Dear Family,
I am glad to hear you all had a good time at in St. George. I wish I could have been there.
Training here is getting intense, but somehow a little easier. Next Saturday, is our initial drill which we are graded on. I have the rifle movements down however, no one can touch our platoons marching. So I have a good feeling about it.
Small world, I just met a missionary here at the MCRD who was one of Grandpa Eborn's history students!
The spirit here is surprisingly very strong. I want you to know how big of an idiot that I have been the past few years. I understand now why it I felt like joining the military and come here. Yes, being a marine is something to be proud of. The military discipline and strength is awesome however, all this has been secondary, I know the reason I was guided here was to learn to be humble and rediscover my testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Family, I want to thank you for putting up with my brash and immature behavior the past few years. With all this going on with me, my heart sinks when I think of all of you. This past week hasn't been as difficult, although the training is intense. We did pugel sticks and bayonet training, which was exhausting but kind of fun. We did an obstacle course and climbed a really long rope!
In two more weeks we go to Camp Pendelton for Phase II. Keep the letters coming - and feel free to share my address to whoever would like to write. Letters are gold here.
Siblings - good luck in school
Mom & Dad - your seriously the best.
I love you all,
Love,
Tanner
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Making You Proud
Dear Dad,
Everything I do here I am doing to make you and mom proud. Because I know there is only way to finish this race, by crossing onto that parade deck and greeting you with a great big hug. I have never done anything this difficult in my entire life, but honestly, it is not as bad as I expected. I am getting the hang of these things and it gets easier with each day. As of today, only 11 week left. My body is getting tighter and leaner. I eat 3 meals a day and keep my diet very primal. I get a haircut each week and my schedule is I go to class to PT to PT to class and before I know it, it is time to hit the rack. Most nights I get one hour of fire watch which isn't too bad---it gives me time to think and memorize things I need to.
I have worn the same pair of desert cammie's trousers/shirt since I got here (it is starting to gross me out) but, it is all bearable... I am doing well.
I hope you know I love you dad, you are what I look to when I try to be a man. You inspire me to try new things, and push me to face my fears. I love and appreciate you.
Love,
Tanner
Everything I do here I am doing to make you and mom proud. Because I know there is only way to finish this race, by crossing onto that parade deck and greeting you with a great big hug. I have never done anything this difficult in my entire life, but honestly, it is not as bad as I expected. I am getting the hang of these things and it gets easier with each day. As of today, only 11 week left. My body is getting tighter and leaner. I eat 3 meals a day and keep my diet very primal. I get a haircut each week and my schedule is I go to class to PT to PT to class and before I know it, it is time to hit the rack. Most nights I get one hour of fire watch which isn't too bad---it gives me time to think and memorize things I need to.
I have worn the same pair of desert cammie's trousers/shirt since I got here (it is starting to gross me out) but, it is all bearable... I am doing well.
I hope you know I love you dad, you are what I look to when I try to be a man. You inspire me to try new things, and push me to face my fears. I love and appreciate you.
Love,
Tanner
Tanner's Testimony
Dear Mom,
I know you are probably missing me a lot but, just remember that there is light at the end of this tunnel. As of today, I have exactly 11 weeks until graduation. Everyday gets a little easier and the DI's yell a little less. This will be over before you know it and you will be able to hug your baby boy again! I hope you know I love you so very much, it is because of you that I went to church here.
When I first saw the Brother and Sister missionaries called to serve here, my stomach turned and I started cry. At the service they talked about how this place is a humbling experience and that only the meek and humble and righteous can feel the spirit. That is the truest thing I have ever heard. I have never felt the spirit so powerfully before it rocked me to my foundation. I knew immediately what a fool I have been the past few years.
I volunteered to be the prayer leader within my platoon and have been praying for a group of five of us. Two individuals are not members and I reach out to more and more recruits everyday. It is incredible to see how openly all these men accept the gospel that I have fought for the last few years. It is because we are all becoming humble here. They shave our heads, make us refer to ourselves as recruits, they make us speak a certain way, and take away our individual identities. It is the most humbling experience I have ever had, and it because of this it has softened my heart and opened my soul.
Thank you mom, for never giving up on me.....I will make it up to you. I love you.
Love,
Tanner
I know you are probably missing me a lot but, just remember that there is light at the end of this tunnel. As of today, I have exactly 11 weeks until graduation. Everyday gets a little easier and the DI's yell a little less. This will be over before you know it and you will be able to hug your baby boy again! I hope you know I love you so very much, it is because of you that I went to church here.
When I first saw the Brother and Sister missionaries called to serve here, my stomach turned and I started cry. At the service they talked about how this place is a humbling experience and that only the meek and humble and righteous can feel the spirit. That is the truest thing I have ever heard. I have never felt the spirit so powerfully before it rocked me to my foundation. I knew immediately what a fool I have been the past few years.
