Friday, February 24, 2012

A School~ check!

Going to see my sailor graduate from Nuclear Field 
A School was a great experience!! 
I am so grateful that I was able to attend
and share this moment with my son.
The graduation ceremony was impressive. 
My sailor is very proud of his "crows" and red chevron
that indicate his new rank of MM3.
He is a 3rd Class Petty Officer!
He worked hard for this!

Yes, I took a zillion pictures! 
The one above is inside the legendary
Rickover Building. I did not, for the record,
have my soul sucked out of me, but the sailors claim this 
building does just that. ;)
It was so good to see the base and know where my son lives.
Behind him is the Subway where he eats OFTEN! 
He introduced me to the guys and gals that work there
and they were so sweet and friendly. 
I met some of his buddies and passed on mama-hugs
from their moms. 
We visited the USS Yorktown- a WWII era aircraft carrier.
It was so fun we went back the next day 
with some of my son's buddies.
It was cold, but beautiful in Charleston.
And we got to go to Folly Beach, which was so pretty!
We nearly froze, but it was worth to see the beautiful Atlantic! 
What a blessing it was to spend these days with my son.
But let me tell you this...
goodbye does not get easier. 
My sailor starts his next level of schooling,
"Power School", in April. The next time I see him
will be September or October ~ the longest
time not seeing him so far. 
I remind myself that he is doing well,
that this is HIS journey and his life
and I am filled with pride and happiness.
Still, I miss him every day. 
~♥~

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

half a year later...


~class 1203-A
My Navy mom journey continues...
On Monday my son passed his A School Comps at 
He graduates on Friday and will be a Third Class Petty Officer.
He has a lot more hard schooling ahead of him, but this
is a great accomplishment. Nuke school is generally regarded
as one of the most academically demanding school in the military. 
My sailor has had his ups and downs and has worked
so hard to get to this point in his training.
Along the way he has adjusted to military life, lived far
from family, maintained a long distance relationship
with his sweet girl, learned to do laundry and made some 
friends for life. His visit at Christmas was a joy
for our entire family. 
As for me~ I have stayed BUSY and have somewhat
adjusted to my nearly empty nest. Now 3 of my 4 
kids are launched out into the world. 
I miss them, but I know this is the way of the world. 
My other 2 grown kids are close by and I see
them often. My sailor is far away and so busy with 
nuke school and Navy life. His days are long.
Thank God for technology. I am grateful for texts, 
FaceBook and phone calls to keep us connected. 
But truth is, I miss him all the time.
~♥~
I am so proud of all my sweet kids. 
~♥~
I am blessed beyond measure...
and~ I am going to Charleston to see my sailor graduate! 
Oh, happy day!!!
~♥~