That's right - after 2 agonizing weeks, we finally heard from Gerritt!!
PS - He's gonna kill me for posting this, but here's his freshly shorn head the day after he left, before they took away his phone. hehe
He said that he's had a pretty rough time finding any time to write letters or read scriptures, since they have the guys up at 3:30 am and out marching until 9pm. He has to wake up 30 minutes early (3:00 in the morning!!) to read and write letters to us, so I'm super grateful for his willingness to do that for us. It reeeeeally means to world to all of us to be able to hear from him.
He said that he has some idiot kids in his platoon that keep making them all get punished with high intensity workouts, until muscle failure, poor guy. They haven't done the gas chamber yet - I'm not sure when, but I did find out that he is set to graduate from Basic training on November 13th, so I'm planning to take the boys out there for that little weekend. Can't WAIT for that!
In the letter, he also said that he was able to get to church on Sunday and he just started bawling when he walked through the doors - the chapel was filled to capacity with guys and the feeling was so strong, and such a change from what he'd left. He's already been giving blessings of comfort and health to other men and has really enjoyed that. The missionaries that are serving at his post also called me to tell me that he was there at church and was well, and I really appreciated that too.
So, we're doing ok - I'm feeling better every day, just lonely, on the weekends mainly - you know, when everyone's hanging out as a family. The boys seem to be doing a little better. Max isn't guarding the mailbox as much since the letter, and we've been coloring and sending all kinds of letters to him, so I think that's helping. I do need to get our new family pics hung up, and maybe some other pictures of him to put in the boys' rooms and stuff. I don't want them to forget what he looks like!
Max found this leaf up at the cabin and wanted to save it for Daddy. I sent this picture of him holding it, and then taped the actual leaf to it, and Max told me to write that the leaf is a hug. He's such a tender-hearted little guy.
Thanks for everyone's love and support - I have the BEST friends and family!! It's so nice to know that I have a bunch of people offering to help tend kids and hang out with me. Love you guys! I've been taking a bunch of pictures, so I'll be posting them soon.
8 comments:
k- that picture of max is awesome. I love it. You are such a great mom. and wife and friend. I am glad to hear things are getting better. I want to hang out with you soon! Love ya!!!!!!
Emily-
I love your post and think of you often. You are one amazing mom. I complain about the amount of hours Brent works and that is nothing like you're going through. BTW, Gerritt actually looks pretty tough with his hair cut like that.
AHHHH! Gerritt is SCAAARING me! yiiikes! I don't recognize tough-guy Gerritt. whoa. (j/k - haha)
I'm feeling bad for him, hearing of all the intense physical training he is enduring right now. wow. tough dude.
And Max really is a tender heart. I feel so sad for him (and Hudson). Max has more of an understanding about things that most 4 year olds. I love his darling picture and the leaf "hug". What a doll he is.
Something tells me that through this super hard experience, all of you will grow and come closer together than ever. Theres power in being "put to the test" and overcoming.
I'm glad you got to spend some time at the cabin. I hope it helped. I tried to call you - lets get together soon. (altho I think I may have the swine flu, so maybe in a week or so...)
<3
Glad you are starting to feel better! Max seems very mature, what a sweetheart.
first of all - can i just say how amazing that picture is!!! oh, and the one of gerritt is - um, masculine! ha ha.
aaron and i were talking about you guys last night and we decided you are all brave. we are amazed that you have been able to do those.
can't wait to see you ;)
this - not those. i'm not a smart girl theze a dayz.
Wow, where have I been?! I'm sorry he is gone for so long, Emily. Ty is in the reserves, too. Be good to yourself and hang in there...hugs.
That's a one wicked leaf.
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