Ah, to hear his voice!

I'm a little late in updating this, but I head from my son! Not a tiny note written in bad handwriting on Marine letter head, but his actual voice! He was crying, which worried me. He told me it was a happy cry and that he was just happy to hear my voice. Of course, I'm a nervous mom so I have to wonder if he was being completely truthful! (What, Adam lie? Never! Ha!)

Adam told me that he was glad that he made this decision and he was in the right place. He said he's actually having fun and that his Drill Instructor is cool. I'm so glad to hear that. I was so afraid he was going to regret his decision to join the Marines, but it sure sounds like everything is how it should be.

The same day I heard from him, I also got a letter. It sort of confirmed what I initially thought when he called. He sounds homesick, even if it's just a little. I can imagine that he would be though. Boy, he's going to be sad when he finds out we gave his room to his brother! :-) Adam also asked for my "mom advice" on an issue that I knew was going to come up eventually. I won't devulge anything until it's time, but my boy is growing up. I'm happy and sad at that. Will we always keep a close relationship?? I hope so. I hope we don't lose that connection, no matter where in the world he ends up.

So far, so good. I hope it continues to be a positive, character building experience for him. I'm still keeping track of what he's doing each week. This week, he should be on "Table 1" (still weapons training). I have NO idea what it means! I'm still looking ahead (and stressing) to the "dreaded" Crucible, which he will undergo at the end of September. I guess it is every Marine's Rite of Passage, but it sounds so hard!! I'm looking forward to the week before it though because they will post his Platoon Video online! I get to SEE my boy! I can hardly wait for that and for October when I get to see him in person at graduation. I'm nervous to see the man he has become, but still very excited!

Another letter from boot camp!

Yes, despite the LARGE gap between them, I got another letter from my boy! I know I sound like a kid at Christmas and I KNOW the people at the post office must think I am stalking them, but this small line of communication between my son and I is all that I have. You bet your life I'm going to hold onto that line as tight as I can.

So, Adam says he is actually having "fun". God I'm so glad to hear that from him. I hope that he is not sugar coating it for me. I hope he truly is getting everything he can out of this experience because although it may be difficult, this experience is helping to finish molding him into the adult he will be for the rest of his life. I can no longer influence or "mold" him. He is in the hands of the United States government now. I hope they take care of my boy.

His letter continues to be positive. He has made it through Phase One and is moving into Phase Two. He said he got to "blouse his boots" which felt so good. I have absolutely no idea what that means, but he is happy about it. He feels very accomplished and proud. I'm proud of him. In Phase Two, he moves to weapons training and he is very excited about it. He gets to learn to use his rifle (among other things)! I'm happy that he's happy.

In his letter, he tells the girls that "Yes, I got my boots...and they hurt!" and gives Canaan a few words of encouragement since he is taking Adam being gone hard. He told him to keep his chin AND his grades up! Ha! Maybe Canaan will listen since it's coming from his big brother (although I doubt it). Adam also says that he will be sending me a private letter as he needs some "mommy advice". Oh boy. I think I may know what he wants to talk about (wink).

So, as I watch the calendar and follow along with what he is doing each day, I hope that he continues to enjoy the process of becoming a Marine. I hope they take care of him and hope he stays healthy. He signed this letter, "Your Future Marine". That has a great ring to it.

The last of it is done...

Well, I conquered the last of the things in Adam's room this weekend. I boxed them up, labeled them and stacked them in the garage for storage. I can't believe how much JUNK this kid has! I labeled the last boxes so that WHEN he does come back on leave, he'll be able to find his wallet and other essentials. This was the final acceptance of Adam being gone and the realization that he doesn't live here anymore. It's sad to realize that. Sure, he'll visit, but then he will leave again and there will be times that I won't see him for months at a time. (I certainly hope it's not "years" at a time!) I have still only seen the one letter from him, despite the THREE letters I sent him and am anxious (an understatement) to hear from him again, even if it's brief. I would be so happy for a quick phone call too, although I know he's super busy becoming a Marine. I just miss him.

Adam's poor cat was in a state of confusion when we started moving Canaan into what USE to be Adam's room (sob). He wandered around the room, sniffed everything and plopped his big furry butt on the shelf as if to say "I'm not moving until he comes home". The room that Canaan USE to be in became a play room for the girls. Since Canaan is away for the week (and doesn't know I did this), it hasn't fully set it that it's HIS room now.

Another step taken. So many more to go. I hope this week will bring us news from boot camp. I'll take a sticky note with a simple "I'm okay, love you & miss you". Anything. I'm really starting to look forward to seeing him at graduation. Sure, he may be doing all the physical and mental training, but Mom's do all the emotional training and earn that graduation too. I can wait to see my boy...no, not boy...Man...Son...Marine.

Military Mom

The Bonds among Military Moms are bonds that no other Moms could share or understand. It is a bond that can never be broken or torn. It is now and always.
We are Marine,we are Army, we are Navy and we are Air Force. We are the American Military Moms. We have raised the best of the best. The Proudest of the Proud.
We have sisterhood,that no one can understand. It is the sisterhood of the Military Moms.

