Phil's Pinning

Over a week ago now was one of the most important ceremonies in Phil's career.

We were so proud of him when we first found out he had made Chief and did our best to support him through the induction season.

His pinning marked the end of this process and the beginning of his time as a Chief Petty Officer. I thought I'd share some pictures and things from that day.

Phil was able to choose 2 people to pin his new anchors on his collar. He asked me to do one of them and had the boys work together to do the other. Jeremiah put on the front of the pin.

And Josh had the difficult responsibility of putting on the back. We realized shortly after they had done it that it ended up being put on upside down. I think that only added to the cuteness of it, though. The boys did a really good job with it.

After we did our part, Phil's sponsor put his new cover on for the first time. 

After the ceremony was mostly done, each new Chief walked down the center aisle one at a time. It was so great to see each of them. It was such a proud moment.

Afterward we grabbed a few family shots with Phil in is brand spankin' new khakis.

 As proud as we have been of Phil this whole time, it has definitely been a difficult few weeks to get through and we're so glad now to finally be on the other side!

We did find out that because of all of this Phil will be transferring soon. We'll be staying in the area (so we don't have to try and sell the house yet) but Phil will now we working from a different base. I still have work to do on learning about this new command so maybe once I know more, I can share a little more. In the mean time, it's so nice to be done and settled and ready to move on after all those months and months of waiting in limbo not being sure if we'd be able to stay in the military or not!

He Made It!!!

A week ago today we received the news we have been waiting over 9 months to hear. The results of the Chief's board came out. We had been doing our best to wait patiently. It's a difficult thing to do when it is an answer that will change forever the trajectory of your life's path. With a lot of prayer and effort we had waited. Phil would either be thrown very quickly into a 6 week induction process to become a Chief or into a process of transitioning out of military life altogether.
Phil was the first to find the news and after verifying what he saw (it was a little difficult to believe), he called me and quickly said, "I made it." I could hardly believe it! He had to say it again. I had to say it out loud. His chances had seemed so small and yet... he made it. Tears rose up and flooded my eyes but there was an irrepressible smile. He had made it.

Now we are in the middle of what will be a 7 week induction period where we will see very little of each other while he becomes a Chief. It will culminate with his pinning ceremony in mid-September. It has been an interesting transition going from such uncertainty into this. Most days he has been gone all day from before any of us are awake until long after the boys have gone to bed. As exciting as this change is, you can't help but looking forward to when we'll be able to have more time together again.
As far as everything else goes, we're not sure what will happen from here. After he is pinned we may be asked to move or we may be allowed to stay here. No one will know until it's over. So for now, we get through the next few weeks and be happy and grateful that everything so far has worked out better than we could have hoped for and trust that the rest will as well. A few times every day it hits me all over again that Phil made it and I can't help but smile and feel overwhelmed with gratitude and love.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. -Proverbs 3:5-6

Peaches and Changes

Things have been brewing on the employment front. I briefly mentioned it here. The program I mentioned is called PTS and Phil was denied for the last time this month. We knew there was a good chance of his being denied. There is one more chance that we will be able to stay int he military- if Phil advances to Chief later this Summer. This is not a guaranteed advancement by any means. It's been an incredibly nerve-wracking time for us not knowing what to prepare for. We'll finally have a definite answer as to our possible future in the military by the end of the Summer. Until then we wait. It's difficult, to say the least.

Trying not to focus on those things coming up, we have been trying to find some fun things to do around. This weekend was a pretty nice one on that front. I found out there was a peach festival going on not too far away.

We headed there after church on Sunday. We stopped to pick some of our own peaches first. Phil had the best luck at finding the really ripe ones. I think he used his height as and advantage.

Joshua tried to do the same... but ended up with other problems as a result...

We tightened his belt a little after this. Funny boy.
I love taking the boys the find out where food comes from.

Joshua's latest enjoyment is finding all the bugs he can when we go. He's also found a few problems with eating while missing his front 2 teeth.

