Track Meet at Andover High

Rylee competed in the 100 and 300 hurdles and the 4 x 4 relay. She PR's (Personal Record) in the 100 hurdles. She was the anchor in the 4 x 4 relay.

Happy Birthday TJ - 20 years!

Look who is driving

Yes, it is true, she has her learners permit. For those of you that live outside of Minnesota...count your blessings. Today after church we did out first freeway driving. Rylee has yet to grasp the concept of looking over her shoulder while she merges into to oncoming traffic. Dad, she would have sent you to the hospital. I have every confidence in another 10 or 12 years, she will have this nailed.

NAVY for Moms

Well, it is 12:30 in the morning and I can't sleep. So, I came down to the office to log on to the my new favorite website NAVY for Moms. This site is for mothers of kids in the U.S. Navy and for Moms who have questions about Navy life for their kids. I live on this site. The women on this site have become my friends and heros. The women who have gone before know exactly how I feel and help smooth the road ahead.

What is even more remarkable, I found one mom that literally lives up the road from me. Seriously! Her son is getting a medical discharge because he blew out his knee. We will be getting together soon and I am very excited. Our kids went to all the same schools from grade school through high school. However, her kids are older than mine.

Anyway, I am very grateful for N4M's.

I AM A PROUD PARENT OF A SAILOR

Mom Be Bold

I may clutch a picture of my child
Wander into his room where the memories run wild
Thoughts come with me wherever I go
Prayers often lead my way, you know
My young one has left to be so brave
The hero of my heart, gone to save
At times I want to reach out and hold
But I know his answer, "Mom be bold."
The love of my child is part of me
So strong and good, it will always be
Nurtured in life by a caring heart
This child to me is a work of art
Dear God you know my love is true
I've prayed for my soldier, more I'll do
And to mothers who live their life and I
We'll grow in support, with our flag raised high
Together we'll get through each new day
Becoming great friends, God Bless our way

I don't know who wrote this, but it was on NAVY moms and I liked it, so...

I AM A PROUD PARENT OF A SAILOR!

TJ's last weekend

Our last weekend with TJ came and went too quickly. He had a lot of friends that came into town just to see him. In fact, they had a surprise going away party for him Saturday night. However, that day he spent with his family and his kinda girlfriend. I don't think they ever made it official because he was leaving. Anyway, if you can believe this, he want to go to the Mall of America for the day. So, that is where we went along with everyone else in the state. Who says we are having a recession? Later that evening, we met up with our best friends the Bennetts and went to Osaka a new Hibachi grill. We had a good time even though the chef gave TJ, Crane and me Saki under the guise of water. LOL! After dinner, TJ went to his surprise party.
The next day was church but after church, we had planned a Lord of the Rings marathon. Needless to say, we had to finish on Monday as TJ's disks are all special edition extended version.
We tried to slow the clock, but the day came anyway and we had to say goodbye. My heart hurts but this is what parents have to go through so that their children can find their own path.
I AM A PROUD PARENT OF A SAILOR

Never Let Go

Well, the day is fast approaching and I must admit I am now feeling a bit nervous about this whole thing. I am not quite sure how to put into words my emotions. I guess this is what all parents go through to some degree. We send our children on missions, off to college, war, etc. Most expect them to return I think. For me, TJ is not just leaving for school, he is leaving to start his life. It's time for him even if I am not yet ready to let him go. I suppose a mother never really is. I want him to find happiness and joy in what he is doing. I want him to be proud to serve his country and serve honorably.

I AM A PROUD PARENT OF A SAILOR!

olá do Brasil

Hi family,
My mini mission has been going well. Today is was 84 degrees with 84% humidity. I was having some Don King issues with my hair LOL! So far I have met some interesting people and gone to some interesting places. See pic of me sharing a Book of Mormon with Pele. Also, I really enjoyed my stop at the Cathedral in Brasilia.