We cry at night,we worry 24/7 and we miss everyday. We also are Proud all year long.

When one hurts, we all hurt. When one cries, we all cry.
When one is happy, we all are happy.
When one is dancing, we all dance.
When one is in Pain,we share the Pain.
When one has a Homecoming, we all rejoice just to see them Smile.

Our Favorite color is yellow,we love our yellow ribbons & bows. Juat look at our yards and home. But most of all we Love our Red,White and Blue. It is a symbol of our Pride for our Children. And we will defend it to the end together as our bond among each other and What we share together.

We defend our children's choices and respect their jobs. Knowing deep down inside our hearts break for not having our children near. We sacrifice more than any other mom could ever without even getting a simple little two words, "Thank You."

We miss sleep,we stay at the post office,we live by the phone, we watch the TV and stay close to the computor.

We are Military Moms. We are Proud, we are Strong, we are Special and we are Growing each day. We share a sisterhood that is the best sisterhood in the World.

This is the Bond of the Military Moms.

~Author Unknown

2nd letter sent off to my son...

I just couldn't sit around anymore and wait to get another letter from Adam, so I sent out another letter to HIM. Maybe I can guilt him out of a letter or two! Ha! I know he's busy, but not hearing from him is tearing me up inside.

I told him about some of the things that have happened in the past week and a half. The color guard survived band camp (and so did I). Cat (his girlfriend) was official given one of the positions of Guard Captain and to be honest, her help was invaluable to me. The other guard instructor wasn't there so it was nice that I could count on Cat for support. She's a good girl and she and Adam are good together. I imagine eventually she will be my daughter-in-law so it's nice that we get to spend some time together while Adam is away. She misses him as much as I do (but in a different way).

I told Adam about the parade we marched last Saturday and how well the guard did. I sent him some pictures cropped right into the letter so he could see his girlfriend marching. I also cropped in a picture of his little sister who was crowned Little Miss Gilcrest (our town). It was cute. Adam would have loved to ride with her in the parade.

I'm really, really, REALLY missing Adam's cooking. I know that's selfish, but his brothers can't cook anything! When it's their night to cook, it's usually Ramen noodles or frozen pizza (something they really can mess up, much).

I hope to hear from him again soon. I know he got my first letter by now. I hope he is doing well and really enjoying his training. Yes, I said "enjoying". It's all part of the experience that is forming him into the man he will be for at least the next four years, but most likely the rest of his life. There is much that he can learn and take away from boot camp. I hope he is soaking it all in as he rubs his sore muscles and complains about the aches and pains. I've started to think about his graduation in October. I can't wait to see him. I feel a little sad though at the same time. The next time I see my boy, he will be an entirely new man. I'm nervous. I mean, our relationship is now and forever changed since he has stepped into the next phase of his life. I hope that our relationship stays close and no matter where he ends up in this crazy world, that he remembers to call his mommy every now and then. It's weird writing to him and he seems so far away. I know all of my kids will leave the nest some day, but I can't think ahead that far. I can only focus on Adam being gone right now. The house seems empty without him there. He changed my life on the day that he was born and for that I owe him everything. I really do miss him, but it is getting better to handle. I do still cry if a "soldier" song comes on the radio (especially those country songs, darn them!).

So, here's hoping for another letter from boot camp and prayer for an actual PHONE CALL! That would make me so happy, to hear his voice.

A Letter From Boot Camp!

I finally got a letter! Not a form letter and not a robotic phone call at 1am, but an actual letter from Adam! It was so HIM too, just the way he wrote. It sounds like he is feeling okay about his decision. It sounds like he "fits". I was so afraid that I was going to get a letter that said he hated it, didn't think he was going to make it and made the wrong decision. But he sounded very positive as he explained that he has two "jobs" within his platoon. He is the Whiskey Pig and the Witch Doctor. I have absolutely NO IDEA what he's talking about, but I'll take what I can get. He did mention (more than once) to tell his girlfriend that he missed her and loved her and to write as soon as possible. Ha! He IS a teenage boy after all. I hope if/when he comes home on leave after boot camp that he doesn't spend ALL his time with his girlfriend. I imagine he'll spend a majority of the time with her though.

I had sent a letter to him last week, but it looks like he had not gotten it when he wrote his letter. I started to cry when I realized it was actually FROM him, written in his old sloppy handwriting. He didn't say anything about missing his stupid cat, but that cat sure is missing him! He finally came down off the shelf where Adam's picture was set. Now he just does weird stuff. He wanders through the house making all kinds of strange noises then will just pass out and cat nap where ever he is. He still goes into Adam's room and howl for him. It's so sad and funny at the same time.

In Adam's letter, he said he bought a phone card so we MIGHT get a phone call from him now and then. That would be nice. I would very much like to hear his voice. I will cross my fingers.