Disneyland transplants.

2009-05-17T15:02:00.000-07:00

This week has been another busy one. Adam's hours continue to be long and daunting. We haven't exactly found a balance yet - but we are managing. Carving out time for family is a challenge, but something we continually work on perfecting. By far, the happiest moment in my day is seeing Adam walk through the door. Well, actually - it's when I get the text that he's on his way and then about 40 minutes later I hear the garage door opening - THEN he walks through the door. :-)

It sounds like his schedule will not free up at all for the next year and a half. Between monthly training, work-ups in the fall, and then deployment next year - he is booked solid.

At home the kids and I are pushing for the school year to finish up. Only 20 some days remaining and Bryna will be a free (young) woman! Hah!

Now that we've finished up 3 months of hosting, it seems as though our summer schedule has filled over night. We are looking forward to the 9th Comm Battalion picnic, beach bonfires, swimming, and the culminating event - a trip home to the midwest!

I can't believe how quickly the time goes. So much has happened in 2008/09 that it's a little crazy to take it all in. Anyway, I'm beginning to realized that things don't slow down. There is no "finish line." Instead, I'm learning to enjoy the ride!!

2009-04-26T18:18:00.000-07:00

Apparently, this poor old blog needs some much needed attention! It's been (*gasp*) eleven months since I've updated. Let me tell you, a lot can happen in a year.

Here's an abbreviated run down of the past, eh-hem, year:

08 June: Adam graduates The Basic School

08 July: Fantastic 4th of July visit from Grandma Kathy, Adam starts COMM School

08 August: Bryna starts the 2nd grade at Anne E. Moncure

08 September: Bryna turns 8 on the 21st, Simon Nathanael Disney enters the world 23Sept

08 October: Visits from both sets of Grandparents and Auntie Jamie and Uncle Clay! Livia turns 4.

08 November: Gena and the kids bid farewell to Virginia and fly to MN/IL for the Holidays.

08 December: Adam graduates COMM school in the top 10% of his class, drives to IL only to be hit by a deer in Ohio. We are delayed for 2 weeks in Illinois at the Disney homestead. (one of those blessings in disguise) Drive 4 days to CA and land at our new home on 23Dec. Spend Christmas in a hotel.

09 January: Adam is working as a Platoon Commander aboard Camp Pendleton. Bryna starts at her new school: Helen Hunt Jackson Elem.

09 February: Finally settling into the routine in Temecula. Lots of walks outside and getting totally settled into the new house.

09 March: Visit from my Dad and nephew Sage from MN! Sea World and swimming in the Pacific!

09 April: Visit from our friends Amanda and Brenna from MN! More Sea World and ocean swimming.

That's our nut shell at this point. I will try to regain the habit of updating. Many things have gone by the way-side since the addition of our little guy!

2008-06-10T08:52:00.001-07:00

Here are few photos from our recent adventures.

Big truck, little girl.

Mother's Day 2008

Last day of school.

Last night in Mankato at the school carnival.

Goofy sisters

Bryna, Livi, and cousin Alex starting the Mt Vernon tour.

Mount Vernon

Kids in front of the Bowling Green

Awesome, huge tree.

Livia checking out the peonies.

Bryna in the garden.

2008-06-10T08:14:00.000-07:00

In the gardens

Mount Vernon overlooking the Potomac

Viewing the storehouse

Bryna and Alex listening intently during the Nat'l Treasure 2 tour.

Livia viewing the Potomac

Livi and Uncle Jim looking for fish.

Livia and the Washingtons

George and Martha

George, Martha, and Patsy

The girls and daddy goofing around.

In remembrance - Capt. Nathanael Doring

2008-03-04T18:50:00.000-08:00

2008-02-11T16:33:00.000-08:00

2008-02-10T10:11:00.000-08:00

It is difficult to describe all of the training that goes on here at The Basic School so I am posting these videos that someone else made to show what we do every day.

This week as I was trying to ignore my throbbing feet and my aching back on our 2.5 mile hump that we did in 28 minutes with 70lbs of gear on our back, I was thinking of how odd this all would be to us if we were still in the civilian world. But now that we are Marines, it is just another day in the Corps.

Monday of this past week was the most miserable day of my life. As we stood in formation at 0430 the rain poured on us, soaking all of our clothes and gear. The next 14 hours were spend in the rain and mud as we humped out to the rifle range and sat in various uncomfortable firing positions sending close to 100 rounds down range at targets from 200 to 500 yards. It was about 32 degrees outside; just warm enough for the rain not to be snow. I do not know what was worse, the pain of frozen fingers and toes or the mud seeping down our pants. But this is the life that all of us have chosen.

As the week progressed, the weather got warmer and dryer and we had little to complain about except for the fact that a water pipe in the barracks had burst leaving us without water which made everyone smell all the more.
Friday was qualification day for both the M16A2 service rifle and the M9 Beretta 9mm pistol. I was delighted that I shot well on both earning a double expert award.

On to more important things...

I have been approved for an out-of-bounds liberty pass for the upcoming 72 liberty which means that I am flying home to Minnesota on Saturday the 16th and staying there for 3 entire days. I am so excited to see Gena, Bryna, Livia and of course Charlie. I also hope to be able to spend some time with our friends.

Semper Fi

2008-01-20T13:40:00.000-08:00

Hello bloggers, this is my first blog entry since the creation of this blog. My beautiful wife has maintained the blog for a year and a half and has now encouraged me to participate. So here we go.

I have been at TBS for a grand total of 17 days and it feels allot longer. The first week here is called "in-processing" and is a very long and boring ordeal. We are in a classroom from 0600 until 2100 (9:00 pm). During this time we sit in our seats and listen to briefs back-to-back all day long. There is no eating or drinking in the classroom and the time schedule usually does not leave time for chow. The picture of me on this post was taken during in-processing week and is put in my training folder so that my SPC (Staff Platoon Commander) can identify names to faces as the POI (Period of Instruction) begins.

The academics here are intense. The class load given to us in six months is equivalent to two and a half years of college credit hours. We are expected to master the information and implement it in the field during three week long FEXs (Field Exercises) and a final amphibious assault that is orchestrated and executed by the student lieutenants. Overall it is going to be a pretty intense six months.

The good thing about training in VA is that it does not get to -5 degrees here. I feel for all of you in the great frozen north that are enduring through the MN winter. Ooo-Rah to all of you. We had about one inch of snow here on Thursday night and the base almost shut down for all day on Friday. We had a late start on Friday instead and the base opened at 0900 instead of 0400. People are complaining about the cold here and it has yet to get below 20 degrees.

My weekends consist of talking to Gena and the girls, my parents, and my brother, watching movies (right now it is the Band of Brother series), and working out. Most of the other lieutenants here go off base for the weekend and explore the social scene of the east coast. This weekend we have a 72, or in civilian terms a three day weekend, because of Martin Luther King Day.

I would like to thank everyone for their continued prayers and thoughts. Thank you to everyone who is helping Gena and the girls during our time apart. I am very grateful to have family and friends who are so loyal and giving.

I will be periodically writing posts for the blog as my training schedule allows.

Semper Fi and God Bless
Lt. Disney

2008-01-08T12:47:00.001-08:00

Well, it's been a good long pause in between updates. I'm still trying to find my feet after the holidays. Plenty of adjustments around here lately. Adam is back in Quantico, VA for the next 6 months at a minimum. This next set of training is called TBS, or "The Basic School." Bryna is back to school and the swimming season is winding down. Livia is now at home with me full time, and I've cut back greatly on work hours to migrate into a more full-time mom position. I've been waiting for that for about 7 years, and I'm loving it.

The girls and I plan to stay put for now, with no real timeline for our move. Ideally before the next school year starts up, is what I'm thinking.

This is a short update for now, but I plan to get a bit more frequent in these now that the dust is settling around me.

So if for some random reason anyone still reads this - there will be more to come. :-)

Best Regards!

2007-11-15T20:19:00.000-08:00

Hey girl, I have a few minutes between all of the craziness finally. Just got back from church (prayer & praise) and it was great!! A guest speaker was there from TBS. He is a retired colonel and a great man of God. He talked about being content with whatever circumstances you are in.

I have another two-hour post tonight but it is at 2100-2300 this time, and it is outside. It is getting cold here now. Today was very frosty and windy in the morning. We also had pugil sticks today but I lost both times I wen tup. The guys I went against even said that I should have won but the ref didn't see my stabs to their face.

My bones get more and more sore with each day that goes by and I can't seem to keep my eyes open if I sit down for more than 20 minutes but there are only 22 days and wake-up left until I am done with this place and the only reminder that I will have will be two gold bars.

Well I am going to bundle up for walking around a parking lot for tow hours.

I love all of you -
Huge and kiss the girls for me -

I LOVE YOU! Adam

2007-11-12T08:53:00.000-08:00

2007-11-12T08:36:00.001-08:00

It is a mere two weeks until our family will be reunited. So much has gone on in these few months, that it's sometimes amazing to consider where we've been and where we're headed.

Mostly, I think Adam and I both have really just felt God's hand of faithfulness on our family. He's shown so much favor to Adam throughout OCS, He's kept the girls and I safe and healthy, He's drawn us closer to Him, and to eachother. It's easy to look on this time as a reminder of God's sovreignty. There's a lot of peace and rest that comes in knowing He is our provision, our King, our Savior.

We look forward to December - and the months that follow. There are possible changes ahead that I wasn't expecting this soon (like a possilbe move in January) - but I have that litmus test of God's will in the forefront of my mind - and that is being filled with peace in the midst of what should seemingly be turmoil. At tht end of the day, God is still God, and each day is an opportunity to know Him better.

My girls are such a blessing. Bryna is still loving the Marlins Swim Team. She averages about 3 practices a week. Sometimes swimming for an hour and a half. You can imagine how well she sleeps!

Livia just turned three and is always offering me her humorous insight on any given situation.

Although my head is often swimming...or discombobulated - I'm managing. I'm exhausted...but still here. Learning a LOT about contentedness. Also learning to know what to say no to. Priorities take on a whole meaning as a single parent. You really have to pick and choose what gets added or eliminated from the schedule. I seem to learn the hard way, but I'm getting there.

We couldn't do any of this without the INCREDIBLE ongoing suppport of family and friends, and so appreciate all the prayers extended on our behalf. We feel it...and need it!

2007-10-30T10:53:00.000-07:00

Hey Babe,

It is about 10 PM (2200) and I just got done starching my cover for inspection and ironing my cammies. Inspection isn't for another two days, but now I am almost ready.

I got my second squad evaluation back today and I am still rated 1st out of 13. In my brief with Captain Johnson he said that he has no worries about me and I am on track to graduate. That is good to hear... and I aced my third test in a row today. I am on my way I guess.

Today it rained all day and we were out in it freezing our butts off doing MCMAP and bear crawls around the entire muddy PT field. Kind of fun, but very cold and dirty.

We have a land navigation test in the woods tomorrow and you know how I am with directions. We'll see about that one.

I think about you and the girls constantly. On Monday the only thing I can think of is Saturday afternoon and your and Bryna's voice. She just blew me away last weekend while talking to her. She is so big. It is hard to believe she was ever so small.

We did the Quigley this week too. It wasn't that bad. The worst part was one confirmed snake and a bunch of little fish with whiskery-looking things. Didn't quite look like a catfish, but some ugly cousin of the catfish. It was pretty exhausting though. It took about 35 minutes to go through the entire course. There were 16 obstacles, including the Quigley.

Well, the rack is calling my name.

I love you all very much and will talk to you before you get this letter.

----LOVE----

Dad/Adam/Devil Dog

2007-10-16T20:30:00.000-07:00

The lovely couple - Mr. and Mrs. Doring

The girls plus half of mom.

Capt. Lisa Doring, Brooke Doring, Gena

The cousins - Gabe, Nick, Gena

The Plummer House - lovely.

2007-10-12T21:10:00.000-07:00

Hey Girl,
Hmm ---- every single day here is a struggle to keep my sanity. Everything that I have worked for in the Marine Corps is gone. I am just the "fat one" of the platoon. Kind of funny, I guess.

Anyway, time goes so slow here. I am thinking about you girls and home way too much. Part of me prays everyday that something will happen to send me home. But that is just the part of me that wants to be home.

I really do want to finish my training here, it is just the hardest thing that I have done in my entire life!!!

We have church on Sunday, which is really good but makes me sad. And then we also have a praise and worship here on Thursday nights. Last Thursday, I got a book called "Don't Waste Your Life" by John Piper. You have probably heard of him. He is a pastor in MInneapolis.

I have only gotten one letter from you so far and today is Sunday the 7th. I need to read your words soon. How are Bryna and Livia? Tell them that they make me so proud and happy. I miss all of Bryna's smart conversations and Livia's sweet observations.

It tears me up to be away from you again so soon. I am wondering about TBS - pray whether or not we should be together during that time. i know there are a lot of logistics involved in that consideration, and it would not be a permanant duty station yet. And I still have to make it through all these tests and physical test. I will be only through GOD if I can make it for seven and a half more weeks.

I have to study now. We have a 4 mile hump with full packs tomorrow. Hope it isn't too bad.

Love you, Gena, Bryna, Livia.....

DAD!!

2007-10-11T06:29:00.000-07:00

2007-10-09T12:53:00.000-07:00

Hey Babe- thought I would write you a quick note before I rack out for the night. What a long day. Man!! I had to get up at 0245 for firewatch and then had a lot of candidates asking questions about drill and stuff because today was a billet change.

So I am no longer guide.... well that is half true because I am still the drill guide. We did a lot of drill today and it was very hot out. We also had a longer PT this morning. We ran four miles at the instructors pace with about 13 exercises thrown in. I am sorry for my spelling...I am just trying to get it on paper before I pass out. Ha!!

But we do get our first liberty in a week and a half. Some of the guys have their wives and kids coming into town to see them. I am so jealous of them. They are both Staff Sargeants in the corps already.

My kill hat started calling me Lance Criminal today. Kinda funny. We will see if he keeps it up.

My new watch fell out of my foot locker and landed face down on the deck. It broke! I was pretty bummed out.

I might try to split a cab ride and a hotel room with one of the guys in my platoon - we'll see. But you better be holding that phone in your hand when I call you. And the girls better be there too!

