Movin' on up . . .

Within the last week, Chase, my son at the United States Military Academy, finished his first year of college, on the Dean's List, I might add (for the second semester in a row)! Woo Hoo! He was also "recognized" in a ceremony this morning that means he is no longer a Plebe. He now moves on to the life of a "Yuk" or "Yearling" (that's a Sophomore in West Point lingo) which means life is now GOOD!

My youngest son, Cameron, finished his Sophomore year of high school, once again with a 4.0! My boys are amazing!! I couldn't be more proud!! Makes me wonder where all their smarts come from. I mean, I did pretty well in school, but I didn't take courses anywhere near as hard as these kids.

So now it's time for our BIG reunion!! We leave for the beach tomorrow for a week of fun in the sun (hopefully). There is a "low" in the Gulf of Mexico that is just sitting there reaking havoc on Florida. I'm praying that the Lord will dissipate that "low" and it will be no more!! Chase has to stay at school until after the Class of 2009 Graduation ceremony tomorrow and then he'll take a bus to the city to catch a plane and fly in to Pensacola where we will pick him up at the airport there late tomorrow night. Have I said how excited I am :o) !!??!! I really don't care where we are or what we are doing as long as the four of us are together as a family. For 3 glorious weeks things will be normal again. Makes a momma's heart kinda full!

I know lots of people who are headed for the beach either for the long Memorial Day holiday or for the week next week. Let's all pray for the weather to cooperate!!

22 years married to my Best Friend!

On May 16, 1987, at 2:00 p.m., I walked down the aisle at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church to marry my high school sweetheart! Randall Brown has been my one true love since I was 14 years old when we met at Baker Rollerland skating rink.

Randall was a Senior when I was a Freshman and we dated all through high school. He was thin and had coal black hair and big brown eyes that made me melt! We had our ups and downs during that time when we broke up and got back together just like most high school relationships. He graduated and went to a Technical College and then started working while I went through high school. We had so much fun together over those years, boat riding, water skiing and riding 4-wheelers!

What do I love most about Randall?

The fact that he co-signed on my first loan to buy my first car when I was 16 because my dad had been disabled on the job and my parents had lost our home and had to file bankruptcy and couldn't help me.

The fact that he discouraged me from moving into an apartment with a friend after high school so that we could save money to get married.

The fact that he saved enough money for a downpayment to build our first home before we got married that we moved into on our wedding night!

The fact that he works so hard so that our family never wants for anything!

The fact that he would do anything for me or our boys!

His big brown eyes!

His year-round tan! :)

His smile!

His laugh!

His energy and the fact that he is so active!

When he holds my hand!

When he sends me a text message just to say "I Love You"!

The fact that he may not be good at actually saying the words, but picks out the most amazing cards that always say everything that I know he really feels!

EVERYTHING!

We have been married for 22 years and have seen most of our friends and family members divorce. It's not easy making a marriage work -- it is work! But I would not trade one year, month, day, hour, minute or second of the time that we have spent together for anything in the world! Through the good times and the bad, I still love him as much today as I did 22 years ago when I said "I Do" and I will continue to love him FOREVER!

May 13, 2009 - Drum Major Tryouts

Cameron is trying out for Drum Major today after school! I am so excited that he has this opportunity. He has so much support from so many people. He is my musical genius!! I love to sit and listen to him play the piano at home and I am so ecstatic that he has done so well since picking up the trumpet! Even though the marching year started out a little shakey with his getting kicked in the knee by a kid in band, he has had a great year during marching season and then during concert season! And then the Jazz Band is a standalone! They are amazing!!

At the Band Banquet last week, Cam received an award for standout trumpet during concert season, for going above and beyond! I am soooo proud of him!!!!! This has been a great year both academically for him and just all the way around. We have grown so much closer since Chase left. I spent so much time at the gym before Chase left and really not enough time with Cameron. Considering this was a really difficult year for our family -- it has also been a huge growing year, and GROWTH IS GOOD!! As soon as I know the results of tryouts, I'LL LET YOU KNOW!!

