For moms (and dads), wives (and husbands) and girlfriends (and boyfriends) who survived PIR February 19, 2010 - Including Ship 14 Div 095-100, Ship 7 Div 101-102 and Ship 6 Div 913
Chris is in Japan by now. I have to wonder what the Navy thinks of a sailor reporting in a kilt? (when traveling overseas they aren't allowed to wear their uniforms)
Chris discovered that three of his friends from boot camp are at Sasebo! He ran into a corpsman from DIV 100, who told him who else was there. I guess none of their moms are here, or I would have heard about them before.
Oh, I don't know if anyone realized this, but as of last week none of our sailors are E-1s anymore. All of those who were still E-1s after boot camp and school made E-2 on Sept 1, thanks to "time in rate" advancements.
All sailors who reported to boot camp in the first half of the month (1st - 16th) get their promotions on the first of the month, those who reported in the second half of the month get their promotions on the first of the next month. All of our sailors arrived by the 16th.
Well Monday at our soccer game we played a team who played very rough and the ref looked the other way. I now have turf burn and a nice bruise/imprint of a soccer ball on my knee. School started this week which would be fine except I developed my 3rd sinus infection this year which is causing me to lose my voice. Plus my parents are visiting next weekend. The only good thing is that Shawn is taking care of me at all hours.
Hey moms and wives and dads and husbands! I almost have my care package ready to go to my adopted sailor I have gotten most of what I want to send now and will ship it this weekend. I will also be preparing to ship our son care packages as I heard from him this morning and he's leaving soon for Iraq. We will be able to see him before he goes.
I hope you're all doing well. I'm sorry I was very busy last week and was unable to stop in here. I'll read back and catch up on everyone. God bless everyone. I think it's going to be a strange holiday season for us. I have no idea what it's like to have the most important holidays with a loved one in a war zone.I've decided through the suggestion of a wonderful person to wake up every morning and put my son in God's hands and then try to go on as normally as possible. What else can we do? I do expect for the holidays to be low key. I will sew him a Christmas stocking and fill it up and he'll know that we're thinking about him every second. I'm also working with the Blue Star moms preparing the Christmas goodies to send to our troops. Hopefully we might be able to reach about 750 of them with our love and best wishes through the stockings we are preparing for them. Praise God. Please give us all the faith, strength and good health that we need.
That sounds so nice that they had fun with all of the different things that you sent!! Thank you for reminding me about the pictures. I was going to send our family picture with it which we had made last year the day before our Navy son left for the Great Lakes.
Also, thank you for reminding me about the long forms for customs. I'll try to get a little creative in looking for some things to send to him from our town and our area.
Sandra, It's quite an adjustment preparing for a deployment. You're a wonderful example to me regarding how to cope with it by staying focused on helping them over there. I really respect all that you've done for them. It's the best possible way to not only help them but also to keep from losing our own minds back here. Instead of looking inward and focusing inward you're showing me that I will have to look outward towards them and helping them instead of dwelling on us and how we will feel. This is all about them, not us. Although it is true that Those Who Wait also Serve.
God bless your wonderful son. I love the way he cares so much about those who he's responsible for over there. God bless him. He makes a family like us feel good about the chain of command and that they care very much not only about their physical safety but about their spirits and their morale. Seeing and knowing that their Commanders understand how important it is that our troops can SEE that Americans back home view them with our utmost concern and that we have the deepest possible appreciation to them as well as the greatest amount of respect and admiration. As I've heard it put before, they ARE our country's greatest TREASURE. Thank you so much for showing me this first hand and God bless you and your whole family!
God bless our troops and God bless their families. Please give all of us families the strength and the will and the ability to stay as pro-active as possible in displaying our support at all times whether our loved ones are stateside, about to deploy, deployed or safely back. They need us and we need each other working together as a team and a country on their behalf.
Amen, Charlotte. And next week I believe I can add working about 30 something hours per week back into my life. I'm working with the Hugs Project (getting ready to send Christmas to about 750 troops), I love that!! I'm trying to start helping at the upcoming Church Festival...hopefully raising money for the Hugs Project while helping them too, have a living room with zero furniture in it since we moved last spring, a Navy son soooo busy in his life, Army son about to deploy, a hard working husband, a 12 yr. old with school work galore and a beagle always needing a walk or a backrub or something and a yard to take care of and the inside of the house too. Plus relatives coming for Thanksgiving. There's more but I just can't remember.