He's found ways around it for the most part, but watching him eat corn off the cob was hillarious!

Can you believe they didn't coordinate their shirts in the morning? They look like M&M's!

Joshua worked on his bravery a bit with Daddy's help.

Spent some time at a small town Peach festival. It was pretty cute.
We stopped on the way home to pick some very early blueberries. What did Joshua find? Bugs.

Grilling and Leaving

It doesn't get much better than this right here:

Today Phil left for the first time since he returned from deployment. Not so fun.
He'll be back in a couple weeks but it's still sad to have to go back to getting by without him.

Operation Paperback

While Phil was still deployed I heard about this organization:
http://www.operationpaperback.org/
I signed up for a box for the boys (since we can never seem to get enough reading material around here). This evening a knock came to my door. It was our postman carrying a box FULL of books for us!

We won't be able to use every single one of them (the Goosebumps series I think may still be a bit much for Joshua) but there are a lot of fun ones in there. Some of them I wouldn't have picked out myself but the boys seemed interested in.

There were a LOT of books! I read the letter that came with it to the boys. Here's the important part:
"These books are a gift from supportive citizens around the United States. It is our way of saying thanks to military families for the incredible sacrifices they make every day."
Funny thing is the boys don't really realize they've made any sort of sacrifice. They will some day, though and I'm hoping that things like this help them realize that people are grateful for the things they've given up.

There was one that was a favorite of the boys. We have some geekiness issues over here.

Skype

Tonight we had a date. Phil was going to call about 6 o'clock so I could open the gifts he had ordered before he left while on the phone with him. That didn't exactly work out. We talked for maybe a few minutes and were disconnected probably a half dozen times. Not our idea of a good time.
So Phil decided to bite the bullet and pay for his own internet connection. So what happens then? Skype. That's what! We got to video "chat" with Phil. I use these "" because we did most of the talking. Phil had the other guys who were asleep in his tent to consider.
This picture makes me really really happy.
The end.

Saying Goodbye

Why do I have time to start catching up? Because we've finally reached D-day (deployment day).
This morning we dropped Phil off to catch a bus that would lead to a flight out of our country and onto another.
He'll be gone about 7 months, give or take. We're all handling it well so far but we have a long way to go, of course. We're taking it day by day. Right now is the end of day one. Tomorrow is another day.
For now... here are our pictures from this morning!

Command Christmas Party

Yep I'm super behind. Thanksgiving threw a wrench in my schedule... and so has getting ready for Christmas. Needless to say, I'll be doing some catching up.
A couple weeks ago was Phil's command Christmas party. We had a great time! A night out without the kids? Really yummy food? Good friends? A recipe for a great evening indeed!
This is Lauren and Rachel. I love these girls. They do, however, make me feel really really tall.
It was the the aquarium. Phil gave the crocodile the stink eye and the crocodile gave it right back.


It was a great way to kick off the holidays this year!

Missing "Home"

A funny thing has happened since we started this whole military family thing. First, a little background. I grew up the first 21 years of my life in the same house, in the same town, in the same state. I'm at least a 4th generation in that town... or was, I suppose. It's still my "hometown" and while I love to visit, it's definitely not "home" anymore. We've moved about and met new people and fell in love with new areas. A bit of our sense of home was left in those places when we moved away. Some days we feel homesick for California, sometimes for Italy, sometimes for Illinois.
In spite of all that, when things happen or change back "home," it still has the ability to affect me profoundly. This last week I was informed that yet another person I knew growing up has passed away. It is not someone I knew well but it still affected me. More then I expected, actually.
There has been so much I've missed out on with living this somewhat transient life. I've missed friends getting married and children being born. I've missed being able to show the people who watched me grow how my children are growing. We do visit when we can, but it's impossible to hold a place for yourself in two locations at once. You have to learn to live without some of those normal things that everyone else gets to be a part of as a natural part of life.
So here are my heartfelt sympathies to the family of the man who will be greatly missed. I sincerely wish I could be there to grieve with you.

