Update

Bryant is currently waiting for his MOS training to begin. He enjoyed coming home for Christmas. He had a blast hanging out with friends and putting smiles on his family with well thought out gifts. We took him back to base, met one of his friends and toured his room (pics below)

His training description for MOS 2847: Telephone systems/personal computer intermediate repairers are trained to diagnose, modify, and perform repairs at the intermediate level on ground common telephone equipment, switchboards, stand alone power supplies, ground common small computers, peripheral devices, and related equipment. Typical duties include intermediate level repairs and alignments to stand alone power supplies, ground common telephone equipment and ground common small computers, requisitioning of parts, and completing equipment repair orders.

Bryant's new home at Twentynine Palms Marine Base

Promotion!

By now you have heard that Bryant has a Christian friend on base. Our great adventure of getting Bryant and J.T. back to base on time was successful but getting mom home was more challenging. We are all being grateful the car broke down on base and not in the middle of nothing-land. There really are angles and Sunday night one was dressed up as a Marine who spent the whole night putting in a alternator and battery. He did not give up despite difficulties under the hood. Tim is also back from the PI and he is going to have some great stories to share.

I talked to Bryant this morning and he happily reported that he is now Private First Class. So the above picture is of his Chevrons(on his collar). Bryant's heading for the picture was, "This is what I've waited for 6 months!" He is still waiting for his recruiter to put the paperwork in so he can come home for Christmas. Do you know what he would like for Christmas? a car...right!

Thanksgiving!

We are happy! Bryant will spend Thanksgiving day with his sister and then they will both come home to be with Mom for Friday for turkey. Bryant may also be granted recruiters assistance again in December so looking good for the holidays for him to be home....the goal is to get Bryant to take over this blog. Is anyone still reading it??
Do you want to change a life? Go here...

http://runformobility.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=249328&lis=0&kntae249328=C0C8ADD3E0AC4514B002A51DE19DB7E9

The cookie

A story...
Firewatch: in the middle of the night when most people are sleeping

Nov 6th

Nov 4th

Did everyone enjoy the extra sleep???
I messed up on the camera so no video of Bryant this week --sorry...but a pic does tell you he is happy and well!! Jerrol and Lauren came to the base to eat pizza with us. We also met a new friend of Bryants...hope you got a chance to watch last weeks video...

Bryants story

here is a link to Bryants interview...I gave up on this blog and posted it on utube..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOTs7wO4yTI

if you listen to it...leave a comment...I'm tracking interest for future video family clips

Oct 28th CP visit with Bryant

Hello!!

We spent a lovely day with Bryant and 4 other Marine friends. Mostly they enjoyed the freedom of texting and talking to everyone on their phones and eating and eating..Wendys, and Subways fed them today. The fires changed their week because they were evacuated to an helicopter pad and spent a few nights there. We are thankful that we could spend some time with him.

Song

Worth watching and listening to this song....

http://www.flashdemo.net/gallery/wake/index.htm

What did you feel after listening? Leave a comment!!

Bryants Buddies

The sound quality is very poor..so sorry...turns out I didn't think about the wind factor when we were recording but at least you can see their happy faces!! Enjoy

bryant talking

Sorry...its very hard to hear this..but it was very windy..maybe you have heard about our weather here in So. Ca.?

Bryants Buddies

marching

vacation over, time to return to Camp Pendleton

Bryant leaves Oct 16th

For those following Bryants adventure in the military...follow the links to the right. He doesn't think he will write any letters but I promise to post any he does send--sunday might be a good day to call him. It is going to be very lonely around the house without Bryant....

new life

hello one and all yes i made it through boot camp and wow im so glad you only have to do that once but ya life on the other side is a lil dif so im "working real hard" with my recruiter and thank you everyone who sent me a letter and everyone who showed up at my graduation and all of u readers of my awesome blog thank you for your support

picture!!

Bryants Video

Would you like to see Bryant? Platoon video is up! Be ready with your mouse on the pause button because each face only has 3 seconds in front of the camera. Also, good luck..it is a bit hard to pick it out but I know you can do it.

http://www.devildogs.info/India%20Company.htm

another letter!

phase III

What a wait for Bryants letter this week!!

So tonight Tim gets a phone call while I"m at work and had a great chat with Bryant!! He is doing well. He is looking forward to seeing us! This may be the last letter...so enjoy!!

