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Ok, ladies please don't throw rocks at me all at once, but I was very blessed today!!!!!! I got 3 letters today!!!! Of course there was no filled out questionare, there was no score with regards to qualifying, (OH BUT.....He did say that Plt. 2166 had the HIGHEST AVERAGE SCORE but DID NOT WIN OVERALL as ONE RECRUIT did NOT QUALIFY so it hurt the ENTIRE PLATOON!!!! They were NOT HAPPY ABOUT THAT!!!!!!) there was no information as to wether he was or has been sick or not...........THERE WAS TALK ABOUT FOOD and FOOD and FOOD DREAMS!!!!!!!! ::...........But I find that Marquis has brought me to tears with his kind words and appreciation once again.......He spoke of Church and he said that this specific servcice was very emotional for their platoon.......he said that there was an infectious damn......I guess meaning that they all broke down and cried????? Then came the words that brought me to tears...........


*Marquis~
Just so you know Mom, you have been and always will be the BEST Mother ever!! For all the "****" that yo have been through in your life as a child and even as an adult you are the most humble, most sincere and strongest woman and Mother I have ever known!! I never want you to doubt that!!! You have done everything in your power to mold Timmy and I into the men we are today. I love you and always will and know that you are the BEST Mother a man could ask for. You have done an amazing job raising Timmy and I. You have always done what you thought was best for us and done everything to appease and take care of us. You are amazing~ I love you!!~


I just wanted to share this with you ladies........there have been a few occasions where he seems to have been very deep in thought and chooses to express it and send it my way!!!! For that I am so blessed and thankful!!!! He spoke of changes in him that were subtle but that would be life altering changes from here forward...he spoke of making life long friends within his platoon and that this experience has been amazing for him.......If this is any indication to what the 3 of us have to look forward to in July, I say BRING IT ON!!!!!! I can't wait to see him and appreciate the man that he has become!!!! I think we are all in for a big surprise come July!!!!!! Im sure that Aaron has simular thoughts and feelings as well.......a change for the better...and Steven too!!!! It doesn't seem possible that they could change THAT MUCH, but I suppose we are never too old to make some changes and try to view things differently!!! Especially when you are put into a situation such as theirs...they have a lot of time to reflect and look within themselves and really get to KNOW themselves and also learn what it means to count on someone other than your immediate family!!! A lot of TRUST there!!! I am so proud of him, and of Aaron and of Steven and Zack and Will and  a few others that are in different platoons that I know!!!!!! How awesome is this that we get to be a part of something so wonderful!!!!!!!

I hope you all had a wonderful day, that you got a letter or two, and that you all know how fortunate and lucky I feel to have met you!!!!!!!!! I feel so close to you and am honored to call you my friends and "family".....Much love to you!!!!!!!!!
Until we meet again~ Ooorrraaahhh Plt. 2166

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My son's gf got the big letter today, and while he is tired, he said many things that had me nodding and smiling.  He's 21, no longer a boy, but not the man we all knew he could be.  that man, the one we have been waiting for, is now emerging.  I cannot wait to meet him next month!

this journey has been more than I ever expected but all that I had hoped for, and then some.

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Karin, As you said I think there is a transformation in all of the young men!!! I think it is safe to say that we have all begun to see it in the letters they write home!!!! Which is awesome to me!!!! I'm sure Will is just as excited for you to see the changes in him as you are to see him.....That is something that Marquis said to us as well.....although they may be subtle they are changes that will help them throughout the rest of their lives!!!! I am grateful for the DI's that have been there to guide these young men!!!!! July 6th can't get here ast enough!!!!

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TTHHRREEEE!!!!!! YOU WERE BLESSED GIRLFRIEND! I hope I'm that lucky today! Awww your letter from Marquis was so touching, I felt the love and gratitude he has for you! I'm like the both of you, I can not wait to see the transformation my son has made. Even going in at the age of 24, already a man...there was room for improvement and he has definitely been changed to be a better man.  Dear friends, July 7th, we will all be cheering together,crying happy tears together,   and laughing together as we recall how we took this journey together!    Wooohooo for Plt 2166 and their families!!  

