Brock Update #6

Just heard from Brock. He is doing pretty well in week 6 or 7 now? Only 2 more weeks of boot camp! About 88 days (hopefully!) until he graduates! Feww...

Anyway, Brock said someone stole a scope to a gun- and it has not been found. No one knows who it was?? But the Srgts. tore apart the barracks and made the guys exercises until Brock said he thought his limbs would fall off. Brock said they are loosing any future privileges (like extra time on the phone, or hour passes to do things). So that is a bummer. 

Brock needs prayer for this week. They are going out into the field and doing military drills. They will sleep outside in the forest by themselves. It is a 10 mile hike to get there.

Pretty much the extent of the update i got. Other then that he's doing OK. He said he is just ready to come home though. 

Thanks for praying.

I LOVE BJS...

Do you LOVE BJ's? Here's a good reason to !

HERE is $5 off coupon when you spend $20 or more! ENJOY!

 

Memorial Day

Memorial Day...

... to honor those that gave their lives of me.

for my freedom.

for my life.

for my country.

Thank You will never be enough.

...Danny Santee

1986~2007...

Thank you to those who continue to serve,

Who continue to fight,

Who continue to believe.

Jim Ford

Robert Herring

John Buoniconti

Brent Buoniconti

Aaron Knizley

David Edison

"As we remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom, we think of how they have followed in the footsteps of your son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Please hold our service men and women in your strong arms. Cover them with your sheltering grace and presence as they stand in the gap for our protection.

We also remember the families of our troops, and ask for your unique blessings to fill their homes and your peace, provision and strength to fill their lives.

May the members of our armed forces be filled with courage to face each day and may they trust in the Lord's mighty power to accomplish each task. Let our military brothers and sisters feel our love and support.

In the name of Jesus."

Side Note: more than 100,000 National Guard Soldiers were mobilized April 31st, 2009. In all, 130,000 National Guard & Military Reserves were mobilized this day. These numbers are predicted to rise in the next couple years.

Brock Update #5

Update on Brock:

Just finished combat/defense week.

Had a slap exercises. Had to slap your partner so that you know what it feels like. Also had to be put in, and put someone in a choke hold.

They have also been doing live fire training. How to clear brush and put out fires. 

He no longer has pink eye and is feeling much better.

If you are sending Brock a package, he would appreciate Toilet Paper as they have none in there bathrooms.

Hopeing 95 days until he graduates?!

That Sucks!

Lately i have been trying to be more gracious in dealing with people, especially homeless people. If someone comes up and asks me for money, I try and be kind and tell them i will buy them some food instead.  With that being said...

Last weekend i went out to dinner with some friends. I was meeting them at Rubio's in the Tustin Marketplace. I was waiting at a table when a lady approached me with a baby and asked me (in broken English) for money. I told her i didn't have an cash to give her, but i would buy her food. She declined and went to the next person. She ended up coming back to me and asked me again for money. I said again, i didn't have any cash to give her, but i would love to buy her some dinner. She finally said, "ok, ok". After i asked her what she wanted, she said she didn't care, but any "tacos". So I got her a couple items.... The guy who rang me up threw in some extra food and a drink for her as well. So i get the food and go outside to find her... I can't find her ANYWHERE! Who begs for money, gets food and then disappears?! Anyway, she finally comes back, from a CAR! with a purse  on her arm now and cell phone in hand... She sees me and stuffs her cell in her top and comes over to me. She says thanks and asks me for money AGAIN! Seriously?! 

So my friend, Erin & I head inside. We stand in line. Lo & behold, the same lady enters as well with a young man. He stands in line with the receipt from the food. Tells the lady ringing him up that they did not get the food! I stepped in and said I just handed them the food, and that I ordered it in the first place! Then he changed his story, again and again, trying to get free food! 

Seriously?! Well... I tried to help out. Even if she wasn't very receptive to my help, I'm excited to buy the next person who asks for some food!

Have you run in to this? How does it make you feel when someone doesn't seem thankful or grateful for a kind gesture? 

Brock Update #4

A little update on Brock -

He sounded sick to me, but he said he isn't sick anymore... or at least feeling better! However, he got pink eye! 12/50 guys in his platoon have it. He said it is not fun at all. i can only imagine! Its not ever fun to have pink eye, let alone AT BOOT CAMP!

They have been using their weapons this past week he said. Yesterday the did their weapons test - He got sharp shooter. He was really bummed that he missed expert by 2 shots! But he said he can't see very well because of the pink eye with his eyes being puffy. poor guy! He said he really enjoyed the shooting week. However, you get 40 rounds which takes about takes 20 min to go thru. But you have to stay out there for 12 hrs for everyone to get their turn. Your not allowed to talk, but people talk so they get in trouble and have to hold their weapons over their head for so long until someone tells them that they can put it down. 

He said he is getting a little homesick now, so that is a prayer request too, along with the pink eye!

We got cut off in the middle of talking and I'm not sure what happened =(

Saturdays...

I love Saturdays. I love to sleep in, I love to be lazy, I love to have no plans at all!

However, I always wake up early and can't get back to sleep...

When I'm sitting around in my PJ's at 11am, I feel like I'm not being productive,

And when I have no plans, and know I should be cleaning my room I don't!

... Why is that?

Completely Obssessed...

with Historical, Turn of the Century, Murder Mystery Fiction....

and...

and of course...

too bad these ladies don't write faster...

i am eating up their novels!

Any Suggestions for a good read?

Paying More for Less

i am just slightly irritated right now... 

Brock has taken care of our finances for the past 9 months or so. I used to do most of our bills and take care of things. But after some soul searching realized that this was something Brock needed to do as the head of our house. (Complete tangent, sorry!) Anyway, so he has been doing the bills until he left last month. i just got our State Farm bill and was looking at our Mint.com account. (Haven't heard of MINT?! I Strongly recommend checking it out!) Anyway... i realized we have been paying $40- $50 a month more since December... Hmm, we should be paying less! We canceled our Renters Insurance, Brock turned 25, (isn't that the big insurance break for guys?) and Brock's ticket should be coming off his record about now, if not before... so why are we paying $45 more a month on average? I called up my insurer and found out that:

   -because we took off our renters insurance we no longer get a "package" discount. 

   -Brock's insurance only went down $7 a year...

   -My car is now officially "old" and will give me a $1.16 discount a month...

   -And Brock's ticket wont change anything right now because of state increases or something...

   -We moved back to "92705" zip where gang violence & car theft is at a high risk. SWEET 

SWEET! So when i took off my $15/mo renters insurance, i end up paying (so far) an average of $45 MORE A MONTH? 

Gotta Love That... 

THE DUCKS

Amazing Game Guys

Todd Marchant scores Duck's 4th goal in 3rd OT!

2 Days until Game 3....

7:30pm Baby, I'll be there.

BROCK's Boot Camp Adventure Update

He is still sick. But sounds like he is doing OK for being "sick". He is fighting blisters on his feet as well. Both things he says will get better and then they he gets some one's cold, or they do a rigorous activity again. He sounds like he is liking all the things they are doing tho. 

He said he misses being at home. He waited in line for 4 hours in the rain today to shop at the PX. He said he is really loving getting mail from everyone and reading letters. 

He has a "tentative" date for a graduation from ATI (Police Academy) as August 27th. However, this day will probably be pushed back. But I am thankful for a date!

Thank you all!

-Deanna