JUST WANTED TO SHARE THE LINK TO MY STORE AT ZAZZLE.COM. :) THERE ARE LOTS OF NAVY-RELATED ITEMS. :) SORRY FOR THE "YELLING", MY IPOD WON'T DO NOT-CAPITAL LETTERS ON THE BLOGGER PLATFORM.


http://www.zazzle.com/navywifemama

USS Trayer

Well, it's almost Battle Stations week @ the RTC in Great Lakes. Did some googling to understand what it is and some of the things Jake and the other recruits are/will be doing. I know (thanks to a friend) that all that goes on during Battle Stations is very secretive, so don't get too excited... but the articles are still worth reading. I myself find it absolutely fascinating.

• Battle Stations simulated at Great Lakes

• Set fabrication and design services by Scenic View

• Congressman Mark Kirk visits Battle Stations 21

• Battle Stations 21 Trainer Commissioned at RTC Great Lakes

• Pictures from the design architect company, Wight & Co

Quotes

“A ship is referred to as she because it costs so much to keep one in paint and powder” — Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz

"There are only two absolute rules of thumb at sea: Don’t let the people in the water tank, and don’t let the water in the people tank."

"Investigate and shoot down all snoopers — not vindictively, but in a friendly sort of way." — Fleet Admiral William "Bull" Halsey, Jr., USN

Case Lot Sale

I just got an email from CinCHouse,
there is a gigantic caselot sale going on at the commissaries!

Go check it out!

A - okay!

Today, Jake had his very last post-op orthopedic appointment for his ACL reconstruction! Guess what?! He was cleared to play sports, do whatever! (Big thing here: GO TO BOOT CAMP!) I am so stoked! He's been working so hard on exercising and physical therapy for his knee. I know it's so hard for him to not be able to play soccer, so I can imagine how happy he was when Dr. Gardner told him it was okay to play sports again. I am getting even more nervous and excited, because of two things: A) He's thinking of rolling his date up (meaning he'll leave earlier than the 16th of June) and B) He's thinking of changing his rating (same thing as 'job title') from CS (Culinary Specialist) to MA (Master of Arms aka: Navy Police Officer)! So exciting! Nerve-wracking, but very exciting at the same time. :) We're ready for these changes. I can't wait to get into our very own place. I can't wait to have health insurance that we don't have to worry about! I can't wait to have the independence and financial stability that we've been needing for these past 4 years. Now, from the sounds of it, it very well could happen, much sooner than we were planning!

The Navy Wife

The Lord was creating a model for military wives and was into His sixth day of overtime when an angel appeared. The angel said, "Lord, you seem to be having a lot of trouble with this one, what's wrong with the standard model? The Lord replied, "Have you seen the specs on this order? This isn't a regular military wife I have been tasked to make. This order is for a Navy wife. She is going to have to be some kind of phenomenal creation."

"She has to be completely independent... possess the qualities of both father and mother... be a perfect hostess to four or forty four at a moments notice. Run on black coffee... handle every emergency imaginable without a manual. Be able to carry on cheerfully whether pregnant or down with the flu... and be willing to move to a new location ten times in a twenty year career... and, she must have six pair of hands."

The angel shook her head and exclaimed, "Six pair of hands? Impossible."

The Lord continued, by saying, "Don't worry! I will give her an unusually large heart... that can swell with pride brought through her husband's achievements, capable of saying "I understand" when it really doesn't, and "I love you" in the bleakest of circumstances. It has to be an unusually strong heart also, to sustain the pain of separations and to beat soundly when it is overworked and tired."

"Lord," said the angel, touching His arm gently, "Go to bed and get some rest, you can finish this project another day."

"I can't stop now," said the Lord. "I am so close to the finished product. Already this model heals herself when she is sick, can play gracious hostess to as many as six unexpected weekend guests, and wave good-bye to her husband from the pier, airport or depot, without totally understanding why it is that he must go."

The angel circled the model of the Navy Wife, looked at her closely and sighed, "It looks fine, but it's too soft."

"She might look soft," replied the Lord, "but she has the strength of a lion. You would not believe what she can endure." Finally the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek of the Lord's creation and announced, "There's a leak. Something is wrong with this model. It is not surprising that it has cracked. You are trying to put too much into this."

The Lord appeared offended at the angel's lack of confidence. "What you see is not a leak... it's called a tear."

"A tear? What is it there for?" asked the angel.

The Lord replied, "It's for joy, sadness, pain, disappointment, loneliness, pride and dedication to all the values that she and her husband hold dear."

"You are a genius!" exclaimed the angel.

The Lord looked puzzled and replied, "I didn't put that tear there."

Great Website

My favorite reading/research/fine-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-Navy website would have to be the one put out by the Navy themselves! It's the LIFE lines Services Network, for marines, sailors, and their families. It's amazingly comprehensive and soooo informative!

Now that you know about it, go visit it!
*Click on the pic to go to the site!*