Sorry it's been so long since my last update. The first week - we were in San Diego, second week - Adam was home and we were having too much fun as a family, and last week - my mac was broken for most of the week, so I did not have access to files.

So! Here we are again, back in (not-so-snowy) Minnesota. The graduation: Where to begin...

We got to base (MCRD) very early Tuesday morning for Family Day - in time to watch Mike Company practice the graduation ceremony. We all eagerly looked for Adam and could not find him for anything! We looked in all the logical places - at the front of his platoon with the guide-on, etc. Nowhere. And then - the moment we finally saw him was indescribable. Kathy had Bryna in our stroller and she booked it down to where they were at to get a closer look. The platoon was marching at a solid pace, but that she was one determined mama! I could not keep up with her! We got right up to him and saw - yes! it really was him. He looked about 10 years younger, lean, tall, and SO so handsome. I can't even put into words what it meant to see with my own eyes that my husband truly did exist! And the pride. Oh, my. Those Marines are sharp. Just being in their presence, and in that atmosphere - it's just awesome. The precision, prestige, dignity, and bearing - truly remarkable. At one point Kathy noted to me - "and to think that they are all here voluntarily." We agreed - how awesome.

So at this point we're on cloud nine. We have to get through some briefings, wait for what seemed like forever...and then we got to line up to watch the motovational run. Adam was guide of course and this made him very easy to find - he had that big red flag a-wavin'. The guides came out a good 10 or more minutes before their platoons came out. So there we were only 15 or so yards away from Adam. I was shaking. I could not hold my camera still for anything. Poor, tender Bryna was in tears. This really suprised me for some reason. I knew, of course, that she greatly missed her daddy being gone for so long - but it was interesting to myself in her shoes - a six year old, missing her daddy so much and then emoting like that. It nearly broke my heart. She can be a toughie a lot of the time - but she's a pretty sensitive gal afterall.

So they do their run and then we have to wait even longer with more briefings and presentations, etc. Finally the EGA ceremony. This is where they have the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor metal presented to them and pinned on their covers. The moment they symbolically become a Marine. They marched in and looked SO sharp. Between Kathy and I the bleachers were shaking. She tells me her camera was doing the same thing. ;-) We were certainly overwhelmed with pride while having the priveledge of witnessing Adam "become" a Marine.

And then - Liberty. Weeding through the crowd and finally meeting. Heart-stopping, what can I say. I couldn't really cry at that point becuase it was just way too surreal. It was just a really, really happy meeting. The girls hugged their daddy for the first time in 4 months. We were so blessed to have Kathy, Jerry, Clay, and Jamie their with us. What a reunion that was. I was mostly speechless. Had NO idea what to say to the guy, and wasn't completely convinced he even was the same guy!

I can't speak for everyone, but I just don't think we knew how to contain our pride for Adam. I tear up, now even, as I'm typing this. He just - you look at him, and it's just amazing. He's home. He has become that man that God called him to be. So self-assured, so confident. To be in his presence as this whole new person was... just - phenomonal.

We thoroughly enjoyed our liberty as we walked around MCRD, had dinner at the Bay View (none too soon for poor, hungry Clay :-) All afternoon as we walked, it seemed as though we could not go 10 feet without being stopped by one of Adam's "boys" to congratulate and/or thank him. The respect that these boys have for him - Wow.

But before we knew it, it was time for him to get back to his barracks.

OH! Did I mention - the night before Family Day, Adam was promoted! Lance Corporal Adam T. Disney. He will have to tell the story behind it - but in a nutshell, it was fairly unprecidented for something like that to happen.

Wednesday - Graduation. We got there EARLY. So early, in fact, that we were the first ones in the bleachers. So - we had some time (like 3 hours?) to wait. We just did a lot of walking and scraping knees while we waited. (Who said clutziness wasn't genetic?) We ended up getting seats, however, right in the very, very front at almost the last minute. We were in front of the reviewing stands - even in front of the Brigadere General, which felt a little weird, but still a total honor. The band played, there was special drill from the Honormen, lots of marching, and some speeches. To be honest - I was concentrating more on waiting for that final order of "dismissed" than anything else - but it really was a cool ceremony.

Well, we spent the rest of the day hanging out on base (Grandma and Grandad, Clay and Jamie - really can't thank you enough for helping with the girls all week). Adam bought some "civi's" (civilian clothing) on base and we headed over to the bowling alley and met up with all his drill instructors. Man, oh man. I wish I would have had a video camera then. They were all like a bunch of proud papas when Adam came into the room. We spent the next 3 hours hearing how well Adam did in training and what a good Marine he'll make. I have a TON of respect for those guys. They have a hard job, and do it very well. We had so much fun hanging out and hearing all their stories. Hope to have the privilege to meet them again someday. (Oh, and they ordered him to dance a slow dance with me. Thanks, guys.)

San Diego was just gorgeous. We spent Thanksgiving at Sea World and had an absolute blast. Tried in vain to find a good restaurant for dinner and ended up at Baker's Square. (no offense to the baker's square fans out there....) And since we've been back in Minnesota, we just had a lot of fun. So much fun that I have about 5lbs to work off now. But oh well.

Adam is back in California as of last Sunday. He is currently completing his the MCT (Marine Corps Combat Training) portion of his overall training. He will be back home just in time for Christmas. January 5th, i think, he'll fly back to 29 Palms to complete his MOS for four months. Not looking forward to that, but at least we can talk on the phone and hopeuflly fly out for a weekend or two. One foot at a time, one day at a time, and we'll be together again someday.

I have so much more to write, but I've already made this a long one. Feel free to email or call or comment. We'd love to hear from you. Thanks for your patience. I will try to get more of the 600+ wonderful pictures that my dear mom-in-law took.

Thanks to EVERYONE who has helped watch girls, given meals, helped around the house, listened to my whining and sometimes crying, picked lice and nits, helped with ANYTHING, and most of all, prayed us through the past four months. The support and love we feel as a family is truly priceless.

Love to all,
Gena

PS - I'm trying to get Adam to put a word or two on here also. Hopefully when he's home for Christmas.