Friday morning we got our first real phone call from Dustin. It was 4 minutes long - that's all the time he was allowed to talk. He is doing well and was calling to let us know that he was done with reception and would be starting basic training that day. He also let me know that the army issued him glasses. He sometimes wears reading glasses at home, so we knew that his eyes weren't perfect but I didn't think he would need to have them through training. It will be interesting to see what he decides to do about his eyes after training is over.
Matthew was able to talk to Dustin for a minute and while Matthew was crying through most of it at least he was able to hear Dustin talk to him.
I think it's the hormones, but I am emotional every time I get a call from him. We got a call this evening - he was just reading information to me (too quickly for my to write down) and I'm emotional about hearing his voice. I am really proud of what he is doing but I sure do miss him!
The boys have enjoyed their Daddy Kisses every night and I did get the paper chain done, it's hanging up in the kitchen by the table. There are a few special days each month that can be focused on instead of just waiting until the end. This month we have Valentine's day and Matthew's birthday. Next month we have St. Patrick's day, Spring Break and Easter. April is traveling to see Dustin and May is.... well it's May, it's busy.
David and I started work on his class Valentines. He elected to make them this year instead of buy some. We are making robot valentines with Hershey Treasures. He's pretty excited and I'm letting him do as much of the work as possible. I do measuring and line drawing. David is doing the cutting and gluing and putting together. He is excited for them and I'm happy for him.
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
And Then There Were None
Well the day that I thought would never really come finally came. Dustin headed off to basic combat training on Sunday. It really hit me Thursday morning and I was kind of an emotional wreck until we said our final good byes on Sunday. Yesterday, because he had lots of traveling to do, we were still able to talk on the phone whenever he was in the airport. Today has been our first day without contact and I have to say that....
we are okay!
For anyone that doesn't know, this is what has gone on. Back in August Dustin really began thinking about joining the armed forces. It is something he had always wanted to do and never really felt it was a good time. After much fasting, praying and temple attendance there was a very strong impression that he needed to do it now. Dustin and I discussed which branch of service he should go into and finally settled on the Army. At the end of August Dustin went in to the recruiting station to begin the whole process of joining the Army. It wasn't until mid September that he actually took his oath of enlistment. The job he has chosen to do is Motor Transport with an Airborne option. I really don't understand how the two jobs coincide but I guess we'll figure that out as we go along. Anyway, Dustin chose a ship date that would allow David to be able to finish out the school year and not have to worry about transferring schools mid semester. Dustin has basic combat training and advanced individual training back to back at the same post. He will get to come home for a few days before heading off to airborne school. In total Dustin will be gone for a total of 20-21 weeks. Little did we know that this would also mean Dustin would be gone for the birth of baby #3.
During this first stage of training communication is severely limited. Basically we can write letters back and forth. Phone calls are privileges and while every post manages calls differently I am not expecting any calls. If Dustin is able to call we will rejoice and be happy and grateful for the call no matter how short it may be. Dustin does have very specific instructions from me to call when he gets a chance regardless of what the time it may be here, I have my phone on me at all times for just this reason.
Even with Dustin only being gone for a couple of days I am already beginning to see the value in having communications so severely limited. As hard as it is not to talk to my husband or have the boys talk to their dad everyday it is helping us adjust to him being gone. We don't focus on every little thing that happens during the day so that we can report it each night. I do have an open word document so that I can write part of a letter as things come up over the course of the week. Limited communication is helping me to be stronger than I was before. I am guessing this is probably part of the reason that communication is limited for soldiers in training - it helps them focus on the job at hand and not worry about stuff at home. It would also prepare them/us for any deployment that will happen.
It is hard to think about how long it will be before we will all be together as a family again but I know it's good for us as a family. We are all getting stronger in one way or another and we are developing our relationships in different ways. The boys are even interacting differently, we'll see how long is lasts, they are spending more time together and getting along instead of fighting.I am getting time with my boys that was always reserved for Dustin. Don't get me wrong as soon as we are all under the same roof again that time will go back to being Dustin's but I am enjoying the reading of bedtime stories with Matthew and reading Harry Potter to David. I get to experience a new kind of relationship with Dustin that will hopefully make our marriage stronger than it is.
These past couple of days I have prayed more for Dustin than I ever have our entire marriage. I also realized that this time has also given me the spiritual kick in the pants that I have needed for a while. I am being more diligent in my personal scripture study and morning & evening prayers. I have been really good with doing morning prayer with the boys before David heads off to school and we have been better about discussing the things we read from the scriptures so that David understands what is happening. This morning I was realizing how much I feel the love of my Heavenly Father and the support that is being provided. It was such a good experience to have in the quiet time of the morning before the start of the day with the boys.
