Sharpshooter...

Hi all...
Wow!  I am a slacker.  You would think with being on top of all my updates for everyone that I of all people would be all over this blog thing.  Well here it goes. Since the last update its been over 3 weeks!  Which means red phase is done, white phase is done and Dan is now in blue phase.  He will graduate the BCT portion of his training in 18 days and get a 36 hour pass.  His pass is actually going to be extended longer because it happens to land on Thanksgiving weekend! AMAZING!  I was able to tell him by phone about my plans to come!

Originally I was not going to be able to make it.  Ticket prices I were seeing were outrageous for Thanksgiving weekend but I didn't loose hope.  I prayed about it often and new it would work out if I was meant to be there.  One night I was glancing through flights and found a ticket for $355!!! Most that I had been seeing at this point were well on there way to the $600 price range.  I thought well just for the heck of it I will check and see if the cabins on base have an opening.  I had checked weeks earlier and they were all booked.  Low and behold... one small cabin available the dates I needed.  I called my parents to double check they could watch Aiden for the 2/3 nights and BOOKED IT!  Wow!  God is so awesome how He worked all that out!  Not only that by my friend Sara's husband is in 2nd platoon and she will be arriving a few hours before me in Atlanta and we will be able to drive together to go get our guys.  She is also staying in the cabins which works out perfectly.  I know of about 3 other wives staying in the cabins too!  So the plan is for me to fly out on Friday, November 25th in the morning, get to Atlanta and Dan will be released around 5pm.  I will get him to myself Friday night and Saturday night and there has been some confusion if he will have to report back at 5am Sunday or 9pm on Sunday.  Let's hope its 9pm!!  My flight returns home on Monday.  I am a bit nervous about leaving Aiden.  I have never slept a night away from him but I know he will be in good hands and have lots of cousins around to play with.

Dan has been able to send me a consistent letter a week at least.  This week I got 3 and 2 phone calls!  His platoon won a competition and was given an hour and a half worth of calls!  They broke it up so they get 3 half hour calls.  I am hoping to get my 3rd one today.  Dan qualified as sharp shooter on the range.  Hence the title of the post.  He was a bit disappointed.  (I dont know why because sharpshooter is really good) He shared that he was having problems with his scope and after each shot he had to readjust it and each target pops up every few seconds.  Other guys said it was windy on the range etc... Dan learned he will be able to re qualify when he reports to his first duty station and gets assigned to his unit there.  He was excited to be able to have another opportunity to really do his best.  Since our last conversation the part came in for his gun that he needed to correct the scope.  Dan is doing great with all of the PT, he does his 2 mile run in 12:22 and is in the "A" group.  This is great news because we have heard when he goes to his Airborne portion of training that he will be running a lot.  Dan said they completed their 6 mile ruck march (40-50 pounds in his ruck sack) and said it wasn't that bad.  So proud of him!  It is hard to believe in just a few short weeks he will be doing his 12 mile ruck march to the top of Victory hill where he will get his "blood" wings pinned to him.  It makes me emotional thinking of this.  I can imagine his pride of accomplishing this huge challenge.

This message below was found on the "Spiritual Fitness Training" page for the 2/19 Battalion which is a bible study the guys can attend on Sunday evenings.  Wow!  One of my favorites by far <3

I am so blessed to be able to say at this point forward I should not go more then 3 weeks with out seeing Dan.  In 18 days I will fly out for his 36 hr pass.  3 weeks after that he will be home for Christmas break.  Once he returns he will have about 3 weeks of training left before he graduates and I will fly out there again.  He will then start Airborne which is 3 weeks of training and then he should be able to come home and help me move to our first duty station.  We found out we wont know where that will be until Airborne most likely which is in January!  UGH!  Don't they know I am an anxious person by nature and would like a little more then a few weeks of a heads up as to where I will be living!  LOL  Oh well not much choice in it.  Let the adventure begin!

Until next time...

Please pray for 1. Dan through out blue phase including his 12 mile ruck march. 2. Travel mercies for my flight to Atlanta/my time away from Aiden

Red Phase Complete...

Red, White & Blue... It may be the colors of our nation but for the Soria family it represents a milestone.  I am talking about the phases of training during Dan's BCT @ Fort Benning.  Each come with their own challenges and privileges.