I could write a lot about the pain in my chest from missing you and the girls, but it will probably only make it worse. Just know that I am thinking about you all the time and can not wait to get back to hold all of you! I think TBS is going to be harder than we thought being away for that long. Kisses and hugs to all - LOVE YOU!!! Adam (Daddy)

2007-10-08T07:36:00.001-07:00

L.A. disc jockey loved heavy-metal music

Tawn Mastrey, a Minneapolis native who achieved fame in California, was known as the Leather Nun.

By Ben Cohen, Star Tribune
Last update: October 06, 2007 – 6:34 PM

Tawn Mastrey, a Minneapolis native and disc jockey who rocked Los Angeles and Minneapolis, possessed a gifted voice and a passion for helping aspiring radio personalities.
Mastrey, 53, who in recent years worked as a DJ from her Edina home for Sirius Satellite Radio, died on Tuesday in Minneapolis of liver failure from hepatitis C.

Mastrey was famed in heavy-metal circles; her nickname was the Leather Nun.

"She was definitely one of the iconic rock jocks of all time. She was known worldwide," said Remy Maxwell of Hopkins, who worked with Mastrey at Minneapolis' 93X and Los Angeles' old KNAC.

Mastrey grew up in Minneapolis and Mankato. After finishing high school in Mankato, she hitchhiked to California, where she went to broadcasting school in Modesto.

Right out of school, she snagged a DJ job in San Jose. From the 1970s to the 1990s, she worked up and down the West Coast, notably at Los Angeles' KNAC and Pirate Radio-KQLZ, said Maxwell.

"She had a very conversational, off-the-cuff style, one of the greatest female radio voices I have ever heard," Maxwell said.

Motley Crue, Ratt, Guns N' Roses, Great White and Poison are only a few of the heavy metal bands whose members were her friends.

"She had a hand in getting them signed" to record deals, Maxwell added.

He said that Mastrey helped him greatly in his career. "To move to L.A., listen to her show religiously, and end up being one of her best friends was very surreal to me."

Mastrey wrote and produced the "Sammy Hagar Cabo Wabo Happy Hour," a radio broadcast that was syndicated around the nation in 2006.

She also worked in documentaries and other films, serving as the expert on heavy metal when interviewed on video, Maxwell added.

Her sister Cara, of Minneapolis, said Mastrey, the second-oldest child in the family, was the leader when her siblings worked at their parents' Minneapolis restaurant, Mama Rosa's, in the 1960s and 1970s.

Growing up, she brought new and more sophisticated recordings home to her sisters.

"She was the coolest sister in the world, and she was caring and nurturing," said Cara Mastrey.

Seven years ago, TawnMastrey came home, "tired of the L.A. scene, becoming ill," said her sister. When she got here, "she rocked this town," she said.

In addition to Cara, she is survived by her mother, Jo Hiner of Minneapolis, and three other sisters, Liese Doring of Mankato, Jilda Mastrey of Minneapolis and Mia Moyad of Ann Arbor, Mich.

Services were held Saturday.

Ben Cohen • bcohen@startribune.com

© 2007 Star Tribune. All rights reserved.

2007-10-05T20:37:00.000-07:00

Hey Babe,

Does this paper look familiar? Well here I am.....wow.....we never (double underlined) stop. I get 3 1/2 - 4 hours of sleep a night if I am lucky. I had two nights in a row with 1 hour of sleep. It is not fun running a 3 mile station course with an instructor hauling butt.

Anyway, it is a lot like boot camp - eat fast, speaking in the 3rd person... It's just that everything moves a lot faster and it is a lot more physical. Right now I am guide, but it is a rotating position. I am sorry that I have not written more. I am really looking forward to two weeks from now when I can call you and talk to you for hours while eating a pizza. Haha.

I have two tests and PT at 0500 tomorrow, so I am going to let you go. My shoulder and everything is good for now. I just have really sore bones all of the time.

Tell Bryna that I hope her party was good. I miss all of you more than you know. You all melt my heart when I think about you. Take care of everyone.

I love you all sooooooo much!!!

Adam

SEMPER FI!!

2007-10-03T07:41:00.000-07:00

Please be in prayer for our family today. My aunt Tawn Mastrey (my mother's sister) passed away last night as a result of end-stage liver failure. It was a tragic, drawn-out end. She will be missed.

Tawn's Website

Tawn's Blog

2007-10-01T07:12:00.000-07:00

Letter #2

Wow. This is just how I knew it would be. It is the second day, the 23rd - I was up at 0400 and it's not 2130 (9:30 PM) with little hope in sight. Lights are on at 0345 tomorrow.

It's now the next day. I am beat and ready to come home and haven't done anything yet.

I love you so much. Candidate Disney

------

Hey Girl,

This is the only paper I have on me right now (waterproof notepad) It is 4Pm on the 25th. We finally got a little more sleep last night. We ran our IPFT today and I didn't do as well as I wanted to, but I still passed. I did only 86 sit ups, 14 pull ups, and 22:02 run. Now we have been sitting in this room for about 2 hours waiting to get our hair cut. I have a lot of doubts if I am going to make it through or not. People break all the way into the 9th week here. There is no guarantee that you will make it until you walk across that parade deck. I will do my best and see what happens. I think you will be getting a lot of little short notes due to time and fatigue.

LOVE YOU!!

Me again. It is after chow now and they are keeping us up just to keep us up. We are doing nothing but sitting and trying not to fall asleep. Pick-up day is tomorrow. That is when the fun starts. I keep looking at the picture of you and the girls tyring not to think too hard.

Love you. HI Bryna!! Hi Livia!! LOVE YOU GIRLS!!

2007-09-28T09:56:00.000-07:00

First letter from Adam:

Gena,
It is the first night here and it has already been too long. However, your picture keeps me set on staying and seeing this through. They haven't let us change into our tennis shoes yet and it is almost 10 pm. My feet hurt! We checked in around 4pm and then got some our issue stuff. $324 of stuff that I don't need. Whatever. I am kind of wondering how hard this will get. I mean I know they say it is really hard and especially with this whole sleep thing. Right now it isn't even that late and I am spacing out. I also have to write an 800-word minimum autobiography. So I am wiriting about you and the girls right now and it is making me a little sad. However, this is my new home. That is what I tell myself so I won't think I am going to end up laying in bed in Mankato when I wake up from this dream. It is just too wild that I am here.

Midnight and still in polos and dress shoes. Hmm...Well, light are at 0415, need more sleep.

LOVE YOU TONS!!

Candidate Disney

2007-09-26T06:43:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone - here's a succint update of our recent happenings:

Adam:
-Worked this summer on active duty as a recruiter's aid here in Mankato
-Made the decision to apply for Officer Candidacy
-Left for Officer's Candidate School on 09/21/07 (Bryna's Bday)
-Graduates 11/30/07

Bryna:
-Started 1st Grade at Roosevelt Elementary this fall
-Is active in the AWANA program at Ev. Covenant Church
-Joined the Mankato Marlins Swim team..we'll see how it goes! 4 practices a week and 2 meets a month
-Has a new chore of walking our doggy, Charlie first thing after school
-Turned 7 last Friday

Livia:
-Turning 3 Oct 31
-Loves all things pink!!
-Speaking very well - big vocabulary! (such as "actually", "sometimes", "maybe")
-Planning a Pink, Pumpkin-Painting Party for her Bday (she'll let the boys use blue, but only because she love Thomas the Train)
-Wants to be just like her big sister in every way.

Gena:
-Still working for Krengeltech about 35 hours a week
-Refinished beautiful birch kitchen cabinets this summer
-Working on getting ready for a big garage sale in October
-Next project: rip off wallpaper/fake tile in entry and kitchen and re-paint.
-Attending a womens' small group on Mondays. I love it!

Stay tuned for letters from Adam. Thanks for checking in, and we appreciate your prayers!

2007-09-14T06:23:00.001-07:00

2007-07-02T09:12:00.000-07:00

California girl

Livi's many faces...

Bryna on her last day of kindergarten. Here she's explaining to her class that she learned about butterflies this year.

Outside of Onaga Elementary. Way to go, Bryna!

Livi's last day with her daycare friends. This was taken right before we left for Minnesota.

Having some breakfast in Tucumcuri, NM.

More funny faces. What pretty flower girls!

Livia riding her "bike."

I think these are what she calls her scary faces.

2007-06-13T08:52:00.000-07:00

We are bursting with excitement (well I am anyway) over Adam's accomplishments. There is no doubt in my mind that God has us right where he wants us.

Adam SWEPT all the awards. He received #1 overall (comes with a letter of commendation), #1 academic award/ certificate of achievement, and the Warrior Award - as nominated by his peers for outstanding motivation/integrity/dedicationleadership. Capt. Hessner said something to the affect of – “you can fool us, but you can’t fool your peers so this one (the warrior award) is the one that counts."

Afterward we had the opportunity to talk a bit with his instructors along w/ Captain and the leading Gunnery Sgt. They had great words for Adam and our family. What a great finish to this chapter.

2007-06-11T09:27:00.000-07:00

Hi, everyone.

We're gearing up for a busy week as we head back to Minnesota on Friday. We did most of our packing over the weekend. Feels good to have that out of the way. It helps when you don't have much to pack!!

Adam will graduate from OMTS tomorrow at the top of his class. We're still crossing our fingers for a meritorious promotion to Corporal, but even if he doesn't get that - he'll still recieve his 3rd letter of commendation, in this case for academic achievement. Needless to say - the girls and I are incredibly proud of him.

Our Bryna will "graduate" from Kindergarten on Thursday. They have a lot of fun things planned for the kids, including a Teddy Bear Picnic and a field day. We're so glad that her foot is now completely healed up, so she can fully participate.

Early Friday morning we'll wave goodbye to our desert home and make our way (13 hours later) to Albuquerque, NM - our first stop. Nine hours later on Saturday we'll stop in Kansas City, MO - and finally on Sunday, only a six hour stretch to our "Green" house on Carney Ave. Many hugs will be distributed at that time to Grandma, Grandpa and the kitties.

We are so glad we took the opportunity to embark on this California adventure. It has been one of the best experiences for our family - in so many ways.

2007-06-02T18:56:00.000-07:00

2007-05-17T11:29:00.000-07:00

I'm sure many of you have been waiting for an update on Bryna. We would like to thank you all for the much needed prayers.

A little history if you don't know what I'm talking about:

So last Friday, Bryna showed me that she had a small sore on her foot. A little bump that itched. It shrunk and grew and shrunk and didn't stop growing.

Anyway - we went to the Naval hospital on Tuesday of last week to get it checked out. We were given an oral antibiotic because there was an infection spreading up her foot. But that naughty blister-like sore kept on growing.

We had been soaking it, keeping it clean (and safe!) and were told NOT to burst it b/c of creating the large open wound and adding to the risk of a worse infection.

After a night of observation (not much sleep for Bryna or mom) and further growth, we wondered if this could be a spider bite - a brown reclusive, in particular. This was after some online research and suggestions from family/friends.

I had kept her from school on Wednesday and she'd been playing, resting, andwatching movies on her own while I worked.

Although in a lot of pain, she was very brave and tough! I had asked her if she was feeling dizzy or sick to her stomach and she quickly said - "Well there is the problem of my hollow leg!" :-) So she was able to joke around in spite of her pain, which was good for both of us.

Due to the combination of extreme pain, rapid growth, and the notion of spider toxins in a 50 lb body, we decided to return to the ER on Wednesday afternoon.

They ended up draining the abscess and she was feeling a whole lot better Weds evening. It took 4 Navy corpsmen to hold her down. When asked how she got to be so tough she said, "My Daddy's a Marine!"

Thursday morning we went in for a recheck and the wound was looking good, as we could see that new skin was forming. The infection had improved considerably, but they wanted us to come in once more on Friday to be sure we were in the clear.

Long story long, she's doing very well now and was able to return to school today with her foot bandaged. A nice scab has formed and skin regeneration looks good. As for the cause of the infection - it still remains unknown. However I think we've concluded it was not a brown-reclusive bite because so many of the symptoms we ruled out in Bryna's case. We're just very glad she's on the mend and infection-free!

Here are a few non-gory pics of our adventures. Also, after our Thrusday visit we had the chance to spy on some coyotes who were trying to find some food near the horse stables on base.

After our visit to family practice. Still dime-sized on Tuesday.

Quarter-sized on Wednesday.

Waiting for the Corpsman to treat her foot.

After the scary/ouchie part. Popsicles make everything better.

All bandaged up and waiting to be released.

There were four coyotes lurking near the stables, here are two of them:

2007-05-14T11:37:00.000-07:00

I Know My Mother Well - by Bryna Disney

My mother is 27 years old.
My mother is 28 feet tall.
My mother weighs 90 pounds.
Her job is technology.
She is happy when we go to Starbucks.
She is sad when she burns her finger.
Mom likes to take me to Wal-Mart.
I'd like to buy my mom some new plates.
I love you, Mom, because you take me on fun trips!

Happy Mother's Day. Love, Bryna

2007-05-06T22:32:00.000-07:00

Yay for sleep! Yay for visits from family and friends!

Today we had a great visit from some church friends from back in Minnesota. Vineyard's headquarters are here in Anaheim, CA. Our friends Joe and Denise stopped on their way through to the denominational conference. We had some great Mexican food and went hiking at Joshua Tree Park. We even discovered a great place called Hidden Valley when we were there. Bryna lead the way and is now nicknamed Sackagabryna.

And - even more great news - in only 3 weeks, Adam's mom, brother and his wife will be flying in to see us! The girls don't know this yet, but we will be spending a day at Disneyland when the come out! I can hardly wait. We are going to have way too much fun. Livia is a die-hard fan of Mickey Mouse -she is totally in love with him. I can't wait to see the priceless look on her face when we get to see him "in person!"

Well, that was a lot of exclaimation points. Sorry for the enthusiasm. What can I say? Life is good.

Ever-thankful, Gena

2007-05-04T17:43:00.000-07:00

The hour count for Adam's sleeplessness will soon be up to 72+. There have been major disciplinary issues in his section and everyone is feeling the fallout. I'm just praying for his protection until I have him back here with his head on a pillow. I can't imagine how awful he's got to feel right now.

2007-05-04T10:08:00.000-07:00

43 days until the move back home! The Marine Corps will be picking up the bill for that, which totally rocks. Ooh-rah. I am going to miss this place. It's bittersweet - I'll miss Joshua Springs, I'll miss the desert - believe it or not. Having said that, I am looking forward to having "real" furniture again. Yay! Good thing we're young enough to sleep on an air mattress for 5ish months and not be too affected by it. Our backs are still intact, albeit a little sore and tight. Can anyone say "professional massage" ? Although - I do love the simplicity. Who cares if your living room chairs are the $5 lawn chairs from Walmart, right? Less clutter, more hapiness. I digress...

