO COME SEE ME GRADUATE, THEY ARE MORE THAN WELCOME TOO!  THANKS : )

I'M OUT OF TIME!  ANYWAYS, BACK OFF TO MCRD  : )

HAVE A GREAT WEEK GUYS!
LOVE AND MISS YOU ALL
RECRUIT CATMULL
'SEMPER FI'

I am loving his letters!  He does a lot of underlining and lots of exclamation points and smiley faces.  He's alot like me in writing.

I am so pleased to hear him be so happy.  He his performing well, feeling good about his decision and learning his duties.

And thanks to those of you who are writing him!  I know that there are several of you, but he isn't always telling me about it.  But please know how much it means to me! (PS - I took the liberty to link them up in his text)

And now, just a little over 3 weeks before we head out to San Diego for the epic graduation.  I can hardly wait!

Semper Fi

15 comments:

Suzie said...

So dang sweet. Love how you guys love each other.

(& I'm not gonna lie. The one to his daughter made me tear up just a bit. esp how she says herself that "he's at da Marines." so priceless)

Cheeseboy said...

Love these updates. Now I think I would literally crap my pants in a fake war zone like that. I am man enough to admit that I am not much of a man at all.

CB said...

The letter to his little Sissy just got me in the heart. Sooooo sweet!
"The Keeley woman" - Ha Ha - WAy Awesome!! :-D
Love the flags hanging outside the house!!
Semper Fi!!

" Hit It......." said...

I look forward to "the Dawg's" letters. I can't wait for you to see him in person.

The 19th will be here sooner than you think!

Just M said...

He descibes A-Line just like it was. I loved that part of Boot Camp.

I'm so excited for him and for your family. The transformation really is amazing and when you see him and the change that has been made in him.

Semper FI!

gigi said...

Wonderful picture of your flags!! Great letters too! I know how full your heart must be just reading them and loving him so much. Such a great son, father and Marine :)

tammy said...

I'm laughing at Cheeseboy, but cheering for Dawg. So awesome to see these things going on in his life.

Missy said...

LOVE the Flags and the Letter to Sissy! Crying!

Carma Sez said...

Only three weeks to go - that is awesome. I can tell from his letters that you have done a superfine job of raising him!!

Connie said...

There's something about having a son in the service. Just makes ya proud! My son is in the army. He's only doing weekends now but it was awesome to go to Fort Leonardwood for his graduation. He was barely 18 and I was one nervous mama but he did well.

Hope you have super fun in California. And...the military does get discounts to lots of things!

Linda said...

What wonderful, touching letters to be receiving!

His happiness comes through loud and clear! You certainly have the right to be one proud momma!

tha malcontent said...

You must be very Proud. And rightfully so.

Plain Jame said...

Sounds like he's doing amazingly well. I'm glad he writes all the time and keeps you all up to date. I love how much he loves his daughter too. (just like his momma!)

LKP said...

lol @ cheeseboy!

he's a great kid, M. you've done well. i'm always worried that if i send scriptural references or quotes he may feel preached to, but he seems to be ok with what i've been sending. nothing over the top. just inspirational things that strike me in the week. but its all been good. (: and i've been delighted to receive as many responses from him as i have! considering how little time he has to himself. sorry if his writing me a quick note limits anything he wanted to write to you.
it's funny, cause now my family tease me and say "mama, you got a letter from your marine-boy!" or "i'll put your marine-boy's letter on the pile of 'em for ya, mama!" almost as if he was my surrogate son. lol. what a bunch of cards. in actuality, writing back & forth makes it feel more like he's my brother.

anyhow, clock's tickin'. 3 weeks is like melting butter. before you know it, it'll be bubbling and time to hit up San D!!! what a fabulous time you'll have!

make sure sissy gives you a squeeze for me! love yer guts, oodles!

::hugs::

tiburon said...

I am soo glad he got our card. And that fake war zone thingie sounds like the shiznit!

I wanna go :)