Men In Uniform

My favorite Sailor and his sidekick (a.k.a. PK and Aaron)

Family Readiness Weekend

I have several close friends who are military spouses. There is a connection between those friends that I don't experience with any other friends. (I also have close friends who are not military spouses and I love them just as dearly....Thought I should throw that out there since some of them stalk my blog.)

I am not articulate enough to explain it without rambling on and on. However, if you are a military spouse, I don't have to explain it because you already get it. There is something about not having to explain how I feel when my husband is gone, or the knot in my stomach and the dropping of my heart when I see him in his dress blues and it reminds me of the times he has gone with the CACO to inform a loved one their service member is not coming home or that I don't need pity when he is gone or what I mean about the gremlins striking the moment he leaves. I can pack and unpack a house in lightening speed. I know way too many acronyms and always have a current POA. We are prepared and although I don't see myself as strong as some of the ladies I admire, military spouses are a strong breed and we can cope.

Since PK switched to the reserve side of things several years ago, I have often told those mil spouse friends that I don't really consider myself one of them anymore. In a post 9-11 world, the reservists are jumping in there with the active duty guys and seeing as much action. My hubby spends more than his one weekend a month and two weeks in the summer.

As soon as I say that I don't really feel like a military spouse, PK will usually go away for the entire summer to work with the Sailors at Great Lakes or take a week for annual training. This time I am feeling the title because he will be deploying to Bahrain for 2 months. I have had more than one person chuckle when I say, "It is only 2 months." We have never done a deployment where he actually leaves the country, but we have done several 2-3 month separations. The reason I say, "only 2 months" is because I have watched friends' spouses deploy for 6-12 months multiple times.

He is currently assigned to a unit in Knoxville, which is attached to a Marine unit in North Carolina. The unit has mobilized with the Marines many times and will probably do so again at some point. PK's upcoming deployment is actually not with this unit. A chaplain is needed in Bahrain to go from ship to ship to minister to the Sailors so PK volunteered.

Because the Knoxville unit does deploy, they periodically have Family Readiness Weekends. Speakers from different organizations are brought in to explain different resources to spouses. Hindsight, I really knew all the "stuff" that was shared. While PK was active duty, this information was drilled into my head. But it was a free weekend away. The unit picked up the cost of the hotel and we got to see where PK drills and meet a few people.

I may have packed my own coffee cup for the stay at the hotel and I may have also gone to the lobby to fill it up each time because the coffee down there was better than in the room. I know I have mentioned it before, but thanks to my mil spouse friend, Jen, for being the first one to bring me over to the side of coffee drinkers. Thanks to my hubby for making me a coffee snob.

The kids and I were on our own most of the day Saturday. We hung out at the hotel pool and read. This is a picture of Aaron and Hannah watching tv. They both had their legs bent up and swinging, but I missed it. It was too cute.

Rachel got comfy while reading her book. When the kids were little, the reward for being good in the car was they could jump on the beds at the hotel. Always a no-no at home. They have outgrown the bed jumping days.

The kids had tons of fun at the Family Readiness Program. There were several exhibits by 4-H members. They actually saw a chicken lay and egg.

Hannah got to ride a donkey. For our animal lover, this was next to heaven.

There was a huge jumpy slip and slide and Hannah got soaked.

The kids told me it was a great day.

It isn't often that we all get a weekend away, so it was nice.

Bad Words

After we got home from a weekend trip, we found a gazillion flies in the house. Well, that might be a slight exaggeration, but there were a lot. I'm still not sure where they came from. Before we left, I did any dishes that had accumulated and threw out some fruit I knew wouldn't make it through the weekend. Aaron took the trash outside.

We killed a bunch last night and I have taken out several more today. As the kids and I were eating dinner, I noticed a couple more in the kitchen and got 'em. There were still a couple that were driving me nuts, so Aaron and Hannah decided they would spend the rest of the evening trying to kill the rest of the flies.

Hannah came down the stairs all prepared to exterminate the flies. I told them they couldn't use bug spray (even though it is kitchen safe...whatever that means) so she found a canister of OFF. Nope. Sorry. You can't randomly spray that through the house either. She also had her old Crock on a leash to use to whap them with, an empty vanilla bottle that had been washed out a long time ago (she claims it still smells good and will attract the flies), her garden gloves and her bug catcher.



Then we had the following conversation:

Hannah: I also have my bug catcher in case the flies are the "s" word and we can catch them.

Me: What's the "s" word?

Hannah: The same as the "d" word.

Me: (Can't figure out how the two words are related and apply to the flies or how she knows them.) Can you spell it?

Hannah: Do you promise I won't get in trouble if I spell it.

Me: Yes.

Hannah: s...t..u...p...i...d

Do You Believe In Jesus?

This afternoon the kids were giving Holly a quick bath before we took her to the kennel. We were heading out of town for the weekend and this would be her first time being boarded. We couldn't have her smelling like a stinky dog.