If you get a minute - say a quick prayer for a few folks today -

Little Oliver, the son of a friend. He's a little over 1-year old and was in an accident that caused a major head injury: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/oliverschweim

and Adam - going on 1.5 hours of sleep in the last 48.

2007-05-03T20:48:00.000-07:00

I am very behind on updates here. It has been totally crazy between goings on at home and work alike. I'll do my best to fill in some gaps. Our Bryna has had some ups and downs. She has done phenominally well in school this last trimester. We are so proud of her accomplishments. She's reading like a pro and is exhibiting serious feats in math. Woo hoo! I can tell you right now she did not get that from me. She tried out for the school talent show this spring. She sang "Who Am I?" by Point of Grace. We had her dressed up with a bun and daisy in her hair. She got up on stage and although a little bit shy, sang that song so beautifully. The waterworks were full stream for mom that day. In spite of all her hard work and bravery (again - not from me!) she did not make the cut. One of those hard, hard moments as a parent to see your child fail (underserved in my mind) and have to pick themselves up enough to try again. Character-building life lessons - albeit hard ones. My hope is she'll be given the opportunity of an audience or two when we're back home. My guess is that there may be a few willing participants.

Everything is winding down at this point - Adam's days are long ones. Lots of supervision on his part, lots of new physical demands. He is still number one and should have no trouble holding that spot thru the end of the year. A wife couldn't be more proud. He absolutely amazes me with all that's required of him. Not only to do it all - but so very well. Up at 4 am, running 10 miles, in class all day, (some glorified baby sitting at times for a few of his boys), then home to wrestle with the girls, help with homework - all the good stuff.

Little Livi is an abosolute goof with all her particularities and sayings - and CONSTANT commentary! We're not the most talkative family ever, but Livi makes up for the lot of us. She's just hilarious. And so happy!

With that - just a few new pictures - visits from great friends, swimming, and homework time. Can you believe how long Livi's hair is?

2007-04-24T22:15:00.000-07:00

A thousand times I've failed, yet your mercy remains
Should I stumble again, still I'm caught in your grace
Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Neverending
Your glory goes beyond all fame
Your will above all else, my purpose remains
The art of losing myself, in bringing you praise
In my heart, in my soul, I give you control
Consume me from the inside out,
Let justice and praise, become my embrace
To love you from the inside out
Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Neverending
Your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart is to bring you praise
From the inside out
Lord my soul cries out

2007-04-11T08:51:00.000-07:00

The bugs are coming out. Last night, I was getting a glass of water in my dark kitchen when I felt something tickling my toes. I looked down and saw a 3 inch-long centipede scurrying to get under the diswasher. This morning there was some whacked-out June bug on the floor and last night one of those guys flew into my face. Bugs don't really bother me until they make physical contact.

2007-04-08T21:59:00.000-07:00

Pictures from our Easter trip to San Diego. We had a great time!!!

Pictures from our Easter trip to San Diego. We had a great time!!!

2007-04-05T12:58:00.000-07:00

Hey folks - Just wanted to wish everyone a blessed Easter/Resurrection Day!!

Last night Bryna and I attended the Easter Cantata at Joshua Springs called, "Believe." There were a few intense moments with the reinactments. Poor Bryna was crying so hard she was shuddering, saying, "I want to go home!" I whispered to her, "It's ok, honey. Remember the happy ending?" Once we did leave, she said, "Mom, that was awesome!"

On the way out of the parking lot, I was asking her - "What made you feel sad?" She got choked up again and tearfully replied, "Because He's my King!"

I couldn't ask for anything more than for my children to love Jesus.

I love this time of year. I love the newness, the freshness, the reminder that He DOES make all things new. He thought of me on that cross, took all my awful sin with Him, and beat death - for me. Amazing.

Who is like Him
the Lion and the Lamb
Seated on the throne
Mountains bow down
Every ocean roars
To the Lord of hosts

Praise Adonai
From the rising of the sun
'Til the end of every day
Praise Adonai
All the nations of the earth
All the angels and the saints
Sing praise

---------------------

We will be heading to San Diego this weekend - going to a Padres Game, Sea World, and the coast! I would like to do a sunrise devotion at La Jolla cove with just our family. We'll see if I can get everyone up!

2007-03-28T09:56:00.000-07:00

Just a few things to post...
I'd like to share a Newsweek Tribute done called, "Voices of the Fallen." Featured in it are two people that are important in our extended circle. One is Capt. Alan Rowe - father to one of Bryna's close friends here in Yucca Valley. The other is Capt. Mike Martino, a commrad of my cousin, Capt. Nate Doring. Hopefully by April 5th, Nate will also be featured in this tribute. I will pass that on when I have more info.
Read Voices of the Fallen

I have more to update on, but for now I'll put up some pictures of a few of "our" boys. We love these guys.

Austin, Bryna, and Livia.

Terrel, Harris, and Victor

The gang having some pizza.

Bryna explaining to Austin what metacarpals are, how to spell it, and what they look like via her anatomy diary she keeps.

Livia adores Victor - also know as Tran. She occupies all his time while he's here.

Good kids.

Livia just can't get enough of him.

All my kids. They boys were on the way to the beach. I'm always sure to remind them to behave before they leave.

2007-03-14T08:49:00.000-07:00

A few pics of the girls

2007-03-08T21:43:00.000-08:00

Sisters?

You know you're a Minnesotan when your favorite celebrities are news anchors.

2007-03-08T08:45:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since I last posted and figured it was about time... Livia was sick with the flu for the majority of last week, so I've been playing catch up with work ever since. Adam is suffering from an upper respiratory infection right now which has been going around on base. Please pray for a quick recovery. It's tough being sick and having to get up at 0400, then run a few miles, study all day, and lead a class in the meantime!

Bryna has really been quite homesick, so I'm trying to increase one-on-one time with her. She comes with me to the farmer's market on Saturdays, this weekend she'll come to the salon with me, we've been having more reading time together, etc. But last night - we went on date. Joshua Springs hosted the African Children's Choir! It was life changing.....

These children are between the ages of 6 and 9. They have all lost at least one parent to AIDs, disease, or genocide. But when they sing - they are so filled with hope, joy, and the love of Jesus. You can't keep your eyes off them!!! Except mine were filled with tears the whole time... Just really puts all the trite worries of our ultra privileged lives into perspective.

Anyway - all the proceeds go directly toward these kids' education, housing, and bright futures. These kids go on to become doctors, lawyers, teachers, pastors, musicians. No one can reach Uganda like these amazing children can!

It was fantastic!! Go buy a CD!

2007-02-22T08:09:00.000-08:00

Pictures from our new, favorite get-away: Joshua Tree Park. It's gorgeous with it's rock formations and vistas. Adam has fun climbing and we have fun watching - from the ground. :-)

2007-02-13T14:01:00.000-08:00

Congrats to Adam! He is in the #1 academic place in his class! Way to go honey! Bryna is getting a lot of "extra" homework from her teacher. She is excelling in math, so they've been sending home extra worksheets for her. I think her addition is better than mine at this point! Livia is my adorable lovey. She's saying so many delightful things like -"MIne pity bown eye." (I have pretty brown eyes.) Gee - think she's ever heard that before? :-)

Here are some pics from our recent excursions. I love the way the clouds rest on top of the mountains. The crosses are from a spot in the desert near our church. I would imagine this terrain is very similar to what my mom saw in Israel. Am I right, mom?

See the prickly cactus? Don't touch! Don't you love the Joshua trees?? I think they're awesome.

Enjoy and Happy Valentines Day (Happy B-day sis!!)

Love, Gena

2007-02-06T11:32:00.000-08:00

Man, are we having fun out here. Our days are full with school, work, family dinners (I have a whole new appreciation for those), hiking, wrestling (Bryna's newfound hobby - I guess it's just more fun with Dad), dancing, and site-seeing. We found a great coffee shop in old town.

We also found a great church that we absolutely love. Joshua Springs is huge! Quite the change from our intimate home church. We feel like teeny fishes - but the folks we did encounter were incredibly welcoming. The sermons are solid, biblically sound, and practical. Good worship too! (but not as good as Two Rivers...you guys rock :-)

Online sermons are great! I've had the pleasure of listening to them online this week. What a great resource. I was very impressed by TRVC when I saw they were available there - this was before we were attending.

The girls and I have been taking hikes up "our" mountain before dinner each night. Last week, we saw a small coyote. They're pretty cute when you're inside the car. I don't think I'd like meeting one on the trail, though.

Adam is doing great in school. He is class guide, second in command to the class NCO - a USMC Sgt. He loves his course of study, and is encouraged by so many positive comments on his performance from his commanders. He's also been meeting some believers on base. His company commander is a believer. He was suprised, when dropping off Bryna at her children's church, to see him leading worship for the kids service!

We went to that super bowl party on base at his NCO's house and the rest of the class. I was so glad to finally meet another Marine wife. She was fairly new to the Marines gig as well, but it was good to know that there are others out there.

Still loving the sun, sand, mountains, and blue skies....but missing our family and friends. Love to you all... Gena

2007-01-31T08:40:00.000-08:00

We had the opportunity to witness something amazing last weekend. We were driving through town just as 300 Marines were driving through town heading back to 29 Palms. They had just gotten home from Iraq after being deployed for a long stretch of time. It was awesome. People were coming out of their shops, lining the streets, waving and cheering. The boys were hanging out of the bus windows and smiling and waving. It brought me to tears. There they were - MY heros - alive, well, and home. Adam said, "Think how it'll feel when it's me coming home on one of those busses." I said, "Uh..I'm not ready for that." He said, "Yeah, I suppose. Those are also the same busses that would take me away."

Bingo.

Anyway - we continue to be a very happy family - grateful for the "now."

This weekend we're going to try out a new church, hopefully take a little hike, and on Sunday we'll go on base to one of Adam's instructor's house for a super bowl grill out party. I'm really looking forward to meeting another Marine wife. I'm a bit nervous about my little girls' ears in a house packed with rowdy Marines. Maybe Adam will have to pull rank and make them tone down their language. ;-)

Here are some pictures of our journey so far. Many more to come. I'm just figuring out our new camera (we LOVE it, G & GK!!!)

2007-01-26T15:10:00.000-08:00

I know, I know. It's about time!! Yes, we are here safe and sound in sunny southern California!

Yucca Valley is in an elevated basin surrounded by mountains. When you drive west out of town, you pretty much go down the side of a mountain to get to sea level. It is sooo sooo pretty here! I never thought the desert could be so nice.

As for our trip out here - not so nice! We left Mankato at about 7pm last Friday night packed like sardines, with great energy and high hopes. Whoo, boy did we need that energy. I don't think we would've had nearly that amount of oomph had we known what lay ahead. Quite literally, the only states we traveled through without snow, sleet, and ice were Minnesota and California. Saturday was the longest 48 hours I've ever known. I know - there are only 24 hours in a day. :-) Basically from Kansas City, KS until Flagstaff, Arizona was a feat of endurance. Snow, snow, and more snow. I'm pretty sure the road we chose was the exact same road that the storm traveled. Texas was the worst!!! For 2 hours we braved a skating rink. There were numerous semis overturned or completely haulted on the highways. Our average speed about 10-20 mph. Yikes. Longest drive through Texas - ever.

The payoff though - wow. Once we started to begin our descent to sea level - the mountains, the rock formations (Red Rocks Park), the sky, the absence of snow - SO worth it!!! We were giddy. Half from sleep deprivation, half from the sheer beauty! A well earned reward.

We pulled into Yucca Valley on a very windy, but sunny Sunday afternoon. The house is great, the scenery is even better, and this town is so dang cute. There's just a ton of cute places to shop and eat.

My dear friend Annie was an absolute saint - helping with driving, herding children, settling in, cooking, more herding of children. I could not have done this without her!! It was just fun to be together, see the town, etc. What an amazing friend she is. She left for Anaheim last night, and I'm still in denial that I'm kind of ...well... here. We were sad to see her go. She's so much fun.

Adam moved in on Wednesday. As he says, this has been the busiest week in his entire USMC career thus far, so not the best timing, but still good to at least be in the same house!! He's had quizzes and a TON of difficult homework this week, so we think he might be able to resurface this weekend. :-)

I have my office all set up and have been pretty busy playing catch up. It's to my advantage that my clock isn't totally switched around, so getting up at 5 and getting into the office is not too hard of a task. I'm sure I'll still be catching up over this weekend, and am really looking forward to some additional normalcy in our routine when the girls start back at school next week. Bryna's school, Onaga Elementary, has the most amazing view of the snow-capped Little San Bernadino mountains. Livi's daycare is run by a Christian mom who's background is in preschool. They have the cutest little classroom addition to their house and I think Livi is feeling mighty cool about getting to go to school just like big sister.

Well, that's all for now - but check back soon for more updates and pictures!

Thanks to all who prayed us through our journey so far. We have felt and appreciated them!!!

2007-01-18T07:01:00.000-08:00

You've come through again. :-) I've got a nice route all planned for me that is only a few hours longer, further south, and avoiding any snowy peaks and winding, icy roads. I think we're going through Arizona at some point which is awesome - I've always wanted to see the southwest. I'm excited for my girls to be able to say they've seen so much of the US - granted some of the great plains will be under the cover of night, but they aren't missing much! Breathing another big sigh of relief as God continues to pull details together for us!

Yesterday I had momentary panic - which has happened more frequently, recently - at the thought of what we're actually doing. God always has a way of reassuring me. It's simple things - like remembering that becuase Adam followed God's will to join the Marines, and is being blessed by his obedience, we will be blessed too. God's will for Adam is not seperate from His will for our family. It's easy to loose sight of that after not functioning as a "family unit" for a long span of time.

One other weird thing happened a few times over the course of the past two weeks. I tend to go into panic mode when I have time to think - this is usually when I'm driving to pick up, or drop off girls. Well - not once, nor twice - but three times - when I start freaking out, there - in front of me is a car with a California lisence plate. Sounds hokey - I'm sure. But I found it odd to see that mini-reminder at the very time I began my worry sessions - here in MN - more than once, on different days. So there you have it.

He's got us. Through it all, He's got us.

