Our Trip to Chicago Illinois!

Our Son's PIR , Boot Camp Graduation was on July 20, 2012. We drove to Great Lakes, Chicago Illinois.
It was a 13 hour drive to reach our destination. I could not wait to see our Son Patrick!
I was just imagining how handsome he would be in his Navy whites. The past two months seemed to drag and I could not believe the day had finally arrived that his graduation was finally here!
We saw many things along the drive, beautiful mountains, cows, barns, and even a hot air balloon!
I had ordered special ribbons for us to wear to our sons graduation that had his name and Division number on them..we wore them with pride! :)
Here is a slide show of our travels and pictures of the sailors during the ceremony..it was AMAZING! The sound of the marching and drums was so inspirational and emotional.

It was so wonderful seeing our son again..As they stood in formation...I tried so hard from the bleachers to spot my son. It was a sea of sailors all dressed in white! We finally spotted him..once I did, I felt the tears start to flow. I could not wait to wrap my arms around my son again.
Then, at the end of the ceremony, they announced "Now Hear This! , Now Hear This!, Liberty Call, Liberty Call!"
Everyone ran from the bleachers to find their Sailors!!
I found mine..............

It was so wonderful getting to hug my son again. I have missed him so much!! What a wonderful moment it was to see his handsome face again. :)
I would have traveled to the ends of the earth if I had to for his graduation day. We are so very proud of his accomplishments and the man he has grown up to be.
He was the cutest little boy, especially when he wore his little sailor outfits when he was younger...
here he is
Then and Now :)

 We only were able to spend one day with him..then he had to fly off for A school to his next location.
One day surely didn't seem like enough time to spend with him..but we are grateful that we had that one day. It was glorious.

 Looking forward to the next moments we get to share with our son.
Holding onto each and every moment we have in our hearts!!
I love you Patrick,
"The World"
Mom

I am a Sailors Mother

I Am A Sailors Mother

I am a Sailors mother; I sometimes march alone And yet I stand with many, trying to be strong.

You may not recognize me as you pass me on the street;
I may look like any other that you by chance might meet.

Like any mother, in a lot of ways I still remain, But watching my son become a Sailor brought a forever change.

For deep down inside where you cannot see
My own battle rages that’s as real as it can be.

It starts with feeling pride in all he has become, But often worry creeps in before the day is done.

Then there is his absence that never will seem right -
The days without a word that causes many sleepless nights.

And at the sight of another Sailor, my heart skips a beat,
For it reminds me of my own, and that face I’d love to see.

And I have a deeper sense of the sacrifices our heroes make;
I can see the hardships on the families – the loneliness, the heartache.

But in spite of all that’s raging, this mother’s love holds strong
As I’m wrapped in God’s peace and comfort and given strength to go on

United States Sailor!!!!

We received the long awaited call...our Son called us to let us know he is now a United States SAILOR!!!!!
We are overjoyed and so PROUD of him!!
I knew he could do it, and boot camp is almost over for him. We are beaming with PRIDE!
God Bless you Patrick, you are AMAZING and we LOVE YOU!
Can't wait to see you ..we have missed you so MUCH!

Letter Number Four!

We had received letter number four from our Son last week. I didn't mention it because it was a very touching and emotional letter for me to read and take in. It took me many days of reading it over and over to fully take in this latest letter! I think I am ok now, well, for this moment anyways..but it truly makes me realize some very important things.
My husband and I have done a very good job raising our Son Patrick. He has grown into a wonderful young man, and we are extremely proud.
Every time though that I think I am ok, I think of him and tears begin again. I have joined a couple of groups for Navy Mom's (my new way of life!)..and am happy to find out I am not the only Mom feeling this way..was happy to find out there are some feeling even worse than me! How can that be!!
So, it is calming to know this is all a normal process and part of life.
I thank my good friends that have kept close to my side without judgement and are very understanding. Listening to me and always being there for me anytime I need to talk. I appreciate you all so much!
This is all so new to me, letting go for the very first time!
It has been a full month now since that ten minute phone call we had received to talk to him.
I think that is the worst part of boot camp. :(
No contact for such a long time. I understand they break them down to build them up..but I don't think they realize they are breaking down their Mama's in the process too!
This has been a long learning process for all of us.

Graduation day cannot come soon enough.

I love you my son Patrick, more than words can ever express on this darn computer screen.
I look forward to being able to hug you again.

