Military Life

We are so very proud of all your accomplishments during your career!  Wishing we could have been there on your big day!  Enjoy the next chapter of your life!!!!  We love you!  SSgt. Kristofer & Tracy Mock, Zachary, Emily, Gavin

May you always have work for your hands to do.
May your pockets hold always a coin or two.
May the sun shine bright on your windowpane.
May the rainbow be certain to follow each rain.
May the hand of a friend always be near you.
And may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.
— Irish Retirement Blessing

Kris came home and told me that the company was told they had to knock out about 40 Marines on this deployment.  I was like, “WHAT”!!!!!  Your going, your not going………… Help me understand what your saying please, he was like they now have no frapping clue when the company is deploying.  Yes that is exciting news for us!  But the longer it is postponed it gets into him being away thru spring of next year.  AG!  I just pray that God intervenes and Kris is one of those Marines that will remain behind at Headquarters during this deployment.  I mean really!  Come on, we are in the middle of this adoption now, we are going on a already booked cruise in February with Linda and Richard, and he hasnt even been home for half a year.  GOD - you hear my heart and you know what it best in all this even when we do not see it.  Just help me to be patient and not loose focus during all this uncertainty.  Keep us all in your prayers and the company that Kris is attached to for guidance.  Much love to our family!

When we got home from spring break I went to the post office to pick up a certified letter and (drum roll)………………  It was the signed adoption papers back from my ex, Michael.  He agreed to Kris adopting the kids without the struggle and emotional stress of dragging the kids thru a court battle.  Its the first grown up decision I feel Michael has ever made towards the children and a very tough one I know on his part. Kris and I have gotten in touch with DSS and now the agency will come out and do a home study on our family and file everything with the court here.  I cant even begin to put into words how excited the children are.  My father-in-law Rory took Kris, Zack, and Drew aside and had a little discussion that when it is all said and done they are going to do a ritual of some kind to make it a blood bond with Zack and Emily.  What ever it may be, it will be a special bond that their Pappa, Dad, & Uncle are going to do for them. 

We packed up the Yukon and headed to Florida on Friday when the kids got out of school for a very quick and really unplanned trip.  We got into town at 2am on Saturday and stayed with Granny.  She was absolutley thrilled that we stayed with her and she didnt even fuss about my dogs in the house or us running the air conditioner.  We got everyone dressed and went to church on Easter and it was hilarious trying to get Granny into our Yukon for church…. OH MY!  It took me, Kris, and Zack The church service praise and worship service was amazing but personally the service was WAY TOO LONG. I always see church as the production day for churches to show off for the ones who dont go regularly. 
We hooked up with Kris’s mom’s side of the family around 2pm for a really awesome catered lunch that they gave at Sonny’s.  Kris Pop and Ms. Enince drove all the way down for it from Virginia (they didnt want to miss seeing Kris before he deploys).  It was a really special day for Kris.  We then headed over to his cousin Karla’s house for desert and a monsterous easter egg hunt. 

Once this egg hunt was over we were off to Mom & Dad’s house for dinner and Kayson’s egg hunt!  What a blast that little booger had!!!!!  There was so much excitment in his little face is was too cute & fun to watch him!

Finding the eggs!!!!

Look at all my eggies everyone!

Then Emily & Gavin took me swimming and we had a blast!

My night was just complete when I got to beat up my Uncle “OO-Rah”!!!  (or as Turbo says it, “Who-Waaaaaa”)

Even though our trip to Lakeland was short and kinda hectic we had fun and Kris got to visit with the ones he loves the most before he leaves again to foreign soil. 

We packed up on Wednesday and headed into Perry for a few days with the Mock’s.  Needless to say we pulled up just in time for “Happy Hour”!!!!  Our time there is always relaxing and laid back.  (unless the stupid dog tears up something or chases away Mi-Mi’s poor cats)  We got to spoil our nieces and gets lots of shuga from them. Brylee has got the cutest country accent I have ever heard in my life.  The easter egg hunt was a little overwhelming for them.  So much candy and not enough room in their mouths to stuff it all! 

Every time they would find an egg, they would have to stop - open it - and either say that one is yucky - lets get another - or open it and shove the gum in their mouths!  It was really precious!

Kris finally un-covered and showed his brother his matching Tattoo….  it was a awesome moment between the two of them.  The bond they share is very deep and true to the end.  (If you want to know more behind thisthe tatoo’s go find the past post and read up on it)

This was my favorite part of the trip (besides the happy hours out back of course) was playing with my sweet nieces and rocking them both to sleep for a nap at the same time.  TT was about ready to fall asleep with them too!  LOL

Spending a relaxing afternoon in Gram’s garden having dinner and just talking.  Was very nice!

Watching the girls blow bubbles and making a huge mess with each other!  Listening to them giggle and watching them dance is so precious!

Hanging out with 2 other Twilight freaks just like Emily and I!!!!!  GO TEAM EDWARD!!!!!!!!!!

What an awesome trip!  The drive back home was total hell and Kris and I were like OH MY, what where we thinking…..  It should have taken us 9.5 hours to get home, but…..  road constrution before Savannah dictated otherwise, 15 hours later we were back in North Carolina. 

