Four Plus One

Last night Ev and I headed out for our last night alone...for a while. Not that we were really alone. We were celebrating the Marine Corps' 235th birthday with a few hundred other people. Always a good time, last night's ball was also. And it was interesting to watch people actually stare at me with open mouths. Apparently, they thought it was strange to see a 9-month pregnant woman in a cocktail dress. What?

Today is another birthday! This is our last family picture with only four people in it. By this afternoon it will be five. Wow! FIVE! We're so excited and can't wait to share the news with you all as soon as we have some. We appreciate all your thoughts and prayers for us today!

Passing it On

Oh beautiful for heroes proved In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved, and mercy more than life!
America! America! May God thy gold refine,
Till all success be nobleness And every gain divine!
-Oh Beautiful for Spacious Skies, by Katherine Bates

Yesterday at church Ev and I played this song, and I had a chance to really study the words of all the verses. Above is the third verse, which I was not very familiar with, but I was struck by the truth and beauty of the words. Today, as we hung the flag, Braden asked why it was a "flag day." We took the opportunity to explain, on a four year old level, why this day is important. I hope that many are doing the same thing so that all future generations will honor the memory of those who have given their lives to preserve this nation.

Work, Work, Work

Woohoo! WTI is finally over! You might wonder what we've been up to over the past several weeks of slow blogging. While the boys and I have had our heads down, waiting for it to end, Ev has been doing his WTI thing. Mostly, he's been doing a lot of flying and instructing, but he also spent several days out in the field as a FAC. (In a nutshell, FACs are the guys who tell all the aircraft where to go, and where the targets are.) No, it's not as cool as flying, but I think you can tell that he likes it just fine. For all of us it has been a super busy seven weeks, and we're glad this class is at an end. Meanwhile, we're waiting anxiously patiently for him to come home again, and we're very excited to be planning for his birthday. We get to celebrate together for the first time in a long time!

Happy Birthday, Marines!

I can't begin to explain why they do some of the things they do on deployments.

Just like I can't explain how they can stay friends through so many moves and so many miles.

Unles you've experienced it, you can't know the life-long cameraderie of the Marine Corps.


But if you know anything about them, you know that there's no such thing as a former Marine. So to all Marines, Happy Birthday!

Charmer

Let me start by apologizing for the quality of these pictures. I was halfway to Dana Point, CA when I realized that I had remembered none of the three cameras that I own. We were headed there for the wedding of one of Ev's good friends: from the Academy, flight school and also a fellow cobra jock.

The wedding was beautiful- orchids everywhere, beautiful California sunshine, fresh seafood and a reception at the Ritz-Carlton right on the ocean. But that's not even the good part. I'm going to tell a story now that still amazes even myself. Many of our friends and family have commented on Trevor's ability to charm those around him. Give him about 70 seconds- he's like jedi master. On friday night, we attended the wedding rehearsal; Ev was leading the sword detail and needed to discuss with the groom where it would take place. Trevor watched the rehearsal intently, and finally commented on the fact that there was a flower girl, but no ring bearer. "Where is the ring bearer?" he asked. Well, I didn't have a good answer, except to say that not everyone has a ring bearer. So, at the rehearsal dinner, he decided to bring this issue to the Bride's attention. After they were introduced, he was chatting her up, and suddenly a few words caught my attention. . .something to the effect of, "I could be your ring bearer." (You have to understand that he does have experience from his Aunt Heather's wedding last May. Apparently he thought he might make a career of it.) Anyways, everyone laughed, including the Bride, "Oh, how cute! See," she said as she turned to the Groom, "I told you we should have asked them. I saw their Christmas picture and thought how cute they are and said we should have them as ring bearers!" Ha ha ha! Everyone laughed, and I told Trevor to stop bugging the Bride. End of story. Right? Wrong. Trevor continued to charm the Bride with his clever conversation and sunny personality for the next 20-30 minutes. About an hour later, the groom comes over to Ev and announces that, "Alright, they convinced me. They're going to do it." Do what??? "They'll be ring bearers." I don't think I've ever been so shocked. Only Trevor could convince a Bride to include him in the wedding party 18 hours before the weddding. So, that's how Trevor and Braden came to be Ring Bearers this past weekend. They walked down the aisle, one one either side of the flower girl. I have to admit, they were pretty darn cute.

The Blues

The last stop of our trip was at the El Centro Air Show. It was the first show of the Blue Angels' 2009 season. They were entertaining, as always, but we were not prepared for the 92 degree heat. Plus, we were anxious to get back home. It's back to the old grind, now!

Seals

There are plenty of seals in southern California. We saw both on this trip. The first kind (with a capital SEALs) we saw doing a training run along the Silver Strand. We were biking along the Nature Trail, and I quickly pointed them out to the boys saying, "Look guys- seals!" Then I realized that I'd better explain to them what kind of SEALs I was talking about before they complained they didn't see any.