2007-01-17T08:03:00.000-08:00

Hey, readers - sound off! Calling all Disney fam readers... I could use some help.

We're gearing up for our cross-country trip as you know in just two days. I need some help planning a route that does not involve driving through the Rockies (Interstate 70) in the dead of winter. I've read that there are portions that they close for days if there's an avalanche. No thanks.

So...I'm thinking if we head over to Cheyenne, WY and then go south through Utah we'll avoid those snowy peaks. Any thoughts?? Any experience? Help me plan my route! Email, call - please!

2007-01-10T10:33:00.000-08:00

Well for any of you who have not yet heard, I'll let you in on our most recent plans.

As of January 19th, we'll be trading snow for sand and icy winds for sunshine. The girls and I will be temporarily relocating to Yucca Valley, CA to be near Adam for the duration of his final training.

We are really looking forward to being together again. Everything has fallen together with minimal effort on my part and I couldn't have asked for better circumstances right down the very last detail. I probably won't post much between now and our arrival to California, but you can be sure we'll have some amazing pictures to post on here over the next half-year or so. Yucca Valley is right by Joshua Tree Nat'l Park on the southern-most part of the Mojave desert. There are some amazing sights out there I hear!

Bryna will be enrolling in the nearby elementary school, and Livi in a local Christian daycare. They are right next to eachother, and only 3 miles from our home!

Did I mention there's a mountain in our backyard? For those of you who have been following the development, you know I'm very excited about that little detail. :-) We've found a few churches that look great - one is Joshua Springs and the other is a Vineyard church - but a little farther away - 26 miles away in Hot Desert Springs. So we'll have to see where we end up.

I am beyond excited - but at the same time, I sure wish I could teleport. It's a little exhausting doing a cross-country move (including two small girls and a home office.) Oh - and we're only taking our one SUV. I'm going to need a miracle to get everything smushed in there!

Well, next time I update I hope to be unpacked, a little more tan, and looking up at that moutain in my backyard. :-)

2007-01-03T06:48:00.000-08:00

It's about time for an update, isn't it? I've been a pretty tired lady these days for some reason, which is no excuse. Sure wish I had my own personal drill instructor here to motivate my butt out of bed everyday! Oh wait...I do have someone along those lines, and she's two. But she's just a tad bit cuter than your average drill instructor.

Hope the Christmas and New Years Holidays prooved to be merry and bright for all of you. Ours was an absolute whirlwind- we sure packed a lot in. Livia and I drove up on Christmas Eve morning to get Daddy and had a great time mulling around Minneapolis for a few hours before we picked up our nephew, Sage. We went to IHOP for breakfast and walked around the Mall of America, where I was bit by a hermit crab while contemplating purchasing said crab for Bryna. Needless to say we walked away with broken skin, and no crab...well, and a lot of laughter. :-)

We spent Chirstmas Eve with my family - and if anyone knows my family, you know there was a LOT of very good food to be had. I think I'm still full from the holidays. Anyone else? It was fun to watch all the cousins open their gifts - even better to have Adam there with us.

Adam was working RA (recruiter's assistance) all week at our local office so he had full days of work all week. We did sneek in one date. My two very dear friends spoiled us with an all-inclusive date night - dinner, movie, wine, and childcare! I have the greatest friends.

The new year weekend gave us the opportunity to do our six-hour trek to Illinois to be with the Disneys. It was a quick, fun-filled, present-packed Chirstmas#2. The girls absolutely reveled in spending time with Grandad, Grandma Kathy, "Dun-go-gay" (that's how Livi says Uncle Clay), and their new Auntie Jamie! (and Tinkerbell, too). The girls were in their prime: Livi with plenty of goofy antics and Bryna, with pretend beauty salon and school. Bryna did get to do some reading with Grandma, even! And, of course, the brothers finally got to hang out - which was a long time coming!

We made it back to Minnesota (through the snowstorm) right in time for the ball to drop and found ourselves very much fast asleep on the couch shortly after.

So Adam is back in California at 29 Palms, near Palm Springs. He'll be going to school there for Communication Repair for the next 4 months. Or so I think. I just got a text message from him this morning which read: "Hmmmm. More suprises. I wil call you later." So goes the military life. Don't count on anything to be what it is. Hopefully I'll find out what that message means later on today.

I am currently planning a trip to visit him on March 1-5. This is pretty much the middle of training and the rates were decent, so that's our goal.

Thanks for checking in....

2006-12-22T11:34:00.000-08:00

Adam is on the bus heading to the USO in San Diego!! He graduated as Academic Honorman, one of 3 Company Honormen. WOOO HOOO!!! He's got a limo driver, who he met during his last stay in San Diego, lined up to transport Adam and his fellow Marines to the hotel for free. I can't wait for him to get here...it just won't feel like Christmas until then. (Of course the dreary grey skies and brown ground doesn't help much) Good thing I have the sweet faces of my cheery little girls to look at instead!

Lately Livi repeats anything she finds funny. She is putting a lot of words together which is super fun to hear. She's formed a pesky little habit of thinking she needs to stay up late everynight and watch a "Moo-ee" with me. (movie) So last night we were up watching Iron Chef America while she repeated said, "Nummm!" and "Ick" depending on what dish was being made. :-) A culinary genius. I couldn't be more proud. ;-)

Bryna wrote a CLASSIC picture/letter to Santa. She asked for a real guitar, a rockstar outfit, and a Barbie set. On the back she wrote: "Jast Sapriz Me." If I save nothing else of her pictures from her youth - I'm saving that one!!! She also discovered last night that she can READ! She has been working hard on sounding words out for some time now - but she is up to words like "danger" with really no help from me at all. I mean - I was floored. We called Grandma Kathy first thing!!! In total, Bryna read 2 early reader books to me last night. She did wonderfully. I know that she is not way above the curve, but to know that your once-baby has the gift of literacy - well, it's quite a fulfilling feeling.

2006-12-21T06:39:00.000-08:00

Got to talk to Adam last night for a little bit. He spent the night on the mountain the night before doing combat scenarios. They "slept" up there and watched for agressors. He got about 2 hours of sleep, I guess - between fire watch and guys coughing every 30 seconds. He said it was sooo cold. There was snow, and a lot of cuddling going on because of it. Poor guys. So he's officially done now. He's processing all this morning, with possible liberty this afternoon. Tomorrow is a quick cami-clad graduation. He'll be graduating with Golf Company. Adam said there are rumors that he will graduate as Company Honor Man! Wouldn't suprise me a bit, of course - but he said rumors come cheap around there, so we'll see. I guess the guy who told him about the rumor said he heard it from the Company Scribe and said Adam's scores were the highest. Nothing confirmed yet, of course. But it sure would be great if that were the case and if so, it could lead to another meritorious promotion to Corporal. Wouldn't that be nice?!

2006-12-19T07:23:00.000-08:00

A few more pictures, and a little update:

Adam and I have been able to text message here and there over the past few weeks. The last I heard his voice was Thursday night. He is now done with training (yesterday was a 15-mile hike) and is going through processing with graduation on Friday morning.

I will make the trek up to the Minneapolis airport on Christmas Eve morning to pick him up. His flight comes in at 6AM. Still have to figure out what to do with my little girls. If it were up to me I'd leave them snug and warm in their beds, but baby sitters are hard to come by at 4AM on Christmas Eve morning! We'll see...

My sweet sleep-deprived best friend Erin took my girls last night so I could go spend 3 hours Christmas shopping. I owe you, girl!!! You'd think 3 hours would be more than enough, and yet I'll be doing another round this afternoon to finish up.

I'll pass on all the presents and just take my Marine. :-) We are SO so so fortunate to have our family together this Christmas. My heart goes out to all those families of service members who won't see their loved ones this year, and especially to those who lost a soldier this year. God keep our troops safe!

Much love and a Merry Christmas to all our family and friends!

Isaiah 9:6

6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

2006-12-15T09:56:00.000-08:00

I wanted to share with you, the news story that entailed more details of the Wreaths Across America Project. My cousins and aunt and uncle are in this news clip talking more about the experience.

I'm so proud and so thankful for our fallen heros.

Watch the video here.

2006-12-14T17:59:00.000-08:00

Adam called from MCT last night. We got to talk for about a half hour under the guise of making travel arrangements. Now - booking flights around the holidays is pretty tough. Well, try finding flights on Dec 23rd and Jan 1st. I dare ya. Well, we did find him some flights - at a lovely inflated price. But he's coming home and that's worth every cent. In fact, we paid an extra 80 bucks just to keep him here until 9PM on the 1st vs. leaving at 8AM. Money well spent. :-)

He's doing very well in training. He is not guide nor squad leader. Just general population, which he said is a nice relief. He spent the last 9 days in the field - eating nothing but MREs, throwing grenades, sleeping on concrete under the stars in 20 degree weather, and "spooning with guys." I guess you'll do anything to stay warm!

He had just gotten out of the field when he called and was covered in perma-dirt. No shower for 9 days would do that. I'm sure his cammies could just about stand up on their own.

Meanwhile the girls and I are keeping plenty busy getting ready for Christmas. We've baked cookies, sat on Santa's lap (twice), had our "friends" gift exchange party. Today is Bryna's school concert, Sunday is her chruch concert and I think next week we have one more party. Phew! Oh, tonight we are heading up to Minneapolis to watch the hollidazzle parade with my sister and nephew. Bryna will spend the night there while Mommy and Livi get some Christmas shopping done. I'll probably try to sneak in some office hours in there too.

Before we know it, next week will be over and Adam will be home again! Even if only for a week.

2006-12-12T07:56:00.000-08:00

Wreaths Across America

My aunt sent me info about a meaningful tribute done for fallen soldiers called Wreaths Across America. Nathanael has been chosen to represent Minnesota. Jim and Betsy will receive a wreath and attend the ceremony at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery. They will place Nate's wreath on the grave of our great-uncle Merlin Doring in Nathanael's honor.

2006-12-10T20:48:00.000-08:00

Lately, when it comes to life - especially in cultivating joy and thankfulness - I've been feeling a lot like one of my girls' wind up toys. I go for a while and hit a wall then fall over, get wound up once more and hit the same wall only to fall over yet again. I've been trying harder to seperate emotion and actions. "Acting" happy, even when I'm not, etc, and in turn those actions sway the emotions. Why do I do this? Well, for one - I owe it to my two gorgeous girls to be a happy mom. They deserve nothing less. Secondly - what do I have to be "unhappy" about? Nothing. I am blessed beyond imagination - by worldy and non-worldly standards alike.

Failure has been a familiar tune being sung into my ear lately. I understand, very plainly, that a very real enemy plots to keep me unhappy. And while I'm down - the failures begin to emerge: "Lost patience with children, Let house get too messy, Ate too many snacks before bedtime, Got up too late to do devotional, Didn't organize everything well for work the next day, Said the wrong thing to that lady in the grocery store, etc. etc." Eventually you begin to believe these things and convince yourself - well, then I must be a failure. In life. In everything.

Well, I'm tired of believing all that. I know I'm not a failure. I know that God did not give me whatever time on earth He's given me to continue to wallow my way through life.

This morning's sermon, I do believe was written just for me. One line in particular. This key ingredient I've been missing in all MY "effortful cultivation" of joy. The line goes like this: "Faith is the supernatural exchange of fact for truth." Oh - and the Bible says that faith is a gift. You have to ask for it! Because you can't just make faith "happen." It's given to us - and for good reason. All of our own efforts - our "cultivation", our winding up and falling over - gets us nowhere. It's the gift of faith. The fact is, I may feel unhappy - I may "feel" like I've failed everything. But that's not the truth. The truth is that in my heavenly father's eyes: I'm perfect. I am loved. The mere call of his name: "Daddy." - and He melts just because I called Him. Me, Gena.

In all the ups and downs and somewhere inbetweens, there's been a song that snaps me back to that perfect place of peace everytime. It has become my anthem. I'd like to share it with you. Here are the lyrics and below is a link to the MP3 file. And in the meantime - thanks for listening to my ramblings. It's late, which probably means I should not share from the heart, but here I am doing it anyway. Love to all - Gena.

All I Have
What have I in this life
But the love in Your eyes
This empty world will one day fade
Only Your truth will remain

Jesus, all I have is You
You're the hope I'm holding to
I might weep but still my faith

Rests in You
As the heavens hold the skies
It's Your hand that holds my life
And Your love will lead me on
When all else is gone

All I Have

2006-12-09T20:15:00.000-08:00

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.

2006-12-09T19:13:00.000-08:00

2006-11-19T19:32:00.000-08:00

Well - it's finally here. Anyone who has talked to me over the weekend, has heard me say "I'm in complete denial." I cannot believe this day is here - and at the same time it feels like it was yesterday that he left. We fly out tomorrow and we'll see him for the first time Tuesday. Incomprehensible! (in a good way) Please pray for safe travel, a safe, happy visit, and good health! Happy Thanksgiving to all of you - we have SO much to be thankful this year - and will celebrate by breaking - well, probably tacos San Diego style!! Look for lots of great pics in the near future.

Much love and thanks,

Gena

2006-11-14T09:48:00.000-08:00

I love my Marine!

2006-11-13T08:29:00.000-08:00

Here is more info to explain the Series Honorman Title. It's from a posting on a Marine Parent's website:

Each company is divided into two series, half the platoons in each series. Each platoon has a platoon guide. Toward the end of boot camp, the platoon guides go before an honor board where they are tested and interviewed by the senior drill instructors. The SDIs consider the test scores, interviews, and the guides' overall performance at boot camp, including rifle qualifications and PT scores, and select two of the guides to be series honormen. Of these, one is selected to be the company honorman, the highest honor of the company. The guides are also honormen.

On graduation day, these honormen will wear dress blues paid for by the Corps (though they have to pay for about $100 worth of accessories.) They carry the guidons (platoon flags on staffs) on visitors day and at graduation, and they do several special drills at graduation. During one of the drills, they retire the guidons (pass them to the Senior Drill Instructors) and then are introduced to the audience and given special plaques. Their families are allowed to sit in special seats next to the reviewing stands and the recruiting officers of the series and company honormen are flown in by the Corps for the occasion.

As far as meritorious promotions, any recruit can receive one during boot camp and nearly all of the squad leaders and guides receive them. The company and series honormen are given promotions to lance corporal. The others are promoted to private first class. Just before visitors day, they have a special ceremony during which those who receive meritorious promotions are pinned.

