Mark Forester

Written by Chase

This post is breaking from our normal updates about the Layton household. In fact, we have held off on the normal updates and our trip to China post until a week or two from now. We didn't feel we could do any of that until we had properly expressed our feelings about the passing of one of our dearest college friends. Mark Forester was killed in combat in Afghanistan on September 29. He was a Senior Airman and Combat Controller, which is considered Air Force special forces.

On the night of Sept. 29, Kristin was out, and Cade and I were home alone. I had put him to bed, and I was in our room watching TV when Kristin came home. Kim (Kristin's sister) had called Kristin while she was at the store, and she immediately came home and delivered the bad news. When Kristin came into our room from being out, she gave me the bad news while crying. To be quite honest, I had a feeling for a couple weeks that this was coming. On Sept 11th, I heard a public service announcement come on the radio that suggested contacting and sending packages to our troops overseas. I felt it was a great idea, and so I decided to do that for Mark, since he is the only close friend I have that was currently serving actively. I have always been extremely proud of Mark for deciding to serve, and I always wanted to express that to him, but being a guy, expressing feelings seems to be hard I guess. Although I told him several times I was proud and grateful for his service, I never really felt he understood HOW grateful I was. So upon hearing the PSA on the radio, I decided this would be a great time to do that by sending a small package and a letter expressing those feelings. So I got on Facebook that day and Mark just so happened to be on at the same time. I needed his address, so I asked him for it. Here is the conversation that followed:

Mark: I'm still in Afghanistan. You wanting my address over here? How are things buddy?

Chase: Yeah what is your address over there. Things are good here. Big football matchups today so I am parked on the couch.

Mark: (Gives address) I'm pissed I don't get to watch hardly any football over here. I'm gonna try to watch some bright and early my time, which means it will be evening ya'lls time. hopefully I can catch the last part of the Bama game.

Chase: Yeah should be good. So if I wanted to send a package to that address, would it get there? You gonna be there awhile?

Mark: It's funny you ask. I was supposed to go home in November, the exact date I'm not sure. But literally 5 minutes ago, I got a message saying I may need to extend for 3 months, so I have no clue. Not sure how many bullets I can dodge, so I may be home much quicker, haha. Yeah, packages get here. We have to have helo's bring them to us, so sometimes it takes a while. Thanks tho buddy.

Chase: Cool. Well you better stay safe.

In Mark's last message to me, it is hard to explain, but I had an impression that something would happen to him. It was more than just a thought or worry. So going back to when Kristin broke the news that night, the first thing that came into my mind was an uneasy, "I knew it". I consider it little tiny miracles that lead me to have that last conversation with my dear friend. Even though he did not receive my package, he at least knew that we were thinking of him back home, and were grateful for what he was doing. I hope it brought a little comfort to him.

We met Mark quickly after moving to Tuscaloosa, but it was when our friend Michael put together an intramural flag football team that we really started to get to know him, as well as many other friends, much better. We will always be grateful for how that team started so many strong friendships. Kristin told me a story recently about something Mark had said to her room mate Debbie soon after we arrived to Tuscaloosa. Kristin and I were dating at the time and just broke up (which only lasted for the semester). Mark noticed us not sitting together at church and asked Debbie if we had broken up. When she told him that we had, he said something along the lines of "Aw, thats too bad". Contrary to what Debbie thought he was going to say next, he paused, and said, "I bet he needs a friend, maybe I should hang out with him." And he did. For the next 4 years. Mark was a great friend to me and to Kristin.

The last time we were able to spend time with Mark was at the beginning of 2010. His brother was flying into town in Huntsville, and we coordinated with him to come up early to visit before he had to pick him up. This was his first time to see Cade in person. It didn't take long for Cade to be comfortable around him, and before you knew it they were throwing a ball back and forth. We hung out at our house and then went out to eat at BridgeStreet in Huntsville since it was on the way to the airport. We are grateful we had that opportunity.

I just want to express my heartfelt gratitude to Mark's family, and to the rest of our armed forces who put their lives on the line daily for me and my family. I think with being so advanced technologically, and the way that we fight wars now, that we as Americans can easily forget what is really going on out there. We sit here safe in our homes with somewhat little cares, and seem to forget about those out there fighting for us to enjoy that safety and freedom. I feel truly blessed to have had a friend in Mark through college and beyond. He was and still is an example to me. We had so many great times together, whether it was playing video games, sports, working out, practicing to try-out for Alabama's football team as punters, or just hanging out at each others houses. He is a hero to me and my family, and we will always remember him. I cannot wait to see him again on the other side.

