Spring Update

The family is back together now. We're quite grateful for the last several months we have enjoyed together since my returned from Okinawa in January. I continue with my job for the time being as 1/5 prepares for its next deployment with the 11th MEU. I, however, will not make this deployment. The time has come to move on. The move, like all moves that follow very challenging and successful esperiences, will be bittersweet. I have been richly blessed by the opportunity to stretch myself each day in service, to lead Marines, and associate with some remarkable men in the Corps' finest battalion.

The next move--sit down for this--will be to Salt Lake City, Utah where I will commence my studies at the University of Utah's Quinney College of Law in August. The school let me in and the Marine Corps selected me to go to law school, so we are going. We are just entering the planning phase of this move and we are excited for the adventure that will come over the next few months.

It is important to note that I am not getting paid to go to school. In fact, I get paid not to go to school. Under the Excess Leave Program (Law) of which I am now a part, I get paid for every day I do not have school classes or exams. All my school expenses come out of my pocket. This is good. The next three years will be our opportunity to be starving students, struggling through graduate school while having children and raising a family. During the summers I will be working with other Marine judge advocates at a major military installation, most likely Camp Pendleton. We will work out the details of all that when the time comes, but right now we are hoping to find a way to (a) keep the family together for a good portion of the summer and (b) spend some quality time on the beach (which we will sorely miss after leaving Dana Point).

Other significant news, for those who don't know, is that our second child will be reporting for duty no later than the end of October. We don't yet know if its a boy or a girl, but due to our significantly constricted budget we are tempted to find out prior to the delivery so we can streamline any required baby purchases... More to follow on that.

We are loving life. I have actually put on some healthy weight and frequently enjoy running the steep hills of the San Mateo area in the NW corner of Pendleton or the beach between Trestles and San Onofre. Shaela is more beautiful than ever and intends to end this pregnancy lighter than she started her first. Impressive, no? Caroline continues to astound people with her wit, charm, strength, and coordination. We are grateful for the many blessings the Gospel brings into our lives and pray that you may be similarly blessed.

Hugs, kisses, peace, and love... Eldon