We understood that the meritorious promotions are retroactive to the beginning of boot camp as far as pay increases go, but found out otherwise. It's my understanding that those who have "contract promotions" based on such qualifications as Eagle Scout, ROTC, or college hours, get paid at the higher PFC rate during boot camp but the pay increase for those who receive meritorious promotions during boot camp doesn't kick in until after boot camp.

By the way, these promotions mean not only higher pay but reflect well on the recruit as they advance to further schooling. My son's series honorman was in his platoon at MOS school (in fact, they were roommates) and as lance corporal, he was automatically made class commander. My son is currenctly platoon guide at MOS school but was chosen on the basis of an essay assignment.

I hope this helps and if any of my information is incorrect, that someone will set me straight. Good luck!

2006-11-13T07:02:00.000-08:00

A belated happy 231st
Birthday to the United States Marine Corps! Cool tribute, check it out.

2006-11-12T20:03:00.000-08:00

Series Honor Man!!!!!!!!!

So much has happened in the last 3 days - I don't even know where to begin.

WEDDING: The girls and I are home after a WONDERFUL weekend celebrating the marriage of Adam's brother Clay to my new sis-in-law Jamie!!!! I love you guys. Wow did we have fun. The girls were perfect flower girls! I was so proud. I didn't see much of the ceremony after I did my reading - and didn't "fully" experience the reception due to the chasing of a goofy little 2-year old ( I think I got a few bites of each course. this was also due to the fact that she had wildly strewn my silverware onto the floor) - but all around we had a blast! We were met with so much accommodation and graciousness that it overwhlemed me (more than once.) Marty, Sammy, Lisa, Mr. Ward, many others who's names I can't remember (sorry!) - your words of encouragement and acts of kindness were highlights of my weekend. Julie & Shane, the DePaulo family - your hospitality and generousity were such a blessing. Kathy and Jerry - I love you so much. You spoil us girls. We are so grateful. I am so fortunate to be considered one of your own. Some of my all time favorite moments were with my dear, sweet mom-in-law laughing hysterically in spite of being lost or late or in the company of crabby children. :-) There were several other classic moments that I can laugh at now - but was very much not laughing at while "in the moment."

Adam's absence this weekend was so evident and verbally acknowledged by countless people. I proudly relayed his current activites more times than I can count. Truly my joy and my privilege. His personality is so magnetic - he really does leave a great void. Praise God we get him back!!! Anyhow - Jamie's Grandad gave the most touching speech. He is a veteran - and his speech was keeping in theme in honoring those who've served. He opened his speech with a thanks to my Adam. I was so honored.

I kept my cell phone glued to my hand and at one point even down the front of my dress (HAH!!!) hoping with all hope I'd get a phone call from the best man.

Both girls danced until they could dance no more!!!

SERIES HONOR MAN
This morning at 0700 I got a call from Adam!!! He earned the spot of Series Honor Man. He told me it was between him and another guy for Company Honor Man (the #1 spot) and it was a dead heat - but the other guy had higher rifle and PFT scores, so that earned the other guy the Company Honorman spot. BUT - #2 out of 300-400 men! I can't tell you how proud I am!!! This guy is beyond amazing.

We got on the road at about 10:00 am and at about 10:30 am I got another call from Adam! Turns out he was granted a phone call to his brother to wish him well, so he called me first looking for his number. WOW! God is good.

So - the girls and I made it back just fine. A record 7 hours. Yay.

MIKE COMPANY WEBSITE
Sometimes I put my website development skills to use and try to use sneaky tactics to get to files that might not be readily viewable - like new versions of the Chevron, or platoon pictures, etc. Well today I thought I'd try that for Adam. Long story short, I googled Mike Company and found a PICTURE OF ADAM!!!! You will not believe how skinny that guy looks. And tough as all get out. So check it out for yourself and tell me if he scared you too! Bryna said, "I like the 'regular' Daddy better." Hah. I told her she'll like him much better once he's got a smile on his face. It's a WMV file - you'll see him at about 2:02 mins into it. Press pause. :-) Enjoy.

TROUBLESHOOTING: If you get a bunch of "gobbledyguk" when you click on the WMV file link above, try this instead. 1.Right click the link "PICTURE OF ADAM" 2. Select "save link as". 3. Save the file to a preferred location on your computer. 3. Open the file from your computer.
Love Gena

PS - I just figured out how to moderate comments - so if you commented and I hadn't put them up there until now, that is why!! Sorry!!

2006-11-06T18:40:00.000-08:00

It's election day tomorrow. Don't forget to vote!!!!

2006-11-06T17:39:00.000-08:00

Phone call:

I got to talk to Adam today for about 8 minutes. He got to make a phone call home to make travel arrangements for after graduation. It looks like he will try to get on the flight home with us!!! That would be so awesome. He was in good spirits, but his voice sounded awful! I'm sure he just has to do so much sounding off.

He is still guide and will go before the board for Company Honor Man this or next week. He said it's probably between him and one other dude who he called "Robo Man", and evidently is a pretty tough guy. So we'll see. He seemed at peace with whatever, and had a good attitude!

I asked about Pugil Sticks 3, and he told me he did get knocked out on that one. But then found out later that the guy that knocked him out got his head "taken off."

He said the Crucible was a big dissappointement. The Reaper was really hard, but said that the Crucible was "crap." Hah!

The girls got to say hi to him and tell him "I love you!" That was so great. I got off the phone and was shaking. It was just so good to hear his voice. (even though it sounded pretty raspy).

I'm so proud of that guy!!!! He's my hero. I can't wait to see him in just13 days!!!

2006-11-02T18:59:00.000-08:00

10/29/06

Gena-

Well it is the first Sunday of 3rd phase. I can no longer go to church because the platoon will do something stupid if I am gone and get us all into trouble. So, I stay here and babysit them all morning. I miss church a lot. I can not wait to go to Two Rivers with you. Maybe I will wear my uniform on that first Sunday back. :-)

I made it through the Crucible!!! It wasn't bad at all. Ther were some pretty demanding parts, but I was expecting harder days. The worst part was getting up on Friday morning at 0200 after a combined two days rest of 5 hours and making a 10 mile hike with full gear and weapons and then doing The REAPER. That was hard. But most of us made it back for our warriors breakfast. It was wonderful, and then we all threw up. We all ate so much that we got sick. I have thrown up too many times here at boot camp. Usually it is from being forced to drink 3-4 canteens of water in 3-4 minutes.

The gas chamber sucked. It was a CS gas. It's like pepper spray times ten. It burned your skin and made you mucus all over. We had to take off our mask three different times for 3-4 minutes each time. We also saw coyotes running around, scorpions, and rattle snakes.

The light has started to appear at the end of the tunnel. It is all I can do to stop from jumping around when I think about seeing you. I hope Livia has a great birthday. Give her a hug and kiss from her long lost dad!!! We are getting our platoon pictures taken on Monday (30th). They should be posted on the website. This week is swim week then team week then finals week then grad.

I got my dogtags yesterday. That is a little step that helps me think time is moving. The only thing wrong with my dog tags is, for religion, it says Lutheran. Oh well!! When you come can you pack 2 pair jeans, 4 T-shirts, 2 pair shorts, BOXERS (4 pair), and my cell phone and charger?

Well I better get going. I love you all and can not wait to see all of you. Make sure we have some good coffee at home. :-) Is the HUB stil open? Just wondering.

I LOVE YOU!!!! xxxoooxxxoooxxxooo

Adam.

2006-10-30T11:00:00.000-08:00

Well, we are on a serious countdown here at the Disney house! I can barely contain my excitement. It's a good thing I have to stay focused with all the necessary tasks associated with the wedding and our trip to San Diego, or else I'd be bouncing off the walls all day long! :-)

We have Livi's birthday tomorrow (my baby is 2?!?! Weird!). This week will whiz by because we have something going on every single night! Next week is a short work week because we leave Thursday at noon to go to Illinois for the wedding. Very exciting! Then, my goodness, it's just one week and we are flying out!! I'm just reeling from it all. So much to look forward to - all jam-packed into three weeks!!

I had the most fun putting together a package of 82 power bars for Adam's platoon today!! I have been wanting to do this since he left and am so excited to finally get the chance to do something tangible for him, finally. 82- no more, no less. :-) What fun. I put some pictures and also a little letter from Bryna in there. I hope the DIs are kind.

Love to all and thanks for checking in. I have no idea who looks at this site (other than my staple close friends and family) but it truly means the world to me that you are vested enough in us to be checking in.

Much love,

Gena

2006-10-27T07:32:00.000-07:00

10.22.06

Gena-

Hi! It's been a while since I have been able to write. It is Sunday now, and I stil have crazy amouts of stuff to do. I got three letters from you two days ago, hopefully I will have time to read them today. All is well with you, I hope. I miss all of you more than ever. We just got done with field week. It was very hard. I am getting killed outside or on the quarterdeck 4-6 times a day for other poeple's mitakes. We have 4 or 5 recruits who still fail to follow simple instructions. So last week we were in the field all week, Monday -Friday. We at MRE's all week, and sometimes didn't get to eat them. We slept under the stars, froze our butts off with the cold oceanside morning breeze, and watched the sun set on the ocean a couple of nights. There are coyotes, and scorpions out here too. And rattlesnakes, but is i coolling down enough for them to not be out.

Thank you so much for the letters. Keep them coming. They always put a smile on my face and give me hope that this will one day end. Bryna and Livia I love you and miss you!!!

Adam

PS Send 82 power bar-like bars from Sams Club. We can eat those if we have enough for everyone.

2006-10-22T19:25:00.000-07:00

This is a pretty big week for Adam. The Crucible is the culmination of his field training, which is a rigorous 54-hour practical field test - including sleep deprivation, food deprevation, and a total of 45 miles of marching, team problem solving. You name it. The stuff that makes Marines Marines. The end of the Crucible (recovery day is Friday with movement back to MCRD on Saturday) will mark the end of phase 2. The next phase (called the transistion phase) is where they go through the transition of recruit to Marine.

Please be praying for Adam this week. He will definitely need our support in the form of prayer - they say that this is when a lot of injury can occur, so we all want him to have that extra protection to keep his training moving along and have him home on time! :-)

I am so incredibly proud of my husband. He simply amazes me. There are no words.

About a month or so ago when I was ordering plane tickets - the end seemed so intangible and impossible. I can't believe that the day is quickly approaching! Only 28 left, today!

Much love, and thanks for checking in.
Gena

2006-10-17T16:08:00.000-07:00

New letter!!! 10/17/06

Gena,
So much is going on and I don't have any time to write. Know that I am thinking of all of you every day and praying for you too. Your letters lift me up out of this place for a little bit and it is as if we are stiting down talking. I am glad that you and the girls are in a "normal" schedule now. I love the pictures you sent, and Bryna's school picture is unbelievable!!! She looks sooo grown up!! It was hard to see how much I've missed in such a short amount of time.

We went on our 5-mile hike yesterday with our 50 lb. packs. It wasn't easy, but it wasn't terribly hard either. I was at the front with our guide-on hiking with the Senior Drill Instructor, Series Commander, and Company Commander. Kinda cool. So yes, I am still guide. It sucks because recruits mess up every day, so now the squad leaders and myself get IT'd in the dirt almost every morning for their mistakes. We started firing our M16A2 service rifles last week, and this week all we do is go to the firing range at 0430 or 0500 and fire our rifles until 1700 or 1800. They will be some long days. Then we have qualification day on Friday.

Sounds like that documentary is pretty on. Yeah, "Ears" "Open, Sir!" "Eyes!" "Click, Sir!" ALL DAY LONG!! They do yell a lot. Being a guide, this recruit gets to see some of the more human sides of the drill instructors. Not a lot though. One of our DIs, DI Staff Seargent Brooks told me I was his best recruit. And then asked me, "You want some cake with your chow today, boy?" I said, "Yes sir." We are not allowed to get dessert with our chow. Almost all of the other platoons are.

One of the other DIs from another platoon came into our squad bay while we were cleaning rifles, made me go with him to his squad bay. He told me that I am changing platoons! He stood me in front of his platoon and told me I was now their guide. The platoon had to respond, "Aye, Aye, Guide!" as I ran around yelling at them to clean their rifles faster. Ha! It was fun. Anyway, I really have tons of things that I want to tell you. I wish I could call you. Your letters are beyond encouraging, and everyone else's too. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to write to me and pray for me. I love you All!!

Bryna, I love you and I am very proud of you!! Livi, I love you little girl! Gena, You are always with me in in my heart and thoughts. I love you.

Adam.

2006-10-17T06:31:00.000-07:00

If you have a minute or two, please pray for Adam today. This is the day on his training matrix that indicates he'll be going through the gas chamber training. Read about it here.

2006-10-05T20:39:00.000-07:00

2006-10-02T18:54:00.000-07:00

Feel like I'm walking on air - got a letter from the most amazing man alive - that guy who I'll love until the day I die.
---------------------------------
Gena,
It is 12:51am. I have to get up to write you because this recurit is too busy usually to write anything during the day.

I am sorry that I am getting blurry. I know that it has been a while since we have seen eachother. I have bad days sometimes, like the other day. I think it was Monday, where I had to tell myslef that I was going to be here forever, that this was my new life. It was too painful to think of all the time that had to pass before I saw you again. I keep that picture of you and the girls in my right breast pocket and look at it whenever I can. You and the girls give me constant motovation to give my 110% in this place so I can make it out.

On Sunday, I feel the same way as you, closer connected to you through worship. I raise my hands and feel for a moment as if we are together in the Lincoln Community Center. As I worship, I can hardly, and 9 out of 10 times cannot- hold back the tears. Sundays are my favorite and least favorite days on depot, because I feel so close to you, but then so dissapointed when at the end of the day we are hundreds of miles apart.

Keep your head up. Don't let me get too blurry in your minds eye either. Well I am going to tell you what is going on a little in training, and then I will hit the rack because I have fire watch every night now, at least for a while - because I am the new guide! I am an the one in charge of the squad leaders and responsible for the entire platoon's actions. That is very scary. Pray for strength, because with this platoon, I am going to be getting IT'ed a lot. I have not been IT'ed once yet up to this point. So now I carry the guide-on (flag on a stick) in front of the platoon. I also have to sleep in a single rack (everyone else has a double), in the middle of the squad bay. Easy acess for the Drill Instructors. :-)

If I am able to keep Guide, and that is a big if, (we have had three other guides before me), and I graduate as guide, I will get dress blues for free and have a shot at company honorman and Lance Corporal. We'll see. I still just take every day from chow to chow.

