Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Welcome Home!

JOHN IS HOME!


John looks great... so confident and proud. Although an enormous life change has occurred over the last sixteen weeks, his eyes still smile, the dimple still exists and the twinkle is still alive in his eyes.
Forever a piece of my heart, forever my son.




Hanging out with a sister in mom's kitchen, life is good!
It was fun to watch them together, to hear the silliness and laughter.

A brother and sister...together.

Saturday we took a trip to Arlington Cemetary...not only did we witness the changing of the guard, we we felt honored to watch two wreath laying ceremonies as well. It was then off to visit both the Vietnam and World War II Memorials.
How fortunate we are to live in this country, to be able to freely walk these grounds.
We must never forget!

Saturday night was playing cards at a neighbor's home until after midnight. It's amazing the difference in having John's mere presence in a room. Just the simple things. Sunday morning John and I attended Service and then he spent the rest of the day in the garage tinkering on the car. When John was asked how he did with the whole airplane deal, he replied that BMT taught him how to conquer his fears. I'm guessing John will have love/hate feelings towards his TI for a long time to come!

It's so good to have John home... to know he has this little chunk of time to revisit who he was, as he moves forward to develop who he will become.
John, I do love you so!!!

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Wake-Up!

Unbelievable!
Tomorrow at 11:18am, John's plane will touchdown at BWI...I know, I know...another acronym! BWI-sweet! Baltimore!!!!
He did very well on the block test today, and somehow got through all of the briefings...even had time time to go to dinner with a group of Airmen tonight!
As of 4am Thursday morning, Tech School at Keesler will be a chapter in John's history book. He is so relieved and I am so deeply proud of him!
I sent him an e-mail the other day, titled, "Cravings" I guess John becoming an uncle for the third time has me in baby-mode... what I wanted to know is what food has he been thinking about. John's answer S-T-E-A-K! Care to guess the menu for Thursday night? ;)
Tomorrow will be a sweet reunion between a mom and her son, a son who has transformed into a man. So many changes in such a short amount of time (for mom) but an eternity for John!
A brand new chapter is about to open for my airman, a great chapter...full of dreams come true. It won't be a perfect life, but it will be a life where he is meant to be, doing what he is meant to do!
I will see my son at 11:18 am!
God is good!
John, I do love you so!

Monday, June 16, 2008

Two Days and a Wake-Up!

Awesome! Amazing! Astounding!
John finally received his orders this evening!!! Next base... Wright-Patterson, but only after fifteen days at home! His Sponsor directed John to report on 07.05.2008.
One final block test on Wednesday, which I am certain John will ace.
It will be so good to have him home! It's the little things which have been missed most, like being able to share a spontaneous conversation about nothing or something, enjoy a meal together, play Rummy until late at night (or early in the morning)! Simply, his presence at home has been sorely missed.
I am so very proud of him for coming thus far, toughing out 6-1/2 weeks of BMT, 8 weeks of Tech School, not to mention various growing pains of stepping from boyhood to becoming a man. He continues to hold on to what his core is made of, he is constant and true to himself
Now off to a brand new chapter, Air Force life with the big guns. He has been trained well and met all requirements. It is up to him to move forward in a positive fashion, to make his mark, to make this life choice the best possible world.
Pray Hard!
Stay Strong!
John, I do love you so!

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Bustin' on the inside!

I know, I know... today is Flag Day and I have posted...
BUT... as much as this day renews my pride in being an American... I'm bustin' on the inside knowing the simple fact... John will be home this time next week!
Granted, Uncle Sam has not delivered John's orders yet, therefore there is no plane ticket yet, there is no RAP yet... but yet is simply a matter of time.
One final block test, less than two dozen briefings, packing what is needed from Keesler...next stop-HOME!
I know John is as ready to come home, as I am ready to have him home. How will it feel to be home, to this new John? Does the house still have the familiar smells? Will the town look different? I would imagine he has a brand new perspective of everything in life, but is home still home? What will his mind's eye see? Or is it simply a rush of emotions?
So..I have a busy semi-week ahead-a banner to create, a menu list with grocery shopping of some favorites, fill the car tank up with gas and simply wait for the magical moment when I see my son's smiling eyes once again!
John, I do love you so!

Flag Day 2008

LONG MAY IT WAVE!

You're a grand old flag,
You're a high flying flag
And forever in peace may you wave.
You're the emblem of
The land I love.
The home of the free and the brave.
Ev'ry heart beats true'neath the
Red, White and Blue,
Where there's never a boast or brag.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
Keep your eye on the grand old flag.
Music and lyrics by George M. Cohan
May God Bless and Protect those who preserve the right to wave our Flag!

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

At 6:10 on 6/10

Happy Birthday, John! It feels like yesterday... you were my little boy. May God Bless you and keep you safe in this new year of your life! John, I do love you so!

Sunday, June 8, 2008

Ten Days and a WakeUp!