For those of you who follow my Facebook updates you know that Dan was able to call home for the first time in 3 weeks on Saturday, October 15th.  It was amazing to hear my husbands voice.  I was prepared that there would be very limited calls in training.  I have been told we should get them at the completion of each phase.  Each phase is 3 weeks long.  The phases are Red, White, Blue, Black & Gold.  Once each phase is completed the restrictions should let up more.  For example we just finished Red phase and I got no phone calls for 3 weeks and he barely had time to write 2 letters during his personal time.  Now that we are moving into White phase I don't expect more phone calls but I do hope he has more personal time and is able to write home more.

Our phone call lasted 20 minutes and we were able to update each other on what is going on there and here.  Dan said he did awesome on his run.  He did a 2 mile run in around 12 minutes (not sure the seconds) he said he came in 3rd in the entire company!  The DS call him "stud".  They also made him march the company once.  What an experience that must have been (no thank you!)  He sounded so great.  He is adjusting well and making friends.  He said it is getting easier to deal with and that time is flying by.  In fact there are 60 days left and he will be home for his 2 and a half week Christmas break.  By Christmas break we should know where our first duty station will be.  Two weeks after he returns to training I will be flying out for his graduation from OSUT (One Station Unit Training).  He will remain at Ft Benning where he will complete his 2 and a half week Airborne training and then he will be done!  I am not sure at this point if he will be allowed to come home and move with us or if he will go to the duty station and have Aiden and I meet him there.  The Army will let us know how that works as we get closer.

Dan belongs to Golf Company 2/19 Infantry... Their nickname is ROCK FORCE!  The company is broken down into 4 units (50 guys in each)  Dan is in the 3rd platoon and their nickname is The Renegades.  Golf company does have a Facebook page for family members but I ask that no one posts anything on it because the DS will definitely smoke (make the guys do extra PT) the guys for any comments on it.  Instead I will copy the updates and pictures of Dan if and when they do update and post some for everyone to see!

When Dan was in reception he was assigned to the Delta AG Reception Battalion.  I was able to locate their facebook page and found pictures of Dan during reception! (Reception is the period before the BCT starts... This was the first 10 days he was here before he was assigned to his G-Co 2/19 Infantry Battalion)  I will share them below!

I wanted to share with those of you who do have a facebook page every Tuesday Fort Benning does what is called Tuesday Trivia at 2pm EST.  They will ask a random question regarding Fort Benning and its history.  The first two people to respond with the correct answer can request pictures to be taken of the company of their choice.  In order to help us win these photos you need to have a facebook page... Then go to your facebook search bar and type in Fort Benning... Make sure you "like" their page as this will allow you to post on it.  Then every Tuesday at 2pm EST (11am here) they will post a status with the trivia question.  You need to post the correct answer as quick as you can as a comment underneath their status.  Once the two winners have been selected they will ask you who you would like to be photographed.  Dan's company is G-Co 2/19.

I think that is all the updates I have for now.  Aiden and I are doing great.  We are staying busy and are so thankful to all of you for your love and support.  We are excited that the first month has flown by and are looking forward to seeing Dan on 12/16.

<3 The Soria Family

 

Highjacking the mail lady...

Today marks two weeks since Dan swore in and shipped out.  A lot has changed.  There has been much adjustment.  Some good and some bad.

The first 11 days Dan was at Fort Benning he was in what is called reception.  It is here where they get very little sleep.  Stand in formation for most of the day unable to talk to anyone.  The soldiers get a ton of shots, blood work, dental, eye and health exams.  Hair cuts... Uniforms... Sign us up for insurance... During this time I was able to have 2 three minute phone calls from Dan.  The first was such an emotional relief.  I couldn't "hold" it together like everyone says to.  I cried a lot but kept saying, "I'm okay I am really okay.  I am handling everything better then I thought... I'm okay."  The second call was much better.  He sounded more like himself.  I didn't even cry at all LOL He was excited and ready for the journey to officially begin!  I have also gotten a few letters to hold me over since then.

Then on Thursday 9/22 the evening before his actual Basic Training was scheduled to begin they gave him his phone back for an hour!  It was a huge release of anxiety and such a great comfort to pray together and feel connected again.  We are so in sync that it is just a huge motivation to have that time to just talk.  We knew contact would be limited after this conversation both not knowing when we would speak again... We said our goodbyes.