I'm not complaining...it's all blessings...just a tad of overload. I want to start to keep a book to write things down in. An agenda, A lot of moms do that and it's time that I do it otherwise I'm going to forget something important. I'm not a spring chicken anymore where I used to be able to keep track of everything in my head. The problem is I can't remember to buy it so I better write that down too. Nothing expensive just a litttle notebook from the dollar store would do.
I really feel the need to focus on our Navy/Army sons too. I'm going to slow down soon so that I can focus on them some more. You can get so busy that too many days pass in between calls or failing to send a little card to them just to say hello or send a care package. I've yet to do that. The care package to my adopted sailor will be the first for me. Since our boys are not too awfully far we have been able to see each other a few times. But we need to make a visit to them soon and focus in on them more. Mother's inuition. You just know when you've not given them the attention and reminders of how much they're loved when you get too busy. You know because there's an emptiness you feel as though you haven't done everything that you should. Gosh, I love them so!
BTW, how long does it take for a care package to arrive? My Navy son felt VERY good about his family adopting a sailor in Iraq. He said, "Way to go, Mom. Definitely send him a football, just don't send him mine which I left in the garage. Buy him a new one." I thought that was sweet.
Okay...one babbling fool here signing off here for now. God bless y'all! Love ya all!
Wow this group really has been quiet! Slim, Sam can always come up for a weekend if he wants a change of scenery. I'm sure Shawn wouldn't mind seeing him and catching up!
Janet, at least you remembered her birthday. I had to read Shawn several comments off my facebook to get him to remember it. And the sad thing is we were up at midnight doing homework.
Chris is somewhere out in the Pacific Ocean. Although I KNOW he's been in port at least twice since he joined the USS Denver last month, I haven't heard from him. No calls, no letters. The brat, LOL. All I want from him is a little information, like what division he was assigned to and is he happy. All I can do is be patient, eventually he will put pen to paper.
I created a form letter, like the ones that we sent to boot camp, to try to get some answers. I sure hope he actually sends it back.
Today (Saturday) marks a month since I last heard from Chris. This is the longest I have ever gone without hearing from him in one way or another. I'm not worried about him, it's just a strange feeling. Even in boot camp I had more contact with him. He tends to reach out for advice and comfort if something is wrong, so his not contacting me at all to me means he's doing very well and is very happy.
It also doesn't help that he doesn't depend on us for money anymore, why call home for money when he nets more per month than I gross, and its *all* spending money for him.
The think what I hate most is that it's not my adventure this time. It's his turn, and I am jealous as heck. I want to to do it all again through him, and he's not cooperating, LOL.
To keep my nosy busybodyness out of my letters to him, I put all of my questions into a questionnaire similar to the one that was passed around for boot camp. And hope that he bothers to send it home.
Wow, it keeps getting quieter and quieter around here. Anyone else getting cold weather? I believe today it didn't make it out of the 50s. I am not looking forward to winter and snow. We've been so busy with Shawn working and both of us going to school. Not to mention our new puppy Mocha! Shawn got her for me a few weeks ago so we have been busy potty training her and driving an hr to for shots. She is a 3 1/2 month German Shepard/Husky mix so she will be big. I hope everyone is doing great!
Today was really, really cold. Okay, for here it was cold. We barely hit 50 for a high, and it was windy with high humidity, so it felt like it was MAYBE in the 40s.
Arwen, She is adorable! At least when it's cold you can snuggly up to her.
Thanks Sandra. We are trying but like everything else we ran into an obstacle. I hope everything works out for Nichelle. We aren't to that point yet so I can't imagine what she is going through but after everything she has been through this last year it's about time something wonderful happens for her.
Slim Sam, at least you aren't like my grandma who asked if she was blind in the one eye. It takes some getting use to and sooner or later her ears are going to stand up so it will be two different eyes and big ears staring at you. Oh and those grand puppy are too cute. I wouldn't of thought of mixing the breeds..until now.
Thought you all would like this pic. It was taken at our fall festival on base yesterday. Mocha also won cutest female and enjoyed playing with all the dogs along with the warm weather.
I found this photo of sailors doing personal combat training on the USS Denver on a Navy website. Chris is the tall one on the right.
