The Cyber Sisterhood

Sandra - I'm so sorry to hear that so much is going on for your family, you are in my thoughts as well. If it helps any, I have a best friend in Iraq right now. He's in the Army and stays bored out of his mind. He's online 90% of his day, the only time he isn't is chow time. There really isn't much action going on over there from what he tells me. I hope that eases your mind a little.

Sandra, last night I told my family about you and about what is going on right now. My (almost 12 yr old) daughter turned around and with the biggest eyes and full of excitment she said, "She is going to get a BLESSING!!"

My experience in life has been that following something very difficult the Lord always gives us a big blessing. It's usually in the form of a surprise of some sort, something we never anticipated. I've told my children about this and they've observed it themselves. They believe me about that happening. So, when she heard about that big hardship she really became excited for you, believing fully that a blessing or blessings for you are on the way. The timing is alway is the Lord's hands. That is something we can never predict and I've have told my kids that too, plus they've observed it. But just wait. It will happen.

Please take care. Sometimes in difficult moments we are overly hard on ourselves, thinking that we caused something to happen somehow and that only adds to our stress and makes things worse. Try to be a little extra kind to yourself and the same for your husband, he probably could use being a little bit gentler on himself right now too. Hang in there. Big hugs.

He hasn't said anything about her, but there always seems to be a female voice in the background when I call him on the phone. So I guess he is still seeing her. I'm not sure if they're in the same class now, or not.

Today we went down to the beach to see the lowest tide of the year. While we were there we saw a sea otter running on the beach! That's something I've never seen before. They don't come out of the water like that very often.

I'd sure like to have the need for one of those jackets right now. It's 100 degrees here.

I think if my week continues this way I'm going to kill someone so instead I figured you all could give me some comfort. We finally got our washer/dryer Wednesday and its broke. After a big mess with that, we have to wait until Saturday for someone to once again come out to look at it. It doesn't need to be fixed, it needs to be replaced before my house burns down. Not only that but I have told you all in the past that I have arthritis in my knees. Well we tried to make an appt to get into the doc because I can barely walk and we can't make me an appt. Apparently even though I have been under Shawn for the last 7-8 months, I'm not in the system under him. Now I have to jump through hoops get everything fixed when it wasn't messed up. On everything I am under him but for some reason it shows I am still under my dad. I just want to get in so I can get fixed and not hurt and I can't drug myself to get by. Anyways I hope everyone is doing okay...I'm going to go crawl into a corner and hopefully get some much need sleep...

Sarah - I'm sorry to hear that you are having such a mess of a time. I needed to go to the doc when I got here to CT but found our that we still had to do things as well to have me under Ryan. I had to go to Tri-Care fill out a bunch more papers and wait for another month to be added to Prime. It was so frustrating but once everything for straighten out we were happy with it.

Phyllis - Congrats to your son for making PO, my hubby goes up for it in Sept.

Hey Ladies~ Good afternoon :)

Sandra~Sending prayers your way. Your strength never ceases to amaze me. I will agree with Tricia and her daughter..wonderful blessing are headed your way.
Sarah~ Hang in there girlie. It can only get better.
Phyllis~ I love the picture, and no it is not too big. :) Very handsome, and a BIG Congrats to David. I think David and Justin classed up a week before Ed. I have to be truthful, and say...I agree with the "not" really want to share him. heehee.
Slimsam~I am ready to BURST!!! lol. I received his sign today from Build-A-Sign. It only cost me shipping. WooHoo!!
Beverly~Hey U :)) How is Phillip doing? Ed will be graduating this Friday. He passed is comps and is now PettyOffice 3rd class. :))) I am picking him up at the airport on Saturday. I just might be sitting there on Friday. lol. Jk. .

I am so very grateful for each one of you ladies. :))

Completely off-topic... some things just have to be shared.

German student attacks Hell's Angels with puppy

Arwen - I guess no one can be mad at a puppy LOL

Okay! Today is the big day!! Have a WONDERFUL time, Colleen.I know emotions must be running high and that you will be full of excitment and anticipation on that drive to the airport! We're so happy for you! : )

Sarah, we're looking forward to hearing that life has settled down for you there, and especially that you start to feel better.

