all good things...

 It's true... all good things must come to an end, and our sailor's wonderful, long leave did just that~

it ended.

So this heap of belongings ...

 

 was sorted and packed...

 and became this.

 And it was time for the last hug. 

This, my friends, does NOT become easier. 

That is myth and a not very nice one either. 

It diminishes the reality of these good-byes.

They are hard.

And, for me, saying "See you later" in place of "Good-bye" 

makes no difference. My heart knows the truth.

But I was brave! It is NOT easier, but I HAVE gotten 

better at it. :)

Father and son set off for sunny southern Cal~

San Diego, to be exact. It was a road trip to remember. 

Back at home... I was grateful for having had 

such a marvelous visit with my son.

But, I was a little sad. The house was too quiet.

The dog... well, he was sad, too. 

Soon sailor and dad arrived in San Diego. 

After a short visit, the hubs flew home 

and our sailor reported to his ship, the USS Carl Vinson.

After almost 2 years, our sailor was ON A BOAT!  ;) 

Okay, well, maybe it's not exactly like that...

but more like these photos that he took on his first underway. 

 So, this post is not really about endings. 

It is about a beginning, a new adventure for my sailor.

 And I have memories of all my kids together,

happy, healthy and having fun!

I am so very thankful.

All good things... yes, I really do have all good things.♥ 

 Blessed beyond measure.

~♥~

So the journey continues...

QUALIFIED! BONA FIDE! THE REAL DEAL!

 

The face you see above is the face of a Qualified Nuclear Operator 

in the United States Navy!!!! 

Sign, sealed and delivered, he is done and home on leave! 

We did not attend Prototype graduation since 

our sailor left immediately after to drive from upstate N.Y. 

home to the Dallas suburbs. I will not even comment on 

how quickly he got here...

 

He actually arrived a day before he was expected, so my 

welcome home decor was not as fancy as I'd planned,

but the main thing, the ONLY thing that matters is 

HE IS HERE and HE IS DONE 

WITH NUKE SCHOOL!!!!!

He survived! 

I survived! 

~♥~

 And he is home and doing all the things he loves to do.

Messing with cars...

Helping with the yard.

 Helping out at the church fund-raiser with his dad and brother.

Shooting hoops.

Meeting our new pup and just hanging out.

~♥~

My heart is so happy and grateful.

It is like old times...

a brief reprieve before we give him back to the Navy. 

He leaves in a few weeks to joing his ship.

He got the number one pick on his "dream-sheet" and will be 

serving on the USS Carl Vinson out of San Diego. 

We are so happy, because it is a beautiful place and the 

closest homeport he could have gotten assigned to

while serving on a nuclear aircraft carrier.

Next I will learn to be the mom of a sailor in the fleet, a deployed sailor.

The Navy never stops teaching me new things. 

I am so very proud of my sailor! 

He has worked so hard and achieved so much! 

And now~ I'm a Nuke mom! 

~♥~