Andy's Green Beret story and other stuff.

About 8 months ago, Roy spoke in one of the YSA wards in the stake.  The previous speaker was a young man who had been a Marine.  As part of his talk, Roy shared a story about Andy while he was serving our country as a Green Beret.  After the meeting, the young former Marine asked Roy for a copy of the story he shared.  Roy obliged and gave him a copy (this copy is in Andy's own words).  The young man told him later that he had felt the spirit so strongly during the talk.  After reading the story and after much contemplation he decided to apply to be a Green Beret, so for the past several months he's been pursuing this path.   Roy's talk was on the power of prayer and being a light to others.

Battle of Kamdesh – By Andrew Jackson

“In Afghanistan, my small team, half a dozen or so, of green berets were called to give support to a small troop. It was a day’s hike through mountains and it was bitter cold. We made it by nightfall, which was good, because then we were able to ascend the mountain where the fort was that we were supposed to defend. Once we got to the top, we realized that we’d been called in to a suicide mission. My platoon was surrounded. The sound of gun fire and mortars started as soon as the sun rose and continued till it set. We held the high ground, but that seemed to be all that there was in our favor. We had only 30 men and they were falling as fast as our ammo. Hundreds of Al-Qaida circled the mountain. Some daring to climb towards our small platoon, but most hiding in crevices on neighboring mountainsides. We called in air support, but the sky was covered in threatening clouds. Rain pelted against our wounded, tired faces.

We continued to fight for two more days, still losing men. On the third day, we knew that our chance of survival was next to zero. “Our commander handed us military cell phones to call our mothers. Final goodbyes. My throat stung as I held back tears. My mom couldn't know this was it. I told her I loved her. I lied and told her I'd see her soon. But she knew that I wouldn’t be calling if it wasn’t serious, and yet, she said, “You’ll be okay, I know it.”

I hung up and took my post, hoping her faith wasn’t in vain.

After we’d said our goodbyes, or whatever to our families, the terrorists began to ascend the mountain side, we were out of bullets and out of time.”         

        My buddy looked up at me as I joined him. Neither one of us hid our tears. ‘Drew, have you prayed? You're our spiritual guy. The man upstairs will listen to you.'"

    "I hadn't prayed. I was just trying to survive. I couldn't believe I didn't think to pray. Without another thought, my buddies, my brothers, knelt and I prayed. Thunder roared. The bullets echoed in the canyon, but all somehow seemed still as I prayed, 'Dear God, if it be thy will, save us.'"

After that moment, the clouds departed, like Moses and the red sea. And with the clearing, the air patrol came in and bombed the terrorists, saving our lives. Little did I know that the men in the air were going against orders to save us and were disciplined because of it.  Yet, they knew it was the right thing to do, and my gratitude is spread to include my family I left at home and the family I would have a year later.

Ruby and Greta in their tent (made by grandma :)) And in their nightgowns

--bought by grandma

We have been watching a lot of Olympics this past couple of weeks.  Most of our attention has been 

on the skating, but we've watched some snow boarding and skiing as well.  I didn't write a newsletter last week because the only thing we did out of the ordinary (besides the Olympics) was go on a fun hike up Centerville Canyon.  Someone has put a swing up there, so our goal was to make it to the swing.  It took about 45 minutes, and was a pretty good workout.  Caitlyn was too chicken to swing, so I went first and it was pretty scary.  The idea was to climb up on a rock, climb on the swing and go.  The swing was a little short and it was kind of hard to get on it, so we chose a rock that was lower, but a little more in line with the tree, which was a little problem.  I managed to miss the tree, but Caitlyn scraped her arm on a branch when she finally got up the courage to swing.

After her initial swing, Roy gave Caitlyn a push to direct her away from the tree.

We were trying to show the ice on the creek.  This was before the recent
snowstorms so we were surprised to  see the ice, but the stream was shaded
through a good portion of the hike.

We celebrated Thomas's birthday on Wednesday of this week.  Some of the kids shared some tender feelings about him over texts.  Roy and I took balloons and flowers to the grave, and later, Nick and Sara went down and released some balloons in his honor.  That's been kind of a tradition in our family.

You can see that we got there before dark, and Nick's family went after the sun went down.  It was cold and we had to shovel the snow off and use hot water and a screwdriver to get the vase loose.

Caitlyn being answered for the "Senate Dance."

  I was a little worried we were meant to keep the goat.

Beverly--3 months old

Max, excited about Book Fair possibilities

Yuna's new haircut--given to her by Yuna

Adrienne needed to re-set  her day on Friday, so
she called and asked if she could bring the boys
skating while I was there.  I'm lazy about
calling, but I skate often enough that if you want your kids to skate,
all you have to do is call and find out when I'm going to be there.
Now that you can rent these "walkers" even the little kids can do it.

Jennie tended Effie and Ori at our house one evening this week.
Effie's starting to talk a little bit.

Hyeji's map of our backyard.  The kids like grandma's house.  the fire pit is in place and ready, but
the actual fire is her imagination because we haven't had one yet.  Soon, though!

 Mav reading his book.  He is like his grandma (or I should say like his 

grandma was several years ago. (I'm talking about reading and walking 

at the same time).