Army National Guard

Well friends... I did it.

I am now a member of the Army National Guard.

Yesterday I attended MEPS and was sworn in as a Citizen Soldier.

I'll write more details later. But this has been a long and wonderful journey. I feel like I've accomplished such a huge feat in my life. Next step is BCT (Basic Combat Training) beginning 23 March. =) I'll be attending school until 1st block is over then it's off to say goodbye to some family members. Gads! Only 8 weeks of school and work and then buh-bye!

One love to all!!!!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

The Stress of Finals & MEPS

Well, usually when it's finals week... carbohydrates and I become best friends! Sad to say... it would break my heart to tear away from such a loving relationship.

Never-the-less, I had my last taping before I go to MEPS. (Military Enlistment Processing System) I was a bit nervous that I wouldn't pass this last taping, because of my three times a year love affair with carbs - but I did!

Neck: 14.5"
Waist: 31"
Hips: (which is really the biggest part of the rear) 42"
Weight: 184lb

I dropped 6 lbs, and 3% body fat in one month. I'm pretty happy about that. =) It's all about cardio, cardio, cardio. Blah.

Anyway, I go to MEPS on Tuesday - meaning I leave Rexburg Monday at noon and travel to Boise by 6 pm, check in for the night - eat and do another workout. Tuesday, before the roosters get up, I start my paperwork, testing, interviews and exams. Then, when all is said and done, I swear in to the National Guard. I believe I'm calling my parents so they can hear me get sworn in. (Gotta love technology.)

I'll find out when I go to BCT, Basic Combat Training, and what my MOS will be also. (MOS: Military Occupational Specialty)

Wish me luck and all that jazz!

Another RSP & Another PT score

Went to RSP last weekend... did combatives, worked on NVG's, 50 cal's, 249 bravos and had another PT test. Well, I don't have a lot of time to update this, however, it's safe to say that I passed my PT test again! =) Yeah for me. This time, I got 11 points higher than the last time.

RSP PT Scores:
p/u: 42 (90 points)
s/u: 58 (74 points)
2-mile run: 20:00 (64 points)

Total: 228 points

I found out that I came in tied for 8th rank out of everyone that passed their pt test. I tied with another guy who is a MMA fighter. I'm feeling pretty good about myself. =)

I got cleared to go to MEPS and should head out there in 2 weeks. The RSP cadre were impressed that I was able to drop 2% body fat and 5 lbs in 2 weeks. Hey... when you have two hours to work out over the Thanksgiving break... I definitely made use of my time! =)

Finals are going on next week... a bit stressed out it, but whatever. I just hope I can pass my classes. BLAH!

P.S. Had the military ball this past Thursday. It was nice. But I think I would have enjoyed it more if it wasn't such a long day and I still had reports due that night before 11 PM. Oh well... such is life. Only 5 more days of school... I'm counting down!

PT, PT, PT

Today I FINALLY passed my PT exam!!! Yeah for me!!!
I believe the numbers were as follows:

Beginning Exam of Fall 2009 Semester:
Push-ups: 22 (66 points)
Sit-ups: 36 (50 points)
2-Mile run: 22:45 (40 points)

Mid-Term of Fall 2009 Semester:
Push-ups: 37 (84 points)
Sit-ups: 44 (59 points)
2-Mile run: 21:20 (52 points)

Final Exam of Fall 2009 Semester:
Push-ups: 39 (87 points)
Sit-ups: 52 (68 points)
2-Mile run: 20:17 (62 points)

I also got over 200 points!!! A grand total of 217!

I was so excited at the end of my sit-ups that I passed, that I gave a big hoot and holler at the end! People looked at me like I was nuts. I DIDN'T CARE! I PASSED!!! AAAAAHHHHHHHH!

This weekend I get to RSP, which is the Recruitment Sustainment Program, as a guest for the National Guard, and I have another PT test on Saturday morning. A bit nervous but excited for it. I hope I do just as good, if not better than what I did today. If I do better, HALLELUJAH! I am a bit nervous for RSP, but I think I'll do just fine. The 3rd year Cadets from our ROTC program will be the Cadet Cadre and so, it should be good to be there with them. I already hear that I'm going to be picked on. Whatever. Bring it baby! =)

Okay friends and family... one love, p~

Update on Life

Well... the semester has started, and it's nearly mid-term. Obviously I've not kept up with the religiously like I have in the past.

So, for starters, here's a few updates and pictures since the beginning of the semester. They are in no particular order.

After the Hawai'i trip, Julie and I went to the Rexburg Farmer's Market, had coconut ice cream from a Mexican store and Ilote's! Good times and good memories! =)

I was driving home from one of my usual mindless drives around town and noticed that Smith Park had a memorial for those who served and died from this area. It was neat to see the different memoirs that were on the wall and also different quotes and information from the different US wars. Here is the flag from the memorial.

