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. :)

Operation Christmas Tree = You giving to those who give.

I just recently found out about this great program that sends Christmas Trees to the men and women who protect our country and can not be home with their loved ones this year. What a great idea!

This website tells all about it and allows you to purchase a tree for a service member of your choice or the "next" available service member waiting to receive a little taste of home for just $25.00. Hurry, time is running out to make someones holiday a little brighter while away from their families this Christmas season.

C-H-R-A-I-N

The child is 6 almost 7 and as of last night I though I had heard everything. You would think after 6 years of living with a little one and knowing all their little quirks and years of teaching and correcting speech patterns and heck...life in general I was thinking we were pretty much in the clear on the basics!

While studying spelling words with Jav last night he had to do "rhyming" words with the words of his choice. He chose the word "rain". Hmmmm....what rhymes with rain? Ok, I'll give the kid a few so we can move on - "P-ain, pain,you know Jav, when you fall and hurt yourself you have pain". Progress, right? Let's do one more.

Me: Choo choo (waiting for him to catch the hint)
Me: (again) Choo choo. Javan! Train
Javan: Teeerain
Me: Yes! Good job, train. Write it down.
Javan: Hahahah, train, Mom your funny,

This is when I realized something was not clicking here.

Me: What is so funny?
Jav: Train, that sounds funny, that is not a word.
Me: Jav! Choo choo, choo choo TRAIN.
Jav: What's that?

At this point I was worried he might have a head injury of some sort.

Me: JAVAN! A Train, like on railroad tracks?(Now I even drew a picture for him)
Jav: Oh! A chrain - choo choo chrain.

Yikes! AMAZING!

As Jav would say, "Everybody relax down".

Another election year has come to pass and I am sure you have heard just as many comments as I have regarding the outcome of our President Elect. I have never seen as much upset or heard so many discouraging comments and worries as we begin a new chapter of American history. I do worry, I worry because I am concerned for the future of our brave men and women who I have the great privilege to meet and befriend every day who will fight for our country no matter who leads it. They will take a stand and follow every order even if they do not fully agree in their hearts that it is the right one. These men and women will repeatedly return to war even if ground is lost due to our leaders making the "wrong" decision, but they will do it with unfaltering commitment, obedience and without disgracing our country. I worry for the people of our country, our freedoms, our children.

God is in control, he always has been and always will be. I am reminded of this by reading my friends blog and I am so refreshed as I realize that we can only do so much as citizens. We voted. The rest is left in Gods hands to guide and direct the man who is to lead or country.

Faith, it is the gift that was given to us in the times of despair, need and uplifting. Feel free to use it!