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Brenda, I just love you to pieces!!!!!!!!!!!!!   I am so blessed to have "found" you!!!!!~ And I am equally blessed that Marquis found Aaron!!!!!! I don't know which I am more excited for....to see my son or to finally meet all of you!!!!!!!~ Ok, well I think I am going to say that it is a toss up as YOU ALL KNOW that the first thing we want to do is a get a glimpse of our guys!!!!! But I am so looking forward to giving my newly found friends and family a great big hug and saying a personal "THANK YOU" for traveling this journey with me!!!!! Because I know without you, this would have been much harder for me!!!!!!!~ Brenda I hope you get a letter today and I hope it is a GREAT ONE!!!~ I also hope that when AManda comes home that her mailbox is filled with great news as well!!!!!!!!! Brenda thank you for the kind words about Marquis!!!!! He is such an amazing young man and I just love him to pieces!!!!!!!!! I'm telling you all, when I am able to give him a hug your going to have to use a pry bar to get me off of him!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm NEVER letting go!!!!!~ Oorraahh Plt. 2166.....lets hope that the last part of TABLE II is awesome and that you all qualify expert!!!!!!!!! And good luck tomorrow in your MCMAP Review!!!!!!!!! I hope you ALL SMASH!!!!!!!!!!!

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Hey ladies! I'm finally home and found a four page letter waiting for me!!
The first thing Steven told me was how excited he was that they played one of our favorite bands song's in church last Sunday! I'm glad he gets reminders of home once in awhile :] Apparently his rack mate Sergeant also loves another one of our favorite bands and those two are already making plans to go see a concert in Texas next time the band's in town! He said it'd be like a double date with Sergeant and his girl :]

AND THEN! He used an ENTIRE page to taunt me about my birthday gifts haha he knows how stubborn I am when I don't know something and of course he plays it up and loves every second of it! He said I'll get my first gift in the mail around my birthday which I'll hopefully be getting in a couple weeks! :] He says "one of them is something that I can only send from boot camp, then two of them you'll have to wait to get, because they're only in California, and the rest are waiting for you in Washington. Don't worry, you won't be able to find out from my family, they have no clue about it "  He knows me too well, his family is my first source for hints! haha oh well, I'll just TRY and be patient!

He also said that because they were starting field week (he wrote this on Sunday) that there would be no mail until next week, WHICH I don't know if he meant that he wouldn't be able to write it, or he wouldn't be able to receive it. Either way this week is almost over so hopefully the mail picks back up! :]

Apryl! I'm sooo happy for you and all the letters you received!! That's so fantastic and so amazing what your son wrote to you, not many guys have the courage to write something so heartfelt, especially to their moms, so it's just another sign of how amazing of a mother you are and how lucky you both are to have each other!

Brenda! I'm sooooooooo hoping you got a letter today, I think it's about damn time you got something! And I'm sure when you get your letter it will be so incredibly amazing! :]

How have you ladies been doing? I feel as though with a somewhat steady letter flow that the emotional burden is getting much lighter ESPECIALLY because we're getting so close to seeing our guys! I find myself more excited than sad these days, I love it! :]]
Hope you all have had an amazing Friday so far, talk to you all soon!!