AH! the joys of shooting! Seriously, I was in heaven! I wanted to float the river before the weather turned cold, and my roommates wanted to go shooting... SO, I jumped on the band wagon, went shooting with the girls and Jake and then floated the river. You'll see all the guns we were shooting in the last picture of Jake and the beauties. =)

Ah, the ROTC days. =) 1 October the ROTC had it's opening social coupled with rappelling and gernade assault course. Needless-to-say, it was a lot of fun! Here's a picture of Cadet Schlect rapelling the wall. The next two are of me and Cadet Hyer, and Cadet Geiger. Hyer and I have been doing ROTC together for 3 semesters. Geiger and I were team leaders for 2nd squad. Hooah!

While in Utah for General Conference, I was able to go to Parker's gravesite. For those of you who don't know the story, Parker Bradford was a student of mine in the Freshman Academy program that passed away saving another student's life. It was really hard on me, but many spiritual experiences have come from it. Anyway, this was the first time since we buried him in July 2007 that I've been back. It was a bittersweet experience.

What's a stop to Utah without seeing old mission buddies! That's exactly what I did. AND, Sister Jackson and I went to a bridal store with Sister Byrd "Byrdie" to try on bridesmaid dresses. Here they are:

Then, we went to look at Chinese dresses for me. Unfortunately they didn't fit or was not modest enough, but this is what I found:

Sister Bettinger had a birthday and her boyfriend and Scott filled her office FULL of balloons. It may look like there's a lot already in there, but trust me, we had already filled a couple large bags of balloons and popped a bunch before this picture was taken! Happy Birthday Sister B!

Last, but not least, one of our Cadre, SPC Baker, fell asleep in our office during devotional. This was the result:

Isn't life great?!?!

Hope all is well. Much love, p~

Back to the grind of things... and then some!

Welcome back to Rexburg everyone!

Am I happy to be back? Well, yeah. For the most part. I do have to admit that I'm missing my little island in the middle of the pacific ocean, though.

Here are some of my favorite pictures. More to come later! =)

I love this picture of Foeata and La'akea! Very beautiful indeed!!!!! (This was at Keala's 5th birthday party.)

Here's a picture of Hanalei Valley. I was doing my best to get a panoramic picture of it.

This is Tutu Lady and Tutu Man's headstone. When I went there the first day on Kaua'i, I balled. I sat on their grave and balled. I'm not sure how long, but I it felt good. I've missed them.

This was taken on our last night on Kaua'i. We were down at Hanalei Blackpot. We were able to see the sunset. It was magnificent.

I'll have to see if I can get a picture of Julie and I pulling our sad face when I locked Uncle Philip's keys in the car. No bueno. (But he came to rescue us. That was a good thing!)

Random Scenes from Kaua'i

Aloha from Kaua'i!!!

First off, for those of you who are familiar with Shipwreck's Beach... it's now overrunned by hotels! I couldn't even find the beach! There are about 3 different hotels there with only a small road with about 15 parking spaces that lead to this once great place! Seriously, have the beach is gone to these hotels. So sad! But, I must say, the water was rough and great today!

Well, my first part of being on Kaua'i is just about over come tomorrow. I have less than a week until it's back to O'ahu and then to Idaho. It's crazy to think that my 3 weeks is nearly complete.

Some of the adventures that I've had here on Kaua'i is attending Tutu Lady and Tutu Man's graveyard, going to Anini beach, Kalihiwai, Waipa, wet and dry caves, hiking sleeping giant, visiting Mom Brenda, locking my keys in the car, staying with and visiting with Uncle Philip and Auntie Liz's family... whoa... Keliikoa can play slack key and 'ukulele better than any of my cousin's put together! Chris is soooo tall and is someone I was able to talk military with. (He was in ROTC his first year of college. Great bonding time.)

My niece and nephews are sooo big! Tonight we made spam musubi for Hali'a's fieldtrip tomorrow and also for Auntie Julie. Julie ate one for the first time and liked it. I have pictures and videos that I'll have to put up here soon. You'll like them!

Anyway, I have to finish loading the pictures. More to come soon!!! =)

Hawai'i No Ka 'Oe

It's amazing how being back in the islands can have such an affect on me. I really haven't shared this with my brother Keoki or his family, well... I shared a little bit of it with Foeata... but tonight I was thinking about when I go back to Idaho in 1 1/2 weeks, and I already feel homesick.

The islands have been such a great healing place for me. It's funny how you don't realize that somethings broken until you experience what it feels like after it's been fixed.