We have been doing tons of stuff so I will just tell you about the stuff that I do well at. Haha :-) We did pugil sticks 1&2 and have pugil sticks 3 tomorrow. In one and 2, I am still undefeated. One was some one on one combat in a big circle, kinda fun. In 2, it's 2 on 1 and you are on a bridge. I was never beat as the one on 2 or as part of the 2 on 1. That was fun!! Tomorrow is the thunder dome. It is like a collusieum of sorts. Two hallways run into a room. We run through the hallways, and meet in the room to fight. Should prove to be fun.

We also did the tall and short confidence course. The short one has the obstacle that is thr one Full Metal Jacket called the "tough One" The one that Private Pyle keeps jumping on and slipping off of. Well it isn't that hard after all. And then the tall ones can be unnervering. There were a couple of recruits who froze at the top. There is a big ladder-like thing to crawl over and some other tall ones. They were fun. And then we did the "slide for life" It is a platform that is 40-50 feet in the air, with a cable running from it to the ground. You get on top of the cable, head first on your chest and pull yourself halfway down. Then, when told, you flip over underneath the cable and keep going. Then, when told, you drop your feet, switch grip, pull your feet up and keep going. Under the cable is a pool with nasty water. If a recruit falls in the pool, he has to take the "walk of shame" all the way back to the squad bay on his own. Everyone else on depot who sees you, knows that you are on your "walk of shame". They point it out how ever they can. Well, I went on it 2 times and stayed dry. Recruits wear boots, pants, and sweatshirts too, so they are very wet. We had about 12 fall from our platoon.

We are getting ready to go up North to Camp Pendleton on Saturday. That should be interesting. We have been promised, by all our DI's, a very difficult time. Lots of prayer please. We had to go to medical yesterday and get four more shots for up north. You just roll up your seelve and step through a door-like assembly line and you just get stuck with needles. It is not very pleasant. Someone always passes out or bleeds a lot.

We are memorizing tons of info and trying to reatin tons of procecures for on the firing range. Well, I would love to sit down, grab some coffee and talk more ,but I have to go get some sleep. I love you all.

Hi Bryna!!! Hi Livia!!!

xxoooo I love you!! xxoooo

I love you Babe!

Talk to you soon.

Adam.

2006-09-29T09:03:00.000-07:00

Letter dated: 9/21/06

Gena,
It is 2051 and lights out is at 2130 with our evening rituals starting at 2115 so this letter will be short.

Our platoon has been in so much trouble since the beginning. We have a bunch of kids that are selfish and do not learn too quickly. We get a lot of pain because of them. We go to the dirt a lot sometimes, as a platoon - up to four times a day. Lomax will know what I mean.

Anyway, Happy Birthday to my big 6-year-old. It is the 21st today. I have been telling everyone about my beautiful girls. All three of them.

I will write more later....

Well it is Sunday the 24th. Sundays are the hardest with missing all of you. I also had one really hard day this week. I pray for all of you all the time.

We have dropped 21 recruits from our platoon so far. We still ahve about 3 or 4 "Leonards" in here. They will be gone by the time we go up North, I think. The drill instructors get on them pretty hard. We leave for up north - Camp Pentelton - next Saturday. Mail will be slow with us being up there. That is where we learn to be Marines. We learn fire teams and shooting and stuff. It is also really hard. We are starting to prepare for up north.

We had initial drill on Saturday. We were the favorites to win first place. It is a HUGE deal to win. We practiced all the time. We ended up having two "not so smart" guys messing up and we got 2nd place. Needless to say our Drill Instructors were not too pleased. We sweated a LOT for the rest of the day. Then on fire watch, a guy from my squad made a mistake while reporting his post and the DI made him wake me up to relieve his post becaue he didn't know what he was doing. Grrrr.

I am no longer scribe of any sort. We picked up two new recruits from MRP who were previously scribes, so now I am only squad leader. Which gives me a little more time, but it means that I get killed for all the other people's mistakes. Very frustrating.

Tell everyone: Mom, Dad, Dave, Clay - Thank you so much for your letters! They mean so so so much to me. I am sorry that I am not able to write back to you. This recruit hopes that you understand.

I feel totally like the same person I was when I came. I am just in better shape right now. I am really looking forward to getting second phase over with. I know it is going to be the hardest part of training.

Bryna - How was your Birthday? Did you get my card tht I sent? I heard that you went to Chuck E Cheese too? Did you have some pizza for me? I hope so. I am looking forward everyday to seeing your beautiful face. I also heard that you are doing great at school. Dad is going to be home soon. I love you.

It looks like I have to be back in San Diego on Dec 5 at 11:30 am for MCT. But if this recruit gets recruiter assistance that will be pushed back some. Also, MCT closes for Christmas at one time. Hopefully, it will work out that this recruit will get most to all of December off.

I have had three recruits come up to me and ask me to pray with them. Recruits looks towards something stronger than themselves in here. No one can do it on their own. A recruit needs faith and other recruits to survive. Two of those three recruits have been dropped. The other probably will this week.

oooxxxoooxxxooo
I love you ALL and miss you sooooo much. Stay strong! Keep Praying!!

Love, Adam.

2006-09-27T06:42:00.000-07:00

Letter from Adam:
9/17/06

Babe-
Wow- we got mail the othernight for the first time in Mike Company. I got like 10 letters from you. :-) It was great. But, I have been so busy as scribe and squad leader that today (sunday) is the first time I am able to read any of them. I read two of them. I will have to read more later due to time.

Let's see, PT is hard. I pulled both calf muscles two times this week. It hurts a lot. But I keep pushing through it. We did some Marine Corps Martial arts a couple times so I now know how t hammerfist someone to death. Ha. I have not been prayer leader anymore. Our guide is that, plus I have enough stuff going on now. I still talk to kids whenever they want to talk about God. Which is more than I would have thought.

On Sundays, we get up at 0600, clean, go to chow, drill a little, then go to church at 0830 til 0930. Then it is square away time until 1100 or so. That is where I am now. Then chow, then training as usual. We turn our lights on every morning when revelie is played, and off everynight when taps is played. Revelie is at 0530 Mon-Sat; 0600 on Sunday. Taps is at 2130 everynight. I got that map that you drew from that website. I am not sure what all the buildings are yet. Is there a map on that info that was sent to you?

We did not have a moment of silence on 9/11. I didn't even remember that it was 9/11 until later than night. Well, I will write more later.

I love you.

Kiss the girls for me.
I love you so much.

Adam

2006-09-22T09:43:00.000-07:00

Just a few pics to update...

2006-09-22T07:04:00.000-07:00

This is a really cool project I've had the privilege to help with over the past year. It's an absolutely amazing story. If you have a couple of minutes, check out the video.

Jones-Johnson Family Ministry Building Project

2006-09-21T18:49:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Bryna!

My girl turned 6 today. Where'd the time go?!

Adam sent Bryna a sweet little b-day note and a letter to me today. I feel like Charlie from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory whenever the mail comes. I slowwwly sift through the letters hoping with all hope there's a golden ticket in there from my Adam. And when I get one - it's like I have wings!

Dad has been home since Tuesday! He continues to do very well. A little tired and stiff, but defnintely on the mend considering where he was only one week ago! Go Dad!!!

2006-09-18T07:00:00.000-07:00

So much to be thankful for!

For those who have not yet heard -

Dad's surgery was miraculous! It turns out that he has been a walking miracle all these 56 years. A portion of his heart (an important and large portion) was, in fact, not even functional for all his life and was just discovered via surgery.
Also - get this. They did a QUINTuple bypass on him. Yep that's 5.

He has recovered so well over the weekend that they are going to go ahead and release him tomorrow! He gets to come home and recoup here! We cannot believe it. He's doing so very well. The nurses' comments have been that he gets the gold star for best patient! They loved him. We were so blessed to have such a caring staff.

We are so, so thankful for this amazing outcome. God's faithfulness is awesome. I see him using this as a catalyst for many many other things that He plans to do with our lives and our family!

----In other news-------

I got a very encouraging letter from Adam - he is sounding so much more positive! I am so incredibly proud of him. He's my hero!! Here's the letter:
----------------------

Hey girl,
I am finally able to write a letter. I called you today and talked to you for a few seconds about your dad. I am praying for everyone, your dad, mom, you, and the girls. I wish I could have found out what happened. All I know is my SDI pulled me out of a class at 0800 and said that a Bob from home had a heart attack and his condition is unknown. I was freaking out! I couldn't stop thinking about your poor mom and dad. I hope that everything is alright.

Today we did pugil sticks 1. It was alright. I was a little distracted. Anyway, it is crazy in Mike Company, but fun (kinda). I am the Platoon Head scribe, Company head scribe, first squad leader, and platoon prayer leader. Yeat, it keeps me busy. I am getting about 5-6 hours of sleep a night because of all the paperwork that I have to do after lights out. Starting tomorrow I am training in a new scribe and keeping the squad leader position. It is simply too much to do. Our platoon started with 85 recruits and it is now down to 77 or so. Hmm what else....Alot - but it is hard to write it all down so fast. I will have a lot of stories when I see you over Thanksgiving. Remember my current grad date is Wed Nov 22nd so family day will be Tues Nov 21st!

To my girls, I love you girls and I am so proud of you. Bryna, I am counting the days to hold you and hear all about your days at kindergarten. I bet you are acting like a big girl and taking care of your sister. :-) You are my girls. I love you. Give Livia a big hug and kiss from her dad.

Gena - what can I say. Because of this time apart from you, I am going to treat you better and better with eachday we are together. I miss you so much and I am so proud of you for being able to do what you are doing with our family. You are holding us together. You and Jesus are holding us together. Well, time to become a warrior. :-) Love to all.

I am well and think of everyone everyday.

Love, Adam.

2006-09-14T21:46:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to give an update... It's long - but worth it to see what God is doing. :-)

In case you don't know - my dad's name is Bob Doring. ( I think it's nice to have a name.)

My dad will be having a quadruple bypass tomorrow morning. It turns out that he had the top 4 cardiologists in the world baffled, due to the fact that his heart is an anomaly. My dad was born with numerous birth defects. His left ear was basically one little lobe, his mouth was underdeveloped and was open from cheek bone to cheek bone. He spent the first several months of his life in the hospital having his mouth and ear reconstructed. When he was 31 he was able to hear in stereo for the first time when they did surgery to open his ear canal on his under-developed ear. So it turns out that his heart also has had a defect for all these 56 years. Our hearts, as you know, have arteries running from them. These arteries then branch off and into our systems (bear in mind my lack of knowledge when it comes to medical terminology). Well - not my dads. These cardiologists were scratching their heads because my dad's arteries do not branch out. They simply go straight into his "system." So they were looking for things that simply are not there.

God's orchestration is amazing in all this. My dad is maintenance man at Midwest Electric. He could have been up on top of a roof, all by himself when he had his heart attack. He could have had his head stuck in a live electrical box with testing equipment. (something he does almost daily). He could have been on the road with my mom and nephew, returning from a church conference in Milwaukee. But he wasn't. He was awakened, throughout the night from pressure. He did the right thing, and listened to his body and went in to get checked.

Furthermore - God placed him in Rochester, and for very good reason. You see, he would have had to wait until today to get an angiogram at ISJ. Instead, he was transported to Rochester where the top cardiologists will be performing an operation on an anomaly - a potentially fatal anomaly.

Today I went to visit my dad with my oldest sister, Natalie. We had a very, very special time with him - just chatting and enjoying each other's company. Before I left, I asked if it would be ok to pray with him. He said, "Absolutely." Now - for those of you who know any guys who are reserved about emotions and somewhat inhibited when it comes to expressing love verbally - then you get where I'm coming from. I am resolute in knowing that my dad loves me to the very core of my being. And I love him the same way in return. And we certainly tell each other that we love one another - but there are other words that are so touching that I've always wanted to make known to him, and maybe have in writing, but feel uncomfortable telling him verbally because I think it would make him break down. Today I was able to speak to him those words in prayer. It was a powerful moment that we shared.

I sat down on his bed, got really close to him, took him by the shoulders, looked in his eyes, and said, "Dad, I'm not going to be able to do this without crying." But I prayed and I had words pouring out of my soul that were not my words. It was a completely powerful and intimate moment that we shared. I am so grateful for it.

I am trying to not allow fear to enter the picture right now. I believe that there is no mistake in all that's been happening. I believe that God would not have planned this out so perfectly if not to spare my dad. I believe He has more purpose to carry out in person he created my dad to be.

I am running on, so I'm going to stop. Thanks for taking the time to read this and just pray as God leads. Thanks for embracing our family into your hearts right now. I can only say that God is pouring out His grace in ways that I can't put into words. He's so good, and He is in control!

Thanks - Gena

2006-09-14T06:24:00.000-07:00

My dad is going to have surgery tomorrow. He will have two seperate consultations today
with various surgeons. One option is to have stints put in and the other is open-heart surgery. Today they will present him with the risks of each and he'll have to make a decision regarding which one to go with. The seemingly obvious choice would be stints, however, due to the location of the blockages, it has increased the level of risk in doing that procedure.

Please pray for guidance for my dad that the choice would be obvious in which surgery to have. I know medical technology has come so very far, and that he's in the best place in the world for this type of surgery - but it's still my dad. And - if I'm having a hard time trusting right now and feeling at peace, it's hard to imagine how he must feel. Please pray for the trust level of our family - that God would instill in us a sense of peace, so we're able to rest in His faithfulness. He is still in control. I need to say that over and over to myself some days.

Also, if you wouldn't mind praying for my Livia. She is having a bit of trouble seperating from me these days, with very good reason. Normally she adjusts very well, and is happy to go play at new places. Right now, I think, with the impact of long days at daycare and not having big sister there with her all day has been somewhat traumatic. Please pray that she would feel secure even though we are not together, and that our time together would be quality time.

2006-09-13T10:59:00.000-07:00

Here is a great article about how church helps motivate the Marine recruits. It is also about the platoon prayer leaders, which is what Adam is now acting as in his platoon.

Click here to read.

