Ashley's OBLC (Officers Basic Leadership Course) graduation

a decorated General with nearly 30 years of service was the featured speaker

Desiree is Ashley's roommate and she knew her from nursing school at APU

The view of the room with 400 medical recruits graduating

We were all standing for something like the pledge of allegiance or speakers request

Uncle Monte in White, to his right is Aunt Marlene, and Greg

The four featured on stage were marching in (blurry in dark)

This was the overall cadet being honored for her achievements during 6 weeks (a female)

The recruits all standing reciting the Soldiers Creed and than an army song

The proud parents with the soldier

Uncle Monte and Aunt Marlene with her (they winter in TX) was so nice of them to travel down and join us on this day

being outdoors, the beret is required..

It was a drizzly day outside and the grads gathering outside Sams bar at the top of the hill where the ceremony was held~!

Both Greg and Uncle Monte parked down the hill and so we "hiked" back to vehicles.. Des was getting a ride back to dorms and we were going out to lunch together

part of the large construction project going on around the base. It will allow them to increase dorm housing from 3000 to 13,000. Ashley's current dorm, rarely had hot water for showers!

another new dorm going up

The brown bar on button covering in center is her "rank", which is also on there berets. This for her on her uniform indicates 2nd Lieutenant, if it were black it would indicate 1st Lieutenant one rank above.

Aunt Marlene is one who is into hats and told Ashley she'd like one like this, and so Ash told her she'd work on it.. we just asked if she was looking for respect at home and she agreed also from her boys~! ha ha ha women are smart..

new recruits moving in across campus as we drove by with Ashley when dropping her off at the Nurses meeting she had to attend after graduation and the start of their two week track.

The base water tower

Just before we left, a picture with dad... somehow I rarely get into the front of the camera.

Now as the past four days have unfolded since early and I mean early Friday morning as the texts started arriving at 4:30 a.m. It's been a roller coaster for Ashley and as we get the information trickled to us, we also ride the roller coaster of emotions. We were preparing for her to be stationed in Landstuhl, Germany for three years. And I was getting my head wrapped around her adventure for an extended vacation in Europe while she worked her shifts at the medical center there and also receiving additional training for her career in nursing.The greatest perk is that traveling by train around Europe during her off time and when she had leave time earned. How cool is that! It would be the new vacation destination for us over the three years to visit her as well. Can't complain about that.

And than she struggled with the Physical Training (PT) testing dates over the six weeks.. 17 pushups, 50 situps, and a run of about 2 miles I'm guessing, that had to be accomplished in 19.36 or under. The first day they tested she had had the stomach flu and vomited the night before.. she did not pass but her results were not so far off to concern her. And than as the time rolled along, the time they trained on physical stuff became less and they were in the classroom, or out on field manuevers. And than came testing day #2 the weekend after graduation.. She did not do the amount of training she should have, but yet there were people with less athletic ability who were passing ahead of her..

So this past Thursday I had my prayer warriors praying for her Friday 04:15 PT testing (02:15am our time), to be successful and her text at 4:30 a.m. our time was that she had not passed again. She was calm but frustrated, she had had leg cramps and had to stop to address it during the run, as well as she did way to many pushups, and came up 7 situps short. She blamed no one but herself. But she had already been told that her orders (to Germany) would be changed.. okay that didn't seem unreasonable since she hadn't fulfilled the requirement. They said she'd have another chance the next week (assuming just to stay in army). Several hours later she receives an email that she had "passed the PTSA test" WHAT??? which is it??

So she forwards that email to the Nurse Major for a clarification, and it took most of the weekend with her finally getting the message on Sunday afternoon that she could choose Ft. Bliss in El Paso, TX or going to Ft. Hood near Killeen, TX.. she chose Ft. Hood. Now doesn't that sound like an official "change" and your just waiting for paperwork? Of course her car left Dallas for a ship to Germany during Thanksdgiving wknd and already knew it would be Feb/Mar before it would return.

Today was to have been the day the army movers came to load up all of her belongings that she wanted to take with her.. She had it all boxed up before she left in Oct and we have added from her list of requests our Christmas gifts/housewarming gifts/Happy Birthday's in that we got her the white comforter, 450 thread cotton sheets, flannel sheets, two pillows, two sets of bathroom towels, crockpot, deep electric skillet, two smaller frying pans, a can opener, and two table place settings at the dollar store she can replace when she's ready. Europe is 220 voltage so you buy appliances over there that can't be using a converter.

