Military Life

IF I DECORATE MY HOUSE PERFECTLY WITH PLAID BOWS, STRANDS OF TWINKLING LIGHTS AND SHINY BALLS, BUT DO NOT SHOW LOVE TO MY FAMILY, I’M JUST ANOTHER DECORATOR. IF I SLAVE AWAY IN THE KITCHEN, BAKING DOZENS OF CHRISTMAS COOKIES, PREPARING GOURMET MEALS, ARRANGING A BEAUTIFULLY ADORNED TABLE , BUT DO NOT SHOW LOVE TO MY FAMILY, I’M JUST ANOTHER COOK. IF I WORK AT THE SOUP KITCHEN, CAROL IN THE NURSING HOME AND GIVE ALL THAT I HAVE TO CHARITY, BUT DO NOT SHOW LOVE TO MY FAMILY, IT PROFITS ME NOTHING. IF I TRIM THE SPRUCE WITH SHIMMERING ANGELS AND CROCHETED SNOWFLAKES, ATTEND MYRIAD HOLIDAY PARTIES AND SING IN THE CHOIR’S CANTATA BUT DO NOT FOCUS ON CHRIST, I HAVE MISSED THE POINT. LOVE STOPS COOKING TO HUG THE CHILD. LOVE SETS ASIDE DECORATING TO KISS THE HUSBAND. LOVE IS KIND, THOUGH HARRIED AND TIRED. LOVE DOESN’T ENVY ANOTHER’S HOME THAT HAS COORDINATED CHRISTMAS CHINA AND TABLE LINENS. LOVE DOESN’T YELL AT THE KIDS TO GET OUT OF THE WAY, BUT IS THANKFUL THEY ARE THERE TO BE IN THE WAY. LOVE DOESN’T GIVE ONLY TO THOSE WHO ARE ABLE TO GIVE IN RETURN BUT REJOICES IN GIVING TO THOSE WHO CAN’T. LOVE BEARS ALL THINGS, BELIEVES ALL THINGS, HOPES ALL THINGS, ENDURES ALL THINGS. LOVE NEVER FAILS. VIDEO GAMES WILL BREAK, PEARL NECKLACES WILL BE LOST, GOLF CLUBS WILL RUST. BUT THE GIFT OF LOVE WILL ENDURE.

God bless you with all the love you can possibly feel, need, and experience this Christmas and everyday of the upcoming year of 2009 !

Kris and I went on a very relaxing cruise during the Thanksgiving break.  We went with our pals Atressa and Jason from up here.  He works with Kris and Atressa is a very dear friend to me (like a sister).  We all go to church with one another and just have great fun with our families.  Our ports were Grand Caymon, Cozumel, Belize, and Roatan Island Honduras.  Honduras I will say was my favorit.  Its not so “Americanized” and its in its true habitat still.  The street vendors were very pleasant and the children were so very curious of the visitors.  I know all they want is money from the tourist…  but man when they live in a third world county can you blame them?  I cried when we left and told Kris our children have no idea how blessed they are.  This is the reason why I want to be a medical missionary.  I love kids and people and want to help and give to those who are less fortunate then we are.  We are going in this same cruise in 2010 with the kids and boy do we have our excursions all planned out for when we go next!  Grand Caymon we are going to swim with the sting rays and do the paradise beach day, Cozumel we are going to swim with the dolphins one on one, Belize we are going to visit the ruins, and in Honduras we are going to snorkle with the kids.  We cant wait to take them!

 Captains Dinner (and our 6 year anniversary)

Take the tenor boats to Grand Caymon

Cozumel Mexico playing at Senor Frogs!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Captains Cocktail Hour for past cruisers!

Roatan Island Beach Honduras

The last night on our balcaoy some where in the Carabbean!!!!!!!

What a great trip alone with my BIG SEXY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So this week Kris told me that his Captain and 1st Sgt. wanted to meet up with me, which I was thinking it had something to do with wrapping up the volunteer program while the guys were deployed.  BOY WAS I SHOCKED when I walked into this meeting and I see the Col. Thomas, Lt.Col. McDaniel and several other Commanding Officers that I didnt really know.  I was awarded a very high  award in the Artillery community (Kris is Military Police).  George Washington gave the very first one out to Molly in the 1700’s.     I am so shocked that I was brought before a committee and was chosen for this.  This is a resume worthy award that I am so proud to be nominated into this Sisterhood!  To think all I said was, “Yes to volunteer with the wives while the Marines were deployed”.  The story of Molly Picher is below:

An Artillery wife, Mary Hays McCauly (better known as Molly Pitcher) shared the rigors of Valley Forge with her husband, William Hays. Her actions during the battle of Monmouth on June 28, 1778 became legendary. That day at Monmouth was as hot as Valley Forge was cold. Someone had to cool the hot guns and bathe parched throats with water.

   Across that bullet-swept ground, a striped skirt fluttered. Mary Hays McCauly was earning her nickname “Molly Pitcher” by bringing pitcher after pitcher of cool spring water to the exhausted and thirsty men. She also tended to the wounded and once, heaving a crippled Continental soldier up on her strong young back, carried him out of reach of hard-charging Britishers. On her next trip with water, she found her artilleryman husband back with the guns again, replacing a casualty. While she watched, Hays fell wounded. The piece, its crew too depleted to serve it, was about to be withdrawn. Without hesitation, Molly stepped forward and took the rammer staff from her fallen husband’s hands. For the second time on an American battlefield, a woman manned a gun. (The first was Margaret Corbin during the defense of Fort Washington in 1776.) Resolutely, she stayed at her post in the face of heavy enemy fire, ably acting as a matross (gunner).

   For her heroic role, General Washington himself issued her a warrant as a    noncommissioned officer. Thereafter, she was widely hailed as “Sergeant Molly.” A flagstaff and cannon stand at her gravesite at Carlisle, Pennsylvania. A sculpture on the battle monument commemorates her courageous deed.

TO ALL FIELD ARTILLERYMEN WHEREVER YE MAY BE

Greetings!  Know ye that  there appeared before a most arduous and selective committee composed of highly esteemed and proven Field Artillerymen a likely candidate for:  “THE ARTILLERY ORDER OF MOLLY PITCHER”

BE IT KNOWN:  By all ye Field Artillerymen who may be honored by her presence that TRACY MOCK has been faithful to the Artillery.  Offering courage and patience and help in the best traditions of the military service, she has been found worthy to be numbered as a deserving member of this traditional sisterhood and has been duly initiated into the fold.

BE IT FURTHER UNDERSTOOD:  That we hereby confer upon her the shield of Molly Pitcher emblazoned above and enjoin all Field Artillerymen henceforth to show due honor and respect whenever she enters their midst.

Given under our hand this 12th day of December 2008.

D.P. Thomas

Col, FA USMC Commanding

Here are a few photos from Kris promotion to Staff Sergeant!  I was honored that he wanted me to pin his new chevrons on him.  I tapped them in place nice and hard for him!  Hee-Hee!  Its tradition….  I am so very proud of my BIG SEXY!!!!!!!!!