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Amanda I AM SOOOOOOOOO HAPPY that you came howm to such a long letter!!!!!!!! 4 pages???? DAMN!!!!!! I am lucky to get 2 pages of the little notepads.........I guess I shouldn't be complaining seeing as I did get a surpluss this week!!!! How was your 5th grade excertion? I hope you had fun and the 5th graders were good to you!!!!! Your birthday is fast approaching!!!!! YAY!!! Isn't it June 30th???? I am anxiously awaiting to hear what Steven has gotten for you!!!!!! You have to make sure you tell us!!!!!!! I'm sure you are correct on the letter writing with Field week being last week......hopefully since they will be doing TEAM Week next it will give them a little more down time!!!! I am still awaiting a responce as to how my son qualified in range.....Everyone else's son or bf seemed to have told all their parents and gf's....but my son left that part out!!!!!!!!!! I'm not sure what part of sending a QUESTIONARE as a HINT he doesn't understand!!!!!!! ::.......I mean really??????????? Although I appreciate all of the things he does send to me, but I was always taught when asked a direct question YOU ANSWER IT!!!!!!!!!!! ::......maybe just maybe he will let me know...or I guess I will have to wait and see what he is wearing on his uniform on graduation day to figure it out!!!!!!!
Amanda thank you for "kudos" as to what Marquis wrote and to the kind of Mom I am........ That made me feel very good!!!! I know we are all GREAT MOMS in here and our sons joining the Marines proves that!!!!!! But it is true what you said that not a lot of young men can or will or want to articulate their feelings into words like that....so it does make me feel so blessed to have a son that will do that......We are very close and and I am sure that he is missing me as much as I am missing him!!!! So that is his way of saying so!!!!!
As far as how I have been doing......alright I suppose....although we are getting closer to graduation it still feels like it is so far away!!!!! I'm sure that is just my anxiety over wanting to see my son NOW talking......but I sort of feel the closer we get the sadder I become!!!! As if that makes sense right?????? :: But it is nice to know that we are well over half way there and hopefully the next few weeks prior to the Crucible will be a little easier for our guys!!!!! Marquis actually said that they got a taste of the Crucible the other day and his exact words were...."It's going to be a ****"...................UHOH!!!!!!! I'm sure all of our guys will do just fine though....a lot of mind over matter, teamwork, and determination!!!!! They have come way too far to give up now!!!!!! Hope the rest of your Friday is awesome Amanda and again I am so happy that you came home to mail!!!!!!!

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No mail today, but Meg got a nice 5 page one. He said that MOM should be getting hers 1st with Qualification results, but I haven't got it,  but he did explain it to her anyway, only there is nothing on how HE DID, only how they were as a whole. They performed better than every other Plt in the Co., unfortunately, they were disqualified from the competition because one recruit failed to qualify. They still get the points AND they might be in the lead for Honor Platoon! He said it will be weird if they do without getting any trophies! Should of been theirs he said!

Amanda, during field week, their mail was held Tues-Thurs, so TODAY they should have got our letters! Aaron is hoping for like 5! He said and I quote: Mail call is our happiest moment. A time to know whats going on at home.

He said the 8 mile hump was decent, great scenery, but at the end he ended up with the worst shin splint in his right leg. He iced it down and it was alright by next morning.
This week @ CP all by their lonesome! The only Plt left there and he is excited for not having to wait in a long line for chow and gets to enjoy it in peace! While on his subject of food, he went over the food list he wants us to bring on our trip. Let me tell you it is a doosie!! First on the list...a 100 count box of mini Slim Jims! Too much to list but most of it junk food!!

Religion has become a big thing for him, but had missed 2 services so he could write. He did say he needed to get his priorities in prospective as of using his time. That one Sunday they had the surprise concert...probably the band you were talking about Amanda. But they also had a guest speaker, Bruce Janner, a 22 yr. veteran who fought along side with Johnny Basilone in Guadacanal.He was a part of the Marines 1st Raider Division. He also fought and kept his men alive in the battle of Iwo Jima. He told his story and said it was God who helped him through the battle of Iwo Jima. Aaron confessed that it has been the only time at boot camp that he'd cried. He went to shake his hand and told him its a honor to hear your story and shake your hand and thank you for your service to our country. The man hugged Aaron and said God bless you. Aaron said he went back to the pew and shed a few more tears. It was very emotional for him. This my friends had me crying as I read it to his dad.    So Aaron found out later there were like 16 of them shedding tears, very emotional time, he guess b/c they had the time to reflect on everything they have gone through and whats still ahead of them and listening to Bruce's story. He felt so honored to meet & shake the hand of a true hero. He said he was in awe really. What an amazing experience our guys are receiving, not only to become a Marine, but spiritually too. Aaron said hopefully there won't be a reason to shed another tear till he gets to see us!   Thats the day I will be bawling, embracing my son, my soon to be Marine !!