SULU SEA (Oct. 19 2010) - Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Alex Dorais demonstrates mechanical advantage control hold (MACH) positions as part of the security reaction force basic (SRF-B) course aboard the amphibious transport dock USS Denver (LPD 9). Denver is part of the permanently forward-deployed Essex Amphibious Ready Group, and is underway for a scheduled patrol in the Western Pacific ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Bryan Blair/Released)
Scott, cutie dog! So far the official Navy photos are the only way I have been able to know he still exists. He hasn't contacted us since Sept. 9, when he reported to his ship. No calls, no emails, no mail, not even a text to let us know he's still alive. It it wasn't for the Navy's occasional photos of him I would think he fell off the LCAC on the way to his ship and the Navy never noticed he was missing. He's never gone this long without contacting me before. However, I'm sure they're keeping him very busy, and he's probably having the time of his life.
I'm sure he'll call when he gets back to Sasebo. They have free phones there, he knows where they are and that he doesn't have to pay for the call.
I FINALLY heard from Chris - he called before dawn this morning. He sounded very mature, the tone of his voice has changed, and the way he talks. What boot camp and A school didn't do, the fleet has finally done.
He said that he is sometimes helmsman (steers the ship) and more often paints the anchor chain, LOL. He's not too thrilled with either job and has decided to go for IT again. He's been hanging out with the ITs and may already have a sponsor among them. They told him that if he waits 18 months (from date of arrival) he can try for the rating again (he washed out the first time, with less than a day's worth of work to complete). By that time he should have matured even more, and things should go far more smoothly.
Chris is still at sea somewhere. I think. I haven't heard anything about his ship for a few days. I was hoping that his ship would be in port and he would call, but apparently it isn't to be. Either that or he's just being a brat and forgot that it's Thanksgiving.
Happy Thanksgiving to all and I hope that some of you are enjoying your sailor at home and for the rest of us I hope we get to hear from them today. We all survived Christmas last year!
Lol I agree Slim. There seemed to be more downs then ups back then. I was remembering the other how hard it was to find an orange scarf that I liked for PIR.
I'm so happy for Nichelle and I hope everything turns out okay. We too are having issues in that department which seems to run in this group...
It's been so quiet around here with everyone being so busy. Still have a few weeks left of school for both of us. Shawn had prk eye surgery today and I have foot surgery Friday so we're in great shape to drive to Ga next weekend. Hope everyone is having a good week. Oh has anyone heard from Janie lately? I know she said a while ago that they were getting orders last month.
The question is do I hug him or chock him first? Mr. Brian decided to not tell Mom and Dad that he got his orders and has been driving cross country and called at 1600 that they are trying to get over Hwy 88 from Nevada and it's snowing on the pass. Don’t know how long they will be here before he reports to Bangor Washington. I hope he has leave and we will be able to see them for a while before he heads up to Washington. Congrats to Nichelle and Sandra, I'll keep them in my prayers for a joyful outcome. Lexi is almost ten months now and looks like we'll get to see her by tomorrow! Grand kids are the Best!!!
Wow, the Navy has REALLY cut back on recruiting. Last year at this time they had divisions in the 080s starting this week. This year they're still only in the 050s. That's a huge cut in numbers.
I'm trying to remember what we were doing at this time last year. We were trying to get Chris to pack some stuff in his room, and I do remember that he was sleeping on the couch. He had his own little apartment out back, but it was difficult to heat. So he used the excuse of the weather being too cold to sleep out there to be closer to us for that final week or so.
We also went to the light show in the park, which he helped set-up, and gave him his gifts early, a new iPod Touch and a Kindle with 250 books on it. He also went to his final volunteer fire department meeting/training.
This month our sailors will be getting their very first annual uniform allowance, which is meant to replace uniforms that have worn out, but sailors never use it for that purpose.
Well Slim sam it was like before they left for Groton. When I came home from work on Tuesday Mason and the Dog came running to great me.Lexi had a big smile on her face too.
Which night is the actual anniversary? We said goodbye on the 14th, he slept at MEPS, was sworn in on the morning of the 15th and flew to Chicago that afternoon. He had to be at GLNTC on the 15th. I thought that maybe we could each tell the story of our Sailor's leaving. However y'all want to do it. I'll be here. The 15th?
I call the day they swore-in the official anniversary day (and so does the Navy). So for us, it's the 16th.
Okay, the story of Chris leaving...
We love 100 miles from the recruiter's office, and the recruiter's office is 200 miles from MEPS Portland, Oregon, so we had to leave early in the morning.