Cakes for Iraq

A friend from the FRG asked me earlier this month to put together a couple cakes for her husband and friend who are in Iraq with Phil's squadron. She intended to mail them their way in time for their birthdays. How fun is that? I did my best to make something that might hopefully survive the time and postal service handling. Here's what I came up with...
I built them on the lid of ziplock like containers that fit snugly, hoping it would hold them both in place for the long journey.
I've been waiting rather impatiently to see the results and finally got this from Cristina the other day...
Yeah not so good, but the guys enjoyed them anyway!
Hope you guys had a really Happy Birthday, Brad and Boomer! We'll see you home soon!

FRG

Phil's squadron will be home from their deployment in less then a month and everyone is so excited! Tonight was the pre-homecoming brief. They asked me to make a cake to help celebrate and this is what I came up with.
Talk about work! 3 little boats that resembled the boats our guys drive. In front are little sea bags and helmets. All the camo I hand-painted. In the picture are Lauren and Lisa, the FRG president and vice-president. I've recently taken on the secretary role in the FRG. I love these girls! It should be fun once all our hubbies are home for a bit.

My Husband the Riverine

Phil is back! For good... well, kinda.
As most of you know, this command that Phil is stationed at is going to be a lot different from what we've been with in the past. So Phil is home... for now. When he will leave again we're not sure. In the mean time, we are so happy to have him home! Phil has graduated from his latest class that officially makes him a Riverine.
To commemorate that I thought I'd share something I just read for the first time with Phil's latest certificate, The Riverine Sailor Creed:

In our nation's time of need, there are Sailors that stand ready... honor bound... to defend freedom. They serve on shallow waters and rivers, around the world, with honor and distinction. I am proud to be one of these Sailors... a Riverine Sailor.

I am a quiet professional; tried, tested and dedicated to achieving excellence in Riverine warfare operations. I am a disciplined, confident and highly motivated warrior.

My honor and integrity are above reproach; my commitment to duty unquestioned and my word trusted. The American people depend on me to execute my mission in a precise and professional, military manner.

I maintain my craft, equipment and myself at the highest possible levels of combat readiness. I set the standard and lead by personal example. I am responsible for my actions and accountable to my shipmates, superiors and the American people.

I am ready for war, but hope for peace. In the event of conflict, I will close and engage the enemy with the full combat power at my disposal. My actions will be decisive, yet measured. I will always complete my mission and do my duty leaving no shipmate behind, dead or alive.

My heritage was born during the revolution that made ours a free nation. The legacy and courage of those warriors who went in harms way before me guides my actions. I shall never forget the selflessness, perseverance and sacrifices made to secure our nations freedom. I will always uphold and maintain the honor of those who fought before me and staunchly protect our proud history.

Almost Done

This is our last weekend together before Phil graduates from this particular school. There will be another later, but we will get a break at least for now. Phil will be gone a lot for the next couple of weeks and we would really appreciate you praying for him as he completes his last tests for this school.
In the mean time, I'm still absorbing myself in the letters between Abigail and John Adams and finding companions on this journey of togetherness and separation.
"Every day of ye time I have mournd the absence of my friend, and felt a vacancy in heart which nothing, nothing can supply. In vain the spring blooms or the birds sing, their musick has not its formour melody, nor the spring its usual pleasures. I look around with a melancholy delight and sigh for my absent partner." Abigail to John, May of 1777
I can't wait to be back together again for more then just a weekend. So much gets missed during the weeks. I know we'll be spending a lot more time apart while we are stationed here, but for now, my focus is two weeks away and getting through until then.