Feet and Fred

So, today was a very long day waiting for the mail to arrive. My mother's heart just wanted to hear that Bryant survived the challenge of the crucible of being food and sleep deprived. The Krause House has changed- all children are launched and Tim is in the celebration mode and I'm trailing behind- really missing the children but so grateful for the friendship we have with them. So a small explanation is needed for this first 'mommy, mommy' letter. Trying out some humor in my last letter to him, I suggested the backpacking trip that Charis and I took was like his crucible. Of course he is right..he had more weight and more miles then our trip.

island in the middle of the ocean

So, there are a few words that I'm not sure what Bryant means, but I thought I would guess at a translation. First, you will see IDK. I think this means, "I don't know." ppl means, 'people'. The last line of the second page choped off..it says, and last but not least Christopher. thank you everybody for writing. Hope that helps... in a few hours...3 a.m. Bryant starts his 54 hour journey to becoming a Marine.

Crucible- 2 days to go!

Dear Family:



Here is another description of the crucible for you-



http://www.recruitparents.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=27632&whichpage=2



We must share a thought with you that occurred to us during our Sunday school time with friends. We are studying gifts and how they relate to the names of God, to the days of creation, to the tabernacle furniture, to our birthright, and overall descriptions. Today's lesson was on the gift of the Giver. The generational blessing is the Giver's birthright and we looked at Job, Abraham and Jacob and how they blessed their children. For those of you that remember Bryant's 'right of passage and baptism' ceremony, do you remember Tim giving Bryant a sword? While we joked with him about being strong willed, the meaning of his name is, 'strong in spirit' and our blessing for him is that he would be an encourager and his words would protect others. Tim's closing comment was, "Can you see a soldier standing guard with his weapon in hand ready to use at a moments notice?" Was that prophetic? It just hit us that the Marines symbol is a sword. Interesting.....
This weeks challenge will definitely be a defining moment for Bryant.

Understanding the Crucible that starts next tuesday

Thanks to Marrianne for finding a few more links for those of us who want to understand what Bryant will be enduring next week.

Here is a prayer..
http://www.recruitparents.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=12124

Here is a video..
http://www.marines.com/page/usmc.jsp?pageId=/page/Detail-XML-Conversion.jsp?pageName=The-Crucible&flashRedirect=true

And here is my favorite, a dads observation..
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-0604290286apr30,0,3282328.story?page=1

So here is Bryant's last letter...

The Girls

Hello Family and Friends:
Before you read Bryants letter, just thought I would change the pace and show a couple of pictures of our trip to Yosemite. Of course we had much in common with Bryant.. lots of hiking, wearing boots, wearing packs and Charis earned some blisters just like Bryant. Of course what is different from boot camp is we had better scenery.

First Week at Camp Pendleton (CP)

Hi Everyone: Just a reminder to click Bryants letter and it will enlarge for you. I have discovered that Bryant is finding time to write a few other people- thats amazing since he doesn't have much time. If you are interested in learning about what is in store for Bryant next week on Tuesday..go here http://www.recruitparents.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=8103

If you would like to learn more about Bryants training this week and how important friday is for "Qual day"..go here http://www.recruitparents.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=8478

As mom, I appreciate reading and understanding what my son is experiencing so I know how to pray. The gas chamber experience sounds pretty awful but I'm sure he will get through it. Next time I will give you more information on the "crucible" which follows field week.

Continued thanks for all the prayers and all the letters you are sending. Its possible he only gets his mail once a week now while at CP but he still wants letters.

letter to mom

answers for Dads questions

answers for Charis

Graduation Information

Dear Friends and Family:

Would you comment on this post please?

Unless Bryant has an injury, we expect him to graduate on Sept. 21st. Many of you have expressed an interest in attending. Here is everything you need to know to help you plan,

http://www.marineparents.com/usmc/boots-graduation-sd.asp

Another interesting site to help you is,


http://www.usmcgradsandiego.org/

Bryant sent us a travel guide from SatoTravel (http://www.satotravel.com/) 1800-755-5670 for those that need help with rental car, flight or hotel.

For family staying in the Cypress area after the ceremony, we can try some car pooling and plan on some weekend meals together.

Tim has chosen Hampton Inn for our stay (only reason is wants a hotel away from freeways)

Please comment that you have received this information... thanks so much, char

Sundays letter

Fill in the blank letter

If you need to understand some of the terms Bryant uses... IT stands for intensive training, PFT stands for physical fit training.

brother's letter

Letter received for Jerrol.....