Rugged

So the ordeal with the Intrepid is over and finished.  To make a long story short, Emily was sold a 2004 Intrepid last May with undisclosed frame damage.  When we went to see what value we could get for it in a trade-in, we were informed of the frame damage and followed suit with the dealership she bought it from in West Plains.  Short story even shorter, we got an attorney, found out it was illegal, had a legal battle, got our money back, gave the car back, and now it’s all over.  FINISHED.  Thank goodness.  That case was draining way too much out of me.  I’m just glad we got out with our money. 

On ot more postive life aspects… Emily and I had our first ultrasound done at the hospital today.  The absolutely hilarious part was that every time the doctor would ask her not to move, she’d move a little and start laughing… the ultrasound machine kept picking up her laughs and it sounded like the baby was yelling at us.  Hahaha… anyways, we got to see our first pictures of the baby, and also found out we’re two weeks earlier than we thought.  The due date is now October 20th.  We both started to get a bit teary eyed, but you can hardly recognize what was in the picture, so I’m sure we’re going to be crying when we see the actual baby at the next ultrasound.  Heavenly Father has given us so many blessings, and I’m eternally grateful for every chance I have to prove myself as a worthy husband and father.  I couldn’t have asked for a better family.  Speaking of family, we decided on a womb name for the baby.  Obviously since we won’t know the sex for another 10 weeks or so, we had to decide on something androgenous (sp??).  After much deliberation and argument over whether it would be a girl or boy, Emily came up with "Baby Smurf".  So, alas, I am Papa Smurf, Emily is Mama Smurf, and the baby is well… Baby Smurf. 

The poor girl is being tortured by the baby, though.  She is constantly nauseous (sp again?) and never feels quite well at all.  I love her so much for putting up with it with as much spirit as she’s been able to muster.  Life for us will be rather tough for the next few years, and I couldn’t imagine anyone else to share it with.  She’s been so wonderful. 

Now, about 5 years ago, I tried to join the Reserves after High School, but it didn’t work out.  About a year into college, I decided to pursue the Air Force ROTC, but I was convinced otherwise.  Emily comes from a family with a LOT of military background.  Her family has all four main branches pretty much covered several times over.  As I was watching a commercial on tv about the air force, she asked me why I looked so entranced, so I told her I always saw myself as possibly going into the military.  After some conversation and some serious prayer on both our parts, we decided that I should see what was available to me.  I received an answer from Captain Decker from the Army ROTC here on campus and she was extremely helpful in introducing me to the whole ROTC scene and didn’t give me any bull about anything.  She’s been a realy straight arrow with us.  Long story short, Emily and I are now on the verge of giving it a go.  I’ll ge boing to LTC camp this summer for a month to catch up on the first two years I missed, and they’ll pay for my last 2 years of school along with living allowances and the such.  I’ve been given a chance to pursue my degree as a career in the army, and the benefits through promotion and the like are enormous and extremly stable for our family.  I have the option of, after 4 years in active duty, going to the reserves and getting a civilian job, but its all up to what is offered to me in the Army.  Either way, I’ll have extremely valuable resume building material and my education and much of my loans paid.

I’m looking forward to camp and I’m looking forward to where my life is headed right now.  Everything just clicks together like it were meant to happen, and I know that this is because I’m doing what I should be doing.  My personal testimony has grown immensely and I have God to thank for everything.  I finally placed my life in his hands, and I’ve received blessings ten fold.  I just can’t imgagine my life any different.