Update

I just spoke with Bo, for about five minutes. This was the first I've heard from him since his plane landed in Oklahoma Tuesday night.

He said he really, really missed us and that so far the training was "very difficult". We had to talk fast because he only had a few minutes, and at one point he had to hang up on Noah to snap to attention when a Sargent walked in. He had his head shaved, is in barracks with sixty other men, gets six minutes to eat, and about four hours a night to sleep (all that getting up with Isaac has prepared him!). A hearing test revealed that he has 50% hearing loss in each ear (he's had ringing in the ears since fueling jets in the early 90s). The army will issue him hearing aids, but he seemed discouraged. I think it's a good thing because it will improve his hearing and hopefully alleviate some of the ringing. Everyone got vaccines today and he wasn't feeling great from those.

Please join me in praying that Bo will have divine strength for all the challenges these next five months will bring. He sounded lonely and homesick, but determined not to give up. He said he would think about his family and be encouraged to get through rough days. He asked me to pray for him and send pictures to his cell phone.

He was able to take and send a picture of his bald head before "lights out".

Noah's Birthday Party

Here are pictures from Noah's birthday party Saturday. It was an "army man" theme and we had seven little soldiers and two soldierettes helping Noah celebrate turning six.

The birthday boy.

Charity painted the kid's faces

and we gave them dog tags and army bracelets.

The firing range. Noah shot the can!

The newest recruit.

Staff Sargent Ristau with Ivy,

soldierette number one.
She is observing that Bo's uniform
failed inspection.


Tent games. We tied balloons to the kids' ankles
and let them stomp them.

Who wants to be an army man? Good, that
increases our bonus.

Salute.

Samuel, lined up for "Sargent Says".

Perry, soldierette number two.
She has a camouflage flower on her cheek.

Tug of war. It was a tie.

A little R&R.

The moms being charmed by little man.


Heather, the veteran marine wife.

Yea, the navy snuck in.

Cupcakes.

Noah had his own little cake.

Presents! Lots of cool army stuff.

Mrs. Stephanie's gift was a hit!

A remote-controlled tank, cool!

We ended the day by roasting marshmallows

around the fire.

He made it

Bo called earlier this evening. His plane landed in Oklahoma. He'd hoped to be able to call again when he reached the base, but I'm still waiting to hear from him. He traveled with four other guys, all young men in late teens or early twenties. The guy with the last name first in alphabetical order was chosen to be the leader of the pack. He is nineteen and wanting Bo to be the one in charge!

Yesterday was hard. It was emotional for all of us. Bo said he cried when we left, and kept his hand pressed against the back window of the shuttle until we drove off and were no longer in view.

Today was better as we started getting into a new routine with Dad gone. Isaac still wakes several times during the night and Bo is the one who gets up with him. Sometimes he can settle him back to sleep and sometimes he brings him to me to nurse, but I usually don't get out of bed. Time for some sleep training! I've already read two books. Last night Joshua took the first shift and gave Isaac a bottle of formula around midnight. I got the next shift at 3am, then up at 6am to get Noah ready for school (Bo did that, too!). Isaac was up at 6:30 and what a happy, playful baby he is early in the morning! Getting Caleb moving was the biggest challenge. Joshua will take him to school in the mornings. He and Charity cleaned the kitchen and family room last night and that was a great help.

Thank you for all the comments, emails, and prayers. Baby calling.....

Send-off

Well, we sent the "future soldier" off for basic combat training today. We kept the children home from school yesterday and today so Bo could have as much time with them as he could. We all piled into WalMart to buy the required travel size toiletries and white boxers the new recruits had to bring. Who knew shopping for underpants was to be a family affair????

Bo will call tomorrow after he lands in Oklahoma, but after that phone calls will probably be a luxury. He did get to take his cell phone and Ipod for the trip, though. They will be locked away once he arrives. The first nine days will be spent filling out paperwork, getting IDs for the family, signing up for life insurance, getting his uniform, etc. After that begins the physical part and I pray he comes through it in one piece! I've heard many horror stories.

