C'est Fini!

On October 21st, I hurried to the airstrip at the base, thinking I was 30 minutes early, and saw the DC10 had already landed and a crowd of several hundred were all ehugging each other and taking photos. I couldn't believe that I had missed the landing, but after a minute or two, I found my sailor!! It took us all of 5 minutes and things were as if we had never been apart! Ah...the joys and blessings of being married for 34 years! :)

We spent the weekend hanging out, catching up on stories, walking, eating, driving around, etc. It was really wonderful. My only complaint is that my dear husband hasn't driven in 7 months and seems to have forgotten that those lights that hang in the middle of the intersections actually turn red, which means stop! Same with those octogon signs that read S-T-O-P! :) Thank the Lord that I haven't lost my touch in backseat driving, so I have kept us safe and ticket-free! :)

Dan is back at work this week, so I kiss him goodbye in the morning and go for walks, read, watch TV until he gets back. Then we go out to eat! Really, can you describe the perfect situation any clearer than this?? Alas, I will be leaving on Friday morning, and hopefully Dan will follow the following week. He will be checking out his kidney stones, and going through the de-mobilization process.

Now that the year is over, it seems to have flown by. I know we didn't think that when we were in the middle of it, but it really did. We look forward to some sort of "normal" though we don't know what that means. In my time on the beach yesterday, I spent time looking at different scriptures that speak of making our plans. "Be careful...we don't know what tomorrow will bring" Good reminders for me.

Congratulations to Dan!!

On Friday, Sept 11th, Dan found out that he has been promoted to CWO4!! We're very excited about this and I'm so proud of him!

Other than work...

Although the sand storms have started and the weather continues to be pretty tough to bear at times, Dan is still finding ways to enjoy some time off...




This is the pool at the apartment where Dan is living. He tries to swim at least 1 km a day.

A friendly competition between the Officers and the Chiefs! The Officers took it 23-3 and 17-7 in a double header under the lights!

Dan went 3 for 6, one run scored, no RBIs. He played catcher so did not have to run too far for anything.

Another fun thing in the past couple weeks was a USO visit from "Pedro" in Napoleon Dynamite. We had only recently heard about him after asking about Pedro after seeing some "Vote for Pedro" shirts and hats.

July Update

Where are the weeks going? No complaints from me, as the faster they go, the better!!

Update on kidney stones...the doctors did blast one set of stones and Dan was able to pass all the "bits and pieces" with no problem! Thank the Lord!! They didn't do anything with the other side, but he'll see the doc again in a month and they will determine if any other action is needed. In the meantime, he's a happy camper!

His duties continue to stretch him in new directions and he recently told me that this has been the most difficult work he has done - mostly due to working outside of his strengths and/or training (sounds like mission work!) But, he also realizes that this will be a growing time and one that he also expects God to use in all areas of his life. He recently began to meet with others in his unit for prayer and Bible Study and he is so encouraged with the group!

I just received an email today with the following:

One of the chiefs organized a trip to the dunes...so we headed out in a couple of Toyota land cruisers and surfed the dunes a bit. Once we go to the campsite, we had time to ride a camel - one humper - and then had a bbq dinner" This was really the first outing that Dan has had since he's been gone. I'm so glad there are opportunities for him to do something besides work!

I am currently in Arkansas babysitting Meredith's 2 little ones - Connor, age 4 and Audrey, age 2. My friend, Alice Carmichael, is here with me for the week. Today was our first full day with out Mommy & Daddy and both kids did awesome! We are exhausted, but they were great. Connor made my day by saying, "Mimi, it's fun to have you here!" Although, he would normally say that during a visit, I really didn't expect that because it is much different for Mommy Daddy to not be here, but Meredith prepared them well.

We really appreciate so many who tell us they are praying for us - we definitely are not enjoying being apart, but also know that God is very near!

Update on Kidney Stone Saga...

The CT scan showed that poor ole Dan has a "cluster" of eight kidney stones in one kidney and three in the other one! After going back and forth as to what the next step would be, he just heard today that they will take care of "blasting" them in Dubai, instead of sending him back to the States. We were both a bit sad, as I was going to hop on a plane and meet him when he landed.