I volunteered to be the prayer leader within my platoon and have been praying for a group of five of us. Two individuals are not members and I reach out to more and more recruits everyday. It is incredible to see how openly all these men accept the gospel that I have fought for the last few years. It is because we are all becoming humble here. They shave our heads, make us refer to ourselves as recruits, they make us speak a certain way, and take away our individual identities. It is the most humbling experience I have ever had, and it because of this it has softened my heart and opened my soul.
Thank you mom, for never giving up on me.....I will make it up to you. I love you.
Love,
Tanner
Lights to Lights
Dear Family,
I've finally reached a point in my training where things are starting to feel (sort of) routine. We have not been permitted time to really sit down and write, but when I can, I jot a few lines on this page.
Recruit processing was a blur of stress, fear, and confusion. The seasoned recruits have mostly been encouraging, informing us that it gets better after the first phase. I hope they are right. My body aches and I have not even been here two weeks in. I will get through this - quitting is not an option.
I do miss you all very much. When you dropped me off, watching you drive away was very hard for me. Believe it or not, my favorite part of all this has been the Church Services. It was there where I first heard the MCRD compared to the Garden of Eden. I was confused at first, because this feels like hell. But, I do understand. In this place, MCRD, you cannot sin. Everything we do is to strengthen our mind and body. There are no vices, no guilty pleasures, no semblance of anything sinful. Honestly, right now there also very little to be joyful about. I live each day chow to chow, lights to lights, and if I just keep focusing on my goal it goes faster.
I love you all very much, please keep me in your thoughts and prayers.
Love,
Tanner
I've finally reached a point in my training where things are starting to feel (sort of) routine. We have not been permitted time to really sit down and write, but when I can, I jot a few lines on this page.
Recruit processing was a blur of stress, fear, and confusion. The seasoned recruits have mostly been encouraging, informing us that it gets better after the first phase. I hope they are right. My body aches and I have not even been here two weeks in. I will get through this - quitting is not an option.
I do miss you all very much. When you dropped me off, watching you drive away was very hard for me. Believe it or not, my favorite part of all this has been the Church Services. It was there where I first heard the MCRD compared to the Garden of Eden. I was confused at first, because this feels like hell. But, I do understand. In this place, MCRD, you cannot sin. Everything we do is to strengthen our mind and body. There are no vices, no guilty pleasures, no semblance of anything sinful. Honestly, right now there also very little to be joyful about. I live each day chow to chow, lights to lights, and if I just keep focusing on my goal it goes faster.
I love you all very much, please keep me in your thoughts and prayers.
Love,
Tanner
Witchdoctor
Dear Family,
I am still alive and kicking. My voice is completely gone, but that just means that I am loud enough to not get too much flak from the Drill Instructors (DI's). They have what they call "IT" which is incentive training to correct "minor deficiencies" - basically if you mess up get what recruits call quarterdeck. You go and do push-ups, crunches, mountain climbers and other tough exercises in full gear. I have personally been quarter decked six times, which is better than most.
My platoon is getting pretty good at drill, which our senior DI is very excited about.
I have been assigned as our platoon's witchdoctor because of my EMT experience as well as the LDS Prayer Leader. There our four members (including me) and the branch here is really awesome.
I miss you all very much! I miss my sisters, my mom, my dad, my awesome big brother. I miss showers that are longer than 60 seconds and be able to change my clothes everyday :) I miss enjoying my meals instead of devouring them in less than 5 minutes. Basically, I just miss home and can't really wait to hear from all you.
Please write.
Love,
Tanner
I am still alive and kicking. My voice is completely gone, but that just means that I am loud enough to not get too much flak from the Drill Instructors (DI's). They have what they call "IT" which is incentive training to correct "minor deficiencies" - basically if you mess up get what recruits call quarterdeck. You go and do push-ups, crunches, mountain climbers and other tough exercises in full gear. I have personally been quarter decked six times, which is better than most.
My platoon is getting pretty good at drill, which our senior DI is very excited about.
I have been assigned as our platoon's witchdoctor because of my EMT experience as well as the LDS Prayer Leader. There our four members (including me) and the branch here is really awesome.
I miss you all very much! I miss my sisters, my mom, my dad, my awesome big brother. I miss showers that are longer than 60 seconds and be able to change my clothes everyday :) I miss enjoying my meals instead of devouring them in less than 5 minutes. Basically, I just miss home and can't really wait to hear from all you.
Please write.
Love,
Tanner
Thursday, October 3, 2013
First Letter
Dear Mom & Dad,
I have been at the MCRD for over a week now. It is hard and intense but I am surviving. This will be a short letter, as most if my letters will be.
Write as often as you would like and share with those who will want to write.
One more thing, send us some powerbars please. Orders from our Senior DI-boxes of them.
I look forward to seeing you and hearing from all of you.
Please send small pictures too.
Love,
Tanner
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