Campfollowing

On KLOVE earlier as the boys and I were driving home, there was a snippet on air about military wives and how their isolation puts them at risk. I had never paired isolation with why I feel so lonely lately. I am constantly around 2 other people, but at 5 and 2, they aren't the best conversationalists yet. I get to talk to Phil every day and see him most weekends, which is a huge blessing that I don't take for granted, but there is something missing in going about your day by day lives together when you're not... well... together. I did a search for articles along these lines and came across a sampling of a book online that is a history of military wives (ending in about 1972, so I'm guessing this was written before I was even born). I haven't read too far into the sample even, but this one little part made me just about cry. Someone understands me!!!

It does take a special kind of woman to be a military wife. She must be a patriot, and a helpmate, lover, comforter and confidante to her husband. As one reads the early diaries or hears the stories of women who have experienced the roller-coaster ups and downs of military life, it becomes clear that the military wife must be courageous and resilient, and have a sense of humor... It is neither an easy life nor one to which all wives can adapt, but those who do are part of a heritage rich in sacrifice, adventure, and fulfillment.

from "Campfollowing," By Betty Sowers Alt, Bonnie Domrose Stone

Okay, so I wanted to quote several paragraphs, but fear the copyright problems that could ensue. I'm not even sure I'll be able to buy this book anymore, but for now it's good to be reminded that I am just one of a long legacy of women who have stood up under these same burdens and succeeded in the end.

A New Book

Had a couple books I put on hold come in at our local library. Wanted to share something from this book that I read over and over. I can't seem to put it down. The similarity of experience and an overwhelming relief that I'm not crazy after all wrapped up in one book.

"It happens to military spouses at different times, but eventually everyone wears her new reality--the reality of being a lone and afraid--like a cast. And as with a broken limb, you learn to function in spite of the crippling sense that you're just barely hanging on. It's only later that you look back and say, 'How on earth did I get through that?'"

Weird Navy Wife

Being a Navy wife makes you weird. Most civilians don't understand what your husband does, why you are okay with moving so often, why your husband refuses to put a mini-uniform on your kids or how you could possibly feel at peace with the idea of your husband having a dangerous job. It seems the longer you stay in the more you get acclimated to this level of difference between yourself and the world around you. At first your mind is a whirl of learning acronyms, figuring out how to sign up for Tricare (our medical insurance), learning the beauty of a power of attorney and basking in the new-found beauty found in your role as a Navy wife. Most people have some idea in their head pre-marriage of what that is going to look like and most often it's wrong. Sometimes you just can't know it until you do it.
Phil and I have been married for 5 years now. I have also spent 5 solid years as a Navy wife. We were engaged just short of 2 years before getting married, so altogether I've had 7 years now getting used to this whole Navy thing. At first it all seemed so romantic. Yes, he'll be gone, but you'll get to have those great kiss reunion scenes right?? Everything is way more interesting then it is frustrating. You join Navy wife online communities full of lots of other young Navy wives who are pretty new at this yet think they've got it all figured out. Time passes and things change.
I've gotten over the crying during patriotic songs and given up altogether trying to understand why the Navy does what it does. I wouldn't call it cynical so much as experienced. I think I've kinda gotten this thing a little more under control. But not really.*
Phil has new orders now. He's going to be a part of the Riverines. What is that? Most people have never even heard of it! If you refer to their presence in Vietnam, people old enough during that time might remember seeing something like that. Most people will have no clue at all. There is no exception here for military spouses. Most wives have probably not heard about the Riverines at all. So guess what? I just started getting a feeling of normalcy back to this whole military life thing, and now I'm weird again. I'm sorry there's not much we've shared about what Phil will be doing when he gets to Virginia. It's all very touchy for me not knowing what all is okay to share openly. (Here's one new page I found interesting, though.)
To get the my whole main point with writing this post. I have finally gotten to reconnect with some of our close friends from Italy who are now also in Virginia. It was such a huge relief to find out that her husband has a job much like Phil will. Now hopefully I wont' feel so alone having someone to be a weird Navy wife with.

*This is a reference to the Giving Tree which is one of Joshua's favorite books of all time so far.