Hard to say Goodby...

It was a wonderful ceremony!!

Farewell ceremony to honor 45th

Large Oklahoma National Guard Deployment

Large Oklahoma National Guard Deployment

What I've been dreading....
My youngest son is being deployed to Afghanistan!
Here is what we know so far:
He leaves March 2011 and returns March 2012.
Hugs,
Cindy

RANGER ROLL

Now, I'm not talking the New York Rangers...
or a Ford Ranger...
not the Lone Ranger...
or the Texas Rangers...
not even a Power Ranger...
I'm talking Ranger Roll...Now what on earth, you ask, am I talking about?!?
Take a look...
This is how the Army folds a T-Shirt!
Now, this is how I have always folded my son's T-Shirts. I didn't think I did a half bad job!

Upon his return from basic training one of the first things he showed me was how he wanted his T-Shirts folded...Mom, you must Ranger Roll them...Son, I'm not in the Army...Mom...

Needless to say, he taught me how to Ranger Roll! I couldn't believe how compact you could get a T-Shirt!

Oh, I was getting good!!

Thank you my Army son! I always wanted to know how to Ranger Roll!! I thought I was going to get to roll with rangers - oh well!! LOL!!
My Army son acclimating back to college life!!!

GO ARMY! GO POKES!

First football game of the season is this weekend against Georgia!

You know we will be tail-gaiting! I can't wait!

Hugs,

Cindy

O.K. so I have to do one last post on my son's graduation from Army basic training!
It was really a wonderful ceremony steeped in tradition - including the very soil on which they walked. This field was composed of soil from previous battlefields - Vicksburg, Normandy, Korea, etc.
After the Army band played a few patriotic, inspiring numbers - we began to see the smoke plumes in the distance!
The Drill Sergeant's were leading their men and advancing on the enemy! Believe it or not, that is my son, on the very left. He was one of only 2 in his platoon that was picked to participate in this part of the graduation ceremony!
To the left of us out of the woods we began to hear gun fire and what sounded like gernades or mortar fire!

I hope and pray in my heart of hearts that my son never has to do this for real!

He ended up right in front of us! We were sitting right on the front row!

He's showing the audience whatever that is on his back - you'd think that this army mom would remember what it is....Sorry, I was to busy trying not to cry and take pictures at the same time!

Really....hard to believe that is my son!

All of their equipment had already been turned in and so this equipment was all borrowed. He could tell that his helmet with night vision capabilities was crooked - but, he couldn't fix it!My son, a U.S. Army Soldier. A member of the Infantry! Blood before surrender or dishonor!

I am so proud of him!

At the time, it was hard not to think of all the soldiers that graduated that day.....how many of those young men would pay the ultimate price serving their country to protect the very freedoms that we are blessed with! It was a fleeting thought - because that day was a day of celebration!
My cup runneth over that day!!

Thank goodness that he is now home! In a matter of 2 days he went from sleeping in the barracks in Ft. Benning, GA. to sleeping in the dorms at Oklahoma State University! He will be a sophmore and will now serve in the Oklahoma National Guard while he obtains his degree after which he will then consider his military options!

My son - this is for you.

Know how very proud I am of what you have accomplished!

Know how very proud your father would have been of you!

I love you my son!
Hugs and Kisses,

Momma

Licks and Shakes,

Hudson

That is how I signed every letter that I sent him - from me and our precious Hudson, the dog!

Thanks for listening!

As you know who would say....
"I'M BAAAAACK!"
Sorry for my absence.....With my son's basic training winding down, I was truly distracted mentally and emotionally and could really think of little else!
But, I sit here today, and can finally say that my precious baby boy has finished and survived basic training and is now a soldier in the U.S. Army!! Can I get an "AMEN!"

'You don't raise heros, you raise sons. And if you treat them like sons, they'll turn out to be heros, even if it's just in your own eyes."
There are no words that can begin to describe how - in my own eyes, and to the very core of my being - proud I am of my son!

