LiFe As A nAvY wIfE ♥

2009-10-03T02:42:00.001-07:00

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

2009-07-28T23:09:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-28T23:04:00.000-07:00

“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

2009-05-07T22:43:00.000-07:00

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

Go check it out!

A - okay!

2009-02-06T22:22:00.000-08:00

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

2009-02-02T23:13:00.001-08:00

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

2009-01-18T13:30:00.001-08:00

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!*

On the back burner...

2008-09-26T15:46:00.002-07:00

I have meant to post here, but I keep forgetting! Jake had his ACL Reconstructive surgery done on the 3rd of September. We were hoping the injury to his knee would be just a strain or something simple, but it ended up being an ACL rip. (Torn right in two!) So... this puts him into 6 months of rehabilitation before he can take off for Boot Camp/Training School in the Navy. We're counting it as a blessing, because it does mean he'll be here for the new baby's birth. He'll also be here for Halloween, Christmas, our 4 year wedding anniversary AND for Beckham's 3rd birthday in February! Jake just barely (maybe 2 - 3 weeks ago?) was able to start walking around WITHOUT crutches! :D We're busy prepping for the arrival of our little one, we've only got 17 days left! Totally can't wait! I'll try to most more here, although my whole "Navy Wife Life" is kind of on hold.

♥ Sydney

It's been one month...

2008-08-17T23:52:00.002-07:00

... since Jake joined the United States Navy. Nothing much has changed in our lives,
yet, because he's still in the DEP. But, I know that many changes (large, small, and unplanned)
are ahead. I'm so excited for what it's going to bring, yet scared at the same time.
I am hoping and praying that his knee injury isn't going to screw up our plans for him
to be in the Navy. I don't know what would happen if this injury hindered (or canceled) his plans
to further his navy career, it scares me to death, so I try not to think about it.
But, back to the original point of my post... it's been one whole month! Absolutely nothing
different, but still... it's been 30 days that my husband has been in the military.

♥ Sydney

Finally Pictures from our visit to the Aquarium!

2008-08-04T17:53:00.002-07:00

All ready to go see the fish!

Visiting the first tank of fish

Fish

Beckham checkin' out the Toad

Mr. Toad

Moon Jellies

Sea Nettles

Becks and the GIGANTIC Northern Lobster

Sea Horse

The Red Star Fish

Tiger Fish

Stingray in the Touch Pool

"Dori" Fish

Coral Reef

Dad helping Beckham see the Stingray

Not a WAY big deal...

2008-07-28T21:48:00.002-07:00

... but still an exciting "first".

Every single Monday, Jake has to call his recruiter
(Petty Officer K-----)
at the Navy office to check in. Just to make sure he hasn't gotten
into any trouble, no speeding tickets,
hasn't been arrested over the weekend,
that kind of stuff. Of course, it was a very simple phone call.
Pretty much consisted of him letting his recruiter know that he was ok,
no new anything, life was good, ok, talk to you next Monday.

Our very first discount as a military family!

2008-07-24T22:18:00.002-07:00

Today we visited The Living Planet Aquarium today.
We decided we may as well mention that Jake was military,
to see if they offered a discount, well they did!

We got one dollar off Jake's admission!
I knew it wasn't much, but it was okay!

We then donated a dollar to help an upcoming exhibit,

so we ended up spending the exact same amount anyway.

I'll post some pics later, I got some fun ones! It was a very interesting place
and needless to say Beckham absolutely LOVED it!

They had a "touch pool" that had fish and sting rays inside of it!

They were AWESOME!

I've never seen one in real-life, let alone touched one!

We're in...

2008-07-17T17:28:00.002-07:00

... the Navy!

DH just got home from MEPS and is an official member of the United States Navy!
We're so excited for this new, life-changing opportunity!
He's going in as a Culinary Specialist, which sounds so very exciting.
His ship date is December 16th, 2008 (if he wants to, he may be able to head out before that).
I'll have to post a pic later of his awesome picture that's on his military ID, it's so *cute*!

***Finally remembered to upload the pic of his temp ID card***

MEPS

2008-07-17T15:07:00.002-07:00

Well... I am hoping that after today, when DH gets home,
I'll officially be a NAVY WIFE! He's @ MEPS right now,
getting all his physical stuff done. Yay!

I can't wait to start blogging over here
(*I also have our family blog*)
as we adjust to our new life as a military family.

I must admit, I'm scared to death, but at the same time,
I am so utterly excited! I cannot wait to see what this new
life-changing experience has in store for us.

♥ Sydney