May 13, 2009 - Happy Mother's Day . . . NOT! . . . Just kidding!

So you know how the whole splitting up of holidays goes . . . you have to pick whether you will spend the "actual holiday" with your family or your husband's family. We have been lucky that both sides of the family have always been very flexible and we pretty much take turns each year, and that works out well for us.

This year we spent Saturday (the day before Mother's Day with my mom at my sister's house. We planned to grill filet mignon and sit out by the pool and just have a relaxing day. Well, that would have been all fine and good had I not had a little accident while loading the car to head over there. You see my sister loves the way I cook green beans (LOL)! Everytime we have a family get together at her house and I say "What do you want me to bring?" Her answer is: "Your Green Beans!" I don't do anything special to them -- I fry up a pound of bacon with some onion and then add the green beans -- that's it! But she says when she does it they don't taste the same. I think we all feel that way about our cooking!

Anyway, I decided I would just wait and cook the green beans at her house instead of fixing them at mine and then taking them to hers. You have to understand when I do make green beans, I make a lot, because my sister, Tammy, always keeps a tupperware bowl full to eat on after we leave. So I bought a 5 lb. can and a 3 lb. can to fix at her house -- people -- that's 8 lbs. of green beans :-).

Well, on the way to the car I dropped the 3 lb. can on my right big toe. First of all, I don't think I have ever screamed in pain like that before -- even during childbirth! I thought I had cut my toe off when I looked down and saw the pool of blood in my flip flop and on the concrete in the driveway! When I realized that my toe was actually still attached to my foot, I then freaked out thinking that my toenail may have come off (CRINGE!!). So I wiggled my toenail -- nope -- still attached. In the meantime, Cameron had run into the house to get me some papertowels to stop the bleeding. Upon his return, I took my foot out of the flip flop and applied pressure to my toe and wiped away the blood. To my utter surprise, there was only a tiny cut -- about the size of the end of my pinky fingernail on top of my toe. Mercy -- so where in the world did all that blood come from? Well, after getting on the internet to do a little research, Cameron found out that there is an artery in your big toe (the digital artery) that is right at the joint of the toe -- right where the cut was. I couldn't believe so much blood came out of my toe from that small of a cut, in an instant!

After a little doctoring, we headed to my sister's house. My brother-in-law, Steven, is a doctor, so he took a look at my toe and said it may or may not be broken, but the darn thing wouldn't stop bleeding. I soaked band-aid after band-aid before my sister (the nurse) broke out the real bandages and wrapped it up good and tight. I was told by the doc to keep my foot elevated and keep the toe wrapped tight. Back at home at about 11:30 p.m I decided I would take the wrapping off and see how it looked. Well, as soon as I took the bandages off the darn thing started bleeding again. At that point I thought I'm going to bleed to death from a tiny cut in my big toe! Luckily Tammy sent me home with a kit of stuff to wrap it back up, so that's what I did. The next morning Tammy called to check on me, so I took the bandages off again to check it -- STILL BLEEDING! Are you kidding me!!??!! I can hear my sister telling her husband that it's still bleeding and WHY would it still be bleeding. After all, this happened at 2:30 p.m. the day before. At that point, he said it had to be broken -- tell her to keep it wrapped tight and elevated! What a bummer! You know there isn't a dad-gum thing you can do about a broken toe! So here I sit with a broken, black and blue toe -- that still decides to bleed off and on. CRAZY! On a positive note, we leave for the beach in a couple of weeks and now I'm just praying that I don't lose my toenail (thanks for that info Tammy)!

My Mother's Day was actually awesome though. We had a great time with my sister and my mom and then spent the day at my mother-in-law's on Sunday. My boys both gave me the most wonderful cards! I swear they both write so beautifully that they really don't even have to buy cards. I actually had this idea of buying them each a journal and telling them to just write in it on holidays and my birthday and give that to me to read instead of spending the money on cards. Hmmm!!