Anyway, I overheard this conversation:

Aaron: (To PK who was peeking in to make sure everything was ok) Is this how you baptize someone? (Obviously trying to sprinkle the dog)

PK: Yes. But only people get baptized. (Walks away.)

ME: (In the other room, laughing and thinking we don't have time for a deep theological discussion. And isn't it cute that they want to play "baptize the congregation of one.")

The kids often play this game with Holly where they ask her a question and she will either nod her head yes or shake her head no. Usually it is questions like, "Is Mommy your favorite?" or "Do you want to play with your toys?" Her "answers" are really her moving her head and listening to them. I have no delusions that the dog is a genius and understands the entire English language and responds appropriately. If we can conquer sit, come and potty in the proper place on command, I will be happy.

Anyway, with that explanation, the conversation continues:

Aaron: Holly, do you believe in Jesus? (pause) She said, "Yes."

Me: (To PK) Well, they might drown the dog, but at least they get the whole accepting Jesus thing.

Standing In

The Scouts in our area meet each Memorial Day weekend at Marietta National Cemetery to place flags on the graves of fallen service members. How the cemetery itself came to be has a touching story.

Civil War soldiers were being buried where they fell on the battlefield. A local man, Henry Green Cole, decided to donate over 23 acres of land to be used as a burial place for both Union and Confederate soldiers. His hopes were that the two sides could find some neutral ground here. Neither side would hear of it. The land donated by Cole was designated for Union soldiers while land donated a few miles away was designated for Confederate soldiers.

This is Georgia State Representative John Yates. He is a World War II survivor and spoke at the ceremony this morning. He has spent much of his political career fighting for the rights of veterans and survivors of those who have died. It was an honor to hear him tell his story. World War II vets are a fast dying breed.

Aaron is placing a flag by a grave.

After placing a flag, the Scouts would step back, pause and salute the flag and the grave.

I love this picture of Aaron and his best friend, Coleman.

Hannah placing a flag.

Rachel placing a flag.

Hannah's salute.

Aaron and a couple Scout buddies.

Rachel and Hannah with some Scouting friends.

My three favorite Scouts after placing flags.

As we were leaving Rachel commented that it was really sad that there were a lot of unknown graves whose families never knew what happened to them. Their families can't come to the grave site to honor and respect them because they have no idea where they are.

I paused by this particular unknown grave and offered a prayer of thanksgiving for the specific life that was given. Some where at some point in our country's history a mother or wife never saw her child or husband again. She had no idea what happened. As a mom and Navy wife, I stood in to pay tribute to this particular person for the mom or wife who never had a chance.

Good-ish Mostly Ish

I was downloading pictures today to update the blog and realized the kids had been playing with the camera because there were about 50 pictures of our puppy, Holly. I guess they should be recorded in our family blog.

This one really gives and idea of her size.

This one really gives an idea of what she is usually thinking. (I am small, but mighty and will eat you if I don't like you.)

When describing Holly, PK said, "I guess she is goodish. (Insert pause) Mostly ish." Cracked me up. PK is so serious but every once in a while he throws out something like that.

She is better than she use to be. We are working through her second session of training classes. She can sit, down, stay, shake hands, loose leash walk and is working on heeling. She will even come if she knows you have a treat or you shake the bag of treats for her to hear. Linda, our trainer, says acts such as shaking the bag of treats to make her come is a sign that we are well trained to accommodate Holly. When it is bedtime, she goes in her crate in Hannah's room. She gets a special treat and when Hannah asks, "Are you ready to go nite-nites?" Holly flies up the stairs. It is funny. I am glad she is finally walking on the leash. Taking her for a walk is much more fun than taking her for a drag.

Holly is becoming more confident and at least no longer tries to eat family members. We have really worked on socializing her. Chihuahuas are known for being little ankle biting yappy dogs, but I believe this is a behavior that can be modified. Linda is in complete agreement. When someone comes to the door we are getting her to sit and stay as we allow the person in the door. I was holding her when the electrician came in yesterday and she growled a little. I can't say as I blame her because he was not very friendly. I had a hard time not biting him.

I haven't practiced heeling with her as much as I should. I am just so glad she will walk on the leash. We (probably meaning "I" since I do the majority of her training, care taking, etc...go figure) are really going to focus on it now that the kids are out of school for the summer.

Jam Fest 2011

This is my fourth year to make strawberry jam. It is a lot of work, but so worth it. This year I picked six buckets. Because the peak of strawberry picking season coincides with the end of the school year, I decided to go by myself instead of trying to work out a time when the kids could go. I felt a bit bad because they do enjoy going, but it was very relaxing going alone.

Here is the finished product minus two jars PK took to co-workers before I got the picture. There are about 50 jars. Many of them will go to the kids' teachers and school staff as end of the year gifts. Some will go to friends who visit and some will be used as hostess gifts when we visit someone. The rest will be enjoyed by the Sweet Baby Rays. Aaron especially loves his peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. In our case, they are peanut butter and jam sandwiches.