Reception Battalion

     So we arrived at Reception Battalion last night around 9:30. The drill sgt's weren't as bad as I had anticipated and we were quickly split up into Alpha CO and Bravo CO. Alpha is half the size of Bravo because it is made solely up of military police. I have a feeling that they will be my company at Basic. I'm okay with that since we manage to stay out of trouble. Anyways last night we got yelled at and rushed around getting paperwork done and PT's. We didn't get into the Barracks until well past midnight!
     Wake up was at four am and I only got three hours of sleep! We ate a four minute breakfast of eggs and turkey sausage. Then we rushed from station to station in a whirlwind of dental exams, uniforms, IDs and much more. I am so exhausted. This isn't very fun and I'm starting to resent it. I don't regret my choice by any means but this is pretty rough. Shoving meals down, rushing around, standing forever and completely exhausted. Welcome to the military Folks. Three girls have already tried quitting. But I bet it will get better. Once we get to start doing fun things like weapons and obstacle courses....ooh and PT! I hate not working out.
      Needless to say today was pretty rough. Right now at 6:34 we have some downtime. I'm doing my best not to crash. We did get to go to the store today and I got a super cool watch, this letter stuff, and other things. Oh and they made me buy the $80 shoes. I was so pissed.
       So please keep me in your prayers as I try to stay positive. I know by the time you get this it will be a couple days down the road, but I really do appreciate the support.


      *Before Jannalyn went off to bootcamp she purchased some of her own running shoes as it was said that the ones you are required to buy give shin splints.*

Courage in its purest form

     Those things on the side of this page are the army values. My favorite has always been personal courage, which has always seemed a little weird to me since I like to believe I'm a fairly courageous person. But the deeper I journey down this road, the more I see that I am in fact a scared little girl who pretends to be brave. What God has asked me to do requires an unbelievable amount of courage. I think this is why I've always valued the "personal courage" above all the other ones.
      It took courage to leave my posh and comfortable life in Yuba City and it took courage to join the military and now it is taking courage to head to a place I've never been to. Especially one so crudely deemed as "Hell On Earth." I hope I don't sound conceited, or as though I am patting myself on the back. It is only by the grace of God that I am able to do this. He is the one that gives me courage.
     I used to resent the saying, "Courage isn't always a roar, sometimes it's a whisper in the morning that says 'I can'". I resented the idea because everything I do is loud, but I've come to realize that the courage that fills me comes from God whispering in my ear, "do not be afraid, for I am the Lord your God. I will not leave or forsake you. Since I am with you there is nothing in this world that you cannot do." Isn't that beautiful? Our Lord is so full of beauty. I am trying my very best to honor Him in all that I do, including being nice to my temporary Battle Buddy. Patience is the key.
     

       We were made to be courageous
We were made to lead the way
We could be the generation
That finally breaks the chains
We were made to be courageous
We were made to be courageous

We were warriors on the front lines
Standing, unafraid
But now we're watchers on the sidelines
While our families slip away

Where are you, men of courage?
You were made for so much more
Let the pounding of our hearts cry
We will serve the Lord

We were made to be courageous
And we're taking back the fight
We were made to be courageous
And it starts with us tonight

The only way we'll ever stand
Is on our knees with lifted hands
Make us courageous
Lord, make us courageous

This is our resolution
Our answer to the call
We will love our wives and children
We refuse to let them fall

We will reignite the passion
That we buried deep inside
May the watchers become warriors
[- From: http://www.elyrics.net -]
Let the men of God arise

We were made to be courageous
And we're taking back the fight
We were made to be courageous
And it starts with us tonight

The only way we'll ever stand
Is on our knees with lifted hands
Make us courageous
Lord, make us courageous

Seek justice
Love mercy
Walk humbly with your God

In the war of the mind
I will make my stand
In the battle of the heart
And the battle of the hand

In the war of the mind
I will make my stand
In the battle of the heart
And the battle of the hand

We were made to be courageous
And we're taking back the fight
We were made to be courageous
And it starts with us tonight

The only way we'll ever stand
Is on our knees with lifted hands
Make us courageous
Lord, make us courageous

We were made to be courageous
Lord, make us courageous
Lyrics from <a href="http://www.elyrics.net">eLyrics.net</a>

 

This is a song by Casting Crowns and it is simply phenomenal. Jannalyn doesn't have access to music, however I think that if she did this song would be played on repeat. I feel as though it should be on repeat for all of us too. We wore born to be courageous. That is something that should filter into our daily lives. So tomorrow when you wake up, remember to be courageous.

 

Italics symbolize what has been added by the editor, as just simple script is what was written in the letter by Jannalyn.

Brief Sentiments

So I'm sitting here in the USO at St. Louis eagerly waiting for the third bus to arrive and take me off to my final destination. The bus won't be here for another 3 hours! So much waiting!

I somehow got rid of my temporary battle Buddy and have shoved myself in the far corner away from everyone (Meagan and delaney would be so proud of mu antisocial ness lol)

I'm charging my phone and reading my bible. I came across some awesome passages in the devotions. I wish I knew who wrote these little poems and sayings but I don't. Just know that these aren't mine, though I'd gladly claim them if it were not for copyright infringement! Haha!