So that's about it for now. I've got a lot of catching up to do blogging. Since I just got my new blog design, it's taking me a little time to get everything transferred over - so be patient with me! Until next time . . .

April 29, 2009 - Our World Wind Band Trip to Disney World!

Last weekend I embarked on a trip to Disney World with the Central High School Band of which my 10th grader, Cameron, is a member. Two Hotard 55-passenger busses filled to the brim with teenagers and those of us parents who were brave enough to go as chaperones. We had to report to the school at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday afternoon so that the band could practice a bit before the trip. They had been off of school for spring break and not played in several days. We were scheduled to pull out at 4:00 p.m. -- the idea was to leave in the afternoon, drive all night so that the kids would sleep, we would stop for breakfast the next morning and then go straight to the Magic Kingdom for a full day in the park on Friday. The problem is that "Stacey" cannot sleep in planes, trains or automobiles! Just let me say that the teenagers on this trip were amazing. Members of the band, choir, Silks (flag team) and Kittens (dance team) went on the trip and there was absolutely no DRAMA! At least none that I was aware of - and I find that amazing and tip my hat off to those kids! WOW!!The kids were sprawled out all over the bus floors and seats trying to sleep. I think my friend Tammy and I were the only adults who did not have seats to ourselves and therefore sat up all night "trying" to sleep during the 14 hour bus ride. We got to the park when it opened on Friday morning with swollen eyes and ankles! But we were ready to hit the park.


We had a ball! Disney really is a magical place. You can't help but be transformed into a kid again. We spent the entire day running from one ride to the other, Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and Space Mountain. We visited Minnie and Mickey's houses -- they live next door to each other you know. Minnie's house was interactive, and Cameron, Ariel and LaKeidra had a ball exploring the house . . . eh . . . Tammy and I had fun ourselves!








This is our crew on Splash Mountain. You can just see my left eye (LOL), then, Maddie & Ariel, Colleen & Cameron, and Kelly in the very back.







This is Cameron listening to Minnie's messages on her answering machine.







Now this was probably one of the cutest things that happened. In Minnie's backyard is a gazebo and Ariel wanted Cameron to take a picture with her in the gazebo - here are the pictures of how that went . . .

Ariel: "Cameron, come take a picture with me."

Cameron: "Nooooo . . . not in a pink and purple gazebo!"

Ariel: "Oh come on . . . it'll be fun!!"

Cameron: "Oh, all right!"

Me and Tammy: "Say Cheese!!!"

After conquering the Magic Kingdom, we left to go to our hotel to check-in, a quick change of clothes and headed back out to Downtown Disney where the Jazz Band would perform. They are absolutely amazing! Look at my cool - jazz playing son!

We ended the night with dinner at Planet Hollywood.

Saturday morning we headed out early -- it was Disney's Hollywood Studios ALL DAY!! Woo Hoo! That meant Rockin' Roller Coaster

and my favorite -- the Tower of Terror -- all day long!!!

I'll let you in on a little tradition I've started since our first trip to Disney. I always get a picture with one of the spooky "Bellmen" inside the Tower of Terror. They try to stay in character, and usually they can be pretty spooky, this one though . . . not so much - LOL!

We had a ball on Saturday and stayed until the park closed! We rode those rides over and over! Don't you love fast passes!?!

That night, the band attended a workshop where they went "in studio" and learned the music to a Disney movie . . . in this case Alladin and got to play the music to the movie. It was amazing. If I can figure out how to post videos on here, I'll come back and add it. To watch the piece of the movie and know that our band was playing the soundtrack was pretty amazing. They had so much fun!!

Sunday was our final day at Disney. We went to Epcot from opening (at 9am) to close (at 9pm). The very first thing on the agenda for the day was a performance by our Symphonic Band who did an amazing job!
Here's the band performing on stage in Epcot. They looked awesome and sounded wonderful! Cameron is the closest trumpet!