We had a whirlwind trip to Fort Benning, Georgia! We left on Wednesday, August 12th, drove for 14 hours, had his Turning Blue Ceremony on Thursday, his Graduation Ceremony on Friday and by 10:45 a.m. we were back on the road for another 14 hour drive back home! Over 28 hours on the road in just 3 days....this fifty something mother was exhausted!

I did just want to share a few pictures from his Turning Blue Ceremony! You know that I will have to post about his graduation later!
This was the view as we walked into Kanell Field for his Turning Blue Ceremony!

There were speeches by commanders and prayers by the chaplain as they stood in formation prepared to receive their blue cord that signifies there induction into the Infantry. My son, Kale, is the third from the right.While we waited we were able to get a picture of Drill Sergeant Brownlee with my daughter Erin and Kale's girlfriend Kacey. We even got his autograph for Kale in a book that told about his experiences while in boot camp. The girls thought that he was HOT, HOT, HOT!!! Girls..put that clevage away LOL!!!Family members were then allowed on the field to place the cord onto their soldier! Boy, were my hands shaking! This is Pvt. Williams (my son) and Pvt. Warner - not sure who that is lurking in the back!

Back in formation.....induction into the Infantry complete!!

Then we were able to have a day pass with our soldiers. We didn't do to much! Hung around the hotel - I think that I was even able to sneak in a nap while the kids went swimming!

Will tell you about his broken foot - got that during FTX and how his return home was jeopardized by his name of all things!!

Girls....It's good to be back!!!

I just want normal back, if that's even possible!

BIG HUGS,

Cindy

More from Ft. Benning!
This is where Kale has called home for the last 11 weeks now.
Now, as a mother, it sometimes is the small things that make us so happy! These are the very mailboxes that Kale has put all letters to home in - and don't you know that I have saved every letter!

Home away from home! But, I really don't think that Kale has considered this home! This has been the furthest thing from home possible!

Kale was on the other side of this very barrack, the second floor!

That open, first floor is where we saw Kale for the very first time!

That is Drill Sargent Brownlee in the middle - he was disciplining these soldiers because they were letting family members go into restricted areas! Geez...

Hugs,

Cindy

Well, I survived my whirlwind trip to Ft. Benning, Georgia! Barely....
It will take a few days to get caught up on my sleep!
We got on the road at 9:45 a.m. and my head hit the pillow at 1:15 a.m. Georgia time.
Have you ever been exhausted and exhilarated at the same time?
But, we were able to get a few hours of shut eye!
We arrived early to Ft. Benning and were able to purchase a few souvenirs!
While we were standing in line my son's girlfriend grabbed my arm and said "Momma, there he is!" WHAT!! WHERE?? For whatever reason, I was expecting Kale to be in his dress uniform. So, I wasn't paying any attention to all the soldier's in their fatigues. As I perused all the faces - there, with the biggest grin on his face, was my son! A girl couldn't help but jump up and down!! After the longest separation ever - was my now, soldier! My cup runneth over with pride!
We then had a meeting with the Commander at 0800 and he briefed us on everything that our soldier's have been through over the last 10 weeks and 4 days!
We then went to view a demonstration of the marching skills that they have learned since being at basic training. This is the formation that we found them in - facing away from the bleachers and all the family members. One by the one the 4 Drill Sargent's called for their individual units to 'FALL IN'.Commander Thomas G. Flook, Jr.

Is that my son! And with a rifle no less!!

There was total individual and unit precision!

He was on the front row almost directly across from us. His Drill Sargent has nicknamed him 'Smiley' - so you can just imagine how hard it was for him - not too...

After the demonstration, and by the way it was a judged event and there was only one winner. For the other 3 units, they got to demonstrate 3 different types of push-ups as their punishment!

And then it was back to the barracks to change into their dress uniforms.

