Monday, September 26, 2011

One heck of a day

Fair warning, this is probably going to be all over the place and may not make sense in some places..


     My day started off like any other day today.  Did hardly anything during the day until the boys got home.  I helped them with their homework and listened to them argue all afternoon.  Made lasagna for dinner and then was out the door once Dan got home to go to my orientation class at the Chiropractor.  Pretty normal day..that is until I walked into the door after the class.  Dan was standing outside and asked me to walk out there so he could talk to me.  That's when it felt like the bottom was pulled out from under me and my heart broke.  You see, nothing means more to me than family.  I lost my father when I was 7 and to be quite honest I still can't cope with it well at all.  My Grandfather died almost 4 years ago and I was devastated then too.  Soon after he died we found out my Grandmother had cancer.  She spent about 2 years getting treatment and was then cancer free..that is until today.  The cancer is back.  She said last time that if it ever came back she was not going to seek treatment for it, and honestly who can blame her.  She is 81 years old and has had to endure things that were horrible.  She has buried two sons and a husband.  She worked extremely hard her entire life and has always been there for everyone.  This woman has always been a huge part of my life.  I look up to her so very much.  I hope that one day I can be half the woman she has been.  I feel like one she is gone that I will have lost the last tie I have to my dad.  My heart is breaking, knowing that she is suffering and there is nothing I can do about it at all.

     See, everyone keeps telling me that I need to immediately go to her and stay with her.  While I would love to do that, emotionally I just can't do it.  I know it seems selfish and like I'm only thinking of myself but thats not it at all.  I will go see her, but I just can't go for an extended period of time and I know she wouldn't want me to.  The boys are pretty devastated and so is Dan.  I just love her so much.  She has always been right there any time I ever needed her.  For my high school graduation she gave me the best gift I've ever been given.  I received a photo album full of memories of my father that I never would have gotten otherwise.  I will never be able to thank her for all that she has done for me, but I pray that she knows how much I love her and respect her.  She will always have an impact of just about every decision I make.  I honestly don't think I would be the person I am today had it not been for her.  She never let me talk bad about anyone, even my other grandmother that wasn't so nice.  They're just aren't many great women like her left in this world.  I love you Maw and I am who I am because of you!

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Our Trip to Washington DC

     Have you ever had a moment where you question yourself as a parent?  I have.  I've had many of those moments.  All of those moments that I've had in the past were swept away this last weekend when we took a trip to DC to see Shannon, Ernie, Gaby and Katie.  Standing there, at the Lincoln Memorial, watching my ten year old son Danny read the Gettysburg Address and hearing Matt answer Shannon when she asked him if he knew why Dr. King chose to stand on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to give his speech.  That one moment right then made me realize that Dan and I are raising two very intelligent, compassionate, extremely funny, thoughtful little boys.  Are they a handful sometimes?  Absolutely.  Would I have it any other way.  Absolutely not.  Dan and I have managed to raise two boys that don't care about the color of someone else's skin and are actually confused as to why that matters to some people at all.  They both love small children and animals and are always the first ones to offer to help with either.  I think in this day and age we are doing pretty good especially when they have to be without their father so much because he's in the Navy protecting us from the bad in the world.

     Now on to our trip.  We left here Thursday, the 13th, around Noon.  We arrived in DC that night around 10:30.  Friday we met Shannon in Chinatown where she works for lunch and then we headed over to a few of the memorials.  We got to see the WWII Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Korean War Memorial.  Boy was it cold that day!





     That night we all went out to dinner and had a great time.  Saturday we got up and went to Arundel Mills Mall.  Shannon and I walked around and did some window shopping with Katie while Dan and Ernie took the 3 big kids and went to Dave and Busters.  That night all of us adults had Sangria.  Lots of sangria.  Matt ended up sick that night but seemed better the  next day.  Sunday was Medieval Times :)  That was so much fun!  Dan woke up not feeling that well Sunday but seemed better by the time we got to our 2:30 dinner show.  We all had a wonderful time.








     Monday when I woke up Danny and Gaby were sick.  Stomach flu seems to travel fast.  We all sat around most of the day and watched the movie How to Train Your Dragon.  Awesome movie!  I can't believe it took us that long to finally see it.  Not long into the movie I started feeling the effects of the stomach flu.  Around 4 or so I was pretty much down for the count.  I laid downstairs and watched tv and tried not to throw up.  Lets just say that didn't work to well.  I ended up in bed early that night.  Yesterday morning it was time for us to get up and start our drive home.  Wouldn't you know it the weather didn't like us.  There had been snow and freezing rain the night before.  You know what that means.  Ice.  Lots of it.  After finally getting on the interstate our trip home was uneventful.

     I love Washington DC.  I love spending time with Shannon, Ernie, and the girls.  I do have to say though, I'm happy to be back home again.  I'm also overjoyed that my husband is home from Deployment and with us again :)















Monday, December 27, 2010

Submariner style Christmas

This is not mine.  I got this from a friend but wanted to share.  I miss my husband so much every single time he is gone, but more so during the holidays.