After their performance, we were off to Test Track and Mission Space (which I can only ride once - LOL). It was an exhausting day, but I got to do things at Epcot that I hadn't done before on our previous visits, so it was fun. Probably one of my favorite things was "Turtle Talk with Crush". Yeah, it's pretty much for little kids, but it was precious. Crush (the Sea Turtle) from Finding Nemo is on a screen, and literally interacts with the kids in the audience. It was too cute! I took a pic with my favorite and hopefully next car . . . the 2010 Camaro!
Then we headed to the World Showcase, walked around, ate dinner and then enjoyed Illuminations (the fireworks show at Epcot) I got this pic on the way out. Then we headed for the buses and the 12 hour ride home. I got a little smarter this time and joined some of the kids on the floor of the bus. Did I sleep . . . NO! But it sure beat sitting up in a chair for 12 hours! That about sums up my first "band" trip! We had a great time! The kids had some fantastic performances and workshops and Disney, as usual, was amazing!So, like they say in Disney . . . "Have a Magical Day!"

September 23, 2008 - Wow how time flies . . .

I can't believe it's already almost the end of September. The last time I posted, Chase was ending his 5th week of boot camp and now he's finishing up his 6th week of school! He finished Beast like a champ! I am so proud of everything he has done. It totally amazes me. The school year started for him before I even got there for my trip to see him August 23rd. He is taking a full load (like 19 1/2 hrs or something crazy like that) and it is extremely stressful. We've had a couple of conversations now where he has been totally stressed out and just needed to take a break and talk everything through. His gym coach, Doug, said that this would happen. He said that the professors actually purposefully give these kids more work than they can possibly do so that they can learn how to prioritize. Ha . . . how do you tell the high achiever to pick and choose what they will finish . . . the answer is you can't! They will work their tails off until they finish everything.

My trip to New York was absolutely magnificent! I took my Mom and Dad with me for A-Day or Acceptance Day and we spent the day in NYC on Friday before we drove up to West Point. It was interesting driving in NY traffic. I had to get my game face on. The cab drivers OWN THE ROAD. As long as you realize that, you will be okay. Anyway, we parked in a parking garage and took the subway down to Ground Zero and then we walked down to Battery Park to see the Statue of Liberty. I don't know that mom and dad will ever get the chance or will actually want to go back to NYC, but I wanted them to see some of the sites nonetheless.

A-Day or Acceptance Day -- this is where the New Cadets are officially accepted into the Corp of Cadets as Plebes. It was a spectacular ceremony -- breathtaking to watch as 1200 cadets marched to join the company of the other 3000. Mom, Dad and I sat on the edge of our seats, holding our breaths as we watched the parade and tried to pick Chase out of the crowd.

Can you pick him out of this picture?

After the A-Day parade was over on Saturday, we had a set place to meet up with Chase -- in front of the glorious new library. We waited for what seemed like hours. I kept seeing cadets come out of their barracks and walk to their families. We watched one emotional reunion after the other as I stood their patiently. And then I saw him. He was pretty far down the road, but I'd know that walk anywhere! My knees were literally shaking as I waited for Chase to make his way to us. When he got close enough, I dropped my bag and ran and hugged him and kissed him and had a good cry. I have never been so happy to see someone in my entire life. It is a day I will never forget. He looked so handsome in his white over grey uniform! So lean and happy!
Everyone warned me that he would be different. He's not going to be the same - is what everyone kept telling me. Well, other than the fact that he is in the habit of ending every sentence with a title, he's still my same old sweet Chase! Hey Mom. Thanks Mom. How ya doin' Mom? I had to tell him to stop!! We laughed because he couldn't help it. We left post right away and headed for Schades. Chase wanted pizza for his first "off post" meal. So we did pizza. And it was wonderful! Pizza and a Coke with ice. That's what he wanted and that's what he got.
The rest of our day was spent giving my parents a tour of West Point and then back to our hotel where Chase changed into his civies, we watched TV and then Chase slept for hours! It was so nice to just sit and watch him sleep, I think that's something only a momma can understand.

Dad, Chase & Mom at Trophy Point

Me and Chase chillin' in my room.