Slimsam, what did you have them write on the sign?! Maybe you could tell us or post a picture of it?

Rosa, how long will your son be able to spend with you?! I know you'll enjoy every minute! You're in California, aren't you?

Phyllis, that's a super nice picture! I had to go back and look at it more than once! : )

Have a nice day everyone!

Hi there ladies!! Awww, all our Sailor Babies are making it to the big time!! :-) Phyllis - your David looks absolutely handsome!! I know you are proud! He has sort of a Patrick Swayze look about him somehow. Maybe its how he was cutting his eyes. :-)

Rosa - Phillip is plodding right along. Some weeks are better than others. He started several weeks after Ed, so I don't think his graduation is until August. Have fun with your son!!!!!!!!! :-) I'm very proud of him!!! Nuke school is no joke!

((((Colleen)))) - have a wonderful time with your son. I was just-a-smiling when you were sharing all the ways he has matured. :-) I know you are just busting with pride!! Send pics when you get them!! (you too Rosa).

(((Sandra))) I'm so sorry for your news. I'll be so glad when this crazy economy evens out. I'm be praying for you and your family and I'm in agreement with Navy/Army - a blessing is in the works! Remember, before the spring blossoms bloom - there is always a dormant winter, where everything looks barren and life-less - but God is already at work, deep underground the plants are already preparing to push through the soil and into the spring. We just can't see what is going on "behind the scenes".

Arwen - I'm so glad for Chris. Still "rooting" (sp???) for him. I'm very glad that they changed him to afternoon hours. :-)

Okay, Dearie (Colleen) you made me get tears in my eyes as I read your post and pictured it in my mind. (the airport). I'm so happy for you, you deserve it so much after waiting for so long to see him. I hope you have a really nice visit!

Beverly, I think that you're right about everything you said! I agree with you about Nuke School too. It's very demanding, there's no doubt about that.

((((((((Colleen)))))))) :-) Keep us posted on the details when you can. Everything from your airport greeting all the way through your son trying to figure out how to introduce himself made me just smile, smile, smile!! Have fun sweetie. Let us proud N4M aunties know how things are going.

Excited, my husband just got home from class. He graduated TCNO today with a 95 average and is now just in hold for A school. I am sooo very proud of my Sailor. He found out that he may get to take the test in Sept to become a Petty Officer 3rd class as well.

Thank you, I am. He's always doubted himself in other jobs but I knew that he could do more. In the Navy he is finally seeing in himself what I have for the 4 years we have been together.

Aww congrats. I am sure once Sept. comes he will ace the test.

So I found out the problem with tricare. From what I can figure, tircare (north region) hasn't updated their file on me since I was in 5th grade. Apparently when Shawn went to fix it they had an old address from New Jersey. So with that fixed, my week is still not going so well. I have a few choices and would like some advice. I had a hard time finding a school up here that had education degrees. If they did it was graduate degrees or human development. Well apparently Maryland decided that they didn't want me. So I can either get an associates or just wait until we move again and have to pay on my loans. I kinda feel like getting an associates is fine but Shawn wants me to get it in education instead of something like computer information. I don't mind waiting because we are wanting Guam and if I went there then my mom would be happy since that's where she went. Anyways I hope everyones week is going better then mine and any advice would be helpful.

Sarah - I am going to Ashford University online. They have several BA degrees that you can do 100% online and credits transfer in. If you want more info on them I can get it for you. They also have a military spouse program that pays for your books and $350 of each class. I really like it. You take one class at a time for 5 wks.

Colleen - Thanks :-) and I'm so glad to hear that Justin has made it home to spend some time with the family.

Colleen, guess what? I came downstairs this morning and Craig was asleep on the couch too! I got him to transfer himself upstairs to his bed to get some better sleep. It was 6:30AM when I discovered him there. I think he stayed up so late on the computer that he was so exhausted that he just plopped himself down at the soonest available spot! He did some yard work for his dad yesterday too in the blazing temperatures. No one asked him to do it, he just did it.

