Wheeeeee!

Well, he made it!

He graduated on the 22nd, and is now at Ft. Bragg North Carolina. I don't have any pictures from this one, but he did order the DVD they made, so maybe when we get settled I'll be able to post something.

I've got a couple of funny stories I'll post then as well, right now I just wanted to give a quick update.

I leave Illinois on Saturday evening, and should arrive at Bragg late afternoon on Sunday. From there we'll be in a base hotel for a few days, maybe a week. Then, the plan is to fly to Phoenix, get our stuff (we MAY have a couple of days to spend with friends, it will depend on how long they give him to do the move), and drive back so we can be at OUR HOUSE ON BASE on August 22!! Yep, we got base housing, and Aaryk drove past it yesterday and said that it's a cute older 2bd house. It's one of the ones that they are in the process of remodeling, so we will probably have to move in about 6-8 months, but that will be to one of the houses that they have finished remodeling! Thanks to everyone who prayed for our finding base housing!

So, that's the tentative plan at this point. Once I leave my folks' place I don't know what internet access I will have between then and 8/22. Aaryk said there is an internet cafe type place on base, so I will try to update as I can.

Please pray for my safety as I make this final drive in my solo cross-country excursion.

Wheeeee! We're almost there!

Almost done!

He's hurting and exhausted, but for once that's no different from any of the other guys in his company!

They are done to the point of doing their 5 jumps this week. Yesterday they were supposed to do one, today two, and tomorrow two, but only about half the group got their first jump yesterday. Aaryk wasn't part of that group, so hopefully he'll be able to get three jumps in today.

Graduation is Friday, and even though he tells me that this one is no big deal, I wish I could be there for it. I've been to the others, and that will have to do. He's under orders to get pictures taken and emailed to me though!

This weekend we're having the estate/moving/yard sale at my Nana's house in preparation for the house being sold in a couple of weeks. All of my Nana's kids are here (Mom, Uncle Wayne, and Aunt Wanda), and assorted grandkids too. Last weekend we went through her things and that was a good but very emotional weekend too. (For those that don't know, my Nana is in a nursing home at this point, and they have to sell her house to use for paying for her care before Medicaid will kick in.) So, while I'm not as physically drained as Aayrk, we're both feeling it at this point!

After graduation, he will be headed to Ft. Bragg, and from there we will figure out what's going on as far as the move. A lot will depend on how much time he gets to make the move, and how soon he might be deployed. Yes, it's almost a certainty that he WILL be deployed before the end of the year.

If you are praying for us, please pray that his deployment won't be until later in the year, or next year, so that we can get settled and have some time together before he has to leave.

As always, thanks for the prayers and support!

July Update- and address

After a week's delay, Aaryk finally started Airborne School yesterday. He was a bit concerned because they 'overbook' the classes, knowing that about 50% of the guys won't pass their first PT test. So, even if they ALL pass, they have to hold some over for an extra week or so. Fortunately, Aaryk passed his PT test and got into this class.

His new address is-

PV2 Drake, Aaryk 368
D co Building 2752
1-507 Para Inf Reg
Ft. Benning, GA 31905-5560

He's due to graduate on July 22, so if you are going to write or send him anything, it should be soon!

Please pray for his health and safety during this time. He's got a week and a half of really strenuous work and then a week of jumps. He's fighting a head cold at the moment too, and won't go to sick call, because if he misses even one day he gets to do the whole program over again.

I've having a great time at my folks' house. Getting a lot of painting done (Warhammer miniatures for my brother), and relaxing.

Thanks for all your prayers and support!