Oh well, we imagine it's for the best to get it done locally and then have him begin working on passing the things. Best advice...Drink beer....lots of it...helps them pass and he really won't care if they hurt! Uh...maybe not such a good plan! :)

Thanks for your prayers!
Joanne & Dan

Kidney Stones - Yuck

Dan had an ultrasound test yesterday and they found two stones in his kidney and one in his prostate gland - not a pleasant thought! They set him up for a CT scan today, but will not get the results until Sunday (Friday and Saturday are the weekend days there)

We appreciate your prayers as we encounter this new twist and turn!!

On the home front...I chased away a coyote from our yard last night - he was about 3 feet from my mom's cat (who was frozen in her spot) I went tearing into the yard screaming like a mad woman and flailing my arms all over the place. I was concerned that the cat would take off running, too, but she sat there, while the coyote ran away. That would NOT have been a pretty sight, had I not looked outside and caught this happening.

Bamboo is still sticking it's head up all over the neighbor's yard - I'm still going out and clipping it close to the ground...less rain now-a-days, so it won't grow quite as quickly.

Till next time!

Updated mailing address for Dan

Just got a package returned from the P.O. for insufficient address! Aargh! It contains two pair of sunglasses for Dan AND some cooking ingredients! Oh well, I found out they've changed the address a little bit. It is:

CWO3 Dan Connors
(MESD 541) MSRON3
FPO AP 96601-3401


Email: bosn.connors@gmail.com

I know he'd love to hear from you if you've got a minute!

Thanks

Deployment Communication ala 2009

Military wives of yesteryear certainly didn't get to enjoy the joys of communication that we experience today! Last week, while visiting with Meredith in Arkansas, we got on skype and chatted with Dan for about an hour. The picture was clear and it seemed like he was next door! What fun!

Dan is doing well, though continuing to be in steep learning curve mode! He's having to learn that all-important word - delegation! In one of his latest emails, Dan said: "I am really dependant on God's wisdom for the day and his sustaining grace. I can safely say this is the hardest job I have ever done. It also makes me wonder what the Lord has in store for me next. I have always looked at what I was doing (presently) as a training ground for the next job."

Here on the homefront, the grass is getting mowed, the garage door is acting up, and the car's "check engine" light is on, but other than that, it's going OK. I try not to sweat the little stuff, but I really do miss having my best friend here. God is close to both of us and we know that well. No complaints at all.

Thanks for your prayers!

The Heat has arrived!

I got to talk with Dan for an HOUR yesterday and he's doing just fine. However, the heat has definitely arrived and it has been running 110-112 degrees there on most days now! Yikes! He's drinking lots of fluid and eating lots of fruit! :)

Since he spends so much more time doing paperwork than he ever has, he's been itchy for an outlet for creativity and has found that in cooking. He's been enjoying "browsing" in the cookbook section of bookstores (way too expensive to actually buy the books!) and has also been checking out websites with recipes! How funny! Actually, he's a great cook, so I'm looking forward to him continuing this "creativity" when he gets home! I have spinach salad every single night, and he's cooking up a storm!

On the homefront, my big concern now is our run-a-way bamboo in the back yard. When Dan originally planted the bamboo, he used 24" of sheet metal to keep it all in one place. But, now, 7 years later we have lots and lots of escapees. For those of you familiar with bamboo, there's no stopping the stuff! It grows about 12" a DAY when it rains. I'm on the lookout for a young strong kid to come and dig it out before it takes over the neighbor's yard... I bet Dan isn't sorry he's missing this episode!

Thanks for your prayers and emails!

Joanne

Email from 5-year-old Josiah

Hi Papa. (as dictated by Josiah to Mommy)

I love you. I'm going to show you my karate. I love you beary much.
Cuz I want to share stuff with you. I pray that you protect good
ships. I will pray for you forever. I love you.

We had an Easter egg hunt at school. We got candy and Easter popcorn egg and it was so fun. I liked it so much. I like it because it's good, but Jesus died. But it was for our sins, and Jesus died for our sins cuz we really wanted to see Him in the sky. How are we going to see Him in the sky? I know how, we are going to see Him for a Jesus party in the sky. I love Jesus. He's a good person and He's beary fun and cool. I love the Lord.