A few days later, though, we headed up to La Jolla. A lifeguard at our beach told us there was a cove (or maybe it was caves?) with some seals or sea lions...I wasn't sure which. Some sort of sea-going mammal. And she said it was pup season. So we drove up- armed with only that information. I figured if I pointed us in the general direction of La Jolla and stayed as close to the shore as possible, we'd find it. We stopped for frozen yogurt--I mean directions at a frozen yogurt shop--along the way.


Anyways, we finally made it to La Jolla, and it was easy to find. We just followed all the other people. The kids did mention, though, that it was a little stinky there. I think their words went something like, "Mom, I'm all done. It's too stinky here. It's stinky like seagull poop!" I'm not sure what they thought all the seals were doing.

So fun, though, to see these animals in the wild. If you're ever in the area, check out the La Jolla Seals.

Long Time, No Blog

We've been off the radar for the past week. Did you miss us? (Don't answer that!)

We've been off Seeing and Doing in Coronado, CA for the past week. Let me tell you, there are worse places to suffer. More on that later- I've barely had a chance to upload my pics. In the meantime, enjoy this picture of these beautiful iris that I found in my garden, upon my homecoming!

Also, in the meantime, I wanted to tell you about a book I read while I was away. I picked up a package from the mailbox on my way out of town- it was from my Aunt S. and Uncle P. in Virginia. In the package was a book: Never Surrender: A Soldier's Journey to the Crossroads of Faith and Freedom by LTG (Ret.) William Boykin. It was recommended to them by my cousin and her husband, who served in (and retired from) the U.S. Army Special Forces. On the recommendation of four people whom I respect, I began to read it. I couldn't put it down. I found it fascinating and enlightening as he described his life and career, including being a founding member of Delta Force and commander of U.S. Army Special Forces, and detailed how his faith in God sustained him through it all.

It's a very good read!

The Commandant's Own

We had a special treat this weekend. We saw The Commandant's Own Drum and Bugle Corps perform a Battle Color Ceremony along with the USMC Silent Drill Platoon. We never get tired of seeing this stuff. It's always so impressive!


The boys loved hearing the marching music, and were mesmerized by the Silent Drill Platoon.



Afterwards, we got to meet the marines on the field, and the boys got a closer look at the instruments.

They are finishing up their "spring training" out here. Now they will begin their touring season. If you get a chance to see them, don't hesitate! You will enjoy it!

Spontaneity

At the last minute, the boys and I decided to tag along on a trip to Coronado, CA yesterday. I threw some things in an overnight bag and we headed off. We dropped Ev off at his seminar and set out to paint the town. I had a few things in mind for the week- the seminar goes until thursday- but I figured we'd take it easy the first day. So the boys and I did a little walking around the Coronado Naval Amphibious Base. I thought I had been there before, but it was all unfamiliar territory. We inhaled the sweet, moist, salty air. We oohed and aaahed at the Navy base housing right on the bay. Oh, if only we could be so lucky! Then we drove out into the city of Coronado. We found a great little cafe on Orange Ave where we had lunch before walking around peeking in fun little shops. I managed to resist lots of yummy things at the chocolaterie, and sadly passed by a stall of beautiful fresh flowers. If we lived there, I would not be able to pass by without buying a few stems! But by far the best find on Orange Ave was the visitor's center. A wonderfully kind woman working the information booth shared so many fantastic ideas for things around San Diego that she thought the boys would enjoy. So we left there, and went straight to the Coronado Ferry landing.

From there, we caught a passenger ferry for an hour long trip over to downtown San Diego and back. Our ferry also made a stop at the NAS North Island dock, so we passed right next to two aircraft carriers: the USS Nimitz and the USS Ronald Reagan.

Trevor and Braden talked on and on about their toy aircraft carrier at home and the CVN numbers (his is number 88, and he thinks that it ought to have a REAL number instead). We were very glad we had worn our jackets! The morning fog never fully lifted yesterday, so the breeze and damp air quickly turned chilly as the sun began to set.

We were tired from our busy day, and decided to head back to base to check in to our room. Unfortunately for us, when we arrived at the check-in counter, I was informed that the Coronado BOQ does not accept guests under the age of 12. I was completely at a loss for what to do, since the North Island Navy Lodge was full, and we wanted to stay right on the island. We considered splurging a little to stay at the ritzy, historic Hotel del Coronado, but at $330 per night, it was a little too ritzy, even for a splurge. To be continued...

Freedom

When our perils are past, shall our gratitude sleep? ~George Canning

Liberty. Something that is so integral to our daily lives, and yet so commonly taken for granted. First and foremost, we owe our daily liberty to God, the Giver of all good gifts. But God chooses to use men and women to protect that gift. They are the service members of the United States military. This week as many of us move freely around our country, gathering in our homes with loved ones, let us not forget those who sacrifice to provide the freedom to do so. There are so many service members who are away from their loved ones this Thanksgiving Day. Take a few minutes to send them a small Thank You note from this website. Xerox is partnering with the Boys and Girls clubs and several other groups to provide this service to our troops. The cards have been designed by children from around the country. They have some wonderful text to choose from, or you may compose your own. Whichever you choose to do, it will take no more than a few minutes, but I promise that it will be sincerely appreciated. Brighten someone's day this week. Be thankful.