Keoki, Foeata, Dee and Billy have been trying to get me to change my mind to move back to the islands. Dee has been bribing me with food. But Keoki and Foeata are giving me every reason why I really should move back here. They even took me over to UH-Manoa to check out the Nursing program. Although no one was there that could answer my questions, it was neat to be on campus and to see people with shorts, slippers, no shirt, Hawaiian attire etc... Now, if they took me to the ROTC department, that might have made a difference. =)

I'm trying to control my emotions. Even going to Kaua'i is getting a bit hard for me. Here, I have family. FAMILY!

I know I have cousins that live close to me while I reside in Idaho, but nothing seems to compensate for siblings, grandparents or even parents that I wish could be near. At this point, I wish I knew what the Lord needed me to do... whether it was to stay in Idaho and finish school Winter 2013 or move back to Hawai'i and graduate from the nursing program in Fall 2014.

Anyway... Here are a few pictures from the trip that I thought I'd share with all of you. Once I get photos from our trip to Kaua'i, I'll post them on here too.


I was able to get free tickets for the PCC villages and night show. I only had to pay for the Luau of which I was able to get a discount and only paid $114 for 4 adults for the Luau. (The children and everything else were free!!!!) Julie and P and PCC...



The Baclayon Girls and Auntie Julie after the Hale 'Ohana Luau Buffet! It was great to have the family together! We even got to see the new night show "Ha". What a treat!

Julie and I woke up early Tuesday morning and headed out to Pearl Harbor. We accidentally purposely cut in front of another couple who were taking their sweet time to get tickets (they were also in another lane) and ended up getting the last tickets for the 8 AM boat to the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial.

The Memorial was very special for me. It felt sacred and hallowed. The feel there was such a quiet and unique. Coming from a military background, I teared up as I read the names on the wall. There were 23 or so sibling pairs that died and a pair of father and son who had gone down in the ship. If I were in the military serving with any of my brothers, how would my brothers and I be remembered? I know we wouldn't have a memorial built for us, but for these valiant and wonderful soldiers... this was spiritual and I'm thankful for the service of the many men and women who give and have given their lives for my "freedom", because I know it isn't "free".

The beautiful U.S.S. Arizona Memorial. Everyone should at least go their once in their lives.

Sunday night after dropping Enoka off at the airport, the family headed out to Kaneohe where we were able to see my cousin Lynnae and her family. What a great time!

Foeata, Julie and I put on a mud-mask that Keoki brought home from Foeata after he made it in his Hawaiian medicine class. We couldn't figure out what color green we had pasted to our faces.

What would be a trip to Hawai'i without visiting some kind of Lo'i. This lo'i is located at UH-Manoa. Because they were prepping for the Fall 2009 semester, we weren't able to pull kalo. Thank you Keoki for taking us mainland folks around! =)

We also went to the Foster's Botanical Garden's in Honolulu. This was such a cool place to go! Julie had a blast looking at all the different plants that she was learning in school. I was fun to watch her make connections with her schooling and life applications of what those plants really look like it their natural habitat.

This tree was sooooo cool looking and HUGE! I couldn't resist... I jumped up and had to pose.

Ah! The coconut! I wish I could say that this is a juxtaposition, but it's not. Here, as you can see, are two coconuts! Brown on the outside and white on the inside. It was such a refreshing drink after Julie and I spent nearly 2 1/2 hours at the Swapmeet! Hello!

This was a cool place to be! We went to the Valley of the Temples in Kaneohe, the same day as the coconut picture above, and got to visit the Byodo-In Temple. Apparently it was cast in the TV series "Lost". How cool was that! Honestly, it felt calm and sacred as well. Beautiful place to visit. Highly recommended.

Here are the beautiful Ko'olau Mountains. Julie took this picture. (She took a lot of pictures since I drove... I'm thankful she let's me use her pictures for things.)

Wednesday night we had a family get together. We were all sad that Foeata had to work. Here is my cousin Dee, and her children: Brittany, Daniel (Danny Boy) and baby Camden. Billy V and his family: Sawako and Leion. Keoki's family: Keala, Tele and La'akea. Thank you to Julie for taking our picture.

It was a great night full of music and laughter, food and sharing stories that would embarrass each other! Good times!!! Thank you to Bill for the music.

Before heading to Keala's birthday party at Ferrel's Hawai'i Ice Cream place at Pearlridge Mall, Julie and I got to ride in the back of Keoki's truck on the freeway! It was such a blast! It was a great way to make other's feel stupid for starring at us. ha ha ha! Good times indeed...

AH! Here are a few fun video's that I like from the trip. There are tons more, but here's a small taste of things that happened.

On Monday, Keala had music time for her homeschool. She had to feel the music/rhythm and dance and move her body to the music. She also had to clap her hands to the rhythm of the music etc. It was amazing to watch. Anyway, here's a short video clip of Keoki being himself!

Here's another little fun video:

Almost There!!!

4 more days until "Hele on to Kaua'i"... well, to O'ahu really.

Excited? Yeah... I'm getting there. =)

WAHOOOOOO!