It's official - The Dr. said so.

The school screening was right, I took Jav for an official eye screening and Javan is color-blind. Really. I was amazed that the child was actually seeing things I could not on the test, that is an odd feeling. He has never given us reason to believe he had problems telling colors, what a great little compensator.

A Marines' Christmas Duty.

I know I read some form of this poem every year but it still continues to make me tear up every time I read it. This Christmas our home full of friends will be a little smaller due to these Marines out on the front lines~ we wish you were all here but we are also so proud of where you are and why you are there, Merry Christmas my friends.


The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.

My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.

Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.



The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.

My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.

In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.



The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.

Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the
sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.

My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.



Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.

A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.

Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.


"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"
For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..

To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night.
"
"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.



No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.

My Gramps died at ' Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers.
"
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ' Nam ',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.


I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.

Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.

I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.


I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.

I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall.
"


" So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right.
"
"But isn't there something I can do, at the lea st,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son.
"


Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.

To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.

For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.

Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."

"Mom, why do bad things happen to good people?"

This is what Marissa asked me today as I rambled on about the effects of the evil, devastating cancer that continues to consume amazingly wonderful people that we know and love. Steve Hedrick Sr died 2007 of the results of lung cancer. My Dad has fought and at this point overcome cancer, both of these men struggling through their own pain all while keeping all those who love them comforted by their words and faith.

The story continues, Mrs.Taylor (my 6th grade teacher) recently informed us via caringbridge that her husband was recently diagnosed and is currently being treated by means of a radical surgery to save his life. All this after after Mrs. Taylor has too been treated for cancer years ago.

Terri, another friend of ours has undergone treatment for CA and currently they continue to say they find clues of cancer in her blood but can not locate it on any scans. How fair is that? It is like dangling the hope of wellness and health right in front of you but just not quite being able to reach it. This is who Marissa was talking about when she asked such a loaded question.

I am not sure as to why I had to get up at 2:30AM and write this(so I may ramble), Marissa's words keep ringing in my ears "Mom, why do bad things happen to good people?" and you know what? I couldn't answer her! I could not give my daughter a reason because I too was literally sitting there asking the same thing! Why God? Why? Why do some people who murder, lie, abuse, steal, drug-addicts and so on continue with life without intense pain of watching their loved ones clammer
for their health and well-being while others who share your word and love with the world suffer with no complaints?

I know, I know there is the logical reason of "This is a mountain they will climb and with faith will show us all, they will either go into remission, be cured or possibly succumb to their illness but all while teaching us". You know what? I don't want to be taught by other peoples misfortunes, other peoples pain. Why can't their lights to continue to shine for the Lord and be as bright as the spirit he has made them, to be a beacon in the night for those of us who search for solice in God's love and plan. No more pain, no more tears, no more being scared, God heal these people and all those we love who are not mentioned here ravished, recovering, in remission and cured of this process of evil. Let us learn by the good they do, they happiness they bring, make them a pillar of hope and strength for the lives they touch.

So to answer my daughter? I am not sure, I don't know if I ever will be. The whole "God has a plan" can stumble out of my mouth because I know he does but what does that give to a 12 year old?

My thoughts are with you all and your families this season...

Learning how to be a "Military Brat"

This is how you know you are a military brat trying to learn the "lingo".

I was picking Marissa up for a Orthodontic appointment last week and while in the car chatting the following conversation occured.

Marissa: Mom, we are not having a Christmas Dance this year at the school like we did for Halloween. Can you believe that?

Me: Why? It seems like so much fun, Did somebody do something and mess it all up for the rest of you?

Marissa: Well, actually the DJ is active duty and he UPS'd...

I lost it, I could just imagine him in a little box!

To my non-military friends and family what she was trying to say was "He PCS'd" meaning "Permanent Change of Station". Military families do this on an average EVERY 2.5 years, it is a WELL known term and used often with-in the military, I guess just not quite often enough around Sis.

Love ya girl! You will get the hang of it soon enough, welcome the the Marine Corps baby.

Confessions of a derelict mother

Now that Javan is learning to read a whole new world of words are coming to light.

A few examples:

1. When singing the ABC's he asked "Mom why is there no "O" in the ABCS?".
You know LMNOP the O just slips right by, we had to point that out.

2. When doing his "working with words" we spelled the word drier. As my example I pointed to the dryer(let me corret this, the dryer get the clothes dry, making them drier) and he said "Oh, I thought that was grier!"

Oh my goodness, maybe I have been a little lax on not listening to his words,yikes!!

Tonight while doing spelling words he had the word SAW, he looked at me funny (and by now I know that look unfortunately). So I explained, " I saw I bird fly by in the sky" all he could say was "Oh, I thought that was sawl"

I swear we are not rednecks...

We are legends, in our own minds.

For your viewing pleasure:The Hedrick's Seasons Greetings 2008


Months ago we participated in Operation Seasons Greetings', a little thing they have put together that allows you to tape your family wishing all others back home holiday cheer. I do have to say it was quite funny because there was no "practicing" per say, they just get you up there and tell you to "Go! In 5 4 3 2.." Steve being the military member was to introduce us and say the little shpill and after about the 5th time I think they were just done with us. One point after the taping Steve actually asked if he blinked at all through the whole thing, lol, it was kinda' the deer in the headlights look.

Either way, The Hedrick Family is now showing on TV in 2 different states wishing you all the best this holiday season.

Brace Face

Marissa finally has her consult today for her new braces, now we will get to call her things like Brace Face, Tin Grin and all the other fun things we can think of!

We had originally planned on having her braces on prior to our move here but her primary teeth were just not cooperating. You can imagine my horror when we got here and they explained that she has to go through an approval process including boards and all sorts of other junk just to determine if she qualified for braces. I patiently waited without making a big deal over anything until the whole process had taken place and the "board" had convened. Here in Okinawa if approved you actually get government issued braces, we don't even have to pay for them! Crazy huh? Yeah, they had to tell me that about three times because I though I heard them wrong.

Since she already had orthodontics in her mouth I explained that we had no problem paying for them but she just REALLY needed them on SOON. They called to let us know we were approved so let the name calling begin. Hmmm, I wonder if they will places braces on Jav while we are over here since they are issued and all. :)