Here are a few pictures of his funeral services that our friend Michael took. If you haven't already, I suggest you visit his website to see a more detailed post of the services, and a ton of great pictures.

Here are two direct links. One for his tribute to Mark: http://www.michaelthemaven.com/?postID=1586&tribute-to-an-american-hero-mark-forester. The other is his post about the funeral services: http://www.michaelthemaven.com/?postID1597&mark-forester-air-force-burial.

This was a sight to see. We showed up right as it started at 2:00 and it was standing room only and we were in the doorway shown in the far corner of the gym. The placed was packed.



It was very touching upon arriving to Haleyville to see every single sign in town stating something about Mark. And then after the funeral we were moved even more by the vast amounts of people standing alongside the road that the procession was taking to stand with their flags to show support and love.

These signs were up EVERYWHERE. From local businesses to people's yards, there were hundreds of them.

Mark received full military honors for his burial. I was really proud to see how our country takes care of their own, especially when paying the ultimate sacrifice. I held it together fairly well up until the flyover. Four F-16's were in formation to fly over us, and then right as they came over our location, one broke off formation and went straight upward. My guess was that it was to signify a team-mate leaving and ascending up heavenward. The remaining 3 jets continued on, still in their perfect formation but now missing a man.

Here are some older pictures we dug up. We hope you enjoy them. The first two were taken in Mobile when we were down for Daylyn and Jill's wedding reception. Kristin and I were freshmen in college, so this was taken in the fall of 2004.

Intramural basketball. I want to say this was in 2007. We played against Tyrone Prothro's team and got spanked. It was a good time though, and we were all excited to get this picture with him.

This was at our wedding reception. Mark actually caught Kristin's garter.

He was quite pleased as you can see.

I love this picture.

Typical Mark. He probably wore that for the next couple of months. He told us that he had it hanging on his bed post for a while.

We love Mark and will miss him dearly. We cannot wait until we get to be with him again on the other side. Until then brother...

August Happenings

This month so far has brought on a lot of changes. First off, Roxanne has officially moved to China and we are now Nonni-less. The day she left was really rough, and I know the next 2 years are going to be pretty lonely without everyone here. When we were at the airport saying goodbye to Nonni (and as she was bawling her eyes out), Cade was very concerned about what was wrong with her and just kept staring at her with his very distressed, scrunched up look on his face and saying "wa-wa" over and over as he pointed to her eyes. He asks for her all the time so he is really going to miss her. We are very glad, though, for her going-away present of Hallmark books. Each book has recording of a different member of the Layton family reading it. Cade LOVES them. He would sit there and flip through them all day if I let him. He gets mad at me when I put them away.

Cade and Nonni. I told him to cheese and this is what he did.

Some other new things that have happened this month:

• Cade and I can go out and about as we please now. Our misery of being stuck in the house (for 8 months) is now over. We have a wonderful Honda Pilot to drive for the next 2 years (thanks Laytons!) We will take great care of it:)
• Chase started school this week. He is going back for his MBA. He is still working full-time at his regular job and is taking 2 classes each semester at night.
• I received a new calling at church this past Sunday- 2nd counselor in the Relief Society Presidency.
  

Onto my favorite part- my little goober munchkin:

Always walking around in Mommy or Daddy's shoes. I hope he doesn't become too fond of mine..

Yogurt anyone?

Cheese!

Every weekend, Chase has been making make-shift blanket tents for Cade, and he LOVES them. He will just grab your hand and say "play" and lead you to the tent.

So, thanks to Nonni, Cade now has a real tent to play in and it's huge.

Woah. Give this guy my number, PU-lease!

My poor baby's boo-boo. He touched the pan on the stove and screamed for 2 hours straight. It looks worse in person.

Who he wants to be when he grows up- Mr. Potato Head.

Jack and Kate's Fruit Loop necklaces

And Cade's.

He wears this out until it dies. No lie. I just love how much he tries to do what I do...when it comes to housecleaning.

Billionaire material.

Surprise! and Goodbyes:(

Pa Pa (Chase's dad) made a surprise visit last week. He has been in China since January so everyone was more than thrilled to see him. Cade especially loved his visit and still cries to go see Pa Pa at least twice a day.

Here's the duo together on the 4th.

Our small fireworks display. Most of the time Cade was distracted with our neighbors much better fireworks so that must tell you something.

Sad day. Pa Pa left to go back to China, and Seth and Cody went with him. Cade's favorite person is Seth so this change will be hard for him. We got to see Cody for a total of 2 1/2 hours. He flew in the night before they left for China. We hadn't seen him since Christmas, but Cade warmed up to him really fast and ran around calling "Tody, Tody, Tody" for the 2 1/2 hours. See you guys at Christmas!

