Isn't it crazy how time just flies?

I was looking through old photos today and had to pause for a minute when I came across this picture. This is Melanie at just a few days old with my grandfather, her great grandpa Tom.

I sat and thought about how quickly our children grow. This seems like it was just yesterday but really this is her, just yesterday.

Melanie, Sgt Rowan and a small glimpse of dad back in the corner.

This was her second meeting with him and in the few hours with him, that black book, an additional big ole binder and some plastic cards she started to make up her mind.

Sgt Rowan gave her ten goal cards. All you Marines out there, you know the cards. Each card has a goal that one might wish to attain while in the Marine Corps. The game is for the potential recruit to prioritize them, then see if mom and dad can replicate their childs goals. In the few months since our last meeting Melanie has grown and matured so much it was a little easier to pick her top goals this go round.

This is what Melanie wants to get out of her service in the Marine Corps:

 Something tells me she'll get it all.

By the end of the night Melanie was dubbed an 'honorary poolee" in the United States Marine Corps. To Derrick and I that's just a title to give her a little more motivation. What ever it is 'honorary' will be short lived. Next week she'll sign the paperwork that will allow her to head up to MEPS in Raliegh and soon after that she'll be an official  no longer honorary "poolee". One step closer to Recruit!

I know so many of you have questions about why she's chosen to enlist and how we feel about her decision but I've decided to leave the meat and potatoes of that conversation out of this blog (there will be another coming). Just know that she's thought long and hard about this and we fully support her decision. She's a smart young lady and we're very proud.