Blue Phase: The End Is Near

It's been quite awhile since the last update. The visit was outstanding. Blake looks and sounds just great!

He got to spend lots of time with his family and friends. Just about everyone who wanted to see him got a chance, and after two weeks, he was really ready to get back. He boarded the plane back to Dallas for the first leg of his trip on January 3rd.

We got a letter from him yesterday, and he's entered the final phase of his basic combat training. He's in the blue phase now, and now, more than ever, he can see the end. Graduation is set for February 7th, and barring any unforeseeable circumstance, that's when he will be finished with this training. Don't know yet if he is going to come home for awhile or if he will head straight up to Virginia to start his academic training.

He said he got his Army greens this week and is very proud of the way he looks in them. He still hasn't gotten his glasses, so I guess that is probably not going to happen in basic training. It's just been too long. He will probably have to try again when he gets to Virginia.

He called on Saturday night and got to talk with everyone. Dusty was there with us, so he got to talk with him as well. He said that he was getting 30 minutes to call home now since his platoon had won the combatives ribbon. They also won the drill ribbon and the basic rifle marksmanship ribbon, but the combatives was very important to his drill sergeant. Hence the 30 minute phone time now. And, he says, that's good for every week from now till he finishes.

One last thing he is worried about is the PT test. The two mile run still has him nervous. He's found some running buddies to go with him when he goes back to qualify, which should be later this week. Say some prayers for him that he can do this, cause that's the only thing now that would hold him back.

Well, I promise not to take as long the next time to update this. He still needs to hear from everyone, so keep those letters going to him. Thanks for your support.

More when we know more.