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. 

~♥~

half a year later...

~class 1203-A

My Navy mom journey continues...

On Monday my son passed his A School Comps at 

Navy Nuclear Power Training Command. 

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!!!

~♥~

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~~