Chris had packed the night before (okay, so I did it for him), but he still took his time, so we got out the door 20 minutes later than we planned. Once in the car and heading down the road we started one last checklist of the things he needed to have. Anything missing at the recruiter's office would be disaster, there was to be no quick trip home for missing documents.
We were about 5 miles down the road when Chris realized his social security card was not in his wallet. or anywhere else. We had to turn back and go home for it, making us even later.
At about 11 am we started getting calls from the recruiter, "where are you?" and asking for constant updates. We were sure we were going to be really late.
So of course we got there, Chris went through his first round of processing, whiz quiz (drug test) and paperwork, and waited another hour while the other recruiter finished the paperwork for two prospective recruits headed to MEPS for the ASVAB. It was Chris' first introduction to "hurry up and wait."
When Chris finally got in the Navy's Suburban our goodbyes were already somewhat worn out, so when they pulled out of the parking lot it was easy to turn around and head home.
Chris called and texted from the suburban, from the hotel, even from MEPS the next morning. Then from the train, the airport at Portland, the airport at Chicago, and finally the "I'm here" call at 10:30 p.m.
Now I can't get him to call. I haven't had a call or letter since he called from Singapore in October. The brat. LOL.
Yesterday would have been Sunday. The family (5 of us) had a family portrait made at Portrait Innovations (great prices) because we wondered when we might all be together again with our oldest son who was within two months of joining the Army. Then we went out for a special dinner. We ordered a steak for him. It ended up being so rare he barely ate it, plus the excitment (nervousness!) that tomorrow which is today the 14th he was leaving.
I woke up early on the 14th and made everyone pancakes. (Husband took the day off and daughter took the day off from school) The morning went fast and at 11AM we headed to the Recruitment Station where we had to say goodbye. Just like everyone else we went through the "do you have everything?" ritual! "Yes, Mom, I HAVE EVERYTHING!" After we arrived they told him that he had some time and could take an hour or so and suggested that he go and have lunch with the family. They were very nice to us and came out and talked to us and explained what our son would be doing over the next 24 hours.
We went to Burger King. Everyone was nervous/excited. The dog was in the van, she had to come too according to our Navy son. We returned and just talked and walked together in the parking area dreading the last goodbye. Then he said, "Okay this is it, I need to go in now". We hugged and hugged again, and again and we all were just in shock! Then he turned and walked away as we stood there watching him. He suddenly turned around and came back and told my husband, "Dad, next time I want to take you out to dinner." Then he walked away and didn't turn back and we were able to see him step into the doorway, stop, salute and ask for permission to come aboard. (That's standard in the Navy).
Wow. We drove home slowly, sadly, sniffling. He called the next day enroute to the airport from MEPS. He was pretty excited and we could hear other new recruits on the bus and they were talking and laughing. He was on his way to the Great Lakes Naval Training Command and to bitter cold weather. A far away place for a kid originally from Florida.
The rest is history. I fretted that he would be allergic to the wool military blankets. He wasn't. I fretted that he was always cold. He was on occasion. I wrote and wrote and and wrote and I met all of you here.
(Two months later his brother entered the Army. We repeated the same scenario, same restaurant, same Recruitment location except Army, went to eat lunch at the same Burger King.)
Christmas was not the same. I sniffled while putting a few presents under the tree. It was very low-key. Life has never been quite the same since they left. I still really miss them. We've adjusted, but I think I'd gladly pick up after them to have them back full-time! But, of course I'm proud of them. It's good that they did this; they got a pretty early start on life and will be able to return to college.
The first time we saw our son after joining the Navy he said, "no career with this", but in our most recent visit he said, "Maybe a career in the Navy". So, we'll just have to wait and see.
Just like all of you moms, I just hope and pray for their safety and well-being wherever they go in life and whatever they do in life whether they're in the military or in the civilian world.
God bless all of our children!! We're all so blessed to have them. For richer, for poorer, for better, or for worse...we love them!! God bless and watch over them and God bless all of our Troops.
Wow, today is Chris' one-year anniversary of actually being in the Navy. Where did the last year go?
He called last night, it was already Thursday night for him. I reminded him what day it was. Funny thing, it was the end of his first day of mess cranking. They waited exactly one year to make him do the dishes, hehehe.