This morning we headed for the recruiter's office for Bo to take the shuttle to Jacksonville, FL. This is where the enlistment headquarters for our area is. We waited in the car until the shuttle arrived, then he was told he had two minutes to say goodbye to his family. It was a tearful goodbye. Plenty of tears and hugs and kisses. Just looking at the photos make me cry.

I will miss my husband.

In The Army Now

Okay, our big news, in case you haven't guessed, is that Bo has enlisted in the U.S. Army. He ships out to basic training (boot camp!) tomorrow morning.

The armed forces raised their age limit last year. The cut-off is 42. Bo is 41, and we both agreed that even though he is older, this is a great opportunity for him, and for our family. We are looking forward to the security, benefits, and retirement that the military offers. I think Bo will flourish in an environment that requires discipline, boundaries, and structure.

He made high scores on the skill assessment tests and was able to qualify for and select a very good job. He will be a Field Artillery Automated Tactical Data System Specialist., and will run computer systems that control rocket launchers. The hub for this program is in Oklahoma. He will train in Ft. Sill, Oklahoma for 20 weeks, but come home for a two week break at Christmas. We are very happy about that.

We will put the house on the market and prepare to move wherever he is assigned, next spring. We are looking forward to living on a base and finding community, common ground, and support with other army families. I'm intrigued by the support that is provided to an "army wife" (I'll have to start watching the show!). I am looking forward to "doing life together" with other families serving our country. Living on base will hopefully provide the connection and bonding that we have been unable to find in local churches here.

There are lots of "unknowns" that we are trusting God with. Bo could be deployed and we are going into this aware of that. I am trusting God with my husband's welfare.

The five month separation will be hard. Please pray for us, that Bo would have energy and encouragement to complete the training, that I would have the strength and wisdom to run the household and raise the children alone, and that the children would have peace (and good behavior!) while their dad is gone. Bo does a lot around here, so we all are going to have to carry more than our usual loads.

Tomorrow is the beginning of a whole new adventure for our family. We are all excited, nervous, and proud. Our families are behind us and we are thankful for the support. I'll keep you updated. Thanks for your prayers.

Final Clue.....

Another hint......

Big News

Bo and I have some big news to share with everyone.



Here's a hint......

Happy Birthday Noah !!!

Today we celebrated Noah's sixth birthday. It was a wonderful day. This morning he asked Bo to "tell me Happy Birthday" every ten minutes, and then again when he got on the school bus. He came home from school with a birthday hat, sticker, and free pass on the homework. When Isaac woke from his afternoon nap, we went to Toys R Us and Caleb helped Noah select a gift. He chose a Ben 10 movie and we watched it tonight while eating pizza and green Incredible Hulk cupcakes. Yesterday Noah said, "tomorrow after my birthday and after my cake, can we pull my teeth out?". His teacher told him that kids loose their teeth when they turn six!

Happy Birthday sweet Noah. I love you!!!!!

My Harvest

October 2007

October 2008

Birthday Joys

Today I celebrated the first day of my thirty-ninth year. My last year as a thirtysomething! I had a great day.

This morning Bo, Isaac, and I went to the pumpkin patch, and while there, God gave me a pumpkin! You see..... our family has this thing, we find money. We find money in strange places. Not dollar bills. 20 dollar bills (in Noah's sock drawer). 50 dollar bills (in a pile of wood in the garage). 100 dollar bills (floating across the street, landing in Bo's hand). I kid you not! Well, today while at the pumpkin patch, I was looking for a patch of shade to take Bo and Isaac's picture, and as we squatted on the ground, we found a ten dollar bill wadded up in the grass. (Heather, are you reading this? :) So, we picked out our pumpkin, and took the ten dollars to the clerk! There was even enough left for boiled peanuts and tea.

Thank you God for my birthday pumpkin. I love it.