Eighteen Years Is All You Get!

Today I was driving through downtown Annapolis on my way out to church like most Wednesdays. I do the preschool Sunday School set up every week and the easiest way to get to the freeway is through town. I love to go through the historic part of Annapolis and past USNA. Today there was more traffic and people not sure where they were going. What I saw tugged at this mother's heartstrings: a family with a son about 18 years old and little sisters tagging along as mom and dad lead the way. Definitely looked like a family who just arrived to take their son and brother to I-Day tomorrow at USNA: Induction Day for the class of 2015. It's a distinctive look. Five years ago yesterday we took Tim early in the morning. By the evening we got to spend a precious last half hour with him in his new white works and dixie cup. He kept saying, "I don't know what to do. I just want to go home with you guys." Of course, he stayed and we left. This is the last photo we have of him that day.

I had been through leaving Dan, Jill, and Michael so this was nothing new. The day we left Dan at Western Baptist College; then Jill a year later at WBC were extremely sad days. Especially on the day Dan left for college was the first day I REALLY realized you have your children for 18 short years. Of course, Dan and Jill were just an hour away but the reality of life as we knew it was over. The day we left Michael at a pack station in the Sierra Nevadas after he graduated from high school took more strength than I thought I could muster as we drove away. Two years later (or so...I'm not sure) we said good bye as he left for the army. All that should have prepared me for saying good bye to Tim on I-Day. But, it still hurt just the same.

Good news is we get to see them all and life is not over. Just life as we knew it when they were home under our care is over. My advice to parents of young children? You get 18 years. Cherish those years! Make the moments count. The days go by slowly but the years fly by.

Sigh...it just helps to write it down. My heart goes out to all the moms and dads and families who will say good bye tomorrow. They'll make it. Just like we made it.

Quick Trip to Oregon!

Micah turned five years old June 20th and I didn't want to miss the big event so I flew to Oregon a week ago. Jeff was on his way to Fresno for meetings so he went early and spent the weekend with his folks. Good timing all around! Micah was born in 2006 five days before Jeff, Tim and I flew to Maryland to begin our new adventure in Annapolis. Micah's birthday will always be a marker for that new beginning. Tim began his Navy life three days later on June 28th which was Induction Day for the class of 2010.

The proud birthday boy with his new Nintendo DS

Micah had a pirate party complete with total of 10 boys!

"NO girls allowed!" at the party so Cami did "girl stuff" at a friend's house.

Micah shared his DS with Josiah.

Jace spent the night at his cousin's house with Grandma. He had to borrow a shirt from Cami! He loved pushing her doll stroller around and sitting in her little chairs!

I spent my time back and forth between Dan's and Jill's houses. Jace loves his key board! He called me a version of "Maw-Maw" or "Pop Pop" which he calls Grandpa.

I got to spend some time with Mike, too, which made the trip complete!

10th Company Family

We got this email the other night from Tim:

"Remember Chung from my company? (Mom, you drove him one time.) His dad
unexpectedly died a few days ago. They are having a memorial service
tomorrow evening. It's in Maryland. I don't know if you'd be
interested in going, but I thought I'd pass along the information. If
you could go, it'd be a way for me to be there for him (10th Company
Family.)"

Last night Jeff and I went to represent Tim. We were blessed beyond measure at the out pouring of love by the Korean community to Chung's family. In the midst of Korean-only language barrier we understood perfectly the language of love. The only words I understood were "Jesus Christ". That's all I needed. The comfort of knowing Jesus is all that matters and especially as death brings the final reality of the need for Jesus. We were blessed.

As we went through the line to pay our respects to the family Chung was so grateful and pointed out to his mother that we were Tim's parents. "Such a great guy", Chung said. When I offered my hand he gave me a big hug and said, "it means the world to me that you came" as I told him we were there for Tim who wanted him to know his 10th Company family was with him.

We are thankful to be a part of this family.

Happy Anniversary!

Thirty five years ago today Jeff and I were married on the grounds of a beautiful home surrounded by an orange grove in Exeter, California.

This morning we celebrated by going out to breakfast over looking a marina in Annapolis, MD. I don't think I even knew where Maryland was 35 years ago! We were best friends then and we are best friends today!