Congratualtions, Janie. Isn't that exciting?! You have an exciting future ahead of you being a Navy wife! : )

Hi ladies!! I took my youngest daughter and my niece to see Karate Kid - it is a really good movie. The first Karate Kid came out when I was a teenager - and I remember liking that one to...though it was soooooooo long ago I can't remember any particulars about it.

Colleen - love the ancedotes about your Justin. :-) I hope you keep having a great time with him!

Navy/Army - your Craig sounds like such a thoughtful kid - :-)

Way to go Mr. Janie!!! PO3 here you come!!!!!

BooBoo - KSU has an ed degree online don't they?????? Why can't you just finish what you started at KSU?

Beverly, as fas I know they don't. Every education class I took there was in the classroom with a field experience.

Janie, thanks! I talked to Shawn about the next 2 years and I think I am going to get an associates in computers but I might look into taking the time and getting one in biological sciences.

Congratulations to Nichelle and her new car. We parents always like to know that they have a safe and good running car!

Sarah, good luck to you. It seems to me that the medical field is really going to be busier than ever. Like the others said either one sounds right on target to today's job opportunities.

Beverly, how did you like Karate Kid? My hubby is taking our 12 yr. old to see Toy Story Three in 3 D today as part of her 12th birthday celebration. ( I predict a terrible line for them to get in as it just came out yesterday) She turned twelve yesterday. Today her brother (home from the Navy) is taking her out to pick out a birthday present after she goes to the movies with Dad. I'm going out to buy her a pretty new comforter and then it's Tacos at home (per her request) and birthday cake afterwards tonight and a game of Apples to Apples together.

She wants a cell phone soooo badly. We said no. She's so disappointed. I don't know what to do about it. I'd appreciate your opinions regarding cell phones at her age. There have been issues at the school about it with some of the kids. I wish her school would ban them like some other schools have around the country. She says she's "the only kid in the school who doesn't have one". She's really obsessed about getting one. My husband says "no",
Her brothers are quite leary over the idea too, as they said that inappropriate pictures can be sent to her by kids and she could open a message up on her phone and there it would be. What do y'all think? I so wish the school would just ban them, period.

Navy/ArmyMom- Yes that can happen and it seems to have increased in the last few years. My parents didn't get me a cell phone until I hit high school and that was only so I could call them to pick me up when staying late. Shawn's step sister is 13 and she has one when she can find it. Plus they have had to buy her many new ones to replace the ones she has lost or damaged. But then again she only has it so her parents can keep track of where she is since she is always going back and forth between houses.

Hey Ladies~ Good afternoon:))))) I am just a few hours from finally getting to pick Ed up at the airport. WOOOHOOO!!! I just really, really want to hug him. I am going to try not to embarass him at the airport, but I am not going to bet on it!! I have so much to do and not a lick of energy. My wonderful dogs alerted me to the fact that a couple of Amanda's friends were tp'ing the house and saran wrapping my car. I caught them and made them clean it up. lol. Then.. drove them back to their houses.:) Had to make sure they made it home safe. Finally, got to bed around 3:00.

Colleen~ The pictures of Justin are great:). Wow, it is very cool to hear that he is now advising "new" Deppers. It definitely makes a momma proud.I love the truck story. Ed and I were just talking about how long it has been since he had driven a car.lol. And...it's FINALLY HERE!!! I just may tackle him at the airport. lol.

Tricia~ Yep, I'm in So. Cal. Love the weather...dislike the economy. Ed will be here for a week. On the cell phone issue...Manda's has had one since she was 12. I made SURE to lay down the rules, before it was given to her. It can be a useful tool as far as reaching her directly (after school activities, friends, and such) ,or a GREAT grounding tool. I made sure to get unlimited texting...very important!! Manda is now 15. Joy!!! jk.

