There's Strong, then there's Army Strong... and then there's Blake

Guess what...I'm joining the Army! With all this talk about a baby I'll bet you all never saw that one coming. On Feb 4, 2009 I will be entering Basic Combat Training (BCT) also known as boot camp at Fort Jackson South Carolina. BCT will last 9 weeks and 4 days. On April 27, 2009 I will be entering Officers Candidate School (OCS) at Fort Bennington Georgia. OCS will last 12 weeks. Upon completion of OCS I will be the lowest ranking officer, a second lieutenant. Because I'm going to be going in as an officer opposed to a regular enlisted soldier I don't get the luxury of picking my profession. Once I complete OCS I will begin my commission with a 3 year commitment to active duty followed by 5 years as a reservist. Go Army!

Baby Update

I went to the Dr today and she said that I'm still at 1/2 cm but that's normal with a first baby. She also said that I'm 60% effaced and that the baby is so low, that if he went 1 1/2 inches lower he'd be coming out. Whoo-hoo! Hopefully we'll have this baby sooner rather then later.

Speak out

At school today there was a table in the free speech area with Representatives passing out pamphlets and information encouraging students to vote no on prop 8 and 4 (the parental notification prior to abortion amendment). They advertised a discussion panel which would have Representatives from both sides of both issues. I decided that I would go and support prop 8.

I put a bumper sticker on my binder and skated off to school. When i arrived I noticed that there was still no fliers or information regarding yes on 8. When the discussion panel began the moderator announced that no one from yes on prop 8 showed up. Upon questioning it was made known that yes on 8 was contacted in advance and committed to being present then soon declined due to prior debates around town. Another group advocating prop 8 was contacted and asked to participate pretty much with no notification and thus had to decline.

After the no on prop 8 had an opportunity to give their prepared remarks the moderator was about to open it up to Q&A. A man standing against the wall offered to say a few impromptu words about yes on 8. Once the Q&A was opened up those of us who support prop 8 spoke up in defence of the proposition.

I don't know if the organization hosting the discussion hoped that only one side of the proposition would be present or only half attempted to find some one to represent yes on prop 8. But I do know that we all need to stand up for what we believe. In that forum I stood up and commented on the sanctity of marriage and found that I was not alone. I encourage everyone to attend any political function discussing proposition 8 because if we all rely on someone else to fight our cause there may be many rooms with only one side of a panel to be heard.

Ripe banana???

This last Wednesday I went to my OB and she told me that I was a ripe banana. The baby had dropped way low and I was dilated 1/2 cm. (I know, I know, it's not that much but it's a start.)
My doctor said that she'd be surprised if I lasted until my due date because I look so "ripe". That's when she compared me to a banana. She said that if you think about a banana it goes from green to yellow to brown. So green = early pregnancy, yellow= late pregnancy, brown = ripe = anytime I can go into labor, water breaks, the whole shebang. We'll see.

Temple in Rome!!!

We were so excited yesterday morning when it was announced at conference that a Temple would be built in Rome, Italy. For those that don't know, my little brother Matt, is currently serving there. A few months ago, he sent us these pictures. He and his companion had visited the temple site and took some pictures.

The Temple Site

Olive trees on the Temple site

Anziano (Elder) Termeer

We're really sorry!!! :o(

We really do love our family, but lately we've been forgetting about everyones birthday until someone else has already mentioned it. Starting now (it's a new month) we'll turn over a new leaf and we will try to call everyone on their birthday. So, happy birthday to all our family who has had a birthday so far this year.

Go to this website if we missed your birthday. Click play and then chat.
www.123greetings.com/birthday/belated_birthday/birthbtd4.html