Days at Keesler are quickly coming to an end! John passed yet another Block Test, congrats, John! Slow and steady wins it all! Hopefully, this next segment of Tech School will be more "hands on"...changing Mother Boards, along with other computer maintenance. John will excel in this area! Our basement is filled with oodles of computers, parts, cables, manuals, software..which took up more space in John's bedroom, than his bed and belongings!
I had mentioned the next post would be regarding RAP, however John is still waiting on his orders to Wright-Pat...so RAP is on stand-by. It's been a zany several weeks in Beautiful Biloxi.. however, John is working hard to remain strong.
If all goes according to plan, John will be heading home on June 19th! Participating in RAP (Recruiters Assistance Program) will give him 12 days of non-chargeable leave. He is required to work as an assistant to an Air Force Recruiter, eight hours a day...but he will be home! It will be an outstanding opportunity for John to reach other young men and women who are interested in becoming an Airman.
Ten Days and a WakeUp!!!
Not that far away!
Pray Hard!
Stay Strong!
John, I do love you so!

Friday, June 6, 2008

One Angry Letter

Written by a housewife from New Jersey.

'Are we fighting a war on terror or aren't we? Was it or was it not started by Islamic people who brought it to our shores on September 11, 2001?

Were people from all over the world, mostly Americans, not brutally murdered that day, in downtown Manhattan , across the Potomac from our nation's capitol and in a field in Pennsylvania ?

Did nearly three thousand men, women and children die a horrible, burning or crushing death that day, or didn't they?

And I'm supposed to care that a copy of the Koran was 'desecrated' when an overworked American soldier kicked it or got it wet?...Well, I don't. I don't care at all.

I'll start caring when Osama bin Laden turns himself in and repents for incinerating all those innocent people on 9/11.

I'll care about the Koran when the fanatics in the Middle East start caring about the Holy Bible, the mere possession of which is a crime in Saudi Arabia.

I'll care when these thugs tell the world they are sorry for chopping off Nick Berg's head while Berg screamed through his gurgling slashed throat.

I'll care when the cowardly so-called 'insurgents' in Iraq come out and fight like men instead of disrespecting their own religion by hiding in mosques.

I'll care when the mindless zealots who blow themselves up in search of nirvana care about the innocent children within range of their suicide.

I'll care when the American media stops pretending that their First Amendment liberties are somehow derived from international law instead of the United States Constitution's Bill of Rights.
In the meantime, when I hear a story about a brave marine roughing up an Iraqi terrorist to obtain information, know this: I don't care.

When I see a fuzzy photo of a pile of naked Iraqi prisoners who have been humiliated in what amounts to a college-hazing incident, rest assured: I don't care.

When I see a wounded terrorist get shot in the head when he is told not to move because he might be booby-trapped, you can take it to the bank: I don't care.

When I hear that a prisoner, who was issued a Koran and a prayer mat, and fed 'special' food that is paid for by my tax dollars, is complaining that his holy book is being 'mishandled,' you can absolutely believe in your heart of hearts: I don't care.

And oh, by the way, I've noticed that sometimes it's spelled 'Koran' and other times 'Quran.' Well, Jimmy Crack Corn and-you guessed it-I don't care!!

If you agree with this viewpoint, pass this on to all your E-mail friends. Sooner or later, it'll get to the people responsible for this ridiculous behavior!

If you don't agree, then by all means hit the delete button. Should you choose the latter, then please don't complain when more atrocities committed by radical Muslims happen here in our great Country!

And may I add:
'Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don't have that problem' -- Ronald Reagan

I have another quote that I would like to add AND.......I hope you forward all this.
'If we ever forget that we're One Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under' Also by.. Ronald Reagan

One last thought for the day:
In case we find ourselves starting to believe all the Anti-American sentiment and negativity, we should remember England 's Prime Minister Tony Blair's words during a recent interview. When asked by one of his Parliament members why he believes so much in America , he said: 'A simple way to take measure of a country is to look at how many want in.. And how many want out.'

Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you:
1. Jesus Christ
2. The American G. I.
One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.

Sunday, June 1, 2008

Thinkable Thoughts

"Freedom is never free." - Anonymous

"It is the soldier, not the reporter, Who has given us freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, Who has given us freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the organizer, Who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.It is the soldier, Who salutes the flag, Who serves beneath the flag, And whose coffin is draped by the flag, Who allows the protestor to burn the flag." - Father Dennis Edward O'Brian, USMC

"The truth of the matter is that you always know the right thing to do. The hard part is doing it." -Norman Schwarzkopf

"My responsibility, our responsibility as lucky Americans, is to try to give back to this country as much as it has given us, as we continue our American journey together."- Colin Powell

"You can have my gun when you pry it from my paranoid, mentally disturbed, physically-abusive, cold, dead hand." - Unknown

"Fall seven times, stand up eight." - Japanese Proverb

Draft beer, not people." - Unknown