I just finished writing this letter to Erin. After re-reading it I decided I should put it in my blog.

5/31/12 evening

Hey girlie!!

How ya doing? Did you have a good day? I bet it was tough. Yelling, 8 counts, etc etc. You made it though! It should be about hygiene time and then laundry, mailcall. I wonder if you have started standing watches yet? I know you still may be feeling lonely and scared sometimes. Look around honey,, you are not alone! These girls are…

My son left on May 22nd 2012 and it was the most emotional expeirence of my life. I compared the feeling to getting pregnant at 17 and deciding to keep him and give us the best life possible. We basically grew up together and he has been my life and all my focus. I am lost now, I am sure this feeling will go away as the weeks pass. I am such a proud mom but a scared one also. The hardeest part is that I missed his first call. For some reason my phone never even rang! I was horrified when my…

Looking for means to contact a JAG at Camp Pendleton - my son has a legal matter that needs to be resolved. I have POA - was told I could contact them for assistance - any suggestions?

Saw this on facebook and thought that perhaps there  might be some who could use this support and get questions answered. This is for the enlisted personnel, as well as families and loved ones of those who have served in war zones.

TODAY on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/events/240448202723750/

Dept of Excellence wrote:…

2nd, 3rd, and 4th calls too! Erin needed security clearance information so she got to call me this morning! She had to call back 3 times as I didn't know the information either, had to obtain it and then she would call me back to get it. 

She sounded really good. Today is only their 1-1 day. I am surprised it has taken so long to get through p-days. She did say that they can mail their first letters home this Sunday. I guess I can give the mailman stalking a break for a week…

My son left for basic training on May 22 for Great Lakes...Held it together in front of him because I am soo soo proud of him. The minute they pulled away I lost it. I miss him so much and I am dying to get a letter from him. Today I did receive his clothes he left with. Thought there would be a letter in that box!

Hello all, I'm the mom who gets second-hand information. I received my daughter's address from her dad via FB today and I think it's wrong. He listed SHIP 30 DIV 218.  When I looked at the Family Guide available on the Recruit Tng Command website, I don't find a SHIP 30 anywhere on the available addresses. The zip code he gave me matches SHIP 3. I'm just wondering if it's safe to assume SHIP 3 DIV 218. 

Also, will male and female recruits have the same SHIP & DIV address? …

Yayyyyy!!!  finally a phone call.  We got to talk about 30 minutes!!  It was soooo good to hear his voice.  He said all is going good.  Passing his tests.  Got fitted for his blues and whites.  Practicing for graduation.  Said he misses home, and has had alot of time to reflect and think about things.  At goodbye time, he choked up , which made me choke up, so his sister took the phone and talked him through it, but he still was crying when he said, "bye mom, I love you"  :'( 

I just got back from graduation and WOW!!! is all I can say. I am a Navy veteran and now my son... it's an awesome family tradition we now celebrate together, not usual for a mother and son to share.  I still have so many emotions running through my mind and body, celebrating my son graduating on Friday, sitting with him at the USO office on Saturday until he had to leave and Monday busing around to all our local cemetery's with my legion buddies.  We are honor…

Hi . . Hoping to find other moms with their son or daughter in the same division . . :)

My son is Ship 04 Division 814. He is Aviation Rescue Swimmer. His graduation date is June 29, 2012.  

I have received 2 letters so far, but no phone call.  He said he was the youngest one in the group.  It was so great to hear from him.  He also wrote a sweet letter to me saying that he was sorry he missed Mother's Day. I told him not to worry about it, we can have a date when I see him…

I am not a navy mom but I do have an SR in great lakes. PIR July 13 2012, Ship 3 DIV 218. I have been driving myself crazy since May 15th and this is the only website that has given me any comfort!! There is so much information and real people going through all the same things as myself. So thank you ladies for all of your post and comments, they get me through day to day!! I never thought I would be so happy to see my sailors handwriting in my life, and although it was not an actual letter,…

It is a beautiful sunny day. I am having a great day.

I still haven't gotten the form letter.

I still have a broken toe.

But the sun is shining and I am OK! Spent the morning writing to Erin. I miss her so much. She would have been such good company the last few days. We would have played Zelda for hours! All the while with my foot elevated of course. I wrote to her again, excited because I know it will go in the mail by the end of the day. Whether I get her address from…

I decided to take Amtrak to my daughter and son-in-law's Graduation.  I was travelling with my 5 year old, and the train ride was 23 hours long.  It felt like much less than that though, and  I enjoyed the unhurried atmosphere of the train.  The price was good too. :)  We arrived at Union station, and then had to get to Ogilvie to board the Metra, which let us off right next to RTC.  I was also renting a car, and Enterprise picked us up right at the station, and they also brought us back…

I finally received a call from my son today! I was laying in bed thinking of him and BAM....the phone rings 847 area code! I  yelled "It's HIM" and couldn't pick up the phone fast enough! LOL....he sounds great! He's past his PT tests so far (more to come), but said the inspections are tough. He loves (he's picky) the food! Had his molars pulled and his BC glasses issued! The peanut butter shot hurt! He did mentioned that a lot of the recruits were sick with a virus and the last week he got…