Tammy and I took Brian, his wife and son to the recruiter’s office and met his brother, sister and grandmother there. Brian finished his paper work and we said our goodbyes. He left for Sacramento MEPS with another kid from the area (Joey). We got up early the next morning and dropped off our grandson and drove to Sacramento MEPS and met our other son and grandmother there. We all sat around while they processed paperwork for a few hours. Got to attend the swearing in ceremony, which took forever to get going. By the time they were done they had less than one hour till their plane was leaving. Said our quick goodbyes, as he headed to a waiting taxi.
It’s hard to believe it’s been a year that he has been away, but as a Dad I was proud the day I got to see him raise his right hand and then the transformation in what seemed like a long time for his PIR. I’ve come to know a great bunch of families here and we all got to share our up’s and down’s together. I still look forward to checking up on our group, even though I haven’t had as much time to do so lately.
I got to talk to Brian today as he called me at my office and they will most likely be coming home for Christmas. I know he really wants to be home on December 28 as our town and Police Department will be doing a ceremony for Brian’s best friend who was killed in Iraq two years ago on that date.
Hi everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and that your New Year bring many great things for you and your families! I can say that this past year as been a new, challenging, but exciting time for us. Ryan has been enlisted for a year (loves his sub crew and they are really pushing for him to seek out Officer), we are at our first duty station after him being in school for most of the year, and we have an amazing little girl on the way. We are looking forward to what the New Year bring for our family.
Arwen
Sep 1, 2010
Arwen
Sep 1, 2010
Arwen
Sep 6, 2010
Arwen
Oh, I don't know if anyone realized this, but as of last week none of our sailors are E-1s anymore. All of those who were still E-1s after boot camp and school made E-2 on Sept 1, thanks to "time in rate" advancements.
All sailors who reported to boot camp in the first half of the month (1st - 16th) get their promotions on the first of the month, those who reported in the second half of the month get their promotions on the first of the next month. All of our sailors arrived by the 16th.
Sep 9, 2010
Sarah (BooBoo)
Sep 10, 2010
Sarah (BooBoo)
How was your week?
Sep 10, 2010
Navy/ArmyMom
I hope you're all doing well. I'm sorry I was very busy last week and was unable to stop in here. I'll read back and catch up on everyone. God bless everyone. I think it's going to be a strange holiday season for us. I have no idea what it's like to have the most important holidays with a loved one in a war zone.I've decided through the suggestion of a wonderful person to wake up every morning and put my son in God's hands and then try to go on as normally as possible. What else can we do? I do expect for the holidays to be low key. I will sew him a Christmas stocking and fill it up and he'll know that we're thinking about him every second. I'm also working with the Blue Star moms preparing the Christmas goodies to send to our troops. Hopefully we might be able to reach about 750 of them with our love and best wishes through the stockings we are preparing for them. Praise God. Please give us all the faith, strength and good health that we need.
Sep 13, 2010
Navy/ArmyMom
Also, thank you for reminding me about the long forms for customs. I'll try to get a little creative in looking for some things to send to him from our town and our area.
Sandra, It's quite an adjustment preparing for a deployment. You're a wonderful example to me regarding how to cope with it by staying focused on helping them over there. I really respect all that you've done for them. It's the best possible way to not only help them but also to keep from losing our own minds back here. Instead of looking inward and focusing inward you're showing me that I will have to look outward towards them and helping them instead of dwelling on us and how we will feel. This is all about them, not us. Although it is true that Those Who Wait also Serve.
God bless your wonderful son. I love the way he cares so much about those who he's responsible for over there. God bless him. He makes a family like us feel good about the chain of command and that they care very much not only about their physical safety but about their spirits and their morale. Seeing and knowing that their Commanders understand how important it is that our troops can SEE that Americans back home view them with our utmost concern and that we have the deepest possible appreciation to them as well as the greatest amount of respect and admiration. As I've heard it put before, they ARE our country's greatest TREASURE. Thank you so much for showing me this first hand and God bless you and your whole family!
God bless our troops and God bless their families. Please give all of us families the strength and the will and the ability to stay as pro-active as possible in displaying our support at all times whether our loved ones are stateside, about to deploy, deployed or safely back. They need us and we need each other working together as a team and a country on their behalf.
Sep 13, 2010
Navy/ArmyMom
I'm not complaining...it's all blessings...just a tad of overload. I want to start to keep a book to write things down in. An agenda, A lot of moms do that and it's time that I do it otherwise I'm going to forget something important. I'm not a spring chicken anymore where I used to be able to keep track of everything in my head. The problem is I can't remember to buy it so I better write that down too. Nothing expensive just a litttle notebook from the dollar store would do.
