homecoming!

As I write this my Sailor is on a plane headed home!

We get 9 days with him! 

I am so happy I could explode!!

Best Christmas present ever~ all my kids together! 

Best wishes to all

for a joyful holiday season! 

~♥~

so far away...

So, there's my sailor, looking good at A School.

He is doing well in nuke school~ staying very busy.

Some of my fellow Navy moms, who have kids

in A Schools in other fields, are very happy

with all the communication they now have

with their Sailors. As for me, I am

almost nostalgic for boot camp. 

I miss the letters.

For you see, nuke school moms are often

 at the end of the food chain. 

The reality is that nuke school is hard and demanding.

The material is challenging. The hours are long.

There is little free time.

So, I continue with my crash course

in Letting go 101.

So far, it is hard. We missed our Sailor

so much at Thanksgiving, but this is what 

he signed up for. I get that, but it does not

make me miss him less. 

But~~~There are positives...

#1~ He is doing well in school and seems

well-adjusted to military life.

#2~ Technology saves the day! Hooray for

Skype, FaceTime, Facebook and texting. 

I don't get a lot of communication, but I am

grateful for little every crumb!

#3~ CHRISTMAS!!~ Our Sailor will be home

for 10 days!!! YAY!!!!!! ♥♥♥

When I used to read accounts online about nuke students

not having much time to communicate with home,

I told myself ~"Not my son! He will find time."

Ha! The Navy is a great equalizer...

Yes, my son!... He is busy AND he is doing 

what he has to do. The apron strings are severed. 

He is on this great adventure and I am proud 

of him. My battered heart will heal.

~♥~

thank you, heroes

truth is...

I miss my son.

Everything is okay. My sailor is safe in Charleston,

settling into his home for the next 2 years.

I am glad boot camp is over.

But this letting go... it's not so easy.

On a positive note~ My son will be home

for Christmas. As much as I dislike the stores being 

so decked out so early, this year it reminds me that 

the holidays will bring a visit. ♥ 

I promise a more upbeat post in a day or two.

~♥~

son and sea shop

When my son was in boot camp I began making

Navy mom, wife, girlfriend, etc pendants.

I have opened an Etsy shop and will keep

it stocked with lots of Navy pride designs.

I am saving my profits for care packages

and trips to visit my Sailor son.

~~FREE SHIPPING~~

so proud

Free digital scrapbook created with Smilebox

brave new world

Last week at this time we were in Great Lakes enjoying 

our son's brief liberty after his boot camp graduation. 

It seems like a year ago! 

The time flew. Those few hours over 2 short days were

not nearly enough. The good bye at O'Hare 

was brutal. Since my son's arrival at NNPTC 

communication has been pretty good... texts, phone calls,

FaceBook. But it is hard to realize that this 

is as good as it gets. I've been sad, but I am

determined to accept this new reality, and to

support and encourage my Sailor. 

It is a rough road, a lonely place for a mother's 

heart. But there is no option except to let go

and CHOOSE gratitude. 

Today I am grateful for family and friends,

for the supportive military community

and for the gift of this day. 

~♥~