A New Thing

I was at the Hallmark store a few weeks back and saw these amazing "water beads"...I am too lazy to go look up the actual name so that's what I'll call them. Their display had a giant martini glass vase full of see through light pink ones and it looked so cool I just had to buy some and try them out! Of course, they were all out of the light pink so I got white...not as good I've discovered but still fun.

I got clear and red ones, too, but I'm taking those to my girls in Oregon next week..shh..don't tell them. They come in a test tube type thing.

You add two quarts of water and let them soak overnight. The next day you find them like this...very soft and wet!

They say to add a teaspoon of bleach to keep them fresh.

Then add flowers! You can use fresh or silk! Can you guess which are real?

So I decided I didn't want the silk daisies and changed them out for fresh rosemary, more lavender, and some Sweet William from the garden.

A little more fun from the garden! We had a couple over for dinner last night who are from Missouri. He is on a temporary detail in Jeff's office and his wife is here with him. Here's the centerpiece I put together with the sweet vase from Nancy! LOVE! I don't know if I'm happier these days because of the flowers or because I cheat and add a tiny bit of REAL coffee to my decaf every morning! Maybe a little of both!

Oh, and as for the the "water beads" I think I'd like them better in a giant martini glass vase! But, they are fun! Once they lose their moisture you just soak them again!

Almost forgot to show my bouquet of hydrangeas from the other day! They are on the coffee table in the living room and I must say they bring me as much joy as Jeff's birds. I love the birds, too, but he REALLY loves the birds!

My Oasis

One of my favorite things is to sit in our backyard early on cool summer mornings! We've had some beautiful days...may I say, Finally!....the last few days! I love it when there is cool air and no humidity! You have to take them when you get them here in Annapolis! I have my cup of coffee and Mary Engelbreit journal looking out over the garden. Awwww...pure bliss! I have kept journals for years in ME diaries. Her art brings a smile as I keep track of each day. With my kids and family far it brings comfort to know that I can pray for them.

Another favorite thing is to walk through the garden and find flowers to cut for inside. I've been doing research to find out the best way to make sure hydrangeas will last once cut. In the past, I've only had failures! So last year I let them dry on the bush and got the most beautiful dried bunches of blooms that had turned a soft green. But, I really want them to stay the sweet, soft blue color they are now. I read that you need to dunk them in water IMMEDIATELY (I mean you have to have your bucket of water beside the bush as you cut!)so that's what I did this morning. Do you see the little rose, too? It was the only rose ready to cut this morning.

Lavender! I read once that every garden should have a bit of lavender! My lavender is just beginning to bloom. Soon the bumble bees will be loving it.

A week or so ago this rose reminded me of the roses Jill makes from fabric. I watched with great anticipation a bunch of buds to be ready to pick for this sweet vase Nancy bought for me at Montpelier (James Madison's home) when we visited while she was here.

Tim After His Solo Flight

On Friday, June 3, 2011, Tim did is solo flight in the T-34 that he has been training in. This is a major accomplishment as Tim works towards being a Naval Aviator. He has been flying most days that the weather permits, and has a heavy study load every night preparing for the next day's training - he says this is a lot more difficult than being at the Academy. He was supposed to solo the day before after being checked out by a Check Ride instructor, but because of complications with his plane, and the lateness in the day, the solo flight had to be put off until Friday. Here are some photographs from right after he landed - a successful milestone.


Tim has just pulled up to park after landing following his solo flight in the T-34.


Tim is still in the closed cockpit tending to turning off his plane's systems.


A ground crew person is securing the plane.


The canopy is now open - a close up of Tim still in his helmet.


Now you can see Tim with the helmet off.


Everything is fine following Tim's first solo flight - this is a really big deal. You can see his parachute strapped to his back.


A good picture of Tim standing on the wing of his plane - you get a good view of his flight suit.


Here is a good view of the cockpit. Notice the stick and foot pedals to control the plane - lots of gauges. He has to monitor what his plane is doing, where he is at, and maintain communications with the ground - all at the same time.


Later at the Officers' Club there was a ceremonial "cutting of the tie" celebrating the solo flight. In the picture is Lt. Jackson who is Tim's "On Wing" instructor who is responsible for much of Tim's training. Lt. Jackson keeps the bottom half of the tie - Tim the rest.


Here with Tim and Lt. Jackson (and Jackson's son), is Jason, a friend who took the pictures. Jason and Tim have done briefs with Lt. Jackson together - Jason also has Lt. Jackson as his On Wing.