Basic Training started for Dan on 9/23 he is in G-Co 2/19.  On 9/25 I received a 3 minute call with his new company information.  With this information I was able to get in contact with some wives and moms that have someone in the same platoon.  It is such a huge support.  I also forwarded everyone his address so we can all send encouraging letters.  Dan sounded pretty tired and mentioned the first day of training was so exhausting he almost passed out!  Dan is in great physical shape so I can only imagine how challenging and demanding this is.  I know it will get easier as he gets more conditioned.  That was the last time I have spoken with him.  He did say a few letters were in the mail.  I haven't received any yet but I am definitely keeping tabs on the mail lady.  LOL  I expect to have a letter tomorrow... I also mailed out 6 envelopes of letters already written.  Just finished one today and will mail it out tomorrow as well.  I need to send Dan some stamps too just remembered!

Among other things I have been trying to keep Aiden and myself busy so time passes a bit faster.  I went to March AFB today and got my military ID.  I was so intimidated seeing so many people in uniform.  But the kind people there quickly made me feel welcome and comfortable.  Aiden and I even went to the PX and bought an Army teddy bear for him to sleep with to bring some comfort with daddy being gone. I got some cool key chains and magnets etc... It was neat to see everything they had for all military.

So what is next?  Well Dan will train until around Dec 20th and fly home on our own expense (pray that God provides) for Christmas!! He will be home for 2 weeks and then return for another 2 weeks of training at which point he will graduate.  Right after he will have 2 and a half weeks of Airborne training where he will purposely jump out of airplanes.  (Yes I think its crazy too)  He will also have a graduation for this around February 3rd.  I am not sure if I will be able to fly out for either graduation but we will see how everything plays out.  I am saving though! :)  I am so proud of Dan.  What a great man of God he is.  He is a great husband and father.  Provides abundantly for our family.  Thank you Jesus.  Your will is so much better then my own thoughts or ideas of how life should work out.  You do know best.  I am a lucky girl.  :)

Our family will also find out where our first duty station will be before Christmas break.  We don't plan to tell anyone until Christmas so we can tell everyone together.  I am going to be so excited I hope I can hold it in!! LOL

I think thats about it for now... I will try and update often how Dan is doing...

Prayer Requests:
1. Dan's knees are bothering him from standing for long periods of time etc.
2. Dan's feet/blisters
3. Endurance/Strength/Disciple/Motivation
4. Aiden's sleep (a few nights he has woken up crying)
5. Understanding for Aiden that daddy will be home as soon as he can.
6. Strength for me to keep motivated and stay busy.

Love you all.  Thank you so much for your support.
<3 The Soria Family

No turning back...

Where do I even begin...

Last week was amazing.  Dan took of work so we were able to spend time with all our family & friends.  Of course we got some alone time in too which was much needed.  We felt like royalty eating out so much and everyone wanting to host us.  We really enjoyed our quality time with everyone and was so thankful to have so much support. 

Sunday was 9/11/11 this was an incredibly challenging day for me personally not just because of the anniversay of the attacks but I would also be dropping Dan off with his recruiter who would then drive him down to MEPS.  Once Dan got to San Diego he had a lot of processing to take care of and stayed the night in a hotel.  I really thought our private goodbye would be much harder but I think I handled my emotions very well.  I didn't really want to be around anyone.  Sometimes it is best for me to just process everything alone and then connect with everyone.  I also didn't want to go straight home so what did a mom do?  Grocery shopping LOL  It was nice to feel some normalcy immediately after saying goodbye.  I knew however in the back of my mind that this wouldn't be the final goodbye.  I would be seeing him the next day at his swaring in ceremony along with immediate family who were able to go.  I was honestly dreading it.  I kept thinking I should have said my final goodbye already so I didn't feel like I was dragging it out.

Monday morning came and everyone was on time at our meeting location to carivan down to San Diego to see Dan sware in.  We hit the worst traffic ever!  Of course there would be a hazardous spill on the freeway.  We finally arrived and it was a smooth transition through metal detectors, scanners, sign in sheets and then there he was!  My husband and soon to be soldier.  It was so great to see him and I instantly knew I made the right decision in coming.  Not just because he wanted me too but it was so great to support him and see him on this day.  The person in charge ushered us into the ceremony room where he allowed us because we had such a large group to take pictures privately.  Soooo cool!  No videos were allowed during the ceremony but I did take pictures.  :)  I will add some below.  After the ceremony we were able to follow Dan into the cafeteria where he ate lunch and all visit a bit longer.  We were able to stay a good hour and then everyone said their goodbyes.  We had a private momment and I was off.  It was so nice to have family with me and we all went to lunch afterwards to celebrate.  Aiden who was quite cranky by this point slept the whole ride home!  Dan stayed longer to do more processing and then stayed at the same hotel a second night.  The Sgt told them to enjoy this night of rest in a comfy bed because the next 3 days they would have no sleep.