Seriously, so far I am living the mission rules even though it was difficult to miss my favorite TV show, The Secret Life. However, I know my testimony is growing because of this experience.

Love always,
Sister Rylee Neff

Called To Serve

In seminary this week, Rylee will be participating in a "mini-mission". So, for the entire week she will have to, as much as possible, live missionary rules.

Sister Rylee Neff was called to serve her 'mini-mission" in Brazil, Brasillia Mission. It is anticipated that she will serve for a period of one week.

There is a missionary challenge point system. There are daily points she can earn for things like daily scripture study, personal morning and evening prayer, engage in pleasant speech (this will be a real challenge for her. LOL), write to a full time missionary (since she has several cousins on missions this should be easy for her).

There are also weekly challenge points. I will highlight a few; iron 2 blouses, do 2 loads of laundry, avoid texting except to parents, write a letter of appreciation to parents (Kim and I are really looking forward to this), bear testimony to a friend.

So, going forward we thought we would use the blog for Rylee to document her "mini-mission. From this point on, all postings will be by Sister Neff.

TJ leaves for basic March 4th

Below is a a description of TJ's job in the NAVY.

Navy Enlisted Aircrew Program
Navy enlisted sailors in the ratings of AD, AE, AME, AMH, AMS, AO, AT, and AW can volunteer for the Navy Enlisted Aircrew Program at any time during their careers (note: AW is an aircrew only rating, so you can't have that rating without being on aircrew status).
New recruits can also get a "guarantee" for the Navy Enlisted Aircrew Program at the time of enlistment. These recruits receive a guarantee that they will be able to attend aircrew training (see below), and then the A-school for the specific rating (above) that they will be assigned to. Under this program, the recruit does not get a guarantee of which rating they will be assigned to at the time of enlistment, but will receive (if graduate aircrew training) one of the ratings above.
After successful completion of training, aircrewmen are assigned to flight duty in sea or shore-based squadrons. Because of the potentially hazardous nature of flight duty, aircrewmen receive " flight pay " in addition to other pay and allowances. Sailors who volunteer for the aircrew program can also volunteer to become rescue swimmers.
For those who enter the program as new recruits, they enter in the paygrade of E-1, unless otherwise qualified for advanced rank (rate) at the time of enlistment. Qualified individuals who volunteer for rescue swimmer training are advanced to E-2 (apprentice) after successful completion of recruit training. and are advanced to E-4 (petty officer third class) upon successful completion of both rescue swimmer school and class "A" school.
The duties performed by aircrewmen include in-flight functions such as:
• operating tactical weapons, sensors, and communication equipment;
• performing in-flight maintenance of aircraft electrical and mechanical gear;
• working with pilots to operate and control aircraft systems;
• operating mine countermeasure detection and explosion equipment;
• providing rescue of downed pilots with emergency first aid and survival swimming;
• performing duties of flight attendants and load masters.
Before and after flights aircrewmen perform pre-flight planning and equipment checks and post-flight maintenance associated with their assigned source ratings or mission specialty.
Working Environment
Aircrewmen may be assigned to sea or shore duty in any part of the world. When not airborne, they performed the duties associated with their source-rating (job).
A-School (Job School) Information
• Aircrewman Candadate School, Pensacola, FL -- 5 weeks
• Rescue Swimmer School (for those who volunteer) -- Pensacola, FL -- 25 class days
• A-School (job training) -- 7-23 weeks, depending on rating assigned
• Aircraft training squadrons, various locations, 6-32 weeks (depending on type aircraft assigned)

My Funny Valentine

So, I get to spend year three without my sweetheart. So, I thought I would post a few pics I have of "My Funny Valentine". Enjoy. He is so cute!

Apostle Islands

I was cleaning up email when I found these pictures that Kim had sent me from a trip we took to the North Shore. It was so much fun and beautiful does not even begin to describe it.

