Sharpshooter

The Big Kid spent the week at Cub Scout Day Camp this week. As crazy as it is to be at camp with 300 of your closest friends, it was really well organized. He complained that there was too much down time waiting for activities to begin, but I think they did an amazing job this year running things. As part of your week at camp, it's required that a parent come and volunteer at least one day. My day happened to be the same day as BB gun shooting.

   Rangemaster at the gun range was just a little scary, but I think that's a good thing when you deal with groups of 14-16 10 years olds all day. He got the attention he needed and the kids responded really well. He gave clear, concise instructions and didn't allow idle chatter on the range. I know those guys are generous with their time and resources. They gave up a week of their vacation time to come and shoot guns with Cub Scouts. Not a bad gig if you love it.

  Bug did really well on the range. I wasn't aware of any previous shooting experience, but he said he did it last year. This year he got a perfect score. The only one in camp to do it from the bench. In a couple of days they try again from keeling. If he aces that, he qualifies for his belt loop. He was pretty proud of his score, and so was his dad. He was very methodical in getting his equipment ready and lining up his shots. He wasn't fast by any means, but he was dead on accurate. I am glad this is the day I got to attend so I can take a few shots myself. With my camera.

  I hope he's able to get some great lessons from scout camp this year. Like even when things don't move fast enough for you they are moving along just the same. And it's good to take time to set up your shots, and your life. It can make things go well in the long run. Stick close to your friends, they make life more fun. And ALWAYS keep your water bottle full. It's hot out there!

Surprise!

7 week Ultra Sound picture

I am not all that sure suprise is a big enough word or feeling. We certainly weren't expecting to expect another baby. After all of the trials and heartache we went through to have the children that we do, we didn't even think it was a possibility. My doctor said it was a one in a million chance. The Lord has greater plans that I do for my family though and I am grateful for what's to come.
There are going to be hurdles to overcome. I am not as young as I once was. Miscarriages are not foreign to me, but I think I will need the help and support of family and friends should something happen. One dear friend looked at me with astonishment when I told her and said that there is a reason for all of this, and I should look joyfully ahead. She is so right. I dealt with gestational diabetes while pregnant with Meg and it never went away afterward. It's not all that uncommon, however this time around I go in with diabetes and had to switch to insulin shots almost right away. It can cause some complications in the months to come, but I feel like I have a good team of specialists to help me along they way. I am also expecting the bedrest this time around and I am making plans to keep busy and updating my Netflix que. Until then, I get to enjoy the summer with my kids as long as I stay away from the roller coasters....
 Baby Hubbs is officially scheduled to join us in early March, but I am betting Valentine's Day. Who's in?

Grand Canyon Adventure

In June our family took a little adventure to the Grand Canyon. A few days before I took a trip down memory lane with my sisters about camping trips of our youth. Funny for us, not so much for my mom, who just shook her head and said "Just wait. Your turn is coming." As my sister often reminds me "You don't get to choose what your children will remember forever." So true.

 The kids woke up early to leave on our adventure. I wasn't so ready to get up. Justin came in to get me and tell me to get up as we had things to do. I thought I had things covered pretty well from the night before when he went on to tell me that I had made reservations in the park for the week before, not the week we were living in. (Not the first time I have had reservation issues....) You have to book your camping spot in the Grand Canyon National Park months ahead of time. There was no way we were getting another spot there. Nothing like winging it.

 On our way there we stopped on Route 66 at the Grand Canyon Caverns. It's the largest dry cavern in the United States and it was pretty amazing. Especially to my little girl who is obsessed with rocks. If you have the time and money, you can even stay in the little hotel room in the caverns. I am glad we stopped there. It was interesting and we ended up on a private tour.

We went on to William, AZ that night and stayed in a hotel. The kids and Justin went swimming and I went to find dinner. On the way back from getting dinner I was rear-ended by a Russian who spoke very little English driving a Cadillac rental vehicle. Just a little paint transfer, but I did get shaken up a bit. The next morning the check engine light was on. We ventured onward anyway.

We ended up finding a great little first come first serve campground just outside the park entrance called Ten-X. Not a lot in the way of amenities, but good enough for us with spacious campsites and not tons of people, until the weekend. The kids had a great time playing with the rocks, digging in the dirt and stalking mysterious bugs. They mostly had fun getting dirty and taking hikes.