The boys seem to be adjusting well. Everyday is getting better. We have Daddy Kisses jars for each of them and every night they get a kiss from Daddy. They look forward to it every night. Tomorrow I will be making a paper chain for all the days that Dustin is gone and we will write something about each day on each strip when we take it down. Those strips will be included in our letters to Dustin. David is looking forward to me getting this one done too, so that we can start taking the links off the chain.
Now I must admit, even though I miss having Dustin in bed with me and I am sad that he will miss the birth of Benjamin. Benjamin and I are really loving the extra space and pillows in bed at night. :)
Please write to Dustin if you can. I know he would love to get encouraging letters from everyone. I don't have his address yet but you can always send letters here and I'll forward them along as soon as I have an official address for him.
we are okay!
For anyone that doesn't know, this is what has gone on. Back in August Dustin really began thinking about joining the armed forces. It is something he had always wanted to do and never really felt it was a good time. After much fasting, praying and temple attendance there was a very strong impression that he needed to do it now. Dustin and I discussed which branch of service he should go into and finally settled on the Army. At the end of August Dustin went in to the recruiting station to begin the whole process of joining the Army. It wasn't until mid September that he actually took his oath of enlistment. The job he has chosen to do is Motor Transport with an Airborne option. I really don't understand how the two jobs coincide but I guess we'll figure that out as we go along. Anyway, Dustin chose a ship date that would allow David to be able to finish out the school year and not have to worry about transferring schools mid semester. Dustin has basic combat training and advanced individual training back to back at the same post. He will get to come home for a few days before heading off to airborne school. In total Dustin will be gone for a total of 20-21 weeks. Little did we know that this would also mean Dustin would be gone for the birth of baby #3.
During this first stage of training communication is severely limited. Basically we can write letters back and forth. Phone calls are privileges and while every post manages calls differently I am not expecting any calls. If Dustin is able to call we will rejoice and be happy and grateful for the call no matter how short it may be. Dustin does have very specific instructions from me to call when he gets a chance regardless of what the time it may be here, I have my phone on me at all times for just this reason.
Even with Dustin only being gone for a couple of days I am already beginning to see the value in having communications so severely limited. As hard as it is not to talk to my husband or have the boys talk to their dad everyday it is helping us adjust to him being gone. We don't focus on every little thing that happens during the day so that we can report it each night. I do have an open word document so that I can write part of a letter as things come up over the course of the week. Limited communication is helping me to be stronger than I was before. I am guessing this is probably part of the reason that communication is limited for soldiers in training - it helps them focus on the job at hand and not worry about stuff at home. It would also prepare them/us for any deployment that will happen.
It is hard to think about how long it will be before we will all be together as a family again but I know it's good for us as a family. We are all getting stronger in one way or another and we are developing our relationships in different ways. The boys are even interacting differently, we'll see how long is lasts, they are spending more time together and getting along instead of fighting.I am getting time with my boys that was always reserved for Dustin. Don't get me wrong as soon as we are all under the same roof again that time will go back to being Dustin's but I am enjoying the reading of bedtime stories with Matthew and reading Harry Potter to David. I get to experience a new kind of relationship with Dustin that will hopefully make our marriage stronger than it is.
These past couple of days I have prayed more for Dustin than I ever have our entire marriage. I also realized that this time has also given me the spiritual kick in the pants that I have needed for a while. I am being more diligent in my personal scripture study and morning & evening prayers. I have been really good with doing morning prayer with the boys before David heads off to school and we have been better about discussing the things we read from the scriptures so that David understands what is happening. This morning I was realizing how much I feel the love of my Heavenly Father and the support that is being provided. It was such a good experience to have in the quiet time of the morning before the start of the day with the boys.
The boys seem to be adjusting well. Everyday is getting better. We have Daddy Kisses jars for each of them and every night they get a kiss from Daddy. They look forward to it every night. Tomorrow I will be making a paper chain for all the days that Dustin is gone and we will write something about each day on each strip when we take it down. Those strips will be included in our letters to Dustin. David is looking forward to me getting this one done too, so that we can start taking the links off the chain.
Now I must admit, even though I miss having Dustin in bed with me and I am sad that he will miss the birth of Benjamin. Benjamin and I are really loving the extra space and pillows in bed at night. :)
Please write to Dustin if you can. I know he would love to get encouraging letters from everyone. I don't have his address yet but you can always send letters here and I'll forward them along as soon as I have an official address for him.