Todays pickup was cancelled when she believed her orders had been revoked and that she would re-schedule for when she was home at Christmas, as TX wouldn't require the month of transit time like Europe.

Tonight just as we were ready to sit down for dinner..... she sends a text that she might still be going to Germany.. her orders have not been changed, and that Friday's testing will apparantly determine it. WHAT??

But praise Jesus, she has asked that the prayer chain continue to lift her up and that is what is needed right now. Trust me, alot of discussion back and forth with her in these days, as to "have you been praying about this", "perhaps the army was the right move, but Germany is not his plan" "by not passing the PT test, she stays stateside and maybe that is his best plan" etc, etc, Learning that in all things we not leave the Lord out of it and continuing to encourage her that he may be refining some things put in front of the Lord by taking the control herself of planning the details..

A wise woman from Texas put it this way.. "while this was a complete surprise to Ashley, it was not a surprise to our God. Our God is a God of details and he knows what is best for us, and there are many who might not be Christians who are watching how she handles this.. and her greatest moments may be right around the corner." Amen and Amen to that. God is good and he can make whatever destination on the map we are located to be our mission field and bring him Glory with a blameless heart.

ASHLEY is also a blogger at http://www.beachsnowbabe.wordpress.com/

The Fire Dept Sponsorship Application process

Shane turned in his application with the Santa Fe Springs Department of Fire-Rescue to the Rio Hondo Fire Academy. He has attended Rio Hondo Jr College since the fall after graduation from high school. He walked the application into station headquarters over a week ago anxious to hear back. The chief was reviewing them throughout the week. Shane has done some ride alongs with the SFS station #4 and the Long Beach Station #1. He is applying to receive one of the two sponsorships they offer at SFS. Should he get a call for an interview, he will need a suit.

Having a sponsorship means:

• Ensures you a priority of the list of eligible applicants to the academy for either full-time or part-time academies.


• Applicant is allowed to wear our uniform (light blue shirt) with a Department patch.
  
• The Department will loan applicant his Turnout Gear (coat, pants, boots, helmet, gloves, hood)


• Breathing apparatus, as needed

What it doesn't cover is any tuition, uniforms, books, supplies for attending the academy. But the price of what they do cover amounts to about $3 - 4,000 that you don't have to supply.

Shane, in this next spring semester of 2010 taking the EMT class and the last two of his Fire Science classes. So far he has all A's for grades in those classed he has taken so far and placed first in the semester class that tested there physical fitness for duty (BIDDLE). He received the coveted certificate for having passed this required class under the time of 9 min-34 seconds, and his personal time was 6 min-3 seconds. His counselor has told him he will qualify for the July academy.

The Mens Wearhouse had a "buy one get one free" promotion going on and so Shane and I stopped in to get an idea if a price range and how it works. Greg has been thinking lately he is in need of a suit and this would work out. After dinner that night all three of us headed over there, as the two men are fashion deficient as they put it. Well, should you just buy the suit, you get a sweet deal, but if and when you purchase the comfy shirts they offer and the ties they display with them ~ how can you resist?? right?? So we walk out with two shirts and the third was free, mostly cuz we paid so much for one they guiltily give one away. We also walked out with two ties-buy one get free ~ the deals were just flying while we stood there nodding.

Now before we left the house, I laid out all the ties from Gregs closet on kitchen table as an example~did we need a tie? Any one of the recycles would have worked or might have worked.... but in the mesmerizing of how NICE they looked against the new suits/shirts in the store lighting.. we walked out with two more of them to add to the collection..

Greg picked out a black suit with a thin stripe and the dark gray shirt. Shane got a completely black tailored suit with a white shirt/black blocked tie (first interviews) and also the light blue shirt (2nd interviews) he will use a "recycled tie". So after measuring for a few adjustments we were done. There is a lifetime of tailoring as long as it's possible to take it in or let it out, so that is the bonus of this particular store rather than just off the rack.... I hope so... Pick up on Wed night unless Shane's call for interview comes in for sooner. They both look handsome in them.

OKAY so we get back from TX late on Monday and he is so excited he is bursting at the seams on the way home from the airport.. He had received a call from the station that day and he was given one of the sponsorships at the SFS Fire Station. We are so proud of him, and he does NOT have to interview at all.. isn't that amazing? His grades for this semester were straight A's. His hard work all along paying off and the path being made clear as he goes.

