Monday, September 7

Because it took me several days to post about going to Jesse’s graduation on Parris Island, SC, I am now only catching up with the past week.

Most of us arrived about 4 pm and enjoyed visiting before supper.

Jere asked Jared and Yeira to share some of the highlights from their trip to Germany with Yeira’s parents. Her dad spent the first 10 years of his life there when his parents were missionaries. That is where they were when the rest of us were at Parris Island. (The original graduation date for Jesse was a week later, the reason their trip contradicted with Jesse’s graduation.)

After that he asked Jesse to share some experiences from Boot Camp.

Then it was time for a few posed pictures: Ian, Jared, Jesse, Kristen, Jere, Jana, and Josh. By age it is Josh, Jana, Ian, Jared, and Jesse.

With friends/spouses: Jared, Yeira, Ian, Nicole, Jesse, Austin, Jana, Kelli, and Josh

High Five Gang. If you ever follow a white vehicle with that on the license plate, you know you are following Jere or Kristen. 🙂

Deb took this photo of Jesse, which I really like.

Suppertime

Hot dogs, hamburgers, mac & cheese, baked beans and all the fixings.

This looks like my plate because I had a hotdog with mustard.

Enjoying the meal – left to right: Jeff, Kelli, Josh, Austin, Jana, Yeira, Jared, Jesse, Ian, Nicole, Cerwin, Kristen, Jere, Deb, and Roy.

Another view.

We treasure these get-togethers at Jere and Kristen’s place in a special way these days, because we know when Jesse leaves for further training, it may be a while before we see him again.

Jesse is non-infantry, so his next training will only last 29 days at the School of Infantry. After that he goes directly to Military Occupational Specialty Training as an Aviation Mechanic. That training will last about nine months. Being an Aviation Mechanic has been a long-time dream of his.