Merry Christmas… Submariner Style

T’was the Night Before Christmas-Submarine Style
By Sean Keck
T‘was the night before Christmas, and what no one could see,
The men with the dolphins were under the sea.
Most of the crew was flat on their backs,
Snoring and dreaming all snug in their racks.
Those men on watch were making their rounds,
Some manning the planes or listening for sounds.
Back in maneuvering or down in the room,
They all hoped the oncoming watch would come soon.
I‘d finished some PM’s whose time was now due,
And hoped for some sleep, even an hour or two.
Against better judgment I took a short stroll,
And found myself wandering into control.
The Nav had the Conn, the COW was in place,
The COB had the Dive and a scowl on his face.
The helm and the planes were relaxed but aware,
The QM and ET were discussing a dare.
To comply with the orders the Nav told the Dive,
To bring the boat up with minimum rise.
The orders were given and soon they were there,
At periscope depth with a scope in the air.
The QM confirmed our position with care,
The broadcast was copied, we brought in some air.
The Nav on the scope let out a small cry,
He shook his head twice and rubbed at his eyes.
He looked once again to find what it was,
That interrupted his sweep and caused him to pause.
Try as he might there was nothing to see,
So down went the scope and us to the deep.
I asked what it was that caused his dismay,
He sheepishly said, “I’m embarrassed to say.
It could have been Northern Lights or a cloud,
Or a meteorite,” he wondered aloud.
“But to tell you the truth I guess I must say,
Whatever it was it looked like a sleigh.
And though it passed quickly and never was clear,
I almost believe it was pulled by reindeer.”
We laughed and teased him and I got up to go,
When our moment was broken by “Conn, Radio.”
They told us a message was just coming in,
We looked at the depth gauge and started to grin.
“Radio, Conn, I feel safe to say,
Your attempt at a joke is too long delayed.
If it had been sooner it might have been neat,
But I doubt we’re receiving at four-hundred feet.”
“Conn, Radio, you can come down and see,
We’re not playing games to any degree.”
I headed aft with nothing better to do,
Surprised by the fact it was still coming through.
It stopped and was sent to control to be read,
The Nav read it slowly and scratched at his head.
Then again he began but this time aloud,
To those that now waited, a curious crowd.
“To you Denizens of the Deep and men of the sea,
Who risk your life daily so others stay free.
I rarely have seen you on this, my big night,
For far too often you are hidden from sight.
But purely by luck I saw you tonight,
As your scope coaxed the plankton to glow in the night.
And lucky for me I’ve finally won,
The chance to say thanks for all you have done.
I know that you miss your families at home,
And sometimes you feel as if you’re alone.
But trust what I say and I’ll do what’s right,
I‘ll take something special to your families tonight.
Along with the gifts I’ll take to your kin,
I‘ll visit their dreams and leave word within.
They’ll hear of your love, and how you miss them,
I‘ll tell them that soon you’ll be home again.
It might not be much I know that is true,
To thank you for all the things that you do.
But I’ll do what I can, while you do what’s right,
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a goodnight.”
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Please keep in your thoughts those who are serving away from their families… and for those who are spending this holiday season without their loved ones because they gave the ultimate sacrifice.

Friday, September 24, 2010

More Sociable

     So I've decided that maybe I need to be more sociable.  Those that know me also know that I have a social anxiety.  I've found that since Dan deployed its been really hard for me to leave the house.  When he was home I spent all my time with him (since there wasn't much of it) and didn't get out much.  I mean I got out plenty with him and the boys but not with my other friends.  All of our husbands are on the same boat though so we all wanted to just spend quality family time together.  While he was home we also got our niece for a few days, that was a blast by the way, and our nephew for a week.  We also went to DC for a week and my parents came down for a few days and we spent some time in Umatilla and Orlando.  Doing all of that didn't really leave much time for friends.  I'm slowly but surely making myself get out of the house and be around people.  It helps that I have such amazing friends to pass the time with too.  I don't know if I'll ever be able to thank my friends and family for helping me get through Dan being gone but I sure will try.
     I do have quite a bit planned while Dan is gone.  I'm trying to get Kim to go to Orlando or Tampa with me soon, and for my birthday weekend I'm going to TN to see my family, and then I'm going back for the week of Thanksgiving and staying here in GA for Christmas. I think I'm going to work a few trips to Umatilla in there too :)   Hopefully time goes by quickly and I'll have my husband home again before I know it.  I think I'm going to like this blogging thing :)

Wow I started a blog!

Wow! I finally started a blog.  Its amazing that I actually did it.  Normally I always have something to say but sometimes I have a hard time wording things.  Hopefully I can stay on top of the blog and actually write a few times a week.  I think it will probably help with stress.  Plus lets be honest, with Dan gone I have plenty of time to write and more than enough to say.  I'm really hoping that this deployment goes by very quickly.  Its no fun at all having to explain to your kids over and over why their Dad is gone and why he has to be gone so much.  Mine are old enough to somewhat understand but they do not like it one bit.  So, everyone wish me luck on my little blog adventure!!  It should be fun!