"But you will not mind the roughness, nor the steepness of the way,
Nor the cold, untested morning, not the heat of noonday;
And you will not take a turning to te left or the right,
But go straight ahead, not tremble at the coming night,
For the road leads home"

"Heroes are forged on anvils hot with pain,
And splendid courage comes but with the test
Some natures ripen and some natures bloom
Only on blood-wet soil, some souls prove great
Only in moments dark with death and doom...
God finds his best soldiers on the mountains of affliction"

Tuesday June 11 2013 1545 

St. Louis MO

Jannalyn

Shoving my face

Touched down in St. Louis! It's hot and humid but I'm trying to stay upbeat. I got paired with another female headed to Fort Leonard Wood. She is a high schooler and is already pushing my buttons, but she is incredibly optimistic and i would much rather have that than someone who is always down.

I was able to take a quick Breather and open my bible. It was refreshing to read God's words of encouragement. I'm pleased to say that he has wiped the nervousness from my mind and has replace it, instead, with eagerness. This is going to be so much fun!

Right now I'm shoving delicious Mediterranean food into my mouth even though I'm not hungry. It will be my last meal of the day tho! So I'm forcing it down which is a shame since it is so delicious and deserves to be savored!

Now I'm just waiting on my battle buddy to get her deep fried food. I'm ready to go tho so now I'm a little antsy. I wish she'd hurry! I already feel like she'll get me in trouble! Ha just another person God has place in my life to teach me patience!

Love you all! Gotta go!

I'm at the airport! Munching on some tasty paninis and fresh fruit! Already said my quick and tearful goodbyes to the parents. That was so hard.

But I'm gonna make them so proud.

Please pray that I honor God in everything I do!

Right now my excitement is still matched with my nervousness but I'm ready. So ready.

Plus I get to fly into Dallas briefly! That's kind of cool!

Talk to you soon!
-Jannalyn

Mailing Me Letters

Standby for my Mailing Address... When my sister receives it, she will post it on Facebook and on Instagram. I'll also have her post it on here!

Thank you!

PLEASE DO NOT SEND FOOD/CANDY!

Love you all!

Monday June 10, 2013

Hey everyone!

I am hoping that my parents or my sister will be able to keep this blog updated. Maybe that way you guys will be able to see what I’ve been up to at Basic Training. For those of you that don’t know, my name is Jannalyn Farley and I am a Private in the Oregon Army National Guard. I’ll be attending Basic Training at Fort Leonard Wood Missouri for the summer.

The drive up to Salem was pretty easy, albeit looooong. 11 hours! However, my parents showed me a new way to drive up to Oregon that shaved an hour off of the drive time. We pretty much just blasted Country music the whole time while I conversed with my parents between bouts of belting out “How Country Feels” and “The Only Way I Know”.

We stopped in Grants Pass to eat a late lunch/early dinner at Shari’s with my college buddies Ken Johnson and Tyler Reuther. I was SO happy to see them! I hadn’t been able to hang out with them since the last week in April! We had a good long talk and they made me feel better about Basic. They both even said they would write me lots of letters. Ken threatened to put lots of stickers on the envelopes to make me do tons of pushups. Thanks Ken.

Then we made it to Salem where I introduced my parents to Buffalo Wild Wings. It’s safe to say that they loved it. I must say, though, it was a little sad staying at the Howard Johnson when my college was literally just down the street. I hadn’t realized I would miss Corban University so much.

That night, another one of my college friends, Jonny Nelson, drove 30 minutes in the late evening just to come see me. I was very excited to spend time with him before leaving for 3 months. I hope he knows how much I enjoyed our brief time together!

This morning, I met with Mr. Heaton and SFC Carver to receive my shipping packet, paperwork, and flight itinerary. I fly out tomorrow morning at 0600. I’ll fly from Portland to Dallas, then from Dallas to St. Louis. After arriving at St. Louis, I will have a 2 hour bus drive to Fort Leonard Wood MO where I will begin my reception battalion before heading off to Red Phase.

I must say, the more nervous I get, the more excited I become. I can’t wait just to get it over with. 3 months is a very long time, but I think the adventure will be worth it in the end.

We met with my Battle Buddy from Drill, Brandee Dudzic, at the Swinging Door (a comfort food restaurant) tonight in Portland. It was really awesome getting to see her and visit one more time before we shipped off to our respective forts (she is heading to Jackson in a week). I’m not sure what I’m going to do without her by my side. She keeps me sane!

I’m so ready for this journey. I’m ready to go and get SO shredded and gorgeous. I’m ready to learn lots of new and useful things and I am so ready to make my family proud. Ya, sometimes I wish I could just laze around all summer and spend lots of time with my family, but then I remember that this is the kind of life I will be leading for the rest of my life: being a warrior that saves her fellow people.

I have my new running shoes and my new Bible and a lineup of things I’m going to treat myself to when I get back. Every time I’m getting smoked, I’ll just keep thinking “I’m gonna look so hot” or “After Boot Camp, I’ll get my tattoo. I’ll get my tattoo”.

It will be really hard being so far from home and all my support systems, but I already know what it’s like to be away from home…and that it just takes a little courage to journey into the unknown. I have never been one for change, but God has led me down this path for a reason. I am ready to pass this test.

Honestly, I am really excited for all the people who are going to write me letters! I LOVE letters and it will be SO cool to hear from people in such an intimate way. The letters will be my ONLY form of communication to the outside world, so I am hoping EVERYONE will write me. It will be wonderful!

Okay, well enough babbling. I think I’m ready. Thank you everyone for all the love, support, and prayers you’ve sent my way. I couldn’t do it without you. I really couldn’t.

I’m going to Skype my siblings so I can see their faces one more time, and then I am off to bed. 0400 comes fast.

When you write me, feel free to send lots of pictures. I love you all.

Much Love,

Jannalyn Farley (Private Farley)