Life Update

Well let's see, its been quite awhile since I blogged. Daron is home from Iraq! WooHoo!!!
He is doing good overall. He found him a boxer bulldog something he had wanted for a long time. Her name is Fancy, and such a cute lil thing. Daron is kinda agitated most days but I guess thats the norm after a deployment. Otherwise he is okay. Christopher enlisted with the U.S. Air Force, and is currently doing Basic training in San Antonio, Texas. I sure am a proud Military Mom!!! Just a few more days until we pack up and fly out on a jet plane to go see him. Darold, myself, Daron , and Kayla, (Christopher's girlfriend) will be making the trip. I am so excited about flying, ( I've never flown before) but most of all getting to see my babyboy. I know he is doing his best and making me prouder every day! I sure am excited to be able to get a real hug from him. The Air Force has a 4 day activity weekend planned for Basic graduation, when Daron went to basic for the National Guard it was only 2 days. I'm sure I'll have plenty to write about when we come home, and lots of pictures to share. :) Petey, my new lil puppy dog is doing good. He is a apricot poodle and 5 years old. He thinks he is just as human as we all are. He has dry skin, so if anyone knows of anything to help doggies with that, be sure to let me know. This is all for now, hopefully next time I write, it won't be so long in between times. Hope everyone has a great day / weekend!

Another exciting weekend

This weekend we went on a excursion to Carowinds. Being the leader of my oldest sons unit Family Readiness Group, we were invited to a Yellow Ribbon event. The Yellow Ribbon Program is a great thing. They have conferences and seminars on what to expect during a deployment, and programs for reintergation when the soldier returns home. We were boarded in a nice motel, since we traveled over 100 miles. On Saturday, we attended the seminar and were given lots of usful information, and a day pass into the Carowinds amusement park. This park had mostly rollercoaster rides(which I'm not very fond of) along with a few rides for the kiddies. We enjoyed the weekend with our close friends, and met a few other new faces. The experience was great overall, as it is now a few days closer to our soldiers returning home.

Update 101

First of all Daron was home on his R&R for 2 weeks. What a blessed time we had with him. The time passed way to quickly and was a bit bittersweet in the end, but we knew the time would come for him to go back to the sandbox and start again with his military duties. Daron had stated he was going to get out of the military and not reenlist. Now he has changed his mind, which I am grateful for. The military has helped him tremendously.Daron grew up overnight it seems, and is way beyond his years in maturity. He has his own house, a truck, a car, a shop in the backyard where he can do his manly tickering. I am a very proud Mama!

Christopher, enlisted with the U.S. Airforce,while Daron was home on leave.
Christopher will be leavin for basic,shortly after the 1st of the year. I know the military will help him, just as much as it has Daron. I believe serving this great country and being away from home, really puts life in perspective for some. Both of my boys are the best ever, sometimes we all need to reflect on things. Christopher is still with his girlfriend, (who I really do not care for) but I trust he will make his life decisions, the best way he feels, (good or bad). I just pray all turns out right as it should be.

Our Boxer Bulldog, Buddy passed away while Daron was home . Buddy had began having seizures and was getting worse. We tried our best, to be as good to him as he was to us. We took him to the vet, but it was just his time to go on. I'm glad the day he passed, he had enough strength to walk with our family in the vet's parking lot. We loved him and made sure he knew that. Buddy was with us for 5 1/2 yrs. In his good days, he had enough energy to light up any room. Daron was really upset about Buddy passing as we all were, but Daron had picked Buddy out as a pup, and was really close with Buddy. Daron's mission when he comes home is to get him a doggy like Buddy was. Our other doggy Dixie, is doing great. I believe she knew how sick Buddy was and that he was about to pass on before we did. She hasn't grieved for him as I thought she might. We have a new addition in our canine family. Daron's neighbor, had a friend that had a Poodle dog that was being left alone, and needed a good home.
Petey is my new baby. He is such a sweetheart, how anyone could not take good care of him is beyond me. He took to me right from the start. He is already housebroken and neutered. Petey loves playing ball, and is protective over me and our home.