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Back to Basics
I am participating in a wellness challenge right now. This is the 6th one I've done. Every challenge we are supposed to set a personal goal for the 6 week challenge. I have done this 5 times before now and was having a hard time coming up with a new and challenging goal for me to complete. Being pregnant, tired and generally not motivated to eat the things I cook we had been eating out alot. I decided that my goal for the 6 weeks would be to not eat out. My plan was to make sure I had a menu that sounds appetizing to me and to make sure all the groceries were on hand each week for me to cook our meals. I would start dinner early so as not to fall into the "I'm too tired to cook" trap that often happens around 5:30pm everyday. The one caveat was that I knew we would have Dustin's parents in town at some time this month. For that one visit eating out would be okay and secretly I wanted to keep it as much to a minimum as possible.
These past 3 weeks have been some of the best! We have had wonderful food. I have remembered all that I enjoyed about cooking and making the food that we eat. We have tried recipes that were wonderful and have quickly become family favorites. We have all been happier and felt good. I even cooked when we were all sick.
While Dustin parents were here this last weekend we ate out once a day (for me). Monday was the only exception - the boys spent the night with Grandma and Grandpa so Dustin and I slept in and went out for breakfast. Eating out this last weekend left me feeling super full. I enjoyed my food selections but not the same as I enjoy the food here at home. The leftovers have reheated okay but haven't been as exciting to eat as when we reheat our home cooked meals.
I am very thankful for my ability to cook good food. I love the way I feel when I eat the food I prepare and I love the way I feel knowing the food my family eats. I know it was just a little thing and really shouldn't have been a big deal but it's been a really good one for me and my family.
**I want to also to know that we really don't eat out that often except when I'm pregnant.**
These past 3 weeks have been some of the best! We have had wonderful food. I have remembered all that I enjoyed about cooking and making the food that we eat. We have tried recipes that were wonderful and have quickly become family favorites. We have all been happier and felt good. I even cooked when we were all sick.
While Dustin parents were here this last weekend we ate out once a day (for me). Monday was the only exception - the boys spent the night with Grandma and Grandpa so Dustin and I slept in and went out for breakfast. Eating out this last weekend left me feeling super full. I enjoyed my food selections but not the same as I enjoy the food here at home. The leftovers have reheated okay but haven't been as exciting to eat as when we reheat our home cooked meals.
I am very thankful for my ability to cook good food. I love the way I feel when I eat the food I prepare and I love the way I feel knowing the food my family eats. I know it was just a little thing and really shouldn't have been a big deal but it's been a really good one for me and my family.
**I want to also to know that we really don't eat out that often except when I'm pregnant.**
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Learning Curve
We are all learning.
We are all at different learning leaves and we learn at different speeds.
This week it has been fun to watch the boys learn (or forget and have to re-learn).
Matthew
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I don't know how he learned how to do this because I haven't taught him but the other night when putting on his pajamas he insisted on buttoning the buttons himself. He wouldn't let us help him and it took a while to get it done but he did all four buttons on his own. He was so proud of his accomplishment! This morning he tried to button the buttons on his Sunday shirt and had a difficult time, getting very frustrated and finally giving in to letting me help him. To be fair the buttons on his pajamas are much bigger than the buttons on his church shirt. What interested me most was that he knew what he needed to do this morning but just doesn't quite have the dexterity to handle such small buttons. He tried anyway.
David
This requires a little bit of back tracking. Last Saturday we all worked really well and quickly to get our jobs around the house done so that our home was nice and neat for Sunday. As a family we were able to spend the afternoon watching a movie together and relaxing at home. (It's way to cold to be playing outside and we didn't need to go anywhere.) On Friday we were talking about our plans for yesterday (Saturday) as a family. We knew we needed to help clean the church and get our house put together for Sunday. We would watch Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets in the afternoon since Dustin & David had finished reading the book.
Yesterday morning we went to the church to clean. David immediately claimed the trash cans because that's what he really likes to do and he can do it by myself without supervision. He eagerly put the card around his neck and set to work, finishing his job in a timely manner.
Getting jobs done at home was not so timely. While the rest of us worked on our jobs David decided to read a book instead. He didn't finish his jobs until much later in the day after having the consequences of not finishing them explained several times. David finally finished one of his jobs about an hour before it was time to start dinner, which he needed to help with. Once upstairs he went to the movie cabinet to pull out Harry Potter and we had to explain that there was no time for us to watch the movie because of how late it was before all of our jobs were done. David was disappointed, as expected, but we explained that we could try again for next Saturday. Here's hoping the lesson sunk in and we get to have our Saturday afternoon movie next week.