I will pray for you forever and I love you. and pray that we nourish
our bodies, (he might have gone into his before mealtime prayer
here...lol) and ride the 4 wheeler and share. This 4 wheeler is fun.
It's fast and can go through mud. I be really interested in it and
tough.

We got a dog. It can jump and bite and it's beary cool and big and
black and I hope you love it and want to come and see it.

I always pray for our sins. You're a good man. He (Papa) is the person I love very much. Amen. I hope you understand that I got you a gift.
(he is not telling his mommy what it is. Apparently it is a secret)

Papa's a great servant, and there's good notes on you. (I wonder if his teacher ever talks about leaving bad or good notes for parents??)

I got two surprises. It's on Christmas. Christmas is very fun, and about God and Jesus.

I love mommy and papa. I like to read books. I like to do
games. I like to play a hunting game when I can shoop birds. I like to
hunt with my dad. I hope you can come if you want to.

I love you.

Josiah

Ain't technology grand?

Hi Folks,

Things are going well with Dan, although he is basically in the "eat, work, sleep" mode! He's healthy and working hard.

We've been having "Instant Messaging" dates for the past couple days! At my lunch time, it is about 10:00pm for him, so we log on and catch up on the day. What a GREAT blessing this has been! It makes me realize how tough it must have been for those families of old, who would say goodbye to their sailor/soldier and wait for months to hear from them.

Today, I was adding some water and antifreeze to his truck, while Lisa-Marie was texting him and asking him if I was putting the water in the right spot! How crazy, but we sure had a good laugh about it. Poor guy was pretty worried that I was going to ruin his engine! Both of the girls can instant message with him on their phones...hmmm...maybe I see a Blackberry in my future??

Thanks for your prayers - we are well, though missing each other.

Joanne

Email from Aiyana to Papa

happy april fuls day, Mom and Dad took us to a pg13 movie. Just kidding! Fuledyou!

Mailing Address for Dan

For those of you who may want to send Dan a note, his address is:

CWO3 Daniel Connors
Att: DET 541
FPO AP 96601-3401

Dan is out of the country!

Dan has arrived at his post and slowly getting used to the time change! Just last night, he fell asleep a little too early and was up wide awake at 3:30am - oh well, it’s getting there!

He mentioned that these first days are filled with the handing over of responsibilities from the current unit over to this new unit. A very steep learning curve, but he’s enjoying the challenge of it all. He mentioned he’ll be working on developing checklists and more checklists as the days go by.

He’s been out locating grocery stores and the like. And guess what - he found Dunkin Donuts coffee!! That made his day! He brought along a coffee press, so he is all set 

One funny email about his “rough” living conditions in his apartment:

"While taking showers, I have also been running the water for a while trying to get something warm out of the tap. We are in a new apt facility and I am not sure how much of it has been tested. You know me, I hate cold showers. I'll go to the lobby and asking what the deal is…(later email)… I found out just a bit ago that there is a water heater switch outside the bathroom you have to turn on to get hot water. Who would have thought of that one?"

Thanks for your prayers!

Valentines Day with my Sailor

Dan & I had a great time in San Diego over Valentine's Day! He has a nice suite on the Navy Base, so I read and hung around while he had to work for much of the time I was there, but it was still worth it. It reminded me of living on the ship again. Small rooms, but with everything we needed.

On Valentine's Day, we drove an hour Northeast from San Diego and found ourselves in snow. Too bad we didn't have the right clothes, so we froze, but other than that, it was fun! We had pie and coffee in the famous pie town of Julian, CA. On Sunday, we went to an International Rugby Tournament with our dear friends, Brett & Karen Curtis. First time for both of us - we really enjoyed it.

Needless to say, it was NOT easy to say goodbye again! But, we are hoping to see each other one more time in March.

Dan is currently in the Middle East for the next week to watch the operations and report back to the Commander. He just emailed and he got there after a very long flight, but is doing well.

Thanks for your prayers! I'm certainly not loving this, but knowing that Dan is doing what he feels is right and good makes it more bearable.

Joanne & Dan

OK, this may not be an "official" Navy photograph, but we like our Soldier looking like this!