If I get my letter in about 12 hrs from now, Ill let you know if anything is different from Meg's letter. Oh, so glad you had a long letter yourself Amanda. Steven took his time to write on Sunday, as did Aaron to Meg. Those boyfrinds are so sweet!!!

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Brenda, Marquis did mention the concert and said it was pretty awesome...He also mentioned that service that you are referring to with the guest speaker....although he didn't mention the gentlemans name he did make reference to a lot of them crying........I can assume that Marquis was one of the 16 that cried as he did say it was a VERY EMOTIONAL service for all of their platoon......I find it honorable when a "man", especially a "young man" like our sons can actually be in touch enough with their feelings to shed some tears!!! I have always told Marquis that it is ok to cry...that it doesn't make you weak or a "sissy" that it actually makes you a well rounded MAN........I hope that he will remember that throughout his life!!!!!! Thank you for sharing that with us Brenda!!!!!! THe part on possibly winning Honor Platoon still and them being the ONLY ones left at CP Marquis didn't tell me.......I agree with Aaron that Honor Platoon should be theirs!!!!!! Plt. 2166 showed a ton of courage and determination and to continuelly keep getting beat by 63........GRRRRR that had to be frustrating.....but it sounds as if our guys continued to take it in stride and keep giving it their all!!!! So to me, that is what HONOR is about!!!!!!! I guess we will just have to wait and see on July 8th!!!!!!!!   
Brenda, have no worries as I will be right by your side, or somewhere in the near vacinity BAWLING right with you!!!!!!! As we all know it won't be from sadness, it will be from PRIDE and from FINALLY being able to see our sons, bf's after 3 months!!!!!!!!!! I admitt I still have my moments when I am looking at his pictures or listening to a song that I loose it and start crying.......I'm sure that isn't going to change!!!!!!!! I hope you get a letter Brenda and I can't wait to hear all about it!!!!!!! Maybe he will tell YOU how Marquis did???!!!!!! :: someone has to know!!!!!!!!!! Hope to hear from you both later on with more exciting news!!!!!!!!!! BTW ladies we are down to 34 Days until graduation!!!!!!!!! 33 Days until FD and 32 Days until we travel to SD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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MY LETTER CAME!, I MEAN MY LETTERS CAME!!...I got 2 today One was all the way back from 5/25 and he finished on the 27th. It was a good 3 pages. Well my Aaron started out great practicing on fire range. He did awesome at the 500 yards, hitting 8 out of 10 in the black.On the 10th shot he made a head shot! SCARY!! His shooting at the 200 yard rapid fire was going good until his coach had him adjust and it wasted some time so Aaron only got off 8 of 10. All 8 were in the black though...thats good! His 200 yard standing he said was kryptomite! He sucked at it...5 shots: hit 2's, 3's and one 5. So he would have to shoot 5's & 4's the next day on standing and Expert would be in the bag and he still had to do Table II. So, on the 27th he finished his letter with the low down...on Q-Day Aaron shot great up till the 500yd line, which he did great previously. His coach told him he was on track to score a 230 easy. His rapid fire 300yards he hit black 9 times out of 10, the one being in the 4 group. So he's sitting pretty going in to the 500 yard. WIND PICK UP BAD! He said it blew, then stopped, then blow again! He could never get his zero pointed in. Hitting left, then right, then left again...at this point getting frustrated I imagine! He kept making adjustments to his windage, but only did him good for a few shots. So after ALL THAT, he scored a 216...dropping 14pts from previous. But 216 is a high Sharpshooter, ONLY 4 PTS FROM BEING EXPERT! That had to suck. He still has a chance to get Expert if he scores a 89 to 100 on his Table II Fire Session. Its close range , with moving targets, wearing full combat gear. So when do they do Table II?