I am currently still babysitting from home. I would love to go back to public work. Jobs are just so hard to find nowdays. I miss meeting and talking with people in the public. Hopefully I will find a job soon.

Wow! Has it really been that long ago when I was holding you in my arms, changing your diapers,and tickling your toes ? My Christopher is a high school graduate, well the ceremony isn't until next week but today was his last day of school. I can very well remember the day he was born. The nurses were all commenting on his long eyelashes. LOL I was just so happy to finally be able to hold him and let him feel all the love I have for him. I guess I'm going through some form of seperation anxiety. He's 18 now, and will soon find a life on his own. Hopefully he'll stay at home a few more years before venturing out. I told him a few days ago that he doesn't need me now, but don't our kids always need their Moms? Yea, I'm sure they do. I just miss the days when he was little and his laughter filling the house, and doing all those Mommy things that Mom's do. We've always had a close knit family. I wouldn't have it any other way. My prayer is that The Lord above keeps my boys in his loving arms and surrounded with the angels protection. Christopher and Daron, I love yall like nothing else in this world!! My best to you both always! Love, Mom

The Soldiers Mother Creed

"I am the mother of an American Soldier"I give my complete and unwavering support to my soldier.As my son serves the people of the United States, so Ihumbly offer up my prayers for his safety and the safetyand health of those he serves beside.I respect his choice to adhere to a strict moral codeand system of values that has preserved our greatcountry for over two centuries.I accept that my soldier's first duty is to his countryand I understand that this sacrifice he willingly makesis what keeps our nation great.I will never expect anything but the best from my soldierfor I know he is capable. I know that a soldier's heart istrue and strong, and that my soldier will endure.I will never abandon my soldier, my son, my love.I will love him unconditionally. he will know I amthere for him, even when he is alone.I am disciplined, emotionally and mentally tough,learning to wait for phone calls and letters oremails home. I, like my soldier, am an expert.I stand ready to do what ever I can do to let myson, my soldier, know that we are here for himbeside him, we love him and I will pray for swiftdestruction of the enemies of our country.I am the person who stood guardian of this manwho has become my soldier, now our guardian offreedom and the American way of life."I AM THE MOTHER OF AN AMERICAN SOLDIER."author unknown

News from the sandbox

Just before Memorial Day weekend there was a incident there. We were unable to hear from our son for about a week. We were so worried about him. I was worried,but Dad took it in stride. You Mothers know how it is to worry over our children even when they are grown. Finally we received a message from him and all is well. Thank you,Jesus!! I know alot of families don't get to hear from their soldiers for longer periods than this. I was truly thankful to hear from him and to know all is well. As his time in the sandbox goes on, I'm sure we will have periods of not hearing from him for long periods. I just pray that God helps me to get through this deployment. Daron has always been around home and not one to venture out as much as other young men. He had never traveled anywhere far away by himself. I just really have to trust that God is looking after my Daron.

Doggies are human too

Last week I wrote about Buddy getting sick and his visit to the vet's office.

We had to take him back again, while he was at the vet for a few hours that day, unknowing to us he also contacted kennel cough. We brought him home and he was and is recooperating nicely, but developed a bad cough and coughing up phlepm. So we go and take him back to the Vet to treat him for this. Got the meds and begin treatment. So a few days later, our other doggie Dixie begins coughing, not quite as bad as Buddy but still. We get up Sunday morning and take her in , the Vet treats her the same as Buddy was for kennel cough. While the Vet was giving Dixie a injection she turned around and snapped at him. Never before has she snapped at anyone. We make our apologies to the Doc. He replies she has a right, because she has the mother of all sore throats. I know doggies get sick, but never thought about them having a sore throat. Anyhow we got meds for Dixie as well, we are so hoping that after this round of Vet visits and antibiotics our doggies are soon well. The purse strings can't withstand much more. When Buddy and Dixie are well after their sicknesses we have to take them back for updated vaccinations. Hopefully that will be the end of Vet visits for awhile.