Sailor update, phone calls, and tender mercies.

Well I have been absolutely SPOILED with phone calls during Sam's bootcamp. Talking with our recruiters and other Navy friends, typically people only get 3 phone calls. One fifteen second phone call upon arrival at the base, one 5 minute phone call about half way in, and one 10 minute phone call after they finish their final test. I'm counting my blessings and am SO grateful that I have gotten a phone call ALMOST every week. And each phone call has been over 30 minutes long. They have been so helpful and really help me get through week by week.
    I also just want to put in a plug for tender mercies. The Lord really has blessed me so far with Sam's service. As I mentioned in my previous blog past, I had a tender mercy with not missing that phone call. Today share's a similar story.
    It has been a crazy week finishing up classes and projects and prepping for finals. So after school this afternoon I headed down to my dark basement bedroom for a much needed nap. I set an alarm so I get up and get ready for work. I usually have my phone on vibrate, and my alarm still sounds. Just as I'm closing my eyes and sleep had almost found me, I woke up with the strongest impression to turn my volume on. Last week I learned to obey that prompting. So thinking nothing of it, I turned my alarm on, tossed my phone back on the floor and started to slip into sleep. THEN MY PHONE RANG and that precious 847 area code appeared on my phone. Suddenly, I wasn't tired anymore and was more than willing to give up my nap for a phone call with my boy. I'm so happy that the Lord cares enough and knows me well enough to know how much I need those phone calls. I'm so blessed!

 (Not Sam, just a random Navy photo)

Update on Sam:

He's doing AWESOME! He just finished "Hell Week" at boot camp which is full of many tests and inspections. He was proud to tell me that he passes with flying colors. He also had firearms training this week and thought that was so much fun.

Coming up: Firefighter training and Gas chamber.

In just THREE more Friday's we will be in each others arms and I will get to travel 1500 miles to spend just 8 daytime hours with my hero. I'm such a proud wife!!

Another NAVY update

Today marks exactly one month that I said goodbye to Sam (but it feels MUCH longer than that). And I am proud to announce that we are more than half way done with boot camp and I'm praying the time speeds on by. Last week we were able to talk on the phone and said he would call me again next month. It was the most heart breaking phone call of my life. He was pretty down and didn't have many positives to say about his experience so far and so it was really hard to hear and definitely didn't make me feel any better.

Then...this morning. My phone rang at 8:00am exactly. I almost didn't look at it because I was so annoyed. It's Saturday. My only day to sleep in and someone had just ruined it. Despite my anger, I was genuinely curious on who wanted me so early on a Saturday.  Let me tell you, I have NEVER gotten out of bed so fast when I saw the 847 area code. "Sam, Sam is that you?" Nothing could replace the words that I heard next.
"Good morning babe! Sorry I woke you. I love you so much". I have never been so happy to be woken up. We continued to talk for a good 45 minutes- and it was perfection. He has earned quite a few leadership positions and is really succeeding. I could tell that he was happy and proud of all he has accomplished in such a short time. I even got him laughing on the phone!

What he's been doing: PFA's- Physical Fitness Assessments. They include running, swimming, push-ups and sit-ups. He has passed all of his with flying colors. He even said he's the fastest swimmer in his division.

Marching. "We march all the time. The other day they woke us up at 3:30 just to march around for 3 hours until chow"- direct quote

He just started his 4th week which is known as "Hell Week". That is because all of the recruits start to be tested on everything they have learned so far. They must pass with perfection and it can be a stressful yet accomplishing week for them as they discover all that they have learned in just 4 weeks time.

Accomplishments:

Section leader- he is charge of making sure the barracks are cleaned and kept to perfection. (Beats me how he earned this one- as maintaining cleanliness has never been a top priority to him ;) )

"Chatty Kathy"- This is the guy who is in charge of calling the shots during their group tests on the ships. He said he's the guy who barks out orders. (Also an interesting one he earned because he is a big introvert).

Nominated to be an Honor Recruit: This is a BIG DEAL! Very big deal. Not shocked about this one. He is a hard worker and I knew it would pay off. We will find out shortly if he was chosen.