At the Grand Canyon National Park we spent our time taking easy rim hikes, visiting the hot spots, like the train station, hopping on and off of the shuttle buses and generally enjoying the view. We were fortunate to be there during astronomy week where astronomers from all over come to set up their telescopes for people to take a look at the heavens and discuss all things celestial. Adam's first glimpse of the canyon was telling. He turned back around to us and said "The postcards are nothing like this." He is so right. The photos, paintings, poems and other art do nothing to tell you the real soul-stilling beauty of this place. It truly is wondrous.

We had a couple of other bumps in the road on our trip. We lost Justin one day for a while. I hate being separated like that. He eventually turned up, hot and thirsty, just like the kids. There was a little incident of supposed food poisoning, but it turned out only to be a problem I had, so everyone else was healthy and happy. We had a little house flooding and the cat escaped while we were gone too. I am just thankful for a smart friend who was quick to respond and took care of everything for us. We are blessed.

As I looked at the pictures we took I wonder if the kids saw the same things I did. We gave them a camera and let them take all of the photos they wanted. I looked at lots of pictures of railings, fingers and the ground. A couple of the sky and more than a few blurry photos. I hope what they saw will be important to them in the future and not as blurry as the photos we have as memories.

Senior Chief

 

Justin's pining ceremony this morning was short and sweet, without a lot of hoopla. Just the way he likes things.  He was only surprised by two things... the kids giving him a new Senior Chief coin for his collection and the command's decision to make me an honorary Master Chief. Yes, I can be the boss of him. Listening is still optional though. Thanks to all who have helped him on his way and given him the inspiration to work hard and achieve high. It's been a happy day.

Wordless Wednesday

Wait wait wait

 
It seems that life in the Military is full of waiting. Waiting for the ship to leave. Waiting for it to come home. Waiting on the Detailer. Waiting for orders. Waiting for housing. Waiting for your household goods to arrive or your car to be shipped. Waiting for space at the local military clinic. Waiting at PSD for ID cards or updates. Waiting at the pharmacy (that's a long wait). Waiting at the commissary. Waiting for the phone to ring or the e-mail to refresh. The kind of waiting that makes me most crazy is the waiting for advancement results to be posted. Your life really does hang in the balance. The Senior Chief (E-8) board convened April 18. It's now the 1st of June and nothing has been posted yet. No notifications have been made. No one knows anything, although there is a lot of speculation. What we do know is that this is Justin's last best chance. Out of 47 applicants in his group and rating, 27 are being selected.
      What hangs in the balance? It only feels like our whole lives... If he's selected, he will most likely be pulled off of shore duty early and go back to sea, somewhere, to serve in a specialized job called EDMC. He also has to extend his enlistment to go back to sea and to accept the new ranking. If he doesn't make it this time around, it means we really have done our last sea tour and that when we leave here in 2 years, we retire from the Navy and move on to a whole new phase of life.
    In case you really don't know me, patience is not my long suit. So we wait. And wait and wait. I'll keep you posted.

 {The sail of the USS Kentucky leaving port. Used with permission.}

Memorial Day

{Photo taken at Rosecrans National Cemetery. May 2010}

A few days ago I attended an assembly at my son's school. As I looked around I became very emotional at what I saw around me. For all the horrible things in the world around us, I was able to see some good and hopeful things. I stood next to a Vietnamese family who was next to a Korean family. Several Mom's and Dad's in uniform were there also, trying to catch a glimpse of their child's award before they went to work. the local Rotary leader was there with 2 brand new bikes for two deserving children, a community service they have done with this school for years. The JROTC was there with 3 young men and one young woman in uniform to preform the flag ceremony, as well as their coach, a retired Colonel. After the flag was raised and the Pledge of Allegiance was said, all of the 480some children continued to stand to sing God Bless America. Families around me sang in their native tongues and Military Member's stood at attention. I have to say it touched me. There are good things in the world and we live in a country where good things happen every day. In our country people have freedom to express their beliefs even if they aren't popular. We live with the basic human rights of life and physical safety, to worship how and whom we may according to our own hearts and to speak without fear of physical recrimination.

 {Seattle Temple March 2009}

We believe all men, regardless of their corner of the globe should also have these basic rights and on Memorial Day we celebrate and remember with gratitude the men and women throughout the centuries who have died for those rights.
I am grateful not only for my husband and his service, but those who encouraged and helped him along that path, as well as all of the family and friends who have also served our country. What a wonderful country we live in and despite the issues we have, we always have hope.