ANOTHER letter!

We just recieved another letter from Dustin's bishop in the small branch he is attending while he is there. He is lucky he has one other Mormon in his unit that attends with him. He says "...I still get the good feeling when I'm at church and even more so because I normally have a hard week. It's nice to be around people that believe the same thing as me and I don't get yelled at when I'm in church......PS...please pray for me."

It warms our hearts to know there is a peaceful place to go in the midst of everything else going on. For the Bishop to think enough of the families to send a letter and let them write a letter and send it and even include a picture, it's great! I know he is not serving on a mission, but he is serving his country and we are very proud of the decision he has made.

LETTER!

We actually recieved our first hand written letter from Dustin at basic :) Sounds like he is doing pretty good. Here are a few sections of the letter I thought I would share.

"Hey family, Well it is the start of week two and it's ok I guess. It's not as hard as I thought it would be. But we went to the gas chambers today. That was horrible!...As soon as they told us to take off our gas masks we all fell to our knees. It burned 20 times more than a sunburn!! But the food is great. Haha and I'm not joking it really is....I can have all the orange juice I want so that makes me happy....There is one mormon in my company and we go to church every sunday. We have our M16 rifles and we get to shoot friday....You guys can write me but make sure it is only in one envelope because I have to do 10 pushups for each envelope. But I have to go so write and send pics. Love you all, Dustin"

Having a military family background I knew he was going to have to do the gas chamber. I hate that they have to do it but I understand why. It is great that he loves the food so much! Anyone who knows Dustin knows how much he loves orange juice! I'm grateful he has another mormon with him. I pray it helps strengthen him. Who knows, maybe he will become active in church again. As his mom, I can only hope! Now as far as the 10 push-ups for every envelope....hehehehe....There is an overbearing temptation to send pieces of one letter in different envelopes! Yes, we are a very sarcastic family that would do something like that to each other! We'll see! Maybe his last week he will get a whole bunch of them :) :)

We are proud of what he is doing and are keeping him in our prayers. Thanks to everyone for the support here for us as well as the support you are sending to him. I know he appreciates it!

He's Still Alive!

Dustin left for Army basic training on the 19th. He has been allowed to call once and it was abot a 30 second phone call to say he arrived and was still alive. I thought that was awfully generous of them :) We got our first "letter" from him today. It was a pre-typed letter where he filled in the blanks. Got to love the army! I have to say it was more than we were expecting so soon. I love how they put in big bold letters "Do Not Send Packages" They have regulations against having food, candy and "other contraband" in the barraacks. He was exhausted when he called. He had only had 2 hours of sleep due to being punished from others not listening. Some things never change! In the letter they gave a url we can go to to follow is progress and find information. It is http://www.wood.army.mil/2-10in?D_Company.html
Here is his mailing address and the specific instructions they gave along with it. The front of the envelope is the usual address information:

PVT Dustin Forbes
D CO 2-10 IN 2nd PLT
495 Iowa Ave. Unit 42
Fort Leonard Wood, MO 65473

On the back center of the envelope it has to have:

2nd PLT
WOLVERINES

He would love to get letters I'm sure. And just to warn you, he is not sure when he will get to write you back. He won't have time to read long letters either. And I heard from other people that they read everything before giving them to who it actually is addressed to! Just keep him in your prayers please :)

~Favorites~

Have you ever been through times in your life that have been trying? I know I have! Below are a few things that have been shared with us during those trying times that I just felt like sharing :)

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2 Timothy 1:7

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

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"Build me a son, O Lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak, and brave enough to face himself when he is afraid, one who will be proud and unbendable in honest defeat, and humble and gentle in victory."

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"Faith is taking the first step, even when you don't see the whole staircase."

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"When you have fear, it is impossible to have faith."

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David Goes To The Prom!

Even though David has been out of school for a few years now, he got to go to a prom with his girlfriend saturday! Her name is Sarah and she is such a sweetheart! She is in some of Tommy's classes at school and we are very close with her family. So here are some of the pics!

Showing off the corsage

Aren't they cute!

He wanted a corsage for her little sister, Bess, too...awwww!

Sarah and Bess :)

~US ARMY~

Dustin has met with a recruiter and is signed up for the ARMY! He leaves September 19th for Ft Leonard Wood, Missouri for his basic training. We are so proud of him taking such a big step in his life! We worry for him and can only pray he is kept safe during whatever situation comes in front of him.

Good Luck Dustin!!