He did mention in my letter the guy's name that did not qualify, sorry peeps...he hails from Texas...and NO its not Sargeant! He said pretty much
this guy has all eyes on him with hatred.... As I wrote Aaron back I told him it is frustrating, but they are a team, and thats how it works sometimes,  if one fails they all fail.
Funny, Aaron said they have no clue on why they are the Platoon to get to stay at CP! I bet they find out Monday!! I talked to my son-in-law Rusty, and asked questions. He said when his platoon got to stay @ CP, it was because they were in the lead with points to win Honor Platoon! SO LETS HOPE THIS IS THE CASE WITH OUR AMAZING PLATOON!

My 2nd letter was short,  just concern for us when we had a tornado go over us...he said alot of prayers that we stay safe. Bless his heart, and  we are praying the same thing for him and the rest of the platoon.

He added more food items on my letter to what he had on Megan's! All of it being Chocolate candy! I guess we better rent that motorhome after all. We have to store alot of food   He even went as far to say he would pitch in 300-400 hundred dollars to help out. He really wants us to get it. There's no way I'm taking his hard earned money!! He better saved that for that SPECIAL GIFT, right Apryl?  

I hope the firing bit wasn't too confusing. Pretty much that website was right...the distances, the positions, the speed and the given shots are accurate. Each one gives a total score and then they are combine. The score of 220 is the least you have to make to be an Expert according to Aaron's score. Come on son get a high score on Table II!
May all of you have a great Sat evening....for me I'm going to bed because I've been up all day and work tonight....why do I do this to myself?
OOHRAH FOR PLT 2166!!!!!!

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I can't write too much right now as I have to leave to go study but YAY BRENDA!! I'm so very happy for you that you finally received Aaron's letters! We'll all have our fingers crossed that the wind is not a problem during Table II!
I'll talk to you both later! :]]

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WOOOHOOOOOO YAY for Brenda!!!!! 2 LETTERS!!!!!!! That is awesome!!!!!!!!! I am keeping my fingers crossed tht they all made it great on Table II which by the way Brenda was this past Friday...(yesterday)....... I feel sorry for the Recruit that didnt qualify......YIKES......ALL EYES ON HIM.........OUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He better run fast and hard to stay in front of all those guys!!!!!! ::.....As you said Brenda if one fails they all fail and that is the way it goes....which is pretty much what Marquis said too.....his exact words...."It sucked...but oh well it's done..." I'm thinking you might need to rent the motorhome and a "TRAILER" for all the junk food!!!!!!!!! ::.......And uhm HELL YEA he better be saving ALL of that for the "SPECIAL GIFT"!!!!!!!!!~

Ok so next week ladies is all TEAM WEEK/INTERIOR GUARD.........just so you know...all range is DONE!!!!!! Completed on Friday......after this next week they should be moving back to MCRD on Sunday June 12th and then they will be there for 2 weeks, then they move to WFTBN for the Confidence/Gas Chamber and the Crucible....Monday the 6th of June starts TEAM WEEK.........they move back to MCRD on Sun the 12th......they move to WFTBN on Sun June 26th.......Mon June 27th is the Confidence/Gas Chamber.....TUESDAY JUNE 28th STARTS THE CRUCIBLE........Ending on Thurs JUNE 30th with their Warriors Breakfast and EGA Ceremony!!!!~They then move back to MCRD on July 2nd........... ......Hope this helps a little bit....... Have a great night at work Brenda, and Amanda!!!!!!!! Talk to ya'll soon!!!!!!