I really feel the need to focus on our Navy/Army sons too. I'm going to slow down soon so that I can focus on them some more. You can get so busy that too many days pass in between calls or failing to send a little card to them just to say hello or send a care package. I've yet to do that. The care package to my adopted sailor will be the first for me. Since our boys are not too awfully far we have been able to see each other a few times. But we need to make a visit to them soon and focus in on them more. Mother's inuition. You just know when you've not given them the attention and reminders of how much they're loved when you get too busy. You know because there's an emptiness you feel as though you haven't done everything that you should. Gosh, I love them so!
BTW, how long does it take for a care package to arrive? My Navy son felt VERY good about his family adopting a sailor in Iraq. He said, "Way to go, Mom. Definitely send him a football, just don't send him mine which I left in the garage. Buy him a new one." I thought that was sweet.
Okay...one babbling fool here signing off here for now. God bless y'all! Love ya all!
How are everyone's loved ones doing?
Sep 15, 2010
Arwen
Sep 17, 2010
Arwen
Oct 4, 2010
Sarah (BooBoo)
Janet, at least you remembered her birthday. I had to read Shawn several comments off my facebook to get him to remember it. And the sad thing is we were up at midnight doing homework.
Oct 5, 2010
Arwen
I created a form letter, like the ones that we sent to boot camp, to try to get some answers. I sure hope he actually sends it back.
Oct 5, 2010
Sarah (BooBoo)
Slim, I think I remember way back in boot camp Shawn saying something about Matt. I'll ask when/if he ever comes home for lunch.
Oct 5, 2010
Arwen
Oct 5, 2010
Arwen
It also doesn't help that he doesn't depend on us for money anymore, why call home for money when he nets more per month than I gross, and its *all* spending money for him.
The think what I hate most is that it's not my adventure this time. It's his turn, and I am jealous as heck. I want to to do it all again through him, and he's not cooperating, LOL.
To keep my nosy busybodyness out of my letters to him, I put all of my questions into a questionnaire similar to the one that was passed around for boot camp. And hope that he bothers to send it home.
Oct 9, 2010
Arwen
Oct 10, 2010
Sarah (BooBoo)
Oct 19, 2010
Sarah (BooBoo)
This is my baby pup Mocha. So all we need now are kids and we have a bigger family then we ever thought about.
Oct 20, 2010
Arwen
My kitty was nice and warm, though...
Oct 21, 2010
Sarah (BooBoo)
Thanks Sandra. We are trying but like everything else we ran into an obstacle. I hope everything works out for Nichelle. We aren't to that point yet so I can't imagine what she is going through but after everything she has been through this last year it's about time something wonderful happens for her.
Slim Sam, at least you aren't like my grandma who asked if she was blind in the one eye. It takes some getting use to and sooner or later her ears are going to stand up so it will be two different eyes and big ears staring at you. Oh and those grand puppy are too cute. I wouldn't of thought of mixing the breeds..until now.
Oct 22, 2010
Sarah (BooBoo)
Thought you all would like this pic. It was taken at our fall festival on base yesterday. Mocha also won cutest female and enjoyed playing with all the dogs along with the warm weather.
Oct 24, 2010
Arwen
SULU SEA (Oct. 19 2010) - Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Alex Dorais demonstrates mechanical advantage control hold (MACH) positions as part of the security reaction force basic (SRF-B) course aboard the amphibious transport dock USS Denver (LPD 9). Denver is part of the permanently forward-deployed Essex Amphibious Ready Group, and is underway for a scheduled patrol in the Western Pacific ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Bryan Blair/Released)Oct 27, 2010
Scott Proud Dad of Brian
Oct 27, 2010
Scott Proud Dad of Brian
Our new puppy.
Oct 27, 2010
Scott Proud Dad of Brian
Small pet contest with Hanz and I was wearing my colors except for the scarf!Oct 27, 2010
Arwen
I'm sure he'll call when he gets back to Sasebo. They have free phones there, he knows where they are and that he doesn't have to pay for the call.