Sunday we got up and had brunch at the West Point Club and took a tour of the new library before it was time to say goodbye. My parents said their goodbyes and then let me walk Chase back to his barracks for our farewell. Before we got there, we sat down on the ground and talked and then cried. I think it was just as hard to say goodbye this second time. We got up and walked the rest of the way to the barracks and had a long hug and then I watched him walk around the corner to his room. This is right before I left him. :-(I think I cried most of the way back to the airport. But God is good and I have to trust that Chase is right in the center of His will! Keep praying for a momma's lonesome heart will ya?

August 1, 2008 - Boot Camp - End of Week 5

It's the end of week 5 of Beast. Only 2 more weeks to go!!! Yay!!!!!! I am so excited and only 22 days from today I will get to see the biggest smile and get the biggest hug EVER! All of Chase's mail has been really positive. I got to talk to him for about 30 minutes last Sunday. We had a great conversation. He said that he is absolutely loving all of the Army stuff. He got to rapel from a 75 ft. cliff which he said was one of the most exciting things he has ever done. And then he got to go through the tear gas chamber - - let's just say that God is good because he was the first one in, closest to the door, and first to get out. He said when they got in the room and the gas was released that it burned any exposed skin. Then he had to take off his gas mask and say his name, SSN, hometown, and the chemical name for the gas before he could leave the room. He was able to get the first three out before he had to take a breath . . . he said that his lungs burned so bad . . . he sputtered out the name of the gas and got to leave the room. He said it was several minutes before he could see because his eyes were watering so much. Not fun, but a unique experience nonetheless.

They have been running 3 miles - 3 times per week. He said that the running has gotten a lot easier, except that everything is uphill. They did their first 10 mile ruck march last weekend as well, which he was excited about. The final march back at the end of Beast is 12 miles -- he said the 10 miles wasn't that bad so he knows he'll be able to make the 12. By the way - "ruck" is the pack that they have to carry on their backs that weighs about 45 lbs. Can you imagine??

This week they are out in the field, I think at Camp Buckner - doing marksmanship (shooting their M-16s) and learning how to throw grenades. His first "report card" of sorts from his squad leader was that he was not exhibiting many leadership qualities (his first 2 wks of CBT) because he was shy and not vocal enough. By the end of the third week he was getting over the homesickness and was feeling more like himself. He said he had the shiniest shoes in his Company so the other guys in his squad made him show them exactly how he shined his shoes. He said -- "How's that for being a leader, mom?" It was just funny. He had his first BIG room inspection last Saturday. Everything has to be completely dust-free and spotless. He said he and his roommates spent hours cleaning. Then they had to get dressed in their dress uniforms and hats and holding rifles stand for 2 hours while the squad leaders went room to room conducting white glove inspections. He said that they passed with only 3 minor infractions.

He got to call me last weekend because they had their first "break" for a 4 1/2 hour period of time where they got to go hang out at their athletic sponsor, Col. Daniel's, house. It was an ice cream social and he was pumped because he loves ice cream. He says in his letters that he is dying for a coke -- all they get to drink is water and gatoraide. I think he has gymnastics practice everyday next week. That will be awesome! I miss him so much -- and I cannot wait to get to New York!

On another note, Cameron and I finished up our Summer Camp schedule at the gym today. 10 weeks of 20-40 kids a day -- they are sweet, but loud! I am so glad things will go back to normal at the gym next week -- our fall schedule starts which means I'll have my office all to myself next week! I'm so proud of Cameron - he saved his money this summer and bought a Macbook computer and a new playstation and still put money in his savings. He has band camp next week and orientation for his sophomore year. I am so excited about him playing in the jazz band this year!! I've been fighting a sinus/ear/upper respiratory infection for the past 2 weeks which has been no fun. So say some prayers for me, will ya?

Until next time . . .