The World,
Mom

Letter Number THREE! :)

What a surprise I received today when I went to my mailbox. Letter number THREE from our wonderful Son Patrick!! I cannot even explain the happiness I felt inside and I am sure my smile was bigger than it has ever been before. It seems as though the past couple of weeks have just dragged to hear of any news from him. I watch everyday for the mail lady to arrive with such anticipation, and then, as I walk to the mailbox with my heart beating so fast, feeling such disappointment upon not seeing any small envelope from our Son.
It is so hard to explain if you haven't had a child leave for military boot camp. Not having communication with the child you have raised from birth is one of the most difficult things I believe in this life.
I did not know it would be this hard until I was faced with the situation having no choice.
It is extremely hard!
Patrick sounded really good in his letter. He said they are moving very fast paced now. He achieved sharp shooter! He only has a couple of weeks left of Boot Camp..then onto schooling.
He was issued uniforms and will have to complete final tests to be considered a United States Sailor.
I believe we will receive a phone call at that point from what I have been hearing.
 I am glad I received his note in the mail today...hopefully it will sustain me for a bit longer :)
Cannot wait to see our son in full uniform..I cannot even imagine!!

AAAAAAhhhhhhhhhh.........Soon...SOON!! :)

Please, if you will, keep Patrick in your prayers that he can get through all the final tests and keep up the strength to continue to the final goal of graduation. We love you Patrick, We are so PROUD of you!!
:)

Who knew when you were little and we took this picture that your future would include becoming a United States Sailor! God had a plan :)

Counting the Days till we can hug you Son,
Louise

Letter and a Phone Call!!

Last Thursday, Jun 14th, we received a letter from our son Patrick who is presently in Naval boot camp!!
I couldn't believe my eyes when I opened up the mailbox. A LETTER FROM OUR SON!!!!!!!!!!
I started to cry, my hands began to shake..it has been weeks since we have been in contact with him. It has been so difficult for me especially. When you have raised your son since birth and have been so very close to him and you share a bond like a Mother and Son should in this life, it truly is hard to let go. You want to know they are safe, happy, and that they are well fed!! :)

I sat on the front step..it took me a moment before I could even open up the envelope..I was so afraid that he might be having a hard time...
I slowly opened it up..he wrote quite a bit...which I am glad for that. He said he was doing well. He sounded really good! I didn't sense any worry. I am so PROUD of our Son!! He spoke of many things...he did mention how well his division was doing in training. :)

Then....a couple of hours later..my cell phone rang...it was on the kitchen counter, I looked at the number..not recognizing it..but suddenly my heart jumped!! I thought "could it be?"...
IT WAS OUR SON!!!!!!!

I RAN to the front porch (we have Sprint..and the service is TERRIBLE!)...I prayed while we spoke that it wouldn't drop the call)..
He was quiet on the phone, and that is when I started to worry a little bit..but then he went on to say he has been sick for 5 days..and he had just had all FOUR wisdom teeth taken out just a couple of days before calling us...he had written the letter to us prior to all this happening.

Now, I must tell you that I used to take him to the dentist, like a Mom should..his whole childhood...when they told me he needed to have his wisdom teeth out, he was at an age where he refused to let me take him..I believe he was 18 at that point.. I gave in and now when the military took him in, they automatically take your wisdom teeth out in boot camp!
So, now he is suffering even more than he would if he had them out years ago when he should have done it. I feel terrible. :( I wish he had listened to me all those years ago. (he is 22 years old now).

So, he is not feeling well, and I worry about him so much. I tried not to cry when on the phone with him..and did well..until the very end. I had passed the phone to his Father to say hello, then to his sister..they spoke with him for a little bit and then the phone was passed back to me. I told him I loved him and that I missed him. We told him how proud we were of him. Then, I started to cry, just a little bit. I didn't want that conversation to end. Oh, it is truly so hard.

Yes, I am crying as I type this!

I told my husband I wish that God had blessed us with even more children than two...he said would that have made a difference when each one would have left the house? I laughed and said you are right, probably not.
:)

I put my earphones on this morning with my music and did a 2 mile walk..so nice to pass all the beautiful fields filled with hay bales.
I started a Navy scrapbook for my son..it is coming along nicely!

The card reader won't work in our computer anymore for our camera card..so I either have to get an adapter or a cord to upload pictures now.. hope to figure that out soon.

