MY SON LEFT FOR BASIC TODAY 11/5

[lisajoemerald]

We all had such a positive experience today at MEPS. We stayed in the hotel last night with our son and had a wonderful dinner together. Woke up today and went to MEPS and were able to see our son right away. We watched him swear in with many others and it was amazing. We were able to take so many wonderful pictures and WOW was it ever emotional. I am so impressed at how they allow the family to be a part of this experience and they treated us wonderful. We were even able to go thru security with our son and watch him board the plane and take off. It was heart wrenching watching that plane fly away. I realized today that he really has just began his journey as an adult. He is amazing and so proud to be in the NAVY. He will go through a lot in basic, but I have confidence that he will be strong. I told him that no matter how difficult times may be, its only for right now and there are so many positive things ahead to look forward to. I love my one and only son and I am so proud........He called me as soon as the plane landed from his cell phone and said "Mom Im here, you should see it. Start writing Mom, I love you, gotta go......I was so happy to hear his voice allready......May all you have the same experience as we did.......Please let us know how you are all doing. SWOLLEN EYES, BUT PROUD...HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY

[proudofmyseabeeandsnipe]

My son flew up to bootcamp on the night of the 5th also, this is my baby of 3, I did this a couple of years ago with my middle son. I thought that it would be easier, it's not.

[lisajoemerald]

Thank you so very much for responding. I was hoping to meet someone who's son shipped out the same day. How is your middle son doing? Is he still in the Navy? I hope he is doing wonderful. I bet it was just as hard with your middle son. My son bought me a small token that said STRENGTH on it and gave it to me before he left. It made me cry, but it has helped me so very much. Please keep in touch and Have a wonderful day. If I hear anything I will let you know.

[lisajoemerald]

Hello,
Sure hope you are doing good. I recieved my graduation letter today and he was able to write on the comments. I was so so happy. He said he was doing good:) I want to dance today...Ha, Ha.... His graduation is Jan. 8th. I'm really happy now that he seems to be good. Please let me know how things are going there. Have a super wonderful day...

[Gefyon]

My boy arrived in Great Lakes last night as well. Shipped out from Denver. We didn't go to MEPS to see him off, it was too far away (we live in the middle of nowhere wyoming, lol), and he said it would be easier if I wasn't there. So we dropped him off with his recruiter yesterday AM, he went to Casper to catch the shuttle to Denver and spent the night at MEPS. He was in a bit of a panic that night because he was 2 pounds over the weight limit when he got to denver. So he was planning on sitting in the sauna and skipping dinner, lol. Apparently it worked though - they did let him go.

The only real hard part is not being in touch, lol. I have a zillion questions but they will have to wait. He will do fine in bootcamp - he made the decision carefully and prepared as much he could, both physically and mentally for what is to come.

I can't wait to see him at graduation though - see how he has changed, see that gleam of pride in his eyes for knowing that he accepted a challenge and rose to meet it. I am so excited for him, lol.

Anyway, guess we should post our ship info once we received it. Hopefully it won't be too long before i get an adress and can start sending the letters I have been writing.

[lisajoemerald]

I am so glad you will be going to graduation. I am counting down the days allready. I have heard it is an amazing and proud day for both our children and us. I agree that one of the hardest part is not being in contact with your son. I think about it every day and night, woundering how he is doing, has he slept yet, etc.......I am glad your son mad the decision carefully and was prepared before he left, it makes it a whole lot easier knowing that. I have allready been writing and just waiting for an address. I can't wait for 3 weeks, he said he will be able to call home. Horray! for that. I was happy to hear from him when they gave them their first phone call the same day he left. LOL
I will let you know if I hear anything, thank you with all my heart for writing. It helps to have someone to talk to.
Please keep in contact and have a super wonderful day.

[lisajoemerald]

HORRAY! I got my graduation letter today! I was so very happy...Have you gotten yours? I sure hope so. I was excited with joy....He graduates January 8th....He wrote I miss you and cant wait to see you....Im doing good here :) He said Please write as much as you can.....I love you....

Please let me know how you are doing......

[Gefyon]

Oh btw, he did say that he was told that during bootcamp, they can sometimes earn the privilege of going to the computer lab to access their emails and such (just a possibility, not a guarantee). So keep an eye out for that.

Guess I will call the recruiter Monday and see if he has an address yet. Already have letters to mail! lol.

[lisajoemerald]

Hi, I got my sons address today, I sure hope you got yours. I am not quite sure how to address the envelope it is so long...LOL...Plz let me know if you found anything out. Im sending mail tommorow. I am so excited. Have a great evening..

[Gefyon]

Nothing as of 11/9, but mail takes a while to arrive out here in the middle of nowhere. So I should get it sometime this week. I'll keep ya posted.

Good to know you got yours though. Mine should be here shortly.

/excited

[samm]

hi there! My son, Patrick leaves for boot camp on the 24th. I'm nervous and excited at the same time. He is fine though and looking forward to his new life in the Navy.
Reading your posts have been comforting to me...thanks
Samm

[lisajoemerald]

Hi Samm,
I truly understand how you are feeling. I was so nervous and excited at the same time also. I did everything I could with my son before he left. I took a few days off from work and we went on a road trip just him and I. It was a blast. We had no idea where we were going, but we ended up in Leavensworth WA. We just talked, I cried and laughed so much in the car. It was a great memory for us. We had Christmas on Oct 24th and 25th at grandpas...We put up the tree and all the decorations and Yeah Santa came...LOL...He got prepaid calling cards, an address book, stamps and a few other things in his stocking...I tried to do as much as I could before he left and really it was just about spending good quality time together. I really struggled the evening before we went to meps to watch him swear in, during the swear in was so emotional and when his airplane flew off down the runway. I just miss him and worry about him, however I know he is in good hands in the Navy. I just feel blessed to have a hero, my son. We are blessed Samm and I know our boys will do great. Please keep in touch and let me know how you are doing. We can get through this all together. Have a wonderful day and enjoy your son each and every second of the day....
Lisa

[lisajoemerald]

Hi Samm,
How are you doing? I sure hope you are doing good. I know the 24th is getting closer and I wanted to check and see how you are holding up. I just heard from my son for the first time today and he sounded really great. Said he was doing really good with a :) That made me know that our boys are going to be good. Please let me know how things are going. Have a wonderful day...