Narmy

He said:
Today I officially became a member of the "Narmy." That's one of the catchy t-shirt slogans they have here for the Navy folks going through combat training with Army Drill Instructors. "Here," by the way, is South Carolina.

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Oh and did I mention? Hydrate. That's the mantra. It is hot and humid and the mantra is "hydrate, hydrate, hydrate." I appreciate the color-coded charts at every urinal and toilet that help you determine your hydration/dehydration level by the color of your urine on the spectrum of dark yellow (bad) to clear (good).

Today was gear issue and we sat outside in the sweltering heat and humidity taking inventory of all the things they said we needed. I was appreciative of the sun block they gave us as I sat in a small patch of shade and mosquitos ate away at my legs. Not for the first time, I wondered why no one has yet invented a combination sunscreen/bug-repellent. Deep Woods Coppertone. Or Tropic-Off. Something. Just invent it, someone. Who needs two bottles? Especially if you already have three Sea Bags full of useful things like a shovel and cold weather gear. Okay, one Sea Bag of that crap, with the other two actually having the good stuff like body armor and a camelback.

Speaking of camelbacks. Went into one of the buildings that might once have been a fast-food snack shack to get ice for my new camelback. I was amused to find, afixed neatly to the top of a corroded and pitted and rusted sink, a sign with instructions on "how to keep your new Brandname stainless steel sink looking new." Or something to that effect. I'll have to take a picture.

Anyway. Hot and sweaty and stinky. Outfitted with all my gear, or "battle rattle", and ready to begin the process of training to fight like someone in the Narmy.

I'll take it, cuz its my job. And I volunteered for it. And I love my country and am prepared to do what it takes to defend her at home or abroad, and to defend the cause of freedom for those not fortunate enough to have it and not capable of fighting for it themselves.

I'll take it. But that doesn't mean I wouldn't rather be sitting at the dinner table, supressing a laugh and exchanging one of those smiles with my wife, as we listen to our boys talk about poop.

Not exactly an appropriate dinner conversation, and I'm sure I'd have said something to that effect had I been there. But I'm not. I'm here learning about the Narmy. And she's there probably thinking, "I wish he could have been here to hear that." Besides, that's what boys are good for anyway. Talking about the really important things and keeping life in perspective.

God bless them.

Life with 3 boys

The conversation at our lunch table today consisted of these three levels of wisdom:

From our 4 year old, "Momma, food comes out as poop and milk and drinks come out as pee."

From our 7 year old, "Actually, food goes into your mouth, then down your throat through your esophagus, into your stomach, through your intestines and then poop comes out."

From our 2 year old, "Poop!"

Thank God there is never a dull moment around here! Lord help me to remember these funny things so I can tell my husband all about the entertainment he is missing.

And so it begins...

Today marks the start of our journey. He left this morning awfully early. I have been awake since a little after 4:00a.m. He was up even earlier. He is flying east for training. I just fed our 3 boys blueberry pancakes with strawberry syrup. His new normal begins and so does ours. Thankfully, and prayerfully, it is only a temporary new normal. He will get to come home in about three weeks for a weekend and then he will be gone again, not to return until next year. He will work diligently, doing what he loves to do for the country that he is so proud to call home. I will maintain our home, care for our boys, visit with family and friends, keep my chin up...all the while, missing him like crazy.

Today's prayer: Lord, watch over those brave men and women, here and abroad, working so hard to keep us safe so that we may enjoy the ways of life that we are so lucky to have. Amen