Welcome!

It has been a while since I've been to the N4M's site. My mom passed away May 14, 2009. The Red Cross and Andrew's Duty officer was able to fly him home while she was still alive, so he was here for mother's day and a few day's after her death. It has been very hard for him, he's been stationed in California, had to use his leave days for the visit. My daughter was married June 27th so he was not able to attend that. Now he's in trouble and has 50 days of restriction. He will go on his first dep… Continue

It has been a long time (other than my son's PIR ) since I felt more patriotic, more inspired, more filled up with gratitude for this great nation of ours--that someone with a name like Barrach Obama--what? how do you spell that?-- ever had a chance to be elected as our President, as our Commander in Chief. I have to say, this whole historic event has fostered in me a renewed faith in the judgement and consciousness of my fellow citizens.

Now, while I happily and wholeheartedly welcome in the n… Continue

Posted this on the New blue candle event but I'm pasting it here too.

"Here in Central Ohio, the candle will shine in our home on holidays and other significant times throughout the year.

We were lucky that Andrew was able to come home for Christmas and New Years prior to his first and upcoming deployment. I lit the candle Christmas eve and he already knew why I was doing it. Boy, word gets around fast! He loved the idea as he knew a few of his shipmates would be spending the holidays on base.… Continue

Like many wonderful Navy Moms, dads, friends and family members, I'm on pins and needles anticipating the next batch of recruits who will graduate on 8/22--my son being one, of course. I am so proud already that my son has made it this far through BC; I am about to burst with pride and joy for him. From his letters, I've learned that my son has discovered some talents that he didn't know he had. I wrote him back that even though BC is such a grueling and sometimes frightening experience--because… Continue

Thanks everyone for the comments and reassurance--I love N4M's. My original post--the one that got wiped out by my touch pad--was about the weird things I had to do with my cell phone to make sure that I was not in a dead zone when he tries to call, or to make sure I could hear it. I didn't get to talk to him the 2nd time he was allowed to call because my phone was not getting a signal. He did finally manage to talk to his sister, but for only three minutes he said.

I did find out that his divi… Continue