Oh well, the suit will come into use somehow ~ ha ha

Home at last

Last night my flight which left Sioux Falls airport a little over an hour later than scheduled for 9:20pm departure, so I didn't land until midnight. I met Greg down at the baggage claim and it was good to be together again after 3.5 weeks. Mina Gritters was on my flight and sat in front of me, but after she left the airplane I had a much slower pace than her and so I didn't see her again. Greg had assigned me as a "disabled customer" when he set up the return flight change, and so they allowed me to check my carry on bag without a charge. Which was so lucky as my MN shopping purchases had been more than my two suitcases could handle even without having Brian's work boots and jacket in my luggage when we went out to MN. (Brian is staying a couple weeks longer, and I had put the "fragile" stuff into a bag with handles from dept store.. fortunately now that my carry on what checked on, I didn't have to deal with that I had to many carry on's and there was NO WAY it would fit into my luggage..

When Greg and I arrived home, I found a dozen pink/white roses and a bottle of wine/goblets in our room.. woo hoo ~ good to be home.... slept till noon today..

quick update

quick update: Yes, we are doing well here in MN where the sky has just today opened up with some rain.. but we have enjoyed two complete weeks of sunshine! It should return on Sunday according to weatherman. We haven't seen the guys today since it's been misting most of the day until NOW. So whether they have taken shelter at the farm or are continuing to work is unknown. But they apparantly haven't stopped because of it.

Brian has been thoroughly enjoying farming.. 14 days of long hours and this morning was a meltdown. He's getting along with his Uncle Gale and Grandpa but as goes with close quarters.... I'm not saying who, but tensions and timing are high. Just explained deep breathing is sometimes necessary and venting. Ha HA So rain would be good for a days break from working. He will be here another three weeks working on the farm, leaving on Dec 2.

Tonight I am going to Worthington with sister inlaw Patty and daughters Katie and Jamie to have supper and a movie.. Saturday night going up to Morgan to my sister inlaw Char's son Ryan's high school play. Sunday a day of rest..

Well, got to go and I have tons of pictures but until the high speed internet is installed on Monday (another story for another day) it ain't happening on this computer or the dial up..

thoughts from the country

Brian my son, and I have been in MN for 8 days now. TODAY is a beautifully sunshiny day without wind, it has only been the 2nd one while here of sunshine and not needing much of a coat if at all. The others are cloudy, windy, and some rain whether lightly or downpours. Since I needed to have a prescription filled here in the town of Windom, I decided to make use of my waiting time to come to the local library and use the computer.. it saves the frustration of dial up at the inlaws home, OMG..

Our flight last Wed on Allegiant Air was tremendous only taking 2.45 hours from LAX to Sioux Falls, SD and nice and smooth. Pilots were attentive to there task the entire time~! And the four of us arrived safe.

The funeral of grandma Lorraine Cook was last Thursday and it went very well and there was a large crowd filling the Verdoes Room at the Care Center in Edgertons Edgebrook. We met a hundred of my parents friends, family, and Edgebrook staff.. Each introducing themselves and we trying to remember there names and the history of how we knew them or they knew us. I did alright with this having remembered most of the them, Brian was a bit overwhelmed with the information but kept shaking hands and listening. The funeral home did wonderful in presenting my grandma for the visitation and she looked so peacefully beautiful. It was a rainy day and so many of our family that farms were able to attend. I gave the eulogy and it actually was not as hard as I thought or as frightening as you imagine that kind of setting to be to speak in front of others. The Leota church served a luncheon right afterwards in that room, and than immediate family went to the Luverne cemetary.

A little later that night about 20 family gathered at the Luverne pizza ranch. We had a very good time in conversation for about as much catch up as you can do of decades of absence, lots of laughing, and than my Aunt Gladys invitied us all over to her house where it continued and no one wanted to leave first.

Friday morning at 7:30 am, my parents picked us up out at Dave n Rhonda Wynia's farm outside Luverne where the three sisters and Brian were staying. We were meeting Uncle Alvin and Gladys Blom at the Leota cafe for breakfast, had a great time there as a group, also meeting and shaking more hands (H1N1 be damned). Afterwards our van load headed just outside of Leota to the farmplace my great grandparents Cook once owned, where my grandpa/grandma lived for 10 years after marrying and my mom was born. I remember this house, and now my cousin Amy Van Essen and her husband Mark and four T's (Tanna, Tucker, Tyler and Tya) live there. So we were going to get a tour. It has had some remodeling, and additions, but it had for those who had been there decades before that "smaller" than you remembered of some rooms feel.