Tuesday is here.  I awoke to a phone call at 5am from Dan giving me information regarding when he was leaving and flight stuff.  I had nightmares last night and Redlands also had thunderstorm and showers this morning... So strange.  Dan said it was just the enemy and that everything would be okay.  He was right.  His flight got off and as I type they are getting ready to land.  He will be bussed to Fort Benning where it will all begin.  At this point I am not sure when I will be able to talk to him.  He should be able to call saying he got their okay etc but the drill sgt's will confiscate all phones and reward them with calls as time progress'.  I should get his address within a week or two and anyone can write.  I do ask that no one sends care packages as the drill sgts will make him do quite a bit of work to "earn them".  I will post it on facebook when I have it!  :) 

Thank you to EVERYONE for your support through out this process.  Moments are challenging but we are so excited for the future.  So proud of my soldier!  HOOAH!

And the countdown begins...

Seems like these last few months have really flown by.  Can you believe this week we will start the month of September?!?!?!  September is a big month for the Soria family.  Dan is now finishing his last week working with California Commercial Pools.  He will be home Friday for a little over a week (much needed time of relaxation and family).  Then on Sunday, September 11th I will be dropping Dan off with his recruiter who will then take him down to the San Diego MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Command) location.  On September 12th my husband will sware in (active duty swares in twice, he did his first on March 17th) and I will get to witness it along with some family.  And then... We say our goodbyes.  Dan will be gone for 16 weeks of training and then another 2 and a half for his Airborne training.  It really seems like we have been wanting this day to come quick so we can hurry up and get it over with but now that its happening I often find myself feeling like I am running out of time.  There are many odd and ends to take care of and it can be a bit stressful.  Thank you to all who have lent a helping hand and words of encouragement. 

We celebrated Aiden's 2nd birthday and Dan's send off into the United States Army last Saturday.  I am sooooooooooooooo thankful to everyone who came out in the heat.  I think tempertaures rose to 107 on Saturday.  We had the best time celebrating with all of you.  I asked Aiden at the end of the day, "Did you have a good birthday?  Did you have fun?"  He kept nodding YES!  :) 

I will post pictures of the party soon.  I hope to also post a video of the swaring in ceremony in a few weeks.

Thank you again to all of you for your support!  HOOAH!
<3 The Soria's

Messy Monday's

For those of you who know me well know that I literally have OCD when it comes to keeping a clean house.  Monday's have started to become our Messy Monday's around here.  Aiden loves being able to spread toys everywhere!  I think it's kinda fun too.  :)  Don't worry I clean it up during nap time.

Soon it will all begin...

As I begin to make the final preparations for Aiden's 2nd birthday and Dan's send off party it is beginning to hit me.  This entire time I have been fine emotionally.  It was only last night that I realized if I am sad, scared or lonely I wont be able to pick up the phone and call Dan.

This September Dan will begin his training for the United States Army.  Due to military regulations I am not able to post specific dates online but I can say he leaves mid-September.  Dan will be leaving home and flying to Ft. Benning, GA.  The first 2 weeks he is gone he will be in processing where he will get all the paperwork, health insurance, POA stuff all complete.  Once this phase is finished he will train for 16 weeks for his MOS Infantry.  After graduation he will have a few days off and then begin his Airborne training for 2 and a half weeks.  YES!  He will be jumping out of planes!!  Everything should be complete by the beginning of February and at that point we as a family will move to our first duty station!

The Army allows you to make a wish list for our duty stations.  They try to accommodate us the best they can but it really comes down to where the Army needs Dan.  So far here is our wish list!

Top 3 Overseas
1. Germany
2. Italy
3. Hawaii (this is considered an oversea assignment)

Top 3 Stateside
1. Washington DC
2. New York
3. Undecided

There is so much change ahead and most of you know that change is a challenge for me.  I just want to say thank you ahead of time to all of my family and friends that are here to support us during these challenging times.  We choose this lifestyle for many reasons and realize it is not for everyone but we are confident it is the path God has chosen for now.  7 weeks until it all begins!  More later...