Oct 27, 2010
Arwen
He said that he is sometimes helmsman (steers the ship) and more often paints the anchor chain, LOL. He's not too thrilled with either job and has decided to go for IT again. He's been hanging out with the ITs and may already have a sponsor among them. They told him that if he waits 18 months (from date of arrival) he can try for the rating again (he washed out the first time, with less than a day's worth of work to complete). By that time he should have matured even more, and things should go far more smoothly.
Oct 30, 2010
Scott Proud Dad of Brian
Nov 12, 2010
Scott Proud Dad of Brian
Nov 24, 2010
Scott Proud Dad of Brian
Nov 24, 2010
Arwen
Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
Chris is still at sea somewhere. I think. I haven't heard anything about his ship for a few days. I was hoping that his ship would be in port and he would call, but apparently it isn't to be. Either that or he's just being a brat and forgot that it's Thanksgiving.
Nov 25, 2010
Scott Proud Dad of Brian
Nov 25, 2010
Arwen
Dec 1, 2010
Sarah (BooBoo)
I'm so happy for Nichelle and I hope everything turns out okay. We too are having issues in that department which seems to run in this group...
It's been so quiet around here with everyone being so busy. Still have a few weeks left of school for both of us. Shawn had prk eye surgery today and I have foot surgery Friday so we're in great shape to drive to Ga next weekend. Hope everyone is having a good week. Oh has anyone heard from Janie lately? I know she said a while ago that they were getting orders last month.
Dec 2, 2010
Scott Proud Dad of Brian
Dec 2, 2010
Scott Proud Dad of Brian
Dec 2, 2010
Arwen
Dec 5, 2010
Scott Proud Dad of Brian
Dec 9, 2010
Arwen
We also went to the light show in the park, which he helped set-up, and gave him his gifts early, a new iPod Touch and a Kindle with 250 books on it. He also went to his final volunteer fire department meeting/training.
This month our sailors will be getting their very first annual uniform allowance, which is meant to replace uniforms that have worn out, but sailors never use it for that purpose.
Dec 9, 2010
Scott Proud Dad of Brian
Well Slim sam it was like before they left for Groton. When I came home from work on Tuesday Mason and the Dog came running to great me.Lexi had a big smile on her face too.
Dec 11, 2010
Arwen
Wow, it's here. This is the week our sailors left for boot camp last year.
Dec 12, 2010
Navy/ArmyMom
Which night is the actual anniversary? We said goodbye on the 14th, he slept at MEPS, was sworn in on the morning of the 15th and flew to Chicago that afternoon. He had to be at GLNTC on the 15th. I thought that maybe we could each tell the story of our Sailor's leaving. However y'all want to do it. I'll be here. The 15th?
Tricia
Dec 12, 2010
Arwen
I call the day they swore-in the official anniversary day (and so does the Navy). So for us, it's the 16th.
Okay, the story of Chris leaving...
We love 100 miles from the recruiter's office, and the recruiter's office is 200 miles from MEPS Portland, Oregon, so we had to leave early in the morning.
Chris had packed the night before (okay, so I did it for him), but he still took his time, so we got out the door 20 minutes later than we planned. Once in the car and heading down the road we started one last checklist of the things he needed to have. Anything missing at the recruiter's office would be disaster, there was to be no quick trip home for missing documents.
We were about 5 miles down the road when Chris realized his social security card was not in his wallet. or anywhere else. We had to turn back and go home for it, making us even later.
At about 11 am we started getting calls from the recruiter, "where are you?" and asking for constant updates. We were sure we were going to be really late.
So of course we got there, Chris went through his first round of processing, whiz quiz (drug test) and paperwork, and waited another hour while the other recruiter finished the paperwork for two prospective recruits headed to MEPS for the ASVAB. It was Chris' first introduction to "hurry up and wait."
When Chris finally got in the Navy's Suburban our goodbyes were already somewhat worn out, so when they pulled out of the parking lot it was easy to turn around and head home.
Chris called and texted from the suburban, from the hotel, even from MEPS the next morning. Then from the train, the airport at Portland, the airport at Chicago, and finally the "I'm here" call at 10:30 p.m.
Now I can't get him to call. I haven't had a call or letter since he called from Singapore in October. The brat. LOL.
Dec 12, 2010
Navy/ArmyMom
Yesterday would have been Sunday. The family (5 of us) had a family portrait made at Portrait Innovations (great prices) because we wondered when we might all be together again with our oldest son who was within two months of joining the Army. Then we went out for a special dinner. We ordered a steak for him. It ended up being so rare he barely ate it, plus the excitment (nervousness!) that tomorrow which is today the 14th he was leaving.
