A Post from Samuel - "A day I will never forget"

I am posting this at the request of Samuel. In his last letter, he requested I post this on the blog as it is long and he wouldn't have time to write it in multiple letters. I did not have his password so I had to post on my blog rather than his. I am going to post it just as he wrote it in his letter. He said the week started off good as he did the gas chambers, the obstacle course, and a long day of clothing issue when he was issued his Blues. He had a box lunch on his clothing issue day with a nice bonus--a little pack of Oreos! He had his first MRE the day they did the gas chamber and he said he enjoyed that also. But the following is the "day he will never forget":

A day I will probably never forget is Friday, Good Friday, April 22. While we were in class, our TI found a chewy bar wrapper, A WRAPPER, in one of the empty wall lockers, and nobody would fess up to putting it there. Understand, food is completely prohibited from being in the Dorm..anyway, that's when the storm hit. They threw pretty much every mattress in the Dorm on the floor, beds knocked over..it was bad. Some of the wall lockers were even pushed around. Still, nobody would fess up. It was at that point we had a couple of hours where we were trying to figure out who it was. Quite frankly, at this point, I'm not so sure I want to know. Anyway, we found out that there are some people in our flight with a lot of character. A few people were trying to take the fall for it, but they knew they didn't do it, we knew, and our TI knew, so after a few attempts, he told us to just stop trying. He said he just wants to know who put the wrapper in there-who really did. It didn't even have to be theirs and it doesn't mean that they ate it, and it doesn't mean recycle, necessarily. It was getting bad. Our TI started to threaten to take leave and have SSgt. Ramos take over until graduation, but nobody would fess up. We were also threatened with flight recycle (all of us) - nothing. We all wish we knew who it was because I guarantee we would have turned him in. We were threatened with complete loss of Town Pass and all but the required 1 hour of Base Liberty. It was bad and then, boom, the eye of the storm. Several TIs came up to check us all and they knocked more beds over and several top beds were off from the bottom beds. Everybody was yelled at. Every button in our wall lockers was unbuttoned, every shirt and sock was unrolled, security drawers dumped, and ultimately several TIs said it was the absolutely worst they have ever seen any Dorm. It literally looked like a tornado went through and all because 1 person wouldn't admit to putting a chewy bar wrapper in an empty wall locker sometime that morning. Our TI talked with us and told us he has no respect for whoever did it, but didn't want us to go through any more. We all felt terrible, but we were told we would pick up the pieces and move on, and I think that built us up as a Flight and here we are a couple of days later and we have everything as it was. We actually had it all back together that night, but only "mechanically correct". Now it's pretty good, but that is a day I will NEVER forget!
So Andrew and David, what do you think? Did anything like this happen when you were in Basic? My own thoughts are that someone from another Flight put it there.
Anyway, if you want to write him and tell him your comments on this or if you want to post a comment here, then I will write them down and send it to him in a letter.

Anniversary

Today is January 2, the second anniversary of Kayleigh's passing. Andrew posted to his blog then that January 2 was the day he left on his mission and he liked to think of Kayleigh having left on her mission on that date. That is a comforting thought, but as time has passed, I have begun to think of it as the day Kayleigh went home from her mission. I think her mission was to be here among all of us who needed to feel of her love and sweet, pure spirit and let us learn from her example as she followed the Savior's example of love. I am so glad we were chosen to share of her love and goodness and example. I know I am a much better person and am so blessed for her presence in my life....I love you Kayleigh.

Another tribute to Kayleigh

Kayleigh has always had a unique ability to reach out to people and touch them and they loved her for it. When she was just little, I would be in the grocery store and some total stranger would come up all excited and talking to Kayleigh and she would always know who they were, smile and talk to them and generally make their day. That didn't change any as she got older--she continued to touch people's hearts.
When she was in school here, her class would sell items from a ''snack cart" full of goodies that parents had donated. The money earned from this would let them take special trips and buy things they wanted for their classroom, etc. Well, the other day, I received, in the mail, a package from Kayleigh's teacher. I couldn't imagine what she would be sending me. When I opened it, it was a yearbook of their school. She had written a note that said that this year, they used their snack cart earnings to publish a yearbook and they dedicated it to Kayleigh. Everywhere there was a photo of her (and it was so good to see these photos that I had never seen before and see that awesome smile once again), it was noted that this yearbook was in memory of Kayleigh, and each one of her classmates had signed their photos. Her teacher said they still think of Kayleigh often and even though it's been over a year, they wanted to do something special to remember her. I can't even begin to tell you what that meant to me! Of course, it made me cry, but they were happy tears being able to see her in different photos and knowing how much she means to a lot of people. I am truly blessed to be her mother and what joy it is to know that we, as family, can always be her family if we always strive to be faithful, be diligent in keeping the commandments, and endure to the end. I know Kayleigh is near urging us on to be our best so we can always be an eternal family. She is still touching all our lives for good.
If I can ever get where I can pull up photos to post, I will post a photo of this yearbook so all of you can see it and have something more to add to your Kayleigh memories.
I love you, Kayleigh!!

Hooray for Duchesne Class of '09

I am very proud of the Duchesne graduating class this year and not just because David and Adrian were part of it, though I am VERY proud of both of them. Despite all the political "stuff" about not being allowed to have prayer in any of school or public gatherings, during graduation the class had both an opening and closing prayer and the audience agreed with a heartfelt amen. I am just so glad that the class stood for their freedoms and principles and gave a big thumbs down to all who say it's not politically correct, so hooray for them for standing for what they believe and for the freedoms we still have. David said, "That's what we do." So congratulations, graduates, for a job well done in school and for standing for your principles, beliefs and freedoms.

The Saturday before Mother's Day

On Saturday when I got to Amy's house, I found this surprise. Nolan had a florist deliver this beautiful arrangement of miniature roses and lilies in a porcelain cup and saucer. It is quite lovely and it still doing beautiful even after almost a week. Thanks Nolan, that was very special and a wonderful surprise.

Sorry for all the separate posts, but I am having trouble with blogger deleting the photos after I get them up, so I had to do one photo per post, but you get the message that my mother's day was really great. I got to talk to each one of my children which was really special. Andrew even called me from Iraq and sent me a music card which I received on Saturday, but haven't made a photo of it yet. I love you all so much and am so blessed to have you all as my children..thanks for being my greatest blessings.

Mother's Day cards and gifts

Amy gave me a Nana's brag book with photos of all my grandchildren (included was a baby photo and a photo of each grandchild at the age they are now). This is definitely appreciated as when I was in Ky. everyone was asking to see my kids and grandkids photos and I didn't have any with me. She also gave me some Lindor Truffles. I ate every one and thoroughly enjoyed them. Susannah sent me two cards (one funny and one serious) and both had wonderful messages which I really appreciate. The hand-drawn one is from Lynnsey...don't you love how she used her hand to make a tree? Thank's Lynnsey--I really like it.

Mother's Day flowers

These flowers were given to the mothers at Sacrament Meeting. Taylor presented me with the white one and some of my girls in YW gave me the other two.