Beverly~Is Phillip's A school the same length as MM A school? Everything I read about A school graduation said...not a big deal. Power school is supposed to be another matter. He asked me not to plan too any things, because he just wanted to "chill". I have to agree with you.. Nuke school is NO joke! lol

Janie~Congrats to your husband. :)) It's wonderful that he is becoming aware of his own potential.

Pam~I will definitely say "hi" to Ed from you. I plan to sit him down in front of the computer, so that I can introduce him to all of you wonderful ladies. Even..if only by picture/posts.

Sandra~Congrats to Nichelle on the new car. It sounds like she really did her leg work. She is really blossoming.

Well Ladies...I am off to try to get a couple things accomplished, before I become an emotional mess. lol. ((hugs to you all)). It seems that once again...only y'all understand where I am coming from. Have a wonderful weekend.

My daughter has had a cell phone since she was 8. When we decided to go with cell phones we also eliminated our landline. We saw no reason to have (pay for!) both. But we didn't want to leave the kids alone at home without a phone - the boys babysat our daughter when we went out - so we did the family plan and everyone got a cell phone. That included our daughter because every once in a while her school bus would get her home before I got there and she was very upset if she couldn't call me.

We approached their phones with the attitude that the phone is a tool, or as my kids call them, "mom's leash." We never treated phones like a privilege, only as a way for me to find out where they were, and when they'd be home, LOL. So they never saw the phones as anything special. To this day they have aversions to using the phones more than absolutely necessary for required communications.

There sure is a lot going on for everyone. Being military moms is certainly not boring!

Thank you for all of your input regarding the cell phone.

Rosa, I know you're happy as Ed is now home. I know the reunion at the airport must have been very special.

Hi Colleen! The family BBQ sounded very special and the birthday celebration for him too! I know it meant a lot to all of you and especially to Justin. That's so nice that he was home close to his birthday. I know the time together is winding down now for you too. Enjoy today and I guess tomorrow? We'll talk soon.

Craig is about to head back today. Yes, we're having to say goodbye to him. He wants to get back one day in advance. He will arrive back very late tonight so he will have Monday to regroup and get settled back in. I think he had a good rest, I think a part of him is wanting to go back and a part of him wants to stay here. I told myself that I will not allow myself feel all blue and mopey today after he leaves. I'm going to be strong and keep my chin up and look forward to Thanksgiving, as I do believe that he will be able to come back for that. (hopefully)

Well, talk is cheap, as no matter how much I want to try to hide it, the goodbye syndrome is lurking around me like a thunderstorm cloud that can be seen off in the distance slowly approaching. Darn it, I'm going to stay strong and be positive. I really want to do that.

Happy Father's Day!

That's exciting that you're going to see him in two weeks to bring him his truck! No wonder you're holding strong!!

I'm hanging in there, especially because I see his spirits are quite high...I think he's kind of excited to get back so that eases my heart. I'm going to be able to be strong but no mom can help but to feel that feeling in her heart when seeing her son or daughter off, especially in the military. But I'm determined to keep it hidden and to try to ignore it.

Our Army son will be home this Friday for two weeks. We're getting another blessing this summer!! He parachutes for the first time tomorrow from the airplane. Gulp. His spirits are good too.

God bless them all. I'll breath a sigh of relief when our Navy son calls late tonight and says, "I've arrived safely". We all know how this feels. I'm so glad we have each other here, we know that we are understood by each other. We all travel the same road in this journey. God bless y'all and I'll talk to you this week before or after work. Happy Dad's Day again.

Colleen, I imagine Justin is on his way now. I hope his spirits are good too. I was amazed at how happy and excited Craig was to get back today! I'm so happy about that. He's used to being busy and although a vacation is always nice, I could tell that he was ready to get back to his life in the Navy! I'm so grateful for that. I just came back from Church. I put in some strong prayers for his safe travel back and also prayed for our Army son's first jump tomorrow. I feel more at peace now.

Until tomorrow, God bless all of you and your Sailors!

That was a very nice surprise, Sandra! Hang in there! Is this his first deployment?
Hearing about temperatures like that, I'm going to stop complaining.

P.S. Thankfully, our son has arrived back safely.

