The Day is almost here!!!!

I am so excited!!!! I just got off the phone with TJ, we thought we had just a few short hours with him on Friday before he heads off to the airport but we actually get to spend the entire day with him. He needs to return to base at 9pm. Then he leaves for P-cola at 2am in the next morning. We are able to go to the airport and wait with him there if we want to. Ummmm, no brainer. Of course we will. Who needs sleep? Anyway, I am so excited that we get this whole day together.

I AM A PROUD PARENT OF A SAILOR!!!

Gratitude Campaign

TJ IS A SAILOR!!!!

At 1:49 pm my cell phone rang and the sweetest words, "Hi Mom" were on the other end. A very tired TJ called to tell me he has made it through Battle Stations. He was not able to tell me the details of all that happened during the course of his "adventure". Prior to Battle Stations all recruits sign a paper stating that they will not divulge or discuss their experience.

Once they completed Battle Stations all the recruits were lined up in formation on the bow of the ship where they did the cap ceremony and received their NAVY cap. TJ said it was hard not to get emotional. From all that I have read and I read a lot these days that is a sentiment felt by most sailors.

So, from now until PIR (Pass in Review) or in other words Graduation. It will be less rigid for him but he is still in boot camp.

For now, we have have 7 days: 14 hours: 34 minutes until we see him

Track Meet at Blaine

Stats:
100 High Hurdles - 20.07 -
4 x 2 relay - 2 minutes and 2 seconds
300 Intermediate Hurdles - 56.93

She is consistently getting better with each meet. We are very proud of her. Usually Rylee does the 4 x 4 relay today, totally unknown to her parents she does the 4 x 2. That is why there are no pictures. I was gabbing on the phone to Christine. LOL!

The Countdown

MySpace Countdowns

Easter

On Saturday, Dorothea and Crane hosted an Easter brunch. It was so much fun. We had great food and the kids had a blast with an Easter egg hunt and decorating eggs.

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