I am a bag of mixed emotions as I write this blog.  I am beyond proud of my Sailor for his accomplishments and at the same time, I'm sad and very scared.

My Sailor has officially become an EM Nuke!  He made it through the Nuclear Pipeline.

He, my…

I'm a few days late  with this. But here it is.

On July 2nd 2014, my Sailor celebrated his 2nd anniversary with the Navy. How can it have been that long already? It seems like just yesterday that he swore in at MEPS and left for boot camp. 

I can…

My Sailor graduated from Nuclear Power School on Oct. 18 at NNPTC in Goose Creek, SC. It was a hard 6 months on him and me. I promise you, I went through every test, that I knew about, with him. But in the end, it was worth it all. Graduation was WONDERFUL. If anyone has a Nuke, I strongly encourage you to attend Power School graduation. We had been told that this was the best of the 4 graduations to attend, and now…

WOW!!!!!! I can't believe it. My son left for boot camp 1 year ago on July 2. Just saying that brings back all the emotions and memories of that day....seeing him sworn in, leaving him with his recruiter the day before, knowing we would not see him for 8 long weeks, worrying that something would come up and we would not be able to make that trip, knowing he would do fine but still worrying about my baby boy, and the…

Well, we have had another first this past week.

I was admitted into the hospital on Friday night and ended up having a heart cath on Monday afternoon. My Nuke, although he was on special liberty, was not allowed to leave the area to come home and be with us during this time. I took it all very well, knowing that it is all a…

We have reached another stepping stone in our Navy life. My son graduated Navy Nuke A School on Friday 3/15/13. I am sooo very proud of him. He graduated with only 13 other Sailors. It is hard to believe that it has been 8.5 months since he left for boot camp. He has grown an extreme amount in many ways. But to be honest, our entire family has changed as well.…

This year we will be celebrating our first Thanksgiving as a Navy family. We are one of the very blessed families as our Sailor gets to come home for both Thanksgiving and Christmas this year. In fact, we are extra blessed in that we get to host a Sailor that is in school with our's.

       This Friday will also be my Sailor's 19th…

Well, PIR was 8/30....that seems like eons ago now..... any my Sailor is doing well in Nuke school.

He started his 2nd class this past Monday and seems to like it.

The life as a Navy Mom is one crazy rollercoaster, and I've never been one to…

My Sailor is now in his 3rd week of A School. He had had his first test in A school earlier this week. He made what civilians would call an A on it. Grading is different in Navy school. He said he could have done better and was not completely pleased with himself.  The grade he made does get his study hours lessened so that is good.…

My Sailor classed up at his A school today. My husband, daughter, and I now begin a new journey with our Sailor.

We know he will do well with his classes and that the next 18-24 months will go by fast. We are blessed that he is only 5 hours away from us as compared to the 14 hours when he was at boot camp. …

We arrived back home from PIR late last night. All I can say about the entire experience is Oh My Gosh!!!!! It was Absolutely Amazing!!!!!

My Sailor has grown up. As much as it kills me in some ways, he is no longer the boy that I went to see sworn in at MEPS on 7/2/12. The person I hugged after PIR ceremonies on 8/31 is now a young…

As of 8/24, I have a Sailor!!!!!!!!!

We are now in week 8 since he left home and I will get to see him, hug him, and spend some time with my Sailor son in just 2 days!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can hear in his voice that he has grown up and changed. It will…

WOW!!!!!

It has been 7 weeks since I got the I'm here call at 2:31 in the morning.

I never dreamed that the time would go by this fast.

My SR has experienced…

It is hard to believe that I last gave my SR a hug and saw him in person 6 weeks ago. 

He graduates from boot camp 2 weeks from this Friday.

Six weeks ago, it seemed like forever and now, I'm staring PIR almost in the face.…

My boy has now been gone from home for 5 weeks and he only has 3 more weeks until he graduates from boot camp. What a ride so far, and it is not even over.

His last 2 letters have been MUCH more positive. The one we got today even had him laughing a bit. He wishes he could write more, but he has his responsibilities.

I've heard from one of the other moms that his Division has won an important flag. :)

I've learned to be careful with how much I share to whom and…

Today marks the 4 week mark since my son left for boot camp. As I read back over my last blogs, I realize how much I have changed over these last 4 weeks. I can only imagine how much my son has changed.

Unlike week 3, a lot has happened this last week. I received a letter an a phone call over the last week....actually on the same day…

Yesterday marked the 3 week mark since I have hear my SR's voice. Tomorrow will mark 3 weeks since I last received anything with his handwriting (Recruit font...alll CAPS...something I have learned over the last week).

Overall, nothing has really changed for me. I am keeping up with him via phone calls and letters that the other…

It was two weeks ago yesterday morning at 2:31 a.m. that I got my "I'm here call" from my son. My heart broke as I heard the scaredness, the tiredness, and the hurriedness in his voice. He and I had talked a lot over the past few weeks and we both knew what those first 48 hours were going to be like for him. Neither of us were looking forward to it.

It was one week ago this past Monday that the "kid in the box without the kid" arrived on my front porch, positioned perfectly in the…

Mom Be Bold

I may clutch a picture of my child

Wander into his room where the memories run wild

Thoughts come with me wherever I go

Prayers often lead my way, you know

My young one has left to be so brave

The hero of my heart, gone to save

At times I want to reach out and hold

But I know his answer, "Mom be bold."

The love of my child is part of me

So strong and good, it will always be

Nurtured in life by a caring heart

This…

My son offically left for boot camp today. There was a small chance that he would not get to ship out today due to some paperwork problems, but apparently that was cleared up and now is plane is due to land at O'Hare in about an hour.

I can honestly say that today has been one of the very hardest days of my life with the exception of the day my Mom died. I have tried to stay strong for our 6 yr old daughter, but even at that, I have had my times of breaking down.

When I do not…