Sunday

Hey Everyone,

Just a quick update. We will be taking Gavin to Hapeville on Sunday at around 3. We went to the Naval office yesterday and he got his Shipper. He will stay overnight at the Doubletree with the Master Chief, and then will head over to MEPS for final inspection on Monday, August 3rd. Stephen and I will travel down on Monday morning to watch his swearing in and say our goodbye's at Fort Gillem. I will load pics as soon as we get back home. Please know that he is very excited, feels very good about his decision, and is ready to go. The Chief and Recruiter had very good things to say about him yesterday while we were getting his shipper. He went from a Deppy ( that's what they call people in the Delayed Entry Program) to a recruit yesterday. Now we will await the call after Battle Stations when he says, " Mom and Dad, I am a Sailor!" Please continue to keep our boy in your prayers, will update with more when we have new info :)

10 days to go.....

Gavin was up at 7:30 this morning, I think maybe he is trying to adjust himself to the early mornings that he is going to have in 10 days. WOW, 10 days, it seems so close now. Gavin is meeting his recruiter at 11:30 today to do his last drug test, and run his last Physical Training requirements. Next Sunday will be here before we know it, and there is so much left to do. I am glad that we are all finally feeling the excitement of this journey. We all believe that Gavin is taking the right path for his life, and we are all so proud of him.

I read a quote the other day that stated, " The only thing harder than being a Sailor, is loving one" SO TRUE!!!!

Watching my child grow into a man....

With the weeks news and our own community celebrating the life of a soldier, my household has been hit with reality with amazing force. Over the weekend we watched as a Marine from Bartow Co was brought home to be laid to rest. We rejoiced in his life, and we sympathized with his parents. He was given a Hero's burial, and the turn out was phenomenal. When we watched I felt my heart constrict a bit, and I prayed a prayer that I have prayed a lot lately, "Please God keep him safe."

I have read many stories over the last little bit, and I realize how blessed Stephen and I are to have two wonderful, healthy, loving boys. They have gotten in their share of trouble, and most would say they aren't perfect, but to me they were the perfect gift. Their personalities, demeanor's, looks, and overall being has given us a little bit of paradise.

This past week Gavin has started to take on some new qualities that I haven't seen, and it is truly like he is growing up in front of my eyes. He has been talking a lot about his finances, what he plans on doing, and the view that he will have going into this whole experience. He is so upbeat, positive, and looking forward to starting a new life. I ask him the other day if it was the fact that he would be out from under mom and dad, and he let me know he would always need us, but he is looking forward to standing on his own two feet. What an amazing gift! Several weeks ago, I had a "breakdown", and I called my mom. She talked me through everything and had her way of making me realize that he will be ok, and he will make it on his own. Yes, I still need my mom :) I always knew that no matter how old we are, how successful, how busy, we always still need our parents. It is nice that my kids know this too.

I feel very fortunate to have such a close bond with my boys. We are at 17 days and counting and I could not be more excited to see the changes in my kids. It is going to be a wonderful thing to watch Gavin walk away, head held high, knowing that he is ready to conquer the world.

20 days

Gavin is set to leave on August 3rd. We will take him down on Saturday, then go back on Monday morning to watch him be sworn in. He is excited, and happy about his decision.
Stay tuned...

Waiting and Wondering

This will be my first blog entry and I am very excited about having an outlet for my feelings, and a way to communicate with all of our family and friends. I am hoping this will make things easier for everyone to stay informed about Gavin and his adventures, as he starts his career in the Navy, as well as how we are coping at home.

A Little Background

Gavin signed up a year and a half ago to join the Navy. He has been in what they call the DEP program, and has learned so much. His original ship date was August 3rd, but after sitting around for most of the summer, he told his recruiter he was ready to leave. Last week he passed all of his physical training, as well as other testing that is required. We are now in the waiting for "the call" stage.

This Weekend

This weekend I guess it finally hit me that "the call" could come anytime, and there were still things that we planned as a family to do before he ships. Actually, when we found out that he would be leaving this summer, all of my thoughts have been to making every holiday, birthday, vacation, and family time the best that it could possibly be. In some ways I'm sure I have tried too hard, but it has all worked out, and we have made so many memories this year.

As we have traveled down this road with Gavin, we have all tried to learn as much as we could about the process, and prepare ourselves as well as Gavin for what will be taking place. His recruiter has been wonderful, as well as a website that I joined called NavyforMoms. I feel like we are all better prepared for basic, and what happens after that.

I am so excited for Gavin and the journey he is about to embark on. It is going to be challenging, but also offer him so many opportunities. I am scared and peaceful, happy and sad, excited and nervous all at the same time. I know that I have to let go, but I don't want to let go. I know that this will be a great time in his life, but I want to keep him here to keep him safe. I am so happy and proud of him, but in the next breath so sad that it makes my heart ache. Some of my medical friends might see in this the need to see a doctor :), but I can assure all of you that while my emotions are completely on this roller coaster ride, I am coping and enjoying the ride.

I hope that you will follow along on our journey that is two fold. Stephen, Taylor, and I will be adjusting to life without Gavin being here, and Gavin will be starting the most amazing journey, and growing into the man he is destined to be.

I can't promise that this blog will always be positive, happy, or funny, but I can promise that through this the goal is to help other Navy Moms, and to share with family and friends the latest news we have....