Welcome and hello.
- January 8th, 2010
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This is the most recent picture of our family, taken just a few days before Christmas.
This is the most recent picture of our family, taken just a few days before Christmas.
It’s been nearly 1 month since I earned the Technician Class amateur radio license. I’m scheduled to go back to Forest, VA on Sunday January 10 to take the General Class exam. I’ve been on the radio, almost daily since the FCC issued my first license.
The Technician Class license is fun, and if you just want to chat on the radio locally, it works really well. You have privileges on multiple bands / frequencies, but there are so many more opportunities as you upgrade your license.
I’ve tuned around on a few HF bands with my Dad, and brother. My Dad, WB4FLM introduced me to 40, or 80 meters and let me scan around and listen to a few QSOs, CW, even some AM stations as far away as New York and Kentucky! My brother, W4NJE introduced me to PSK31, aka. digital radio. He has a laptop connected to his radio and uses the soundcard of the computer to transmit messages over the radio. While we were on the air we heard from an operator in Cuba, and made contact with a person in Mexico.
I don’t have an HF radio, so it may be a while before I’m actually on the air, at least from home. Of course in my case, as in the case of many HAMs, I’ll be without a decent antenna and that makes all the difference.
I’m still working on my wife, Sarah to study for and get her Technician license. I think she will, one day. She actually committed to testing with me on January 10, but admittedly, I didn’t get her the study material.
73′s, and good luck to me. I’ll report back on my test results in a few days.
By my own thoughts I can become the man I choose. Nothing can stand in my way. I can choose to be, have, or do anything. This is what I was meant to be. A new life, a new opportunity for change.
I have not because I want not. I am not because I did not. I am who I am as a result of the decisions I made in response to the choices presented to me. I cannot choose every obstacle that enters my path, but I can choose my action(s) in response to the challenges presented to me.
“I think, therefore I am.”
Self-discipline is the key to self-control which can become self-mastery, and thus – resurrection.
“Cogito ergo sum.”
As a family we decided to put together a newsletter to send to all of our family and friends. Unfortunately we don’t have addresses or email for many of you, so we’ve decided to post the newsletter online. If you haven’t received a newsletter in the mail, please email us so we may update your contact information in our records.
View / download in PDF format.
The BRUINGTON Family
Annual Newsletter
2009Dear Family and Friends,
This has been a challenging, rewarding, unexpected, and life-changing year for our family. Among many, many other things we have moved three times and held four jobs (collectively), attended school (elementary and college), and had a wedding!
many, many other things we have moved three times and held four jobs (collectively), attended school(elementary and college), and had a wedding!This has been a challenging, rewarding, unexpected, and life-changing year for our family. Among many, many other things we have moved three times and held four jobs (collectively), attended school (elementary and college), and had a wedding!Sarah Helene (Crawford) Bruington and Stephen Boyd Bruington
were married on November 28, 2009 in Rocky Mount, Virginia.Earlier this year, Jennifer finished second grade with high marks and began a fun, relaxing summer. In August, Jennifer started third grade at Rocky Mount Elementary where she is part of an Accelerated Reader program. She loves her friends, teachers, and cafeteria lunches. Jennifer is doing well in every subject, and showing steady improvement in math. It’s hard to believe she will be nine in July; she is already quite a lady.
This has been a uproarious year for Sarah. Towards the end of the summer, Sarah hitched a trailer to her car, packed them both to overflowing, and began the two thousand mile journey from Utah to Virginia. She has experienced a whirlwind of changes, but handled each of them beautifully. In January, Sarah was a single woman, living in Utah, and working for T-Mobile. As of December, Sarah is a wife, step-mother, living in Virginia and working as a stay-at-home mom.
Stephen has also been privy to life’s curve-balls this year. He spent the first half of the year living in Utah, and moved back to Virginia in June. Stephen started the year as a student at Virginia Western Community College, but had to withdraw from classes and wait for a better time to finish his degree. He has worked for three different companies this year, including McDonald’s. Stephen is currently working for UnitedHealthcare, and is licensed to sell health insurance in all fifty states.
Mendy, the family dog is a thirteen year old black lab. She is full of spirit, but struggles with upper respiratory problems. Mendy has given the family a few scares this year, but she is alive and healthy.
We wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, and hope you are able to spend this holiday season with your friends, family and loved ones.
It is important to us to be a part of your life, but we may not have your contact information. Please send an email to
thebruingtons at gmail.com.
If you have not already done so, visit our wedding and engagement photo galleries online at stephenbruington.com/wedding, and stephenbruington.com/engagement.
With love,
Stephen, Sarah, Jennifer and Mendy
I’ve started another project which I call, “Expanding Vocabulary“. If you are interested in learning new words please bookmark this page and come back often.
Here’s an excerpt from the Project page:
I am steadily, and increasingly dumbfounded at the words used by people with which I come in contact. I have learned a substantial percentage of the words I use from reading books. On that same subject, I find it laughable how many people have told me, “I hate reading.”