From the farm to Edgerton and the Care Center to do something I can't remember, than into town to the bakery to order what we thought was still called OLLIE BOLLEN by the dutch community. I don't think the woman behind the counter was dutch nor had worked there long.. she had a puzzled look on her face when we requested it and than kind of asked us if we meant RAISIN FRITTERS???? well, okay if thats what you call them, thats what Brian was wanting, but they only baked them on certain days which was Saturday so we ordered them and headed out again.. We than did a tour of farm sites, relatives farm sites, stopping at Hardwick as we made a full circle having noon Dinner at the "Green Lantern" which yes, is a bar at night and smelled like a bowling alley... come to find out a cousin of my dads, sons wife owns it.. or something like that, I just won't tell you which relative! I think this ended the tour for the day.

Saturday we were once again picked up at not so early an hour, but we headed to Edgerton to pick up our raisin fritter order and to the Care Center to show my sisters the donated picture from the VanEssens after Grandma Angeline had passed on there at just short of a 100 years old. And than my dad says "where do you want to go" (uh, beats anyone of us)... so we than did the most quiet tour of our lives in the ...... Edgerton Cemetary READING headstones and trying to do the dutch bingo of who they were of or married to etc.. and than we headed out of town to the EAST and conituned the farm tours of who has lived there, who does live there, who they are related to than or now. It continued all the way through Chandler. We discussed the '92 tornado and it's path and what was destroyed, left standing, who rebuilt, who expanded, who moved into town and started a business.... Brians head by now was spinning with information he was receiving and that my parents could remember this all..... We took pictures of the old water tower top that had been smashed in by a flying truck and was now lying next to the new water tower... We than moved out of town to a few other places, and than on the road to Adrian for a bathroom rest and on into Luverne for noon dinner at McDonalds...

Saturday night my sisters flew out of Sioux Falls to LAX where my hubby was picking them up, they spent the night at our house and than headed for home in Lisa's car. That afternoon I went along with my cousin Rhonda/Dave, their daughter Lanae who was also visiting and her two young ones Rylan(3) and McKensie(1) trick or treating a few places in town. And than they had home church at there house that night.

Sunday morning early pickup and off to Leota again. Bethel Reformed Church is where my parents attended this summer while they camped in town, have old school friends from there youth growing up in the Leota/Edgerton communities. I summered there 3 weeks every year and so recognized the older folks and the ONE younger woman Lora Tinklenberg Anker. We were all serving cake/coffee after services for the Oct birthdays of my dad and Uncle Alvin. My son and Uncle Alvin had hit it off like two brothers with there jesting, poking and just laughing amongst themselves and this was so special to observe as there is a 58 year difference between them! 22 for Brian and 79 for Alvin.. They continued this on the car ride to Windom that afternoon as they brought us both to my Inlaws for our continued two week stay. They had a hard time parting with each other later that night. Alvin told my inlaws that if he gave them any trouble, just send him back to him and he'd straighten him out.. Brian laughed and hugged him again...

Brian has been since Monday morning working with his grandpa Symens and Uncle Gale on their farm. The Oct rainy weather has gotten them so far behind that his offer of help was perfect timing even though they weren't so sure I think what he would do. But he has been riding in combine learing things from Uncle Gale, he's hauled in double loads of beans in wagons to the farm with the tractor, and sat at the elevator with the semi waiting to unload beans with cuzn Philip. long days. They finally got the beans done and will start corn combining today, so that will open up new things he can help in getting them caught up as one combines, hauls wagons, chops stalks and such..

Monday and Tuesday were my days of resting and relaxing to make up for and to save up for other days.

Wednesday Marlys and I went to Mankato (hour away) and met her daughter Char, where we shopped, ate, and shopped until Marlys called "uncle" and it was getting dark and headed home. It was a long day for both of us and I drove home..

Tonight, I'm being picked up by SIL Patty for a Windom womens playoff volleyball game against Edgerton Christian where they will play in Marshall.

I could be a country farm woman..... but as of now, it's just fun to visit.. maybe someday

posting under review/changes

Since arriving in MN for the funeral, we have shared, laughed and remembered much. The previous posting about my grandparents will be under going some revisions, additions and than be back up live...

It is good to remember... lest you have forgotten

yes, you affect my life..