We just want to warm up. We haven't even hit 70 yet this year, today barely hit 67, the warmest day this week. I'll skip the 90s and 100s, though. There's nothing in the world that would get me to go where it's 130. I begin melting at 75.

When Chris comes home it's sure to heat up, because he's looking forward to getting out of the Florida temperatures. Therefore we're going to have one our Chetco Effect weeks.

Wait, I'm confused. Why couldn't he get into his room, and what happened to his keys and security badge.

Arwen and I need to be updated. We didn't know anything about this part.

Hi guys....I'm so glad that the travellers are safely "home". Can't wait to hear how much fun Rosa is having. :-)

Re cellphones - my youngest turned 11 in March, and she received a cell phone for her birthday - I have the texting and applications blocked (via the cellphone co.) so she can't run up a bill and can't receive inappropriate messages/pics. She really needed one because she is just now starting to stay at home alone for short periods, and because is has a lot of activities. So far, so good.

Rosa - Phillip is an EM - his A school is longer because EM's are a combination of ET and MM - so that have to know some of both of those. I forgot that his was longer than the others.

Its been near 100 (and sometimes hits 100) for about a week. A/C is my favorite invention!! :-)

Phillip has a big test tomorrow...prayers please. :-)

Chris got verbal orders today - to Maryland. No details (like which base). There are several possibilities.

Army
* Aberdeen Proving Grounds
* Fort Detrick
* Fort Meade
* Fort Ritchie
Navy
* Patuxent River NAS
* U.S. Naval Academy
Air Force
* Andrews AFB

I've seen a number of ITs go to Fort Meade or Andrews AFB, but any of the others are still possibilities. It would be incredibly weird if he got sent to the Naval Academy.

Can't wait to hear, Arwen.

Me too, Colleen! Need I say more either?!! Bye! : (

I'm a little miffed, but okay with it. It's too far away to visit, but too close to feel that he's really "far away." The idea of never getting to visit would be easier if he were in Europe or Japan. Having him in our own country but completely out of reach is frustrating. But there's always skype.

Funny thing is I applied to a job at Fort Meade the same day he got his verbals, the day before he told us about them. It would be so funny if I got that job!

How tragic. We'll definitely pray for him. Cars and motorcycles are their greatest danger when they're young. Definitely keep us posted.

Colleen, just relax and enjoy it all! The Quality Inn is very close to the base, the staff is wonderful, but there is a very noisy train that goes by OFTEN! I would think that every motel or hotel on Red Bank Road would hear it though. My husband would not stay there again due to the train, but I would.

No matter where you are you're going to have a great time. South Carolina is really pretty, bright, cheerful and has a beachy feeling! So, enjoy every minute.
I'm so jealous! : )

Chris's orders were confirmed, he's going to NIOC Maryland (Fort Meade). He's going to be wearing his peanut butters for the next three years.

Sandra, I wish the best for you and your nephew. I can only offer hope, I had a severe head injury about four years ago and recovered fully - with just a little bit of short term memory issues. It is possible to recover. I hope your nephew has the best possible outcome.

Donna, we may take you up on that. Thanks! Chris' uncle (a retired chief) lives about a half-hour from Ft. Meade, so it seems he will have plenty of support.

Well... Ryan classed up today for A school. We will only be here another 4 1/2 months and we will find out where he will get stationed. Almost isn't worth me unpacking the rest of the house....

Lol, I am with you on that and crongrats!!!

So I got in CSM. It isn't a big shocker since they don't even have my transcripts yet but at least it will give me something to do for the next 2 yrs.

Donna is it always this hot up here? I'm not complaining since I am use to it. I was just wondering.

The nervous just hit me knowing that this is his last step to getting assigned to a sub.. ugh...

Sarah - Congrats on getting in. Having something to keep you busy will be nice. That is what I am loving about being back in school. I have something to do all day.

Thanks! I really am looking forward to it even if it means a good drive.

Joymar- In my mom's district they told 1,000 that they weren't going to have jobs and now they are rehiring 500 of them.