Chase had his 10 year high school reunion a couple of weeks ago (what an old fart). Chase decided that he only wanted to go to the family picnic that afternoon. Sad we didn't get any pictures with his best friend Joel, his wife Desiree, and son Jax, who came in from Louisiana. It's always good to see them. We did, however, seem to only get pictures of Cade (since apparently that is the only thing we take pictures of) jumping around in this big, blow-up, bouncy thing outside.

Cade and Jax.

Our little baby bird. It's really cute when he does this so we kind of do it often.

Creepy Daddy...

Cade's favorite shirt on the planet. Sesame Street is his crack.

Is that a girl? Na, just Cade playing dress up with his friend Sarabeth. She insisted that Cade (or rather "Kristin" is what she called him most of the time) wanted to play dress up and that he wanted to wear this dress. So why not just have fun with it and send pictures to Chase to make him mad? It's what any mother would do.

Dress like a cow for free Chick-Fil-A day? Yes, please! Since we don't own real cow garb, we all put on a bunch of homemade spots, headbands with ears, and an "Eat More Chikin" sign. Madison, Jack, and Kate are sporting their spots. Kate, I don't think it goes there....

Bridgestreet. Just strip him down and make him happy.

He always gives this dog big hugs and kisses and says "Aww".

And then sits on him??

So, Cade's favorite thing to do is help me unload the dishwasher. No lie. If he hears it open or if I say, "Do you want to help me with the dishwasher?", he comes running full speed. (I even have a lock on it to keep him out). He loves putting all the silverware in the drawer, stacking up all the bowls and plates and handing them to me (only had one accident so far), shaking all the water off of the tupperware, and getting distracted playing with everything else.

I hope he becomes this excited about doing the dishes and cleaning the bathroom when he's older because he can have at it!

I think I've learned that my style for this blog is pretty much random pictures with random descriptions. And I'm okay with that.

Alright, already....

It has been 2 months since my last update. Honestly, I've been neglecting blogging because, well, there is just not a whole lot happening lately that I feel is worthy to report. For the most part, things have been pretty uneventful at the Layton household. I'm not really sure if that is a good or a bad thing. Eventful or not, however, Cade is still growing and learning new things every day. So basically this is yet another post of just a whole lot of pictures. It must be apparent by now how obsessed we are with our kid. But how could we not? Just look at this face-

His favorite thing is to be outside. We can't even say that word around him because he will freak out and run to the door. Whenever anyone comes through the front door and shuts it, he freaks out because he wants to go outside. He is 100% boy.

His favorite person in the world right now is Seth. It's always "Se" this and "Se" that. He even cries for Seth.

Out on the Norris's boat. Cade's first time on a boat and he loved it. Didn't get an actual picture of him on the boat though because I was too distracted with Chase jumping in the lake with his IPhone in his pocket! Don't worry, somehow, he managed to fix it:)

We took Cade to feed the ducks one afternoon. He had a blast. When he first started to feed them, he would laugh his head off when they gobbled up his bread.

Cade wanted too badly to get the ducks in the water, so we had to keep him in our grasp. He sure is a quick one.

I love it when I walk into a room and catch Cade doing something cute. This particular day, I came into his room and found him looking at a book. He looked like such a big boy sitting up there all by himself.

Handsome all ready for church.

Always a goofball.

One morning I was out in the family room and I hear Cade in our room saying "shoe" over and over. I go in to see what he's up to and found him in his daddy's shoes. It was adorable.

And again. He thinks it's so funny. And then he tries to walk in them. That's not too funny. For him that is.

I've been watching Jack and Kate whenever my sister has her doctor's appointments. Hooray for her 4th baby! Due at the end of October! This day we made pancakes into cute critters. Don't you just love my retro counter tops? Yeah, don't worry, I don't either.

We also stripped them all down and let them loose outside to play in the sprinkler. Extremely entertaining and quite hilarious.

Cade had his first day of nursery on Sunday! My little boy is growing up way too fast!! Here he is with his nursery teacher, Sister Callahan, who is WONDERFUL.

My little Russian.

For those of you who don't get a chance to hear a little one jabber non stop all day long, you are sure missing out. One of the things I really love about the toddler stage is how Cade is learning to talk. He does say a lot of actual words, but for the most part, he says a whole lot-a-nothin. It's so cute to see him try to communicate. Here is a little video of him jabbering his head off. That's always the best.