There is no way to describe how FREAKIN HOT it was today. Now I don't buy into the whole global warming, black hole propaganda, and we have had Indian summers in Oct before as I grew up. I'm just announcing that I was really enjoying the few days of cloudy, cooler, rainy skies where inches of rain were falling around the Southland. AND I WANT it to stay that way for about 3 months. Much needed rain fell in the areas north of LA in numbers of like 9-10 inches where the reservoirs that are so badly depleted of needed resources are located. Mammoth has gotten some early snowfall which is another major source for water in the spring that flows down to the reservoirs. So I'm all for rainfall that comes from a season of it in steady amounts. Todays 90 degrees gives you a headache.

California doesn't really fluctuate in weather for too much of the year.. pretty much mild 60-80's and dont get me started about how cold we complain at the low end, or we are content with it for the most part. So the natural seasons of winter, spring, summer and fall are not to exciting, hence we jungle dwellers need to travel to those untamed natural parks, or countrysides of our state or into the many map sights who have seasons or vibrant colors.

As of many of the most recent years it seems the state has added a definitely wild, scary and at times deadly seasons; FIRE (in the late summer/early fall) and MUD (fall/winter) seasons have been added as two additional seasons that the media prepares for and drones on with as coverage warrants it. People have crowded into forests, hillsides, beaches, mountains, remote locations to build there dream homes, dream communities. I know that this is the ideal and serene place to commute before and after you have had a long work day. I as a tax payer who give and give to a government that leaks like the titanic of money wasted, don't believe it's your right to live there unless you are willing to pay for the protection it requires. It's beautiful scenery until.......

The fires start burning in absolutely any part of any of the above mentioned locations, started by man or a spark... These were once wild and open places and a fire could burn itself out without endangering property or person. But now the saving of property and person is the responsibility of each and every citizen who pays taxes no matter where they reside. Many of us, we watch the coverage on tv as the dollar meter runs on putting out anything from 10,000-65,000 at a time. I totally understand it's awfully frightening to be in this situation, but you chose to live here, now deal with it.

As we are now currently experiencing just after fires rip through several counties, we had an early rainstorm that dropped anything from 1.87-3.24 inches in these fire affected areas and the barren grounds without cover, just run with the dirt that was below it and it's called mud.. The state, counties and cities are than quickly setting up sand bags, the white cement barriers to divert water from the residents. It costs money to do this, overtime actually as storms don't come during daytime hours nor does the problem respect the time it takes to keep neighborhoods from sliding away from all of the water or mud flow. And again the tax payers you and I who don't live anywhere near it, are inundated with news coverage that is really just mind numbing repetitive warnings of the dire conditions forming. The government than gets involved with FEMA, Red Cross, where do you think the money comes from to fund these organizations. hmmmm

Thursday "say what":
I must admit, I watch a newscast about three times a year. I was watching Dr Oz the other morning when just as he was going to give this woman the answer to get rid of the area of fat that accumalates on her back just under her bra... I was mesmerized as to how you did this when....... channel 11 breaks in and with this picture of what appears to be a UFO of silver mylar balloon material from Fort Collins, CO. They are following what would have been told to be a "child in the base of the homemade balloon", this sucker that was thought to only float at 20 feet above the ground gets to the height of 7500 feet.. and they don't know if a 6 yr old is in it or not.. but it is being tracked and followed by the National Guard in the air and on the ground, by NORAD from CO armed forces that tracks everything in the air. Emergency crews are activated to be on alert whenever and however this comes down. It lands somewhere after losing helium in a field.. and no one is in the small base as suspected...

Now I'm not going to go any farther, you can read all the confusing details on any website. This little homemade project that went astray, or as a hoax or an inventors attempt went very bad, due to the scare of the 6 year old cost the federal, state and local a whole lot of money to follow it to it's conclusion, to investigate, to track all angles.. cha-ching wrack it up onto a government whose economy is not in the best of fiscal shape. Now I'm as pleased as the next person that he was found safe in his attic, but the rest of the what I'm hearing about his dad setting this up as a stunt... throw the book at him and make him fully responsible for restitution, not jail, just restitution for as long as it takes him to pay it all back. No more storm chasing till than.