Kris was kind enough to let me have a vacation alone for 10 days.  It was much needed I tell you!  Even though I dont work, my life is so busy just being a mom- volunteering as a Family Readiness Advisor - stressing over another deployment when he has just been home for 5 months - the never ending appointments - some one always calling and needing a favor here and there…….  I was just really needing to re-group, relax, and re-charge!  I have come home with a new attitude, I feel stronger, I wont let life or anyone walk all over me any more, and I’m not going to be the “Yes” girl anymore.  I’m new so look out!!!!!  If you dont like the new me……  who cares!

When  I was in town I got to see lots of my friends I graduated with and share some old stories and some good laughs!!!!
Lunch at Crispers

Dinner at the Bahama Breeze

Fishing with mom and dad.

Getting to play with Turbo and spoil him rotten Aunt TT’s way!!!!!

Just getting to be crazy little ole me again with no responsabilities………..

Thanks honey for loving me and letting me get away for a little while!  I’m a better mom and wife because you see what I need and listen when I do need it!  Your a very rare soul and I am thankfull God united my life with yours…….

So last night I was laying on the couch reading and my dogs were barking and chasing each other.  This is a daily routine several times a day.  My living room is pretty large so its a pretty good dog lap track!  haahaa  Saydee my black weenie dog was done playing and jumped up to lay down behind my knees as she always does.  I felt her shaking and thought she was scratching, I told her to stop, it didn’t, so I sat up and she fell over violently shaking, I got her on the floor and was screaming for Emily to get the phone book while I layed hands on her and prayed for God to stop the sezure.  I have never been more scared in my life.  Emily had Kris on the house phone and she was hyperventalating and crying trying to tell him what happened.  I found the emergency vet and got the directions and off we went in the pouring rain.  She couldnt walk and had lost her bodily functions.  Saydee couldn’t focus and was searching for my voice, her black eyes were so dialated, and even blacker than normal.  The vet took her right back and she was settling down by then.  They did her blood work to make sure her organs were functioning correctly and they were.  Thank God!  So they told me she had it because she was so worked up playing and not to be alarmed next time it happens.  They told me what to do and gave me valiums to keep on hand to give them to her once the sezure is over.  So she slept great last night.  She is better this morning.  This dog is like mine and Kris’s baby since we couldn’t have one together.  She really is spoiled and is like a child to us.  What a scare……….

Well most of you know by now that when Kris went to get orders to base PMO that he already had orders in the system for Recruiting Duty and was told to be expecting them any time in March.  Well, he had no clue about any of this.  The company that he was attached to when he was in Iraq last time, failed to communicate that information down to him and another Marine that this happened too.  We have gone thru the shock and denial phase.  Now we are pretty much just biding our time and waiting.  His current boss is trying to get those recruiting orders pushed back until the 10 month Afghan deployment is over.  Which they leave in May.  Recruting orders, we are okay with.  We are going to try and get in at one of the main hubs in Florida like -  Tallahassee (that is what we really want), Jacksonville, Orlando, or Miami.  Its just that up rooting the kids is what we are not looking forward to.  Especially Zack since he is in high school.  Not to mention we are right in the middle of this adoption in the state of North Carolina and are awaiting our home study with Family and Children Services.  Once that study is done the adoption is complete.  Most of you know Michael agreed to everything as long as we didn’t peg him for back child support.  So this is what’s going on with us. Its been very stressful, the not knowing.  But as always God has the big picture and us in HIS hands and home is where ever Kris is.  We just dont want him deploying again!!!!  This house is so empty with him gone.  Every one please keep us in your prayers right now. 

I said good bye today to a very dear friend.  We have only been friends for a little over 2 years and they have been filled with fun, a deployment, endless gripe sessions, tons of girls night outs, and lots of Sunday morning services giggling and learning about the Lord.  This is the hard part of military life.  You meet some one you really connect with and the military yanks them up and gives them orders.  I wish her lots of blessings on this new adventure!!!!  We will miss you Ms. Beaverhousin and your cooky wacky family.  Until vacation time!  See you then!

My beautiful sister-in-law Shawna is expecting their newest addition to the family on Oct 3.  Aunt TT & Uncle OO-Rah cant wait to meet you!!!!!

This was the first Valentines Day we spent together since 2004.  Kris has either been deployed or away at schools the past 4 years.  He spoiled me this year!  I got flowers, chocolate truffles, my favorite wines, and a trip to the cheesecake factory that was 3 hours away!  Yes we drove it!  I enjoyed the peace and quiet of the ride with him.  When we got to the CCF the wait was 3 hours, so we went to the mall that was attached to it and shopped for shirts for our family photos the very next day.  The wait was worth it.  The food was incredible!!!!   Kris even bought me a whole cheesecake for home!  YEAH!  The kids have been warned NOT TO TOUCH IT!!!!!!!!!!!  I have to cut it.  Sorry if you think I am mean but that was a $50 cake and is not meant to be ate in 2 days.  Its got to be savored!  LOL Oh and the kiddos got a butt load of stuff as well from me and their daddy!  I have always done them goodie bags every year.  I love to make them feel special!!!!