Oh, he's busy...

Oh so I guess he has been so busy he has had no time to write now. There you go. I spoke with Macade for a while yesterday and it was great! He is so up beat and happy! He has never been homesick for a second and loves to tell me all about what he is doing. I especially love when he talks about rocket launchers and grenades. My favorite...
This may be a little tooting of his own horn, but I'm so proud that I will tell about it anyway. He is at the top of his class. He recently forgot his flashlight when they went out and his DS got really mad at him and told him he was going to be his "Honor Grad" and that he can't be forgetting things. This is a huge deal! This would open many doors for Macade and send him to Airborne which is what he wants. He also says that the Commanders all know him and it's a good thing not bad. When told to hustle, they tell the soldiers to "run like Moore". The DS's are placing bets on how fast he will run his 2 mile test. His latest # is 11:20. On a good day, I can run 3/4 mile in that long. He was awarded a special vest the other day in front of his whole company that gives him the chance to do physical training on his own because he is so far ahead. I know, this is crazy, but he really is doing this great!!! I cannot wait to go to graduation!! I don't know if my moody self can handle the pride I will be oozing. I will for sure take waterproof mascara!
I did get a letter today also. He said he was fitted for his Class A's and he loves wearing his beret. He says he was born to wear it. He says it makes him feel so proud. He hates MO weather really bad and that is the only thing he really complains about. When it snows there he calls it "icing" instead of snowing. He says it just rains ice. He has been shooting the big guns this weeks and is really enjoying that. He told me it's the kind you see on the big military trucks. He says it is so loud and that I better be ready to hear a lot of it when we go there.
And to finish this post off, my son and I actually weigh the same amount for the first time ever!!! He is excited to be up to this weight and I am excited to be heading down past the same weight. Funny!
Thank you all for your support of Macade. He loves to get your letters and he likes to get pictures as well. This is about all he can get after all.
I will end this post now with visions of the 120 lb me weeping with joy at the sight of my son, the 135 lb honor grad, getting a bunch of awards at graduation. He, he.
I know I need therapy!

Hello????

So I'm not flaking out here people. My son, the soldier, is not corresponding! What the? Who said this was OK? Well I might be exaggerating a smidge. I heard from him today. It is the first time in a spell. He is doing great. Moving right along through his training. He missed expert marksmanship with his rifle by 1 point. I think he is pretty bummed about that. But he is not a bit worried about his PT test. He maxed that out weeks ago. So bless his heart, he really want girlfriend, M, to come to graduation. M's mom (hey P) has decided that this is a bit too much too fast and I agree. Now to get Macade to understand. He is begging me to get a hold of P and schmooze her into letting M go. I don't think he has bothered to think about how much it will cost, where she will stay, how she will get around in MISSOURI of all places! Oh Macade, how lucky are you that good ol ma and pa are coming to hang out?
B
I wrote back to him today and reminded him who is sending the stamps and paying the phone bill. That'll get him writing.

IV certified?!!!

So, there you have it... My son that almost passed out when they drew his blood, can now give an IV. It's amazing! In 5 short weeks he has grown up and changed so much that I can't wait to "meet" him! Macade called today and I also got a letter! Good Day!! He says he really is loving it. They have been working on marksmanship with their guns. He's doing really good and would like to get to expert level which is 36 or higher and I think he told me he got a 37. He's doing excellent in PT (physical training). He is 12 points off of maxing out. Then he gets a badge when he graduates. He ran 2 miles in 11 minutes and 45 seconds. He says he smoked everyone. If he remains the top guy, he gets a free ticket to Airborne! (His dream come true!) He has a bit of a big head right now but I figure when you can't even eat chocolate or drink diet coke, you gotta have something going for you. I'll whip him back into shape when he decides to come home. Macade is reading the Book of Mormon and has challenged us to read it again. He also gave one to a friend of his there. When people find out he is a Mormon, they very seriously ask him how many wives he has. He gets a real kick out of that. Anyway, I think he is sitting just right. He does what he is told and helps out all his fellow soldiers. He got his fancy picture taken and I can't wait to see those! I'll post asap. Thank you so much to all of you that have been writing to him. He loves to get mail and see what's up with people at home. Overall, in 5 letters, the change is drastic. He is growing up and becoming exactly what we knew he could be. We are so proud of him!
B

Check this out!

So I don't know if you can read this, but it is a letter from Robert C. Oaks of the Seventy. It is so nice to know that the church has such great resources for our soldiers.
B
PS, maybe if you double click it gets bigger!

All is well

Macade's latest phone call was great! It was so nice to hear his voice and be able to chat it up like the good ol days was great! He is doing so good. Never once has he complained to me. He is really keeping his nose clean and laying low but not too low. He actually ran like a 5 minute mile to beat out 200 other guys! Go Cade! They also gassed him this week. I asked if he threw up and he said no, but he said it hurt sooo bad! Now that's out of the way, he just needs to find the courage to start an IV. Who knew? Certainly not him or it may have changed his Army plan! He says to tell everyone hello. He said don't, don't don't send him packages but man is he craving some peanut butter cups. This is considered contraband in the army. They went to the PX (store) to buy supplies the other day and he said he has not been able to stop thinking about peanut butter cups ever since. He mentioned them to me at least 4 times too. I can't wait to go and visit him. I will take him a whole box of the things! He got his big gun and has been learning it inside and out. He hasn't shot it yet, but I'm sure I will hear all about it.
Anyway, the kid is doing great! His mom is struggling a bit, but I don't think that is abnormal. I'll make it. I am so proud it hurts!!!
B