If you don't agree, I don't really care.... you can blog your thoughts and I will read them.

late night post #3

I was in bed, and as usual forgot to take the pain med for the foot. It takes awhile for it to take affect and so the tossing and turning and yet trying to keep the sheets from touching my foot while it's propped up on a pillow to hang over the edge of it.. So once again I get up, and am sitting here doing this and watching tv.. Roseanne is an old show that has a corny laugh factor to it and so it's what I have been watching on those nights just like this.

Now tomorrow I won't be able to sleep late and so can't sit here to long, but it is currently 1:15am. Yes, I laid in bed for about 45 minutes and the pain was beating out the pain med, but I refuse to take a second tab when I need to get up in the morning. Two tabs of morphine is a good sleep agent.

Tonight after dinner (that we all contributed to in some way) Greg and I went for a walk... yep that's what I said, A WALK.. and I'm telling you that I worked up a sweat and it was cool outside after a warm day... are you curious as to how far I walked for the first "official" walk, well second.. I only made it to the school the first time last week. But tonight, I/we walked all the way to the corner of... Rose and Woodruff.. that is the end of our street and is .2 of a mile each way.. so woo hoo..

Being that my strength and stamina are on the low end of what I would consider desireable, something has to work towards it. While I wait for the spinal doc to give his blessing for P/T and lift the restrictions of no bending, twisting, lifting, pushing, pulling. I have been thinking lately that the Wii Fit might work out, for as much fun as we have with the games with extended family at Christmas last year might be an answer. The other day I text my friend Bonnie before a dr appt if she had time for lunch, she said she was home waiting for repair guys but come over.. so we quickly went out for drive thru El Pollo Loco and than to her house. I mentioned about the Wii Fit idea and Bonnie showed me what it was like since she had one.. so I think the basic levels are alot of what I could do now on many of the options in it. Later when I was leaving she said I could borrow it. So that night I sent Shane to pick it up after Chase had unhooked it for us, and if he hadn't been there Shane could have figured it out.

So today Shane hooks it up while I'm sleeping on the couch.. thinking he'd hook it up on downstairs TV in the den on the BIG screen and where theres more space. I wake to find he is upstairs in my room playing the game on our tv as Mr Miaggi and laughing his head off, so happy to be beating my friends score. He figured that since I'm only test driving it, he was keeping his xbox on the den tv for now.. But trust me should I decide to get Wii Fit of the next thing that is coming out, the big screen is mine.. he will be moved to the little tv in the other room... haha hahahahahahahaha ahhahahahaha the evil mother has spoken!

well, it's now 2am and so I will now text Ashley as she is on her way to her morning roll call, and I will head back to bed..

I Love Flowers

These are the roses that I got from Greg for my birthday (I didn't take a picture right away), I had also received a bouquet of flowers from Brian and April.

This beautiful bouquet was delivered on Oct 4th just before we left for church, the flowers are "peace lilys" and there are intermixed with the plant.. It was from my sister Stacy's family to Ashley and I. This was the day of her farewell and also my birthday.

Today as I opened the front door after the bell was rung, I expected my friend Mary who had called she was coming over. But arriving at the same time was my turkish neighbor Sevgi, holding this beautiful bouquet of flowers. I asked her if they were from her garden and she said no that she had been trying to deliver them for a couple of days but hadn't had any luck with someone being home. She is a sweet woman and works hard.

Oct. 9th Family Night Before Departure

geez, I needed some makeup, but oh well

Brian and April
Ashley packed and ready to go
This is a picture that I had been thinking of taking and since it was the last possible night, no time like the present and waiting til the last minute. While I was stirring dinner Greg came to me and asked if I wanted him to take the picture.. what a sweety that he thought of that while it was still light. And you ask WHY is this picture below significant? And it is only to us (me) as for years... since the kids have added one car after another to our "family", our 150 ft of cement has not been enough to house them all. And I have actually being blessed to have always had the parking spot in the garage (see my car in there?) Now heres been the rub for me is that I like green grass and at one time enjoyed it green (our yard is actually weeds all grown together tightly to appear as grass) and mowed just so. I used to take care of this no matter what shift I was working at UPS, it was done regularly and fertilizer, nutrients were added to it. And than as part of our advancement into teenage drivers, this sadly came to an end as U-Turns were made to work themselves out of a pinched in position OR they would simply park on the lawn. I HAD TO let go of it and truly it's such a big yard, it stunted it's growth and lessened my work. Shane being the only one without an allergy to grass (Greg/Brian) defer to him to take care of it. So this was as Ashley goes off to her job and life, the last night of all 5 cars in the backyard.. and that the four are all on the driveway is not how it actually would have worked because Brian truck is plugging the escape route as the edge of the house is just to the left of his back bumper.. ha ha ha

We all had dinner together, having invited my parents who had just arrived down in so cal in there motorhome, and Brians girlfriend April. I made taverns and my mom brought her pea salad which was my choice, and Grandma Cooks Pink Lady salad which was Ashleys favorite to add to the table fare..