Coming up next: firearms training and testing, gas chamber, final PFA's, Battle Stations 21, and PIR (graduation)!!

NAVY update

Well we are 12 days into this new adventure! To you, 12 days may not seem too long. To us, we already 12 days into this! Time has (thankfully) flown by! The weekend before Sam left was bittersweet. We celebrated our first anniversary. Unfortunately, I did more crying then smiling because I knew what was lurking in the very near future. 2 days after our anniversary, we said goodbye. Hardest thing I've ever done. But now we are 12 days into this and time is flying by! The first few days were rough, especially because they were my Spring Break and I had NOTHING to do but sit in my bed and miss him. Now I'm back at school and work, and I have confidence that I can do this.

GREAT NEWS!! I got an unexpected phone call from him! I knew I would get at least one phone call. The recruiters told us that it would be about a 3 minute phone call 3 weeks into boot camp. Well this lucky girl is very blessed to hear from after a week and a half, and we got to talk for a WHOLE 23 MINUTES!! Umm, best 23 minutes of my life. Here is an update on how he is:

- He said he likes it, and it's not half as bad as he was expecting and had heard
- He was chosen to be a section leader and leads his division in every day tasks
- He is already sick of the food but thinks it's because he eats only the healthy stuff to make his workouts easier
- His division is really well-behaved and thinks they will get plenty of phone privledges
- He doesn't sleep much (this kid needs like no sleep. Not kidding. He could be awake for days and it doesn't affect him. Unlike his needy wife who must have 9 hours of sleep in order to cope)
- The worst part for him is "sharing a shower head with 9 other guys and not having doors on the bathroom stalls". This kid likes his privacy
- He dedicates every spare moment to study. Which is so unlike him. It's awesome
- He was the VERY FIRST ONE to receive a letter in all of bootcamp. I take credit for that.
- He already passed his physical test of running, sit-ups, and push-ups
- He is loving the cold Chicago weather

I couldn't be prouder. He is trying so hard and has worked so hard to get here. This is definitely hard for us, but I love watching him take the steps to accomplish his dreams. I'm a proud Navy Wife!

My (soon to be) Sailor!

 In a little over a month, Sam will be leaving for a period of 8-10 months to serve with the United States Navy. He has joined as an member of the Aircrew. What does the Aircrew do? Good question. I ask myself that all the time. Truth is, I really am unsure. The list they gave us describes his duties as follows:

The duties performed by aircrewmen include:
• Operating airborne electronic
equipment.
• Performing tactical duties as
flight engineers, load masters and reel operators on TACAMO aircraft.
• Operating airborne mine countermeasure equipment.
• Acting as flight communications operators.
• Performing duties as Unmanned Aerial Vehicle/Unmanned Aerial Surveillance (UAV/UAS) Maintenance technicians/ internal, external pilots in support of Naval Special Warfare.

I don't really know the specifics, YET. I don't speak Navy, YET. But I will.

Here is a picture of him as he is being sworn into the Armed Forces. AHH! SO PROUD!




His dream in life is to be a commercial airplane pilot. It was always a dream that he never thought could be a reality. IT WILL HAPPEN. This may seem like an odd way to do it, but it's the best way for us. And a fun way for him. I'm a big believer in dreaming big and making it happen. I won't let him settle. It will require a TON of sacrifice for the both of us, but it will be worth it in the long haul.

The link (if it works) is the video of the swearing in process.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151270223238333

Welcome to our blog! I decided to start a blog to document our life together. I'm not good a journal keeping, but I'm on my computer ALL the time. So we'll see how this goes!

A little bit about our life right now:

Living: In Orem, Utah- our little apartment is adorable. It's not perfect and it has its flaws, but it is absolutely perfect for us. Great area, great branch, great neighbors.

Work: Sam- America First Credit Union-teller.     Tiffany- Provo Canyon Behavioral Hospital-Psych Tech and Taco Amigo.

School: Tiffany- Behavioral Science at UVU.      Sam- Aviation at UVU after he returns from NAVY bootcamp and A-school.

Callings: Sam- Ward Mission Leader.    Tiffany-  Ward Missionary and Girls Camp director.

Favorite activities to do together: Cuddle, watch movies, play SEQUENCE.