July 15, 2008 - Boot Camp - Week 3

Monday marked the 1st day of Chase's 3rd week of boot camp and exactly two weeks since we left him in New York. I have this weight on my chest that won't go away . . . I miss him so much. I've gotten 2 letters and 2 postcards from him. The first letter was very scattered and took a whole week to get here! He said that he had to write bits and pieces as he got the chance, because there was so little time to write. His next two postcards and letter were good! He said that he had a lot more free time than he thought that he was going to have (the 2nd week of Boot Camp) and that Boot Camp wasn't as bad as he thought it was going to be. We really talked to him a lot before he left about expecting the worst that way if it was easier then that would be a bonus! It seems that so far, that's how it has been. It is awesome that he was in such great physical shape - he's doing well in all of the competitions and physical testing. He did get his first blisters on his feet while having to run 3 miles, which he said where very painful.

I've mailed him several cards, but just wrote my first letter to him this past weekend. I was trying to keep things light and upbeat for a while until he got more settled before I wrote a letter. He has gotten lots of mail which I am so grateful for. He has enjoyed his mail so much! Gym is going great for him. I talked online to one of the assistant coaches and he said that Chase is going to be a major force for the Army team this year. That is exciting!! Chase also told me that instead of only competing two events, which he had expected, that they are talking to him about competing all-around, which is all six events! That's even more exciting.

What else . . .Oh, he said that this week on Wednesday, they will be going out into the field to do mountaineering and that includes rapelling from some cliffs (he is excited about that) and on Thursday he has to go through the tear gas chamber (he is very nervous about that). The one thing that he has expressed in every single letter that he has written to me is how his relationship with God has grown. He is really drawing on his faith now, which is awesome. The foundation that we've given him is really coming into play. He has gone to church every Sunday and has also participated in the Chaplain's Meeting on Wednesday nights. This makes me very happy!! When you can count on no one else, you can count on GOD!! I'm glad he realizes that and is growing in that way.

Well, that's all for now . . . I love you Chaser and I miss you so much!! Only 39 days until I get to see you on Acceptance Day!!

July 3, 2008 - The beginning of a new chapter . . .

It's taken me a few days to "be able" to write this new entry. Saturday was the start to the "beginning of a new chapter" of my life. Here's a pic of Chase when I woke him up on his last morning at home. We had lots to do on Saturday morning before our flight to New York and we started by Chase and I dropping Lexie (our Cairn Terrier) off at Wag-a-Tail (the Boarder).

We went to Walmart to pick up a few last minute items, and then went to Central Perk, our favorite local coffe shop for a coffee and to tell some friends there goodbye.

Then we went home, finished packing, and waited for my parents to arrive. Maw Maw and Paw Paw came over and we visited for a little while before watching a Boot Camp DVD that was sent to us. My dad gave Chase a St. Christopher medal that my Grandmother gave to him when he left for Boot Camp over 40 years ago. What a special memento for Chase to have.

MiMi and Poppy (my in-laws) showed up shortly thereafter. We had a great visit and Chase was in very good spirits. Everyone said their goodbyes and then we got in the car to drive to New Orleans were we would catch a 1:45 pm flight to Newark, New Jersey.

Our flight was good - the weather was beautiful and we were able to see New York City (the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building) as we landed at the airport. Then we set off for our one hour drive to our hotel at West Point.Sunday was a great day! We spent a couple of hours going to the gift shop, and walkling around the West Point campus. It is so beautiful there -- Chase just kept saying "I'm going to be living here." We had lunch that was scheduled at the Gymnastics Gym with the 3 other gym recruits, their families and the coaches. It was awesome!! The guys formed an immediate bond.