When we were full and the table cleared, we sat around the table playing a dice game called Farkle. Now beings that our kids (three of them mind you) were all in sports, at the same time, different places, different counties at times and both days of the weekend some years with soccer. We didn't take the time or play table games. So hence this night, it took a little bit, one for them to grasp what we were doing and why? ha, and two how you played the game in spite of having help from my dad who is sharp at this game. But once we had gone around a dozen or so times, and points started to tally up, they picked up on it and were into it. We had a good time playing several games to 10,000 points, laughing plenty, and just sharing the time together.

What you see on the table in the blue topped container and plastic glass is the protein drink of all three of my kids, special shaker, and apparantly NOW was the time. The boys both needed to have her "shake" them the concoction as the night grew later.. what they won't do.

So this was that time for our family that when the all call is made that we are hanging out together, the kids have rarely hesitated to come together for family whether ours, or extended. Oh yea, there friends at times got in line ahead of us, but that we were good with and never resented this as we go with whoever shows up or just the two of us. For the day has come as we begin to change our home dynamics forever, in that we may scatter to the far ends of the earth, our hearts are forever intertwined. Our prayers will always be spoken for each other from wherever we are, and that we will do whatever we can to be in contact. In person, by phone, on facebook, texting, skype, so as you see we would have to be under a rock to claim our family as separated.

Oct 4th, a farewell gathering

Sunday Oct. 4th we gathered with family and friends at our house which was a special request of Ashleys before she headed to Army 3 yr committment. Her first assignment is Officers Basic Leadership Course (OBLC) in San Antonio, TX. Reporting Oct. 14 and graduating on Dec 7th in ceremony and than continuing on in a two week nurses track. In this they train on setting up field hospitals until Dec 18. She will be home at Christmas until she has to leave for Germany. Her orders came through somewhat last minute and on Jan. 4th she reports to Landstuhl, Germany, her first choice and first choice she received. We are a proud family.

After dinner - night of goofyness

Without Brian here during the week, Shanes only wrestling partner has been Greg who is not all that into it of late as he has aches and pains after he indulges one of the boys. So tonight Shane got Ashley onto the floor swearing she might need some of his training when she was in TX. He and I were watching on her facebook page, other recruits doing field work, that she had attached the video from You Tube.

We had dinner Tuesday and not long after table was cleared, I got out the camera to get a picture with each of the kids.. no, my hair didn't have alot of attention given to it, but I didn't care.

And so I got into a picture with Ashley, and than captured one with Shane. I generally am behind the camera getting whatever shots I am looking for, rarely allowing myself into a picture.

boxes, boxes, and discoveries, and more boxes

The day is arriving, and two weeks from today Oct 9 or 10 her little car will be packed full, idling in the driveway and her and her dad after the tearful goodbye's will exit the driveway and start out towards Texas. Ashley needs to report to Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio on the 14th between 3pm-6pm. Greg will have flown home on the 13th.

It's been weeks that she has been going through plastic containers in bathroom. Cleaning every drawer in armour, closets, under the bed, on the desk, in the computer cabinet, and in every nook and cranny. So there have been discoveries and decisions to be made... Keep-pack to go with me, Keep-but pack for the Army to pickup and bring to each assigned base, or time to throw it away. It's been a project that has been going on for weeks and weeks.

this bed is a catch-all each day of whats on the floor that would bee in the way........

This closet and all the shoe boxes on the floor need to be packed to go with the Army pickup Her thirteen hours days will only give her part of Saturday and all of Sunday as time off. So amount of clothes will be minimal and she will take that with her and the rest into Army storage and will move to her next longer term assignment.

This is the spot in the downstairs where the stuff started to pile up.

So there you have it, she has done a great job on her own (I've been doing something else during all of this)

This week she picked up three of her green camo uniforms and ordered alot of other stuff online which will arrive and need to be hauled to TX.

It's a good thing that Greg is content with wearing his clothes all week... he can just bring a ziploc bac to put his toothbrush/toothpaste and deoderant in and he will be good to go.