Kale's unit did a Gomer Pyle cadence - I sure wish I could remember the words!

I still find it hard to believe that that is my son!

His little girlfriend and I joked about who he would hug first! I warned her that if he went for her first I would have to take her out, take her down! Thank goodness, I didn't have to resort to violence!

Best Hug ever!

Stay tuned.

Our adventure continues!

Hugs,

Cindy

FT. BENNING, GA. HERE WE COME!

Can I stay here? Sign me up!!After 10 weeks and 4 days I finally get to see my baby boy! HALLELUJAH!! Now, I know calling him my baby boy doesn't seem quite right considering he's in the Army now - but, I can't help it! In my heart of hearts - he will always be my baby boy!
It's family weekend this Saturday and Sunday during basic training and I cannot wait!

We are still uncertain if it will be 12 hr. visits each day or a 72 hr. overnight pass. There was suppose to be some meeting today to decide. No matter! I will take what I can get!

My son's sweet, little girlfriend and I will be driving some 14 hours or so to get there!

The closest I've ever been to Columbus, GA. is a lay over in the Atlanta airport!

The closer it gets the more nervous I get! I haven't even looked at a map yet to figure out how to get there!

Not sure what my son will want to do - because it will be all about him!

I wonder if I can talk him into doing some sight seeing!

I wonder what kind of antique stores they have there!

I think that I am in love already!

A quick trip - leave on Friday and leave to come home Sunday night!

I see pure joy followed by exhaustion in my future!
I do love my Infantry Son - can you tell!

Hugs,

Cindy

My Army Son!

I just wanted to share a couple of pictures!
Last weekend at Ft. Benning, GA. they had a pre-4th of July celebration.
Verizon was kind enough to have phones for the soldiers to use and talk as long as they wanted.
My son was also able to apparently take pictures with the phones as well. Knowing that his mom was no Techno-Wiz - he sent them to his sweet, little girlfriend, who then had them printed and she gave me copies yesterday! After I wiped away the tears...I was so glad to see that my son still looks like my son (he's the second from the left)!
Now then, I only had to figure out how to scan them and save them to my computer - my son always used to do it for me! Well, persistence pays off and I figured it out!
My Infantry Son, Kale!

Not that I'm proud or anything!

Hugs,

Cindy

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!

Thinking of Matthew and Kale and all the other loved ones who proudly serve our country!

I hope you have a happy, safe and loved filled holiday!

Hugs,

Cindy

I have to give a shout out!!
It's a birthday!

You will never guess who!?!

That's right - it's the Army's Birthday! Who knew!!

Kathy from Kat Kollects and I both have sons at Ft. Benning, Georgia going through basic training. She and her family live in a different state, but our sons left for basic training on the same day, have our family weekend at the same time and our sons will graduate from basic training on August 13-14th - that's in 8 wks. and 4 days, for those of us that our counting!
She has been an absolute God send to me!

To have someone who knows exactly what you are going through - means the world!

Twyla from Two Crazy Crafters brought us together! Twyla, I will be forever grateful!

Go Army!

Hugs,

Cindy

Today has been a good day!

I got a letter from my son, Kale, that continues his Basic Training at Ft. Benning!

5 wks. done and 10 wks. to go!

5 wks. until we go for our Family Weekend!

Not that anyone is counting!

He survived the pugil sticks, starting an IV, live grenades and the gas chamber!

His unit has lost 18 soldiers due to heat strokes! They had to have 5 ambulances come to take care of everyone! Just what this nurse mother wanted to hear!

Hug and hold your children close - because one day they grow up and they just might want to join the Army!

Hugs,

Cindy

I have started this blog at the encouragement of my 2 best friends Cheryl and Stacey, partly, as therapy. You see, my youngest son left this week for basic training and will be gone for 13 weeks! My heart has truly ached these last few days as I miss him terribly! I need something to keep me occupied and I hope that the blogging world will help!