Ritchie Crew

Ritchie Crew

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Matt's Update

A lot of people have asked me what I am and have been doing the past couple of months at Fort Benning, so I wanted to let everyone know the broad strokes of what I have been up to.

The Army course that I just finished was designed to give all newly commissioned officers a basic understanding of the fundamentals of infantry tactics. This way, officers of all branches, male and female, know how to act accordingly in the case that they find themselves in-charge, in combat, even though not an infantry officer. Through the past 7 weeks, I have trained on weapons systems, land navigation, tactics/techniques/procedures of combat, life-saving medical treatments on the battlefield, and army combatives.

In theory, this course is a good thing. In reality, it was a waste of time. I consider myself very fortunate to have had great training in the past, and I wholeheartedly acknowledge this blessing. That being said, I did very little the past 7 weeks that I have not done before...several times. My entire platoon, especially my squad of 8 guys, was in the same boat and we kept the mood light at all times and did not take anything too seriously...we had to to keep our sanity.

Through the past 7 weeks, I would say that these pictures portray 80% of my entire time at Fort Benning.



I now am moving on to Fort Rucker, Alabama, for flight school. This is what it has all been about for the past several years, and it's finally here. I am excited, anxious, and a little nervous. The separation is already taking its toll and Sirron and me, and it's only beginning. Please keep us in your prayers as we go through this time. God never promises us that life will be a cake-walk, as we are about to attest to, but He will get us through this with a peace that only He can give.

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Baby Update--16 weeks!

4 months into the pregnancy, and Sirron is as beautiful as she has ever been! Time is flying by and we will be finding out the sex of the baby very soon. Sirron heard the baby's heart beat on May 1, and the doctor said that it was "the strongest heartbeat [he has] heard in a long time." Her next appointment is set for June 4, where we hope that we will both be present. If Matt is not able to make it, Sirron does not want to know the sex that day...not until we are there together. We will continue to keep you updated on the baby and his/her mommy!

Move-In Complete!

Our home is completed, Sirron is moved in, things are on the walls...all we need now is a little grass. Matt came home the first weekend of May in order to move Sirron, but to his surprise, she had orchestrated the entire move throughout the week. We are forever indebted to our families for their help, as well as our friends Chris Taylor and Cole Wilson.

We hosted our parents, and Matt's brother Clint, and his family during our first weekend at home. Addison, our niece, felt of Sirron's belly throughout the night and she loved the baby's room. She also got to meet Mr. Troy, Sirron's dad, who made it obvious that he will be a baby hog!

The pictures below are from our first weekend with our houseguests, and of the inside of our completed home. The green room will be the baby's room, and the blue room is serving as the office for the timebeing. Our dining room table was delivered after these pictures were taken.