I woke up early on the 14th and made everyone pancakes. (Husband took the day off and daughter took the day off from school) The morning went fast and at 11AM we headed to the Recruitment Station where we had to say goodbye. Just like everyone else we went through the "do you have everything?" ritual! "Yes, Mom, I HAVE EVERYTHING!" After we arrived they told him that he had some time and could take an hour or so and suggested that he go and have lunch with the family. They were very nice to us and came out and talked to us and explained what our son would be doing over the next 24 hours.
We went to Burger King. Everyone was nervous/excited. The dog was in the van, she had to come too according to our Navy son. We returned and just talked and walked together in the parking area dreading the last goodbye. Then he said, "Okay this is it, I need to go in now". We hugged and hugged again, and again and we all were just in shock! Then he turned and walked away as we stood there watching him. He suddenly turned around and came back and told my husband, "Dad, next time I want to take you out to dinner." Then he walked away and didn't turn back and we were able to see him step into the doorway, stop, salute and ask for permission to come aboard. (That's standard in the Navy).
Wow. We drove home slowly, sadly, sniffling. He called the next day enroute to the airport from MEPS. He was pretty excited and we could hear other new recruits on the bus and they were talking and laughing. He was on his way to the Great Lakes Naval Training Command and to bitter cold weather. A far away place for a kid originally from Florida.
The rest is history. I fretted that he would be allergic to the wool military blankets. He wasn't. I fretted that he was always cold. He was on occasion. I wrote and wrote and and wrote and I met all of you here.
(Two months later his brother entered the Army. We repeated the same scenario, same restaurant, same Recruitment location except Army, went to eat lunch at the same Burger King.)
Christmas was not the same. I sniffled while putting a few presents under the tree. It was very low-key. Life has never been quite the same since they left. I still really miss them. We've adjusted, but I think I'd gladly pick up after them to have them back full-time! But, of course I'm proud of them. It's good that they did this; they got a pretty early start on life and will be able to return to college.
The first time we saw our son after joining the Navy he said, "no career with this", but in our most recent visit he said, "Maybe a career in the Navy". So, we'll just have to wait and see.
Just like all of you moms, I just hope and pray for their safety and well-being wherever they go in life and whatever they do in life whether they're in the military or in the civilian world.
God bless all of our children!! We're all so blessed to have them. For richer, for poorer, for better, or for worse...we love them!! God bless and watch over them and God bless all of our Troops.
Dec 14, 2010
Arwen
Wow, today is Chris' one-year anniversary of actually being in the Navy. Where did the last year go?
He called last night, it was already Thursday night for him. I reminded him what day it was. Funny thing, it was the end of his first day of mess cranking. They waited exactly one year to make him do the dishes, hehehe.
Dec 17, 2010
Scott Proud Dad of Brian
Tammy and I took Brian, his wife and son to the recruiter’s office and met his brother, sister and grandmother there. Brian finished his paper work and we said our goodbyes. He left for Sacramento MEPS with another kid from the area (Joey). We got up early the next morning and dropped off our grandson and drove to Sacramento MEPS and met our other son and grandmother there. We all sat around while they processed paperwork for a few hours. Got to attend the swearing in ceremony, which took forever to get going. By the time they were done they had less than one hour till their plane was leaving. Said our quick goodbyes, as he headed to a waiting taxi.
It’s hard to believe it’s been a year that he has been away, but as a Dad I was proud the day I got to see him raise his right hand and then the transformation in what seemed like a long time for his PIR. I’ve come to know a great bunch of families here and we all got to share our up’s and down’s together. I still look forward to checking up on our group, even though I haven’t had as much time to do so lately.
I got to talk to Brian today as he called me at my office and they will most likely be coming home for Christmas. I know he really wants to be home on December 28 as our town and Police Department will be doing a ceremony for Brian’s best friend who was killed in Iraq two years ago on that date.
Dec 18, 2010
Scott Proud Dad of Brian
Dec 27, 2010
Janie - ProudSailorWife
Dec 30, 2010
Navy/ArmyMom
Hi Janie and congratulations on all of that wonderful news! You must be very happy!
We're adjusting to Army son's deployment. He's doing fine and we are too. (Well.. I'm getting there..I think)
I hope you all have a safe and Happy New Year. : )
Dec 30, 2010