Thought for the day

If you can start the day without caffeine,
If you can get going without pep pills,
If you can always be cheerful
ignoring aches and pains,
If you can resist complaining and
boring people with your troubles,
If you can eat the same food every day
and be grateful for it,
If you can understand when your loved
ones are too busy to give you any time,
If you can overlook it when those you love
take it out on you when, through no fault
of yours, something goes wrong,
If you can take criticism and
blame without resentment,
If you can ignore a friend's limited
education and never correct him,
If you can resist treating a rich friend
better than a poor friend,
If you can face the world
without lies and deceit,
If you can conquer tension without medical help,
If you can relax without liquor,
If you can sleep without the aid of drugs . . . .



. . . . Then you are probably
the family Dog!

CONTRIBUTION MADE BY MY MOM

Barepaw in the Park

Finally! The sun is out and there is warmth to it. Dorothea and I decided to take our poor house imprisoned pups out for a play date. We met at a park that is between our two homes and let the dogs loose. They had a blast running and chasing each other. Libby and Sam (Dorothea's children) came to play as well. It was so good to be outside and not freeze. It feels like maybe there is a light at the end of the tunnel that we here in the Great North call winter.

In the NAVY

TJ enlisted in the NAVY this last week. He took the ASVABS this week at Fort Snelling and tested out very high. The field he has is looking into is Rescue Diver. Think the movie The Guardian with Kevin Costner and Ashton Kutcher. All he needs to attain this goal is a physical test. I don't think that should be a problem for a life long athlete. However, he has let himself go... a little. So, he is off to the gym everyday running, swimming, lifting etc. LOTS OF SWIMMING!

TJ will head off to basic in March or at the latest June. There is only one Basic Training facility and that is on the shores of Lake Michigan near Chicago.

We are very proud of TJ

Snow Days Week at Blaine High School

Snow Days at Blaine High School is a lot like spirit week at Olympus. They have events every day of the week with the week ending in a big dance. This was Rylee's first year going to the Snow Days dance. As she is not yet 16, she went with a big group of friends.
It is very difficult to find a modest dress. I think girls now a days like to look more like hookers (yeah I said it) then pretty young women. Well, I think Rylee and I did very well with her dress. I had to stitch up the bust line an inch or so and we added a shrug to cover the shoulders. In the end, I think she looks like a princess and apparently so did everyone else.
She modeled her dress for Kim and TJ without the enhancements and it was the funniest thing I have ever seen. When she came down stairs without the shoulder covering and with the plunging neckline, all the color drained from TJ's face. "She can't go out like that". Kim said, "Oh, she is going to put a shirt on underneath.” Really?! A shirt underneath an evening gown. Men are so dumb! Anyway, there was much relief when they saw the final product.
She had a great time and we are very proud of her for being such a good girl!

You pansies don't know what cold is

We are finally coming out of the deep freeze. Today the high temp was 5 degrees. The lowest we got this week was -24 with a wind chill of -41. No, you never get used to this.

I went to Target on Saturday and they already have seeds and lawn care products displayed. That totally lifted my spirits. There is an end in sight... just not for another four months.

Blow Out Your Candles Kim

Well, as you can see, Kim had another birthday. That just gives his family even MORE opportunity to tease him. It is a good thing he is such a good sport.

Rylee made him a cake out of a cupcake mold. To say that it didn't exactly come out perfectly is... well... you can judge for yourself. I looks more like a big turd. I frosted the cake so I can be critical.

We love you Kim and we are so grateful for all that you do!

FINALLY!!!!!

It has only taken Kim 37 years to finally pick out a new pair of glasses. The last time he picked out glasses I believe Nixon was president. As you can see technology has made huge advances. He doesn't look like a complete dork anymore. FYI - I was in kindergarten when he got these glases (it just makes me feel better to say that LOL).

You have heard of 'Sybil', and 'The Three Faces of Eve', Now meet the Many Sides of Ry