2006-09-12T18:36:00.000-07:00

This an old letter that got lost in the shuffle, but was finally delivered to me just today:

Written 8/20 and 8/22:
Gena-
It is Sunday night and today was the slowest day here yet. We got to sleep in today and got up at 0515 instead of 0415 like we do the rest of the week. Then I was late to church because we had to wash all of our dirty laundry by hand with a scrub brush after we were done with breakfast chow. So, I get to church and I went to the wrong service. I went to charasmatic service instead of non-denominational. It was still good though. My faith is about 50 times what it used to be.

Yesterday was my best day at boot camp so far. I got a bunch of letters from all of you. Thank you Gena, Mom and Dad, Jeff and Ahmelie, Tory and Natalie, Brinkerts, and Mr Webber for sending mail and motivating the poop out of me. Ha Ha :-) :-)

It was so amazing to read those letters and hear some familiar voices in my head. I am so grateful for all of you! Wow....

I also found out that senior Drill Instructor SSG Escamilla called the hospital and told them to change my sugery for my ears from Sept 5th to this week. He told me that he did it because I am a "motivated recruit." So I am learning alot from the other guys here and working my butt off. Today we did a crazy hard exercise course and hit the weight room twice. Yesterday we sprinted two miles, and we are doing it again tomorrow. I am one sore old man.

Any pictures that we get in the mail we have to shw our drill instructors. So I had to show the ones you printed off. The are my prized possesions by the wey. I show them off to everyone. Anyway Senior said I have a wonderful family and that I am ordered (double underlined) to take my wife to Hawaii when I get back. So that was a direct order from my SDI!!! :-)

I also just got Gena's two other letters tonight. I am looking forward to reading them after lights out tonight. Bryna, I love your haircut, sugar!! It is cute!!

Got to go.

Love to all.

Kiss my girls, I love their pics!!!

Adam

2006-09-12T12:54:00.000-07:00

I just spoke to Adam on the phone for about 30 seconds. I notified him about my dad and that's all they'd give him. Please pray for Adam right now. He's going through the most difficult time of his life and it's even more difficult for him to be away from us. Letters of encouragement would be fantastic - please let me know if you'd like his updated address. He's currently in a very difficult phase of his training and he could use all the support from friends and loved ones he can get.

2006-09-12T08:11:00.000-07:00

Google Maps:
If you have never done this, you have to. You can look up any address in the world and see an aerial view of it. My address of choice is the San Diego Airport, then I scroll "north" (UP) just a little, and I can see the USMC Recruit Depot, where Adam is. I can see platoons out doing training, marching to mess halls or barracks, I can see the obstable courses, the parade deck, the Deopt Theatre, the Bay on-base. Being the visual person that I am, it helps a tremendous amout for me to be able to look at this. I do so several times a day. I like to think that one of those little "ants" is Adam. :-) It makes me feel as though I can be there with him in a virutal way. I can't wait for him to come show me what is what...or rather - be there myself!

Anyway, if you feel like it - check it out sometime! (Make sure to click on the "satellite" button in the upper right of the window to see the "real" aerial view. You can even zoom in pretty far!

My dad's angiogram, yesterday, revealed 4 areas of blockage. Today they will administer a stress test to determine how to move forward with treatment. Some may be treatable via medication, others we're not sure. We do not know the extent of the blockage (percentage-wise) at this point. I may drive my mom to Rochester, but we're waiting to see what's going to happen next first.

I spoke with Dad last night on the phone, and he sounded like his cheerful self. (or tough German - "I'm just fine." self :-) I still have a lot of hope that he is going to be just fine - but we are very ready for treatment to be under way!

Thanks again, for your continued prayers and support.

2006-09-11T09:37:00.000-07:00

I have a new mailing address for Adam, so if you'd like it please email me and I'll pass it off.

We are doing well, settling into the new school routine. Bryna is thriving so far. Livi does miss her big sister at daycare, though.

If you get a moment, please pray for my dad. He went into the ER on Saturday morning with chest pain. They confirmed that it was indeed his heart. We don't know the extent of all that happened, but he's undergoing an angiogram today in Rochester. I think Mom and I will be able to go pick him up today - so it's looking like he's going to be just fine.

2006-09-06T12:31:00.000-07:00

In recent days there has been much moaning, groaning, complaining, and whining coming from my mouth. "This is so hard!" "How can I get through this!?" "I am so tired!", etc, etc. I think God has a really good sense of humor, being the good Dad that he is, and can always find a means of bringing us more perspective in life with little nudges here and there.

I got a nudge today. I was reading on another blog about a mom who had her baby 3 years ago today. She lost him only a few weeks after he was born. As if that was not bad enough, she has since lost 2 other babies to the same ultra-rare genetic disorder. Currently, she is recovering from breast cancer. She loves Jesus and her life shows it - in both her attitude and her actions. When I am allowed a glimpse into others' long suffering, like this woman's, I am brought to my knees. This is exactly where I need to be. On my knees.

I need to surrender to the fact that I am not perfect, that life is not perfect - I cannot get everything right all the time. There will be hard times, there will be failures - but at the end of the day, I'm the daughter of a King - and He's blessed me with an amazing husband who loves me for who I am - who is growing daily in his faith; with 2 beautiful, smart, funny, happy, vibrant girls; with a family who loves me and supports me; with loving, faithful friends; with a steady, good-paying job; with a wonderful home to live in; and with the freedom to worship the God who gave me all this.

Thanks, God, for bringing me back to reality today.

Thank you to all who continue to support us both tangilbly and in prayer. We can keep going because of it.

Much love,
Gena

PS - It's Bryna's first day of kindergarten tomorrow and she is soooo excited! I am too - and so very, very proud of her.
PPS - Be sure to read the three new letters posted below!

2006-09-06T08:12:00.000-07:00

More letters:
8/27/06
I am getting ready to go to church and I am picturing our family getting ready for our church at Two Rivers. I just keep getting more and more sad. Please know that I miss you terribly adn I am heart broken to be away from you for so long. I am feeling this way eventough I am going to pretend to be strong. Ok? Ok.

I am getting a different outlook on life here. I am trusing God with every part of my life. I am trusting Him to take care of you and the girls. I am trusting Him that He will bring us back together soon. Most of all, or rather, hardest of all, I am trusting Him that this is the right place to be. I believe that He (Jesus) could get me out of here today if he wanted me out. [ Just got back from chruch - wow. I feel better. I love church, and I love Jesus! it is amazing how much I am learning to rely on Him for every little thing. We sang "Trading my Sorrows." and it hit my soul in the perfect spot. (Do you know what I mean?) So yeah, I miss you so much that if I think about it I want to either throw-up or run out the front gates and go UA to get back to you. I would love a couple more pictures, but only like two more. And later, after a month or two of training, more would be cool. And yes, please send Bryna's letters. I am not sure if I will be able to keep the tears back, but I need to see them. Trust Jesus to keep us safe and to Bring Us Back Together Soon. He will!!! Hi Bryna, I love you. Did you get my letter I sent you? Remember you are always my big girl!! I LOVE YOU GENA, I am with you always too!!

8/28/06
Bryna-
Hi Bryna Ballerina, how are you doing? I wanted to write to you and let you know how much your Daddy misses you! I saw your picturewith your new hair cutt and I think that you are the most beautiful almost six yearh old in the world. I also have a new haircut, but it doesn't look as good as yours.

I hope that you are having fun with your mom and sister and are helping mom like a big girl should. Without dad at home you are in charge of more stuff. I heard you are learning how to wash dishes. That is great!! That makes me very proud of you. I am learning how to do my best at eveything I do, and I hopu are learning the same thing.

Are you ready for school? Tell mama to take lots of first day school pics so I can see them when I get home. The place where I am stying is right by an airport so I see big planes take off and land everyday. Soon you will be coming here in one of those planes and we can watch them take off and land together. We are also going to go as a family, an see a killer whale and a lot of other fish at sea world. Does that sound like fun? It does to me!!

I have to go Bryna, but you be good and keep helping your mother with housework and your sister. I love you and miss you very very very very much.

Say hello to the kitties for me -

Love, Dad.

8/30/06
"Another day in PCP."

Hey Girl - This might be one of my last letters for a while - I am not sure I probably calle you last week to tell you. Mike company is known as Mighty Mike. They are the toughest company on depot. I do not know if the doctor will clear me tomorrow to do that or not. Alpha is known for being a middle of the road company, I guess.

I am at the linen warehouse right now waiting for the workers to show up so we can get our clean bed linens for PCP. It is 0600. Today I had to get up at 0245 to post fire watch in the company office until lights on at 0415. That wasn't too fun. I amd trying to think of some of the questions that you asked me in your latest letter. The last one I got was your handwritten letter that you wrote on Sat. I can barely believe tht life is going on as usual in Mankato. Iti is weird to imagine that place still existing while I am here. It is getting a little more normal here. I stress " a little." The routine that I am in is not norma for here, but it is getting there. Tell Clay thank you for the letter that he wrote, He is the BEST (two underlines) brother a guy could have. I love him.

I could not have done this without you as my wife, Gena. You are the main reason I believe I can do this. I would have given up a while ago if it wasn't for your wonderful, encouraging letters. I thank God every night and morning that I have you, and no one else as my wife.

Tell Bryna I love her & HI! I am glad to hear that you are wanting me to be here still. I am getting tired, my body is not overly stressed, but it is always tired. I am not sure how training is going to treat me. I guess we will find out. My worst fear is to break my leg or something and have t stay here to let it heal and stuff. Hopefully that won't happen, though.

CA is beautiful. I think you asked me about how it is here. It is usually cloudy unitl 1000 or 1100, then it is sunny the rest of the day. It has not rained since I have been here. From what I hear, it doesn't really rain hre in the summer. But now I am going to be here in the winter, and I hear that the nights and mornings ar chilly. Should be interesting camping during 2nd phase. Did I tell you I might get all of Dec off if my grad date is right? I am not sure though. You might want to ask Lomax the next time you talk to him.

Oh yeah - yesterday I was one of the recruits picked for RAMPS. I am not sure what it stands for, but three recruits from each STC platoon (MPR1, 2, 3, and PCP) go out to breakfast on base with the first seargant and the company captain. We went to the Marines chow hall, not the recruit chow hall, and had real eggs, real pancakes, and get this....COFFEE. It was wonderful. I miss sittng at the table with you and just drinking a cup of coffee. Ahhh some day soon. :-) I can not wait to hug you and I don't think I am going to let you go.

And, tell Bryna that there is a bowling alley here and we can use it on visitor Thursday. Cool huh? Anyway.

I love you ALL!! oooxxxoooxxxooo Adam!! DAD!!

2006-08-29T14:26:00.000-07:00

8.28.06

New letters

I talked to my DI and he will not let me go home for the surgery. That stinks. He wasa kind of ticked off at my recuiter and at MEPS for letting me come here without getting them (the ears) taken care of first.

I just found out that once in a training company I can not write letters in bed or on square away time until 2nd phase. But that will be a while.

Are you going to be ok with me being gone this extra time? It is going to turn into a 4-month or longer thing. I think that God is and is going to continue to use me here. I am already talking to recruits about Jesus and giving their heart to Christ. They all need hope in here and a lot turn towards a power.

I was also talking to my DI on the way back from the hospital (and by the way, most of the DIs are younger than me) and he was asking what I did before I came here. I told him about the coffee shop thing and he perked up a bit. I turns out that he wants to open a coffee shop sometime. So he starts asking me all these questions about start up and profit on drinks and stuff. He ended up telling me that we would talk about it later. Well got to go I love you ALL! Kisses to both Girls and my woman. :-)

Love Adam

-----

wed 8/23
Today was very hot here. We still went and did 1/4 mile sprints. I am not the fastest guy around, but I come in first or second everytime. It really winds me though, trying to keep up with the 17 and 18 year olds. I can do what they can do but it is just that afterwards I want to take a nap. Ha! It was so hot today that two kids passed out while running on the track. They were ok but they didn't drink enough water. We have to drink 8-10 canteens full of water a day. But the DI's don't always let you use the bathroom. When you neeeed to go too. They like it when we are trying to our hardedst not to wet ourselves. A recruite just has to be smart about when and where he goes. No accidents for me yet!! Ha! The food here isn't that bad. It is no home cooked mean, but after a day of running and marching it tastes pretty good. That is if you are lucky enough to taste it. I don't really have dreams yet. I think I had one kind about you and the girls, but it is hard to remember them in the morning, because at 4:15 AM our day starts very fast. I am going to get my ear stitched tomorrow, so that is good news.

Well I will write more later, I am running out of envelopes and paper, so until I amd able to buy more, letters might slow a bit. ANd they will slow down a lot once I get in a training company. Love you all!!!

Adam

2006-08-22T19:42:00.000-07:00

Surgery is set for this Thursday at 9AM.

I hear the DI's think Adam is going a great job and staying very motivated! (They would never tell him this though. :-)

Tonight, Livi learned how to say, "Ooh-rah!"

2006-08-22T08:01:00.000-07:00

8.22.06

"He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all - how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" - Romans 8:32

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for so faithfully upholding this family on a daily basis. Thank you that my girls are happy girls. Lord, forgive me for times when I lack patience and wisdom in being a good parent. Please increase in me YOUR wisdom and YOUR patience and help me to decrease my stubborn and impatient habits.

I pray that you would use us girls in amazing ways while Adam is away. Continue to reveal your purpose for us in our daily lives. Grow in my girls and in me, the desire to know you more and serve you daily - to put aside our own comforts and agendas so we can join You in Your plans and the work You've already started around us.

Continue to strengthen the purpose You've deemed for Adam. Please bring that purpose more into focus every day so that Adam would not lose hope or courage or faith when the tasks he faces seem so insurmountable. Please use that purpose as a means to encourage him and strengthen him.

During the times where we miss each other so much that it hurts - will You remind us that You are with us at all time? Please comfort our hearts when they are heavy. Please help Bryna, especially, as she can't fully comprehend time, space, and having her Daddy gone. Lord thank You for the father/daughter relationship you've given my girls. It is awesome.

Thank You, God, for the friends and family who very tangible help us, and for those who support us in prayer.

Never let us lose sight of You , God. Please keep our hearts focused on you so that our lives point to you.

In Your Name, Amen.

-----------------

So it turns out that I don't know how to use a tile cutter. Maybe the tiles are just being stubborn. :-) I also need some coaching in the area of sanding. I'm sanding down my cupboards (just getting some coats of blonding off). I think I need a different grade of sandpaper - something grittier. I was hoping to forego the use of a paint remover inside the house. Feel free to post your DIY tips!!!