Email from Dan - Week 2

Hi Folks,

Well, we have started our training in full force. Lots of classes to attend first and then we get into the practical bits. This past week we got more new uniforms (desert cammies) and some added gear. Yup, Joanne, I will need more storage room at home! We are continually amazed at how many different uniforms and added gear the Navy comes up with! I have almost a full closet inside and hang jackets and extras in the garage closet. The funny addition to this latest batch was a sleeping bag. Yup, we have to bring this to an area where it will be over 100 degrees for several months, just in case we have to use it. Hope not!

We had several classes on security and weapons. We will soon spend most of a week shooting the various weapons we will have out there. It will be a very long week, up at oh-dark-30 as Steve Wargo always says, drive an hour plus to the range. But, shooting is always good fun, whatever the weapon. There is a bit more of a serious tone to this considering where we are going.

One thing we have embarked on this week is our morning (up at 4:40 to start at 5am) PT (physical training - I'll to keep the acronyms to a minimum). I finally figured out why I hate doing this first thing in the morning, besides not being awake! I like to exercise after the day ends to unwind and de-stress from anything that had gone on. Plus it is a bit warmer, I so hate being cold. Ha ha, good thing we are not going north to Alaska! I also decided to start wearing my flack vest for an evening walk. This thing weighs a good bit (20lbs plus), so better get used to wearing it now vs cold turkey in the heat. I chatted with Joanne the other eve and walked three miles with it on. Even with the extra exercise, my legs were tired. More additional PT for this ol' man is in order.

Well, that is about all for this week. We have Sun off, our “domestic” day – laundry, grocery shopping and study time.

I hope you have had a blessed week.

Thanks for your prayers and support.

Dan

Thank you, Dave O'Connor!!

Dave O'Connor, long-time friend and co-worker at Mercy Ships, decided to bless Dan while he is deployed. David and his son, Brian, are going to restore Dan's 1969 Mustang. Dan got this car about 10 years ago, as "payment" for helping out a woman who had bought a house needing lots of repairs. He worked for a couple of years, and since she didn't have the money to pay him, she gave him this car! He hasn't had the time to work on it...

Dan was blown away with David's offer to get it up and running. What a terrific gift from the O'Connors.

First week in San Diego went well with Dan. He passed all of his physicals with flying colors. A funny sidenote - after eating no more than a lettuce leaf per day in order to pass his weigh-in, he never got weighed the whole week!! Oh well...it also helped to keep his blood pressure in check! :)

Training begins in full swing this week.

Thanks for your prayers!

Emails between Papa from Aiyana

Dear  papa,I hope  you  have  great  week. I  will  miss  you a  
lot.I will  be  sending you  tunn's of cards.when  are  you  going 
to  come  home .Me and  abby  and  josiah are   going   to  miss  you very ,very,very  much.love  Aiyana


Hi Aiyana,

I have had a couple of good days here in San Diego. It is actually hot today, close to 85 degrees. Most of what we have been doing is going to one office or another getting our check ups done. Today I got a couple of shots and had my hearing checked.

How is school going?

love you and miss you too.

Papa

Countdown to Sunday

It's hard to believe that after what seems like YEARS of talking/thinking/planning for deployment - will it happen or not - if so, when - will the official orders ever come in - etc etc, Dan will actually fly out of Tyler on Sunday morning, January 11th.

He's got most of the big stuff packed into a big ole tool chest on wheels. That will get shipped separately. Now, he's down to packing his seabag and other goodies. We've stocked up his computer with photos and bought him a webcam for Christmas, so we're all set!

I will attempt to use this blog to update those who want to know how it's going. We certainly appreciate everyone's prayers. I was especially grateful for an email I got today from Betty Lou Bennett, who lived as a Navy wife for years. She summed up my thoughts exactly when she said that getting READY for deployment is really the worst part. Once Dan is actually on the plane, I can then start counting the days until he is home!! If he wasn't so darn cute and nice, it wouldn't be such a big deal to have him gone! Hah!

We'll also enlist the help of experienced bloggers (Meredith & Lisa-Marie!!) to help us download photos! Yikes, this will be a lot of work!

Thanks again for your prayers. We trust the Lord in all of this. I truly believe He has wonderful purposes for Dan during this time, and He hasn't forgotten me, either!

Chat with you soon!