There was Brandon Long and his mom Susan and his dad (from North Carolina) - he was on the same recruiting trip with Chase back in October:

Jonathan Hoey and his mom Jennifer and his dad and sister (from Los Angeles, CA) - he and Chase were the only two who went to Nationals this year:

Zachary Linton and his mom Loejsa and dad Brandon (from Tennessee):

Brandon comes from a military background, so his parents were more in the know than the rest of us. Zachary, Jonathan and Chase's stories were all similar - not having chosen this military life until more recently. The dads spent lots of time talking with the coaches while us moms sat at the table and shared and shared and shared - it was wonderful! I really felt like I made some new friends - and since our boys will be together for the next four years - I know they will be lifelong friends as well! After a great visit at the gym I suggested that we all have dinner together so that the guys could spend some more time getting acquainted. We had a wonderful visit with the other families! Sunday night we tried to get in bed early - Chase had to report at 0630 (6:30 am) the next morning and we knew it would be a long day. When he came to kiss me goodnight I pulled him in the bed between Randall and I and I just layed there hugging him for what felt like a very long time. 4:45 came way too fast! We got up, took our showers and went down to the lobby for breakfast. Chase was in good spirits - just a little nervous. We headed to West Point to stand in line for about an hour. Chase was in the first reporting group and they were taking them in 44 at a time (because that's how many would fit on a bus). We joked around as we stood in line to keep spirits light.

Then we filed into Eisenhower Hall where we were addressed by one of the "brass" and then told that we had 90 seconds to say our farewells. Ours was brief - a hug, a kiss and "I love you" for each of us and then Chase quickly went and got in line. They filed out of the room and that would be the last time I spoke with him.We walked out of that room with lumps in our throats and tears in our eyes. At the time, I thought that would be the hardest thing I would ever do. We spent some time in a gift shop set up by the Class of 1962. There is this thing called the "50 year affiliation" where the class members from the class that graduated 50 years ago come for "R-Day" and greet you and sponsor several activities for the families during the day. It was really cool to meet some of those graduates. We bought shirts that of course say "West Point Mom" and "West Point Dad" as well as window stickers for our cars that say "West Point Parent." Then we went back to our hotel for a nap. We were all emotionally exhausted!When we woke up, we headed back to West Point where we would walk around campus some more, watching the Plebes as they were drilled by the upper classmen or "Firsties." I didn't see Chase.

At 3pm we headed back to Eisenhower Hall for a briefing by the Superintendent, the Dean of Academics, and the Cadet in charge of Basic Training. I must admit it made me feel better. After that was over we headed down to Trophy Point where we would await the marching in of the Class of 2012 where they would say their New Cadet Oath. Amazingly, they were arranged by Company (Chase is in Company C-1), and then by height - tallest to shortest. This is one of those times when height was an advantage, because Chase was on the last row of his company so he was easy to pick out! As he marched down the road - and did his about face, we were standing just past where he was. He looked over his right shoulder and thankfully caught a glance of Randall and myself and gave us a quick smile! This was a huge blessing! The smile told me that despite the day of hell that he had just gone through, he was okay. I made my way through the crowd so that I was crouched down where I could see him perfectly and take some pictures of him. I could not see his face, nor could he see mine, but it was a blessing nonetheless.

I stayed where I was for as long as I could just looking at him. And then Randall tapped me on the shoulder indicating that it was time to go. Because we flew into New Jersey (which was at least an hour drive away depending on traffic) we could not stay for the entire Oath Ceremony. Turning around and walking to the car was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life! In the 27 years that Randall and I have been together, I have never seen him really cry, but I was falling to pieces, and so did he. We drove to the airport and I sobbed some more. I cried in the airport, when I got on the plane, and when we got to New Orleans and in the car to come home. After our flight delays and the drive, we got home at 1:30 am. As soon as I got home, I went to Chase's room and got in his bed and cried some more. Randall asked me what I was doing and I said under my sobs "smelling Chase." This was undoubtedly the saddest day of my life!

We slept a few hours and then went to work. I think I was so tired and still in shock so I was in a daze for most of the day. I did get online at usma.edu to look at the pics that had been posted by the academy and was able to pick Chase out in a few of them.Everyone misses him at the gym where he has been such a permanent fixture for 13 years! But we are all making it one day at a time. He has his first gym practice on Saturday - that will be a wonderful break for him and I cannot wait for the first time that I get to talk to him just to hear him say that he's doing great! I know this was long, but I really wanted to document everything from the weekend. Until next time . . .