Thanks for checking in on us.
Love,
Gena

2006-08-21T20:26:00.000-07:00

Letters:

1)
Hey Babe-
This is the first chance I have to write and I just got interrupted again. I am in sick bay for my ears. I have to get them stitched up on Monday and let them heal. I haven't even started training yet. ANyway I could call you tonight, but even the thought of hearing your voice while I am here almost breaks me down. I just want to start training to get home after.

Oh yeah, tell Clay that I am so so so so so so sorry, but he needs to make other plans for a best man. Nothing I can do about it now. Tell Bryna that I get to have chocolate milk everyday. So on Monday I see the doctor who will scrape and stitch my ears up. And then I have to let them heal. Not sure if next friday I can drop back in.

The DI's are here are like rabid bulldogs who just drank 25 cans of redbull. They are intense. I am meeting some cool and then some interesting people. Well it's lights out now, so I will wrie more later.

Love you very much and miss all my girls. Kiss my girls for me! Love, Adam.

2)
Hey Girl-
Today is Saturday. We watched "Anchor Man" today after afternoon chow. It is more laid back here in MRP than in a regular training platoon. Every one is also sick or injured so I am washing my hands A LOT! It is kinda sad because most of the these guys don't want to be here anymore. We just got back from evening chos tonight and a boy named Spencer or something was in the bathroom with his wrist slit. We are not allowed to have stuff like razors and tape so we can't cut ourselves or hang ourselves. He cut himself pretty bad, but he is alright. Is is for that reason why it is so hard for me to be in MRP. I have to keep a postitive attitude to keep getting closer to you. I love you all so much. Hugs and kisses to all - Adam.

3)
Girl-
Days in the MRP go by so slowly. But I talked to a First SGT today who was going to see what was up with me getting dropped for my ears. He had never heard of that happening before. But I still think of home all day long. I think about what you are doing. I have to remind myself everyday that I will be home soon.
Anyway, enough of that stuff :-) I get to start PTing tomorrow. All I am doing right now is marching and pushups/situps/pullups at night.

I am not sure what my graduation date is for sure. And make sure you call Clay and tell im how sorry I am for doing this to him at his wedding. I feel worse about that than anything else. I am not sure if he will want to talk to me after I get back and I don't blame him. I owe him a huge gift or something so that I can start to make it up to him. I will write him later and try to explain it to him. Sorry brother - I love you!

The food isn't too bad here but they don't use enough garlic. Haha. Plus it cannot compare to my wonderful wife's food.

Time for sleep. I can write about everyday rght now in MRP but once I join a training platoon it will spread out.

Hi Bryna, I love you. How is my watch doing?
Hi Livia, I love you. Say "Daddy!"

I LOVE YOU GIRL!

Adam

4)
Gena-
Today was another slow day in the MRP. Days seem to drag forever. I want to start training so I can start my countdown to grad. and you girls. I sit around and write letters to you, read my Bible, and try to learn as much as I can from the other guys here. Oh yeah, and I try not to get larengitis, bronchitis, or any other of the illnesses that these guys have.

Everyone PLEASE keep praying for my patience and strength to carry on. I know it can't last forever, eventhough it seems like it at times. Please wirte and Gena please send one or two pictures if you haven't yet. I need to know that you are still supporting me. It is possible that I might leave here on Friday and maybe not. If I do, there is an chance that my mail will not get to me. It should though. If anyone has a piece of mail returned to them, look for my new address on the blog and resend it to me please!

Kiss and Hug both the girls for me.

Tell Bryna that I still get chocolate milk every morning. :-)

I LOVE YOU ALL!!!

Keep writing I need to hear from you!!!!

Adam

2006-08-17T19:53:00.000-07:00

I was able to have a phone conversation with Adam tonight. It was a very rare, and wonderful treat. He got 15 minutes. It was so awesome to hear his voice.

He really needs your prayers right now. His situation has become very discouraging recently. There is some uncertainty as to what they will do with his ears, but it's looking like he most likely will not be back in time for the wedding. This is very devastating for all parties involved. My heart breaks the most, though, for Clay and Adam. Those boys have an incredible bond - a profound brotherly love. Never have I seen two brothers have so much admiration and pride for eachother. Adam, of course, feels completely terrible about it. He's asked me so many times to say how sorry he is.

Right now he's in "limbo." They had him in sick bay for the past 10 days, and just yesterday moved him to PCP - physical conditioning platoon - but he still is not officially training. He's very broken and disheartened right now. He just wants to move on and get the training going so he can get back home.

I got 3 letters from him yesterday!!! It was like I just won the lottery! I read and read and re-read them. It felt like I was holding a million dollars. I had six letters piled up just waiting to send. I was shaking as I addressed them - as if the more quickly I addressed the envelopes, the sooner he'd get them.

When we first spoke today I said: "I just sent you seven letters!!!" (I added one more last night.) He said, "Thank God!" The timbre of his voice was that of pure gratitude - like receiving a meal after days w/o eating. It broke my heart.

I will post portions of his letters here soon. For now - please continue to pray specifically:
- That his ear debacle would be resolved. And better yet - they'd just drop him into training starting Monday so he could still make the wedding!
- That he would sense God's presence every minute of everyday.
- That he would maintain perspective.
-That training would begin ASAP.
-That the DI's would miraculously show favor toward him. (He did mention that some higher-ups were impressed by him (he stood at attention for 20 minutes w/o flinching! Go Disney!) but befuddled by his status.
-Tomorrow AM his recruiting officer will be calling his Senior DI. Let God create a resolution and provide a way out of this limbo state and into the next phase. (There was another young man w/ holes in his ears who basically got the boot. He chose not to have the surgery and got some kind of dishonorable discharge.)

He's asked, very specifically for all to keep praying for him. So thank you for your faithfulness.

I do have an address for him - so if you're interested, feel free to email me, and I will tell you the protocol.

Thank you for checking in on us and keep a look out for the letters to be posted soon.

Much love and gratitude,

Gena

PS - One praise report - Although I am sad for Adam and the whole wedding situation - He's given me the peace that passes all understanding. I know God is in this. I know He'll be glorified, and I know Adam will still be used for an amazing purpose.

2006-08-10T12:49:00.000-07:00

I had the most surreal conversation with Adam last week.

The phone rang about 9:00 AM. I answered, "This is Gena." (It was my business line)

The voice I heard on the other line was not Adam's. I had no idea who was calling me! It was very confusing. In retrospect all I can say is that it sounded as though he was "sounding off" as they do to address their DI's - but in a quiet, and sort of high-pitched voice. Must've been becuase he was trying to accommodate the snarly DI standing behind him but also not blow out my ear drums - for which I'm thankful.

A: "Hello."

G:"Hello??"

A:" I'm calling to tell you my graduation date will be delayed one week."

G: "Huh?"

A:"My graduation date will be delayed one week."

G:"Ok.....?"

A: I have to go.

G: Ok, bye.

A: Bye.

-----------
It seriously took me a few mintues to process what I just heard. I was actually, physically shaken by the call. I just could not believe that was Adam speaking like that.

The next thing I did was to call his recruiter to ask - "Why has my husband's grad date been delayed a week??" Apparently he was just in the midst of trying to locate my phone number when I called - they know everything - spot-on.

So it turns out - the holes in Adam's ears that were created by his ear "plugs" had not grown shut. This is by far NOT Marine reg. He somewhat anticipated this in advance, so he divised his own methods of trying to get them to grow back together - I won't go into specifics, but I will say that sandpaper had something to do with it. (eeww.) This was about a week before he left. Down in Sioux Falls, SD where he went through all the medical checks - he totally passed, so he was not as concerned about them.

Let's just forget about the fact that his wife ever so delicately suggested he go in for some outpatient surgery to get a few stitches. :-)

Anyway - that's the scoop. Now the challenge remains to get him (and us) back from graduation in time to make his brother's wedding rehearsal. Our whole family is in the wedding. It looks like it's going to be a little tricky. Not sure what's going to happen there - but we're working on it!

The home report: Thank God, our lice issue is under control! We are slowly easing back into normal life, but very cautiously. I just now found the source of the problem. Our neighbor kids, who are over here 24-7 had it a while back and did not bother to tell us. They will now have to be checked daily before playing with my kids. It's a shame - but I'm not going through that again.

Hope everyone is well.

Love,
Gena

2006-08-09T22:35:00.000-07:00

What a lousy week. I wish I could say Adam's absence is the only reason why, but unfortunately I'm saying that quite literally. Sunday evening I found head lice on the girls. Life as I knew it - which was still somewhat topsey turvey - has totally flipped upside down.

Both my mom and I have been putting in about 15 hour days to combat this. (She is awesome. I don't think I'd have any sanity left if not for all her hard work. Thanks mom - you rock.) We've stripped the whole upstairs of anything fiberous that's removable - i.e. everthing except the couch and mattresses - bagged them, washed TONS of laundry, treated girls heads, scrubbed everything clean - every surface. Vacuumed and vacuumed some more. Sprayed furniture, etc., etc. My basement is closed for the next two weeks.

As for the girls' treatments - well that's another story. It takes about 2 hours to treat each girl. I've spent well over 100 dollars on a combo of OTC meds as well as prescription meds and even a doc's visit. NOTHING had worked. Until yesterday. I began to do olive oil w/ tea tree oil massaged into their scalp and hair - shower capping it for about an hour. Then washing it out - rinsing with vinegar (anyone hungry for salad yet? yuck) - then washing and rinsing normally. Then the fun part. I put on a headlamp and start combing and picking out each nit by hand since the stupid nit combs are totally useless - metal and plastic alike. This takes a minimum of 1.5 hours on Bryna for the picking alone. I'm suprised I still have my eyesight. Not to mention half her hair has been cut out. Thankfully she's got thick hair so you can't really tell. Yet. And then there's sweet little Livi - who doesn't know what's going on - won't still still for any thing. With her, I'm nearly considering a shave. It breaks my heart to even say it. She has such beautiful hair. But she's my baby - so I'll think she's pretty no matter what.

Then trying to keep up with work deadlines. I'm not putting in nearly the time I need to be - but I can't take my kids anywhere yet, so I've been up way early to work. Trying to work over nap time and then again late at night.

Lord help me.

The only up-side to all this is I've been too busy to be too sad about Adam. Although it'll hit me every once in a while and I'll fight a few tears.

At any rate - I didn't mean to run on, nor am I fishing for pity - just needed a little vent and could really use your prayers. It's awful timing - I just keep looking for God's purpose in it. And trying to keep perspective - I know it could be something way worse!!

Thanks for propping me up w/ a prayer tonight.

Gena

2006-08-09T21:11:00.000-07:00

Pictures as promised.

Adam's depature, and our fun week. Notice the lastest trends in shower caps. Also note the piles of clean laundry in the background. :-)

2006-08-08T13:18:00.000-07:00

I last spoke with Adam, Monday around 3:30. He was waiting for his flight to Denver/San Diego in the Sioux Falls airport. He was mostly upbeat, and seemed less anxious. He felt good to have the journey in progress.

There was one other recruit flying out with him - also from Mankato. His name is Joshua, and he's 23 years old. Joshua is a Christian. I guess they had a lot of things in common, aside from their faith and created quite an instant bond. Joshua's comment was "it was no mistake they were put there together." To which Adam said something like, "rock on, man." :-) They made a vow to help eachother through the next 90 days to the best of their ability. It's so confirming and reassuring to see God's hand at work by providing a new friend like Joshua.

I don't have much to update on - but did want to provide you with a link to Adam's training matrix (click me), so you can follow his daily progress.

I'll let you know when I hear anything from him - I havent' gotten "the call" yet. I am already writing letters though, and hope he enjoys a nice big stack of them for his first mail call. The process is that he writes home a "form letter" along w/ his address w/in the first 2 weeks. If anyone is interested in writing you can email me once I have his address. There is some protocol to follow, so I'll inform you of it as soon as I'm able.

Love to all,
Gena

2006-08-06T20:49:00.000-07:00

"Dear Jesus,

Thank for you daddy to go the Marines. Please keep him safe and have him come back soon. Please help him have a good time at boot camp. In Jesus Name, Amen." - Bryna's Bedtime prayer.

So here we are. The journey has officially begun. The past 3 or so days have been a whirlwind. I can't quite make sense of where my emotions are at the moment. Adam left today at 1pm.

Where to begin...

Evidently poker night was a super hit! Although Adam did not win any pots, he still enjoyed hanging out with the guys. His favorite brother was able to make up even! The night ended on a great note with all the guys taking turns praying for Adam. I'm sure it was quite the moment. He's so blessed to have friends who hold him up like that.

Adam and his bro spent about 10 hours wrangling with an overhead microwave oven and some stubborn tile on Saturday. Adam swore that he'd complete that project before he left, and he totally got it done. I love it! Now I get to do the fun part - the grout. :-) It was great having his brother here hanging out with us. It was such a pleasant distraction. I think if it were just us, there would've been too many opportunities to pay attention to the looming black cloud and allow our nerves to get the best of us.

We had a great time late last night sitting out on the deck together in the very lovely summer night breeze. Awesome memories to last me a while.

This morning came all too soon. We barely got finished with breakfast and realized there was only about an hour and a half left before it was time for him to go. He quickly taught me how to charge video cameras, and our digital camera. It was our final wrap up of family business and just plain nuts and bolts stuff.

He "packed" a change of clothes for the next day, minimal toiletries, his Bible, his ID and SS card. Talk about traveling light!
For the next half-hour (which seemed like both 2 hours and only 5 minutes) we just hung around in the driveway. My folks were out waiting with us, along with some neighbor kids and our nephew. It was really nervewracking! So many tears and hugs and some good laughs - overall pretty light hearted. When the car pulled up - my stomach dropped like a rock. We called both girls over one more time for a final hug (I tried to sneak about 3 extra ones in there). We watched as he got into the car. Poor Bryna let out a, "Daddy! Wait!" She got one more hug in. They turned around, we waved, and with that - he was gone. It was the hardest, most surreal moments I think I've had.

We've kept busy for the remainder of the day. Cleaning, playing, had dinner with my cousin (thanks for that you guys). It was nice to get out and get our minds off of things.

I just finished writing my first letter to Adam. He'll get about 5 on his first mail call, as they provide his address via mail. Once I get that letter I'll post it here.

Much more to say - but I better get to bed for a good day's start tomorrow.

Thank you for taking the time to check in on us! God bless, Gena

(pictures coming soon)