I wish you all a blessed day,
Louise

I'm Still Here

I have been very busy. It has been a very hectic and emotional past couple of weeks. Things are going fast forward at this point and we are trying to squeeze so much in at the last minute. I had a mishap happen at the dentist office. They put a crown into my mouth that was much too light in color. I was so upset and now have to have it done all over again. I had told them that I was about to move in a couple of weeks, and somehow they made me feel as if it was my fault. The assistant told me that she had showed me the mirror and said that I told her I was happy with it. I never saw a mirror , in fact, I had to wait until I went into my car to look in my rear view mirror which I pulled towards me to check it out to see how it looked before I went back into the office to say I was unhappy!
So....back to the office I went the other day to have the crown drilled off and we start all over again. Not what I wanted to do with so many other things going on in my life.
I know so many people want to see me before I move away from Florida, but physically and emotionally, I don't think it will be possible. I am trying my best though. We will be going to our nephews graduation, which we look forward to, we are so proud of our nephew! In just over a week, our own son will be leaving for the  military.
To be honest with you, I am having a very hard time thinking of it all. I am very close with my son.
We have a wonderful Mother/Son relationship, and I am so happy for that. I love him so much!
I know he has to go on his own, and I am so proud of him, both I and his Dad. He has always made us proud.
It is hard, and will continue to be hard for me though. My little family unit is so important to me. I have never had anything much in the way of family except for my husband and my two children. They are my life.
I will have to learn to cope, for I want my son to succeed and to grow, and to have a wonderful life for himself. This is what every parent wants for their child.
Then, I will know for sure that I have raised him well.
I hurt with the thought of leaving Florida again. I know this time it is forever. We won't be back this time again. To live anyways.
Perhaps we will be by to visit. I love Florida, it is to me, my home. My husband prefers North Carolina, and it is beautiful there, I will agree. But...I just feel this closeness to Florida. Our children grew up in Florida and I feel so comfortable here.
I want my husband to be happy. I will adjust.

My son took me out to the gun range to target practice! This was my first time. I must say, I had a pretty good aim and I did very well. We had a nice day out together with lunch and also visited some thrift shops too..

I guess after looking at all these pictures on my blog, my crafting and now target practicing..I guess I am well rounded. I just laughed out so loud! :) Keep in mind I grew up with three brothers and a Dad that hunted...

We have begun the changes and preparations for leaving...our son gave away his old car....

Pictures are being removed now from our walls...

more packing is being done....the dining room is being cleared out...

I feel sort of numb..I cannot believe I am moving again. Although, I am trying my best to be excited. We do have a beautiful home we are moving to..it will just be so hard to move there without our son. I am glad however that there are enough bedrooms in it that there will be a room just for him for when he decides to visit...a place to call his own, whenever he wants to drop by, if he wants to. I plan on making it his own, with all his decor. I have found fabric with a "Navy" logo and I plan on making him pillowcases as a surprise to put on his bed. I look forward to doing this for him. I want him to feel that although he is out on his own now, he can always feel he has a home with us if need be.
Although things have been so hectic and busy, I am trying to find time to occupy myself, my hands and my mind on some other things, so as to not cry so much!
My beautiful niece is making her First Holy Communion soon...I did a little cross stitch for her which I will frame shortly..isn't it pretty! :)

Also, special friends of ours are going to be Grandparents to a sweet baby girl soon...so I thought I would make a pretty pink and white baby blanket for the little Angel's arrival! (I sure hope I finish it in time, if not I will have to post an IOU!) (Hi Jackie and Dave!!!) :)

So, as you can see, I have a lot going on...I am going to hold onto this next week and count each minute as an extra special blessing of special time with our dear son Patrick. Then, next up will be our move to North Carolina.
Sometimes I think it is all too much with our son leaving for the military, and us moving the following week, but then again, perhaps God planned it that way so I wouldn't have too much time to think about being so upset..I will be too busy and tired. I will all be ok, I know it will..it always turns out fine in the end.
After all, We have God, and I know that he is watching over us.
All our pictures are down..but we left the crucifix up...He will come down at the very end.

Blessings to you This Mother's Day,
This one will be my most special Mothers Day yet,
Louise

Proud Parents!

We are VERY PROUD parents. Our son Patrick was sworn into the United States Navy, Nuclear Power Program today! We always knew our son was an intelligent young man. Please if you could, keep him in your prayers (as well as his Momma, Dad and lil' sister)..it is going to be so hard to let him go. Parents give their children two things, one is roots, the other is wings. We know we did our part raising him, and feel that we must have done a really good job. He has always been and will continue to be a blessing to us and all that know him. God Bless you Patrick John, you are on your way to a very bright future, Thank you for serving this wonderful country of ours! We love you "THE WORLD" xoxox