Christy
I am currently re-learning how to manage my home. I have come across many different ways to be a better home manager and with Dustin preparing to ship out to Basic Combat Training and a baby on the way I decided now was the time to get my home in order. So far I have redone a little bit and stuck with it for a week, so I'm hoping to change a little bit more this next week and to continue from there. Changing my managing, applying it for a week or so until it sinks in and sticks, and then changing something else. I have also been relearning how to better manage my time so that I can fit in my scripture study and exercise into my day. I have missed a few days with scripture study but I'm working on not missing days - it's a process, I didn't expect to be perfect over night, just to work towards getting there.
Dustin
Preparing for leaving our family and joining the Army. He goes back and redoes some of the training modules to help him stay current on the things he needs to know while he's in Basic. He does pass his knowledge on to me or tells me where I can find it for future reference while he is gone. Dustin has had to learn the phonetic alphabet, military time, army values, rank structure, personnel recovery, etc. It really has been interesting. Funny thing - it's all printed off and sits in the bathroom on the toilet, but mostly he studies from his art room on the computer.
**Dustin's form of communication when he leaves will be letters only. If you would like to write him please just send the letters here and I will forward them to him, we don't have his mailing address yet and won't get it until 2-3 weeks into Basic Training. Any letters of encouragement will be greatly appreciated. He may not be able to respond to all that write but he will appreciate the thought and enjoy the communication from friends and family.
We are all at different learning leaves and we learn at different speeds.
This week it has been fun to watch the boys learn (or forget and have to re-learn).
Matthew
.jpg)
I don't know how he learned how to do this because I haven't taught him but the other night when putting on his pajamas he insisted on buttoning the buttons himself. He wouldn't let us help him and it took a while to get it done but he did all four buttons on his own. He was so proud of his accomplishment! This morning he tried to button the buttons on his Sunday shirt and had a difficult time, getting very frustrated and finally giving in to letting me help him. To be fair the buttons on his pajamas are much bigger than the buttons on his church shirt. What interested me most was that he knew what he needed to do this morning but just doesn't quite have the dexterity to handle such small buttons. He tried anyway.David
This requires a little bit of back tracking. Last Saturday we all worked really well and quickly to get our jobs around the house done so that our home was nice and neat for Sunday. As a family we were able to spend the afternoon watching a movie together and relaxing at home. (It's way to cold to be playing outside and we didn't need to go anywhere.) On Friday we were talking about our plans for yesterday (Saturday) as a family. We knew we needed to help clean the church and get our house put together for Sunday. We would watch Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets in the afternoon since Dustin & David had finished reading the book.
Yesterday morning we went to the church to clean. David immediately claimed the trash cans because that's what he really likes to do and he can do it by myself without supervision. He eagerly put the card around his neck and set to work, finishing his job in a timely manner.
Getting jobs done at home was not so timely. While the rest of us worked on our jobs David decided to read a book instead. He didn't finish his jobs until much later in the day after having the consequences of not finishing them explained several times. David finally finished one of his jobs about an hour before it was time to start dinner, which he needed to help with. Once upstairs he went to the movie cabinet to pull out Harry Potter and we had to explain that there was no time for us to watch the movie because of how late it was before all of our jobs were done. David was disappointed, as expected, but we explained that we could try again for next Saturday. Here's hoping the lesson sunk in and we get to have our Saturday afternoon movie next week.
Christy
I am currently re-learning how to manage my home. I have come across many different ways to be a better home manager and with Dustin preparing to ship out to Basic Combat Training and a baby on the way I decided now was the time to get my home in order. So far I have redone a little bit and stuck with it for a week, so I'm hoping to change a little bit more this next week and to continue from there. Changing my managing, applying it for a week or so until it sinks in and sticks, and then changing something else. I have also been relearning how to better manage my time so that I can fit in my scripture study and exercise into my day. I have missed a few days with scripture study but I'm working on not missing days - it's a process, I didn't expect to be perfect over night, just to work towards getting there.
Dustin
Preparing for leaving our family and joining the Army. He goes back and redoes some of the training modules to help him stay current on the things he needs to know while he's in Basic. He does pass his knowledge on to me or tells me where I can find it for future reference while he is gone. Dustin has had to learn the phonetic alphabet, military time, army values, rank structure, personnel recovery, etc. It really has been interesting. Funny thing - it's all printed off and sits in the bathroom on the toilet, but mostly he studies from his art room on the computer.
**Dustin's form of communication when he leaves will be letters only. If you would like to write him please just send the letters here and I will forward them to him, we don't have his mailing address yet and won't get it until 2-3 weeks into Basic Training. Any letters of encouragement will be greatly appreciated. He may not be able to respond to all that write but he will appreciate the thought and enjoy the communication from friends and family.
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