Dear Dad and Family,

Thank you for your letters!  They made me happy.  Hope everything is going good with everyone!  Boot Camp is going week.  I guess not too bad.  This week is swim week.  So going to swim and stuff and then at the end of the week it is initial PFT which is push ups, crunches and a 3 mile run.  Gonna see how good I do.  Probably alright.  Not to worried.  We won initial drill 2165 took the trophy home.  It was cool to win because we have been working hard to get all the drills down.  In about a week we are going to Camp Pendelton to shoot our M16A4 service rifles.  Should be fun.  The time up there should be faster than here at MCRD.. Kinda drags down here.  But ya that's kinda whats going on at the moment.  Getting closer to the end!  But still have a ways to go.  I miss you guys.  Keep writing me.  I love You.

Love, Burkeley

Let me introduce you to...

the biggest threat to my inheritance.

Zoey and Zelda

Burning...

Tithing is an important commandant that we as LDS faithful try to follow.Through the prophet Malachi, the Lord declared: "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it" (Malachi 3:10).  We are also taught in the Doctrine and Covenants this, "Behold, now it is called ^atoday until the ^bcoming of the Son of Man, and verily it is a day of ^csacrifice, and a day for the tithing of my people; for he that is ^dtithed shall not be ^eburned at his coming.
 24 For after today cometh the ^aburning—this is speaking after the manner of the Lord—for verily I say, tomorrow all the ^bproud and they that do wickedly shall be as ^cstubble; and I will burn them up, for I am the Lord of Hosts; and I will not ^dspare any that remain in^eBabylon." It is a tough thing to teach my children.  Who am I kidding, its a tough principle for me to follow!  But, recently we have been talking to our boys about the importance of obeying all of Heavenly Fathers teachings.  We have stressed the importance of paying tithing not only to follow the commandments but because tithing helps the church fund building and temples and tithing supports missionary work.  Nate will be baptized in a few weeks.  He is getting nervous about his interview with the bishop.  We have done what all LDS faithful parents do and prepped him for the questions that Bishop Murie might ask him.  Questions like, "Do you believe in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?" and "Why do you want to be baptized?"  One other question that the Bishop might ask Nate is if he is a full tithe payer.

Last night Nate came to me with a very serious look on his face.  He quietly asked me if I had already paid his tithing for him?  I quickly responded, without hesitation,"No Nate, I pay tithing on what I make in my paycheck.  You have to pay your own tithing on what you earn."   His face had a little panic look on it and he said, "Crap, I'm gonna get burned when Jesus comes again."  So, I quickly told him that Jesus will not be coming TOMORROW (inspite of what his Dad wishes)and he still has time to repent and pay his tithing.  He left the room for a few minutes and came back with a handful of dimes.  He then asked, "How many days will $1.50 keep me from not burning."  Well, I guess we need to teach this principle a bit better.  We discussed that fact that right now is the time to begin paying tithing and he could repent.  He could ask Heavenly Father for forgiveness and promise to try harder. Nate seemed satisfied with this until a few minutes later he said, "That's sad, Mom.  Why would he (meaning Heavenly Father) burn his own son?"

The Winter Sports Season

I was so excited when football season was over!  Because that meant that I did not have to spend my evenings driving to and from the Middle School, High School, and home.  I did like going to the games and I am extremely proud of Tyler.  He is becoming a great athlete.  He has become more and more focused on school and even earned a 3.8 on his first quarter report card. But, I silently gave a cheer when the last game of the season was played and equipment was turned in!  Tyler had no intentions of competing in a winter sport.  His goal was to prep for Spring Track and learn how to throw the Javelin.  Until one day he came home and informed me that he needed 85 dollars, wrestling shoes, and a head something or other.  And, he needed it the next day!  REALLY TYLER????  As it turns out he just wanted to use wrestling as a fitness regime. He wanted to wrestle to keep in shape.  But, I was not going to fork out all that money to encourage his physic.  (Secretly I was hoping he would think about thing and choose not to wrestle for ANY reason) The next day, two weeks into the season, Tyler was competing in his first match.

Tyler in the Red

I forgot to mention that in his two week hiatus from sport he was driving me, his brothers, and his dad CRAZY!  At one point I even thought to myself, "I wish you could spend two hours on the football field just so you can burn off some of energy."

Cleaning up blood.

He lost his first match due to the fact that he got a bloody nose.  Not just any ole bloody nose, this was a fountain of blood and he was disqualified.  He says he is glad he got disqualified because it is better than loosing.

We are now a few more weeks into the season and Tyler is enjoying the wrestling season.  He has lost many matches and that just encourages him to work harder and practice longer.  But, I am happy to report that he did win one match!  He called me minutes after to report the good news.  He sounded as if he had just won the State Championship wrestling title.

As for me, because this blog is really all about me after all, I'm back in the swing of things....either waiting in town for wrestling to be over or driving back and forth to pick up my boy.  I still am not a huge fan of the sport.  I actually do not enjoy it one bit.  But, it is perfect for my 15 year old.  He has returned to being a great son and brother because he has an outlet for his energy.  He is focused on his grades because his coach encourages academics.  Most importantly he is learning how to be a team player, an individual athlete, a good sport when he looses and all those other life long skills that Jessica keeps telling me wrestling teaches.   

Private

I have decided to make my blog private.  Please send me your email address and I will add you to the list.  All this means is that you must log in with your email address to view my blog.  Its easy!  

srbtaln@gmail.com

First Letter From Our Marine

Dear Family,

     This is Burkeley writing from boot camp.  This place is really hard.  Very mentally challenging.  Very exhausted mentally.  Wanted to just stop and go and hide.  But you cant.  Have to keep going.  Keep my hear up.  Its going to be very hard.  Keep me positive with letter writing.  Need you guys.  I love and miss you guys.  I might be able to be ordained in the priesthood here because they do that stuff.  I actually enjoy church now because it gets me away from all the crazy stuff.  Its my little break.  So be grateful fro what yo have because it could get stripped away.  Like now for me.  I'm greatful for you guys.  I'm grateful for this gospel.  It has already helped me tremendously these past few weeks.  I pray all day long till I fall asleep.  Praying has helped me so much.  I know Heavenly Father lives and loves me.  He has been watching over me this whole time.  Write me back.  I'll send letters every now and then.

Love You,

Burkeley

Rec Christian, Burkeley R.

2nd Training Battalion

Hotel Company Platoon 2165

36001 Midway Ave

San Diego, CA 92140-2165