First I'll start with the cruddy--- We dont get to go to the ball after all. The unit holding decided that if you where coming from outside their unit (which isnt John's unit) you had to be an E-7 or higher!! Needless to say there are alot of people unhappy. John's unit is supposed to have an all ranks ball this summer but honestly Im not holding my breath that would mean the FRG would have to do some work.
Now on to the better stuff--- After talking to Housing and finding out that the area we wanted is getting ready to be put under a freeze for a minimum of a year we changed housing areas. Changing that gave us a 30 day window for moving--- We will be moving onto post between April 15th and May 15th!!!!!!!
John's going to be going to the Warrier Leadership Course probably in May. This will get him his promotion as right now he is sitting 50 points or so away from an automatic promotion. The course is at Ft. Lewis. He will be gone Mon- Fri and be able to be home on weekends. He cant go any sooner then May due to the fact that the Sgt for his section just left for Fort Sill for school.
We see the light at the tunnel not only for his promotin but moving on post (since this area seems to be going down hill fast and has police here on a daily basis!)
I have had a couple people ask me about my ticker after not knowing what the St Barbara Ball is. This is a military ball for the Field Artillery. St. Barbara is the award that the soldiers receive and us wives get the Molly Pitcher (I was awarded this in 2003). Both of these awards are a once in a lifetime award.
From the Ft. Sill, Ok website:
The legend of Saint Barbara
According to legend, Saint Barbara was the extremely beautiful daughter of a wealthy heathen named Dioscorus, who lived near Nicomedia in Asia Minor. Because of her singular beauty and fearful that she be demanded in marriage and taken away from him, he jealously shut her up in a tower to protect her from the outside world.
Shortly before embarking on a journey, he commissioned a sumptuous bathhouse to be built for her, approving the design before he departed. Barbara had heard of the teachings of Christ, and while her father was gone spent much time in contemplation. From the windows of her tower she looked out upon the surrounding countryside and marveled at the growing things; the trees, the animals and the people. She decided that all these must be part of a master plan, and that the idols of wood and stone worshipped by her parents must be condemned as false. Gradually she came to accept the Christian faith.
As her belief became firm, she directed that the builders redesign the bathhouse her father had planned, adding another window so that the three windows might symbolize the Holy Trinity.
When her father returned, he was enraged at the changes and infuriated when Barbara acknowledged that she was a Christian. He dragged her before the perfect of the province, who decreed that she be tortured and put to death by beheading. Dioscorus himself carried out the death sentence. On his way home he was struck by lightening and his body consumed.
Saint Barbara lived and died about the year 300 A.D. She was venerated as early as the seventh century. The legend of the lightning bolt which struck down her persecutor caused her to be regarded as the patron saint in time of danger from thunderstorms, fires and sudden death.
When gunpowder made its appearance in the Western world, Saint Barbara was invoked for aid against accidents resulting from explosions--since some of the earlier artillery pieces often blew up instead of firing their projectile, Saint Barbara became the patroness of the artillerymen.
Saint Barbara is usually represented standing by a tower with three windows, carrying the palm of a martyr in her hand. Often, too, she holds a chalice and a sacramental wafer and sometimes cannon are displayed near her. The Order of Saint Barbara is an honorary military society of the United States Field Artillery. Both U.S. Marine and Army field artillery along with their military and civilian supporters are eligible for membership. The order is managed by the U.S. Field Artillery Association and two levels of recognition exist. The most distinguished level is the Ancient Order of Saint Barbara and those who are selected for this honor have achieved long-term, exceptional service to the field artillery surpassing even their brethren in the Honorable Order of Saint Barbara. The order links field artillerymen of the past and present in a brotherhood of professionalism, selfless service and sacrifice symbolized by Saint Barbara.
This week sure keeps getting busier and busier. We are hosting the section BBQ this weekend so I have been doing alot of things to get ready for that. Tomorrow I am meeting the Gunnys wife and her two little ones for lunch so we can finally meet face to face instead of just over the phone. LOL. Then the girls have a playdate at their babysitters and us moms will probably sit and have some adult conversation since her husband is deployed.
John has another 4 day weekend so it will be nice to have him home this weekend especially since he hasnt been getting home till after 6 each night.
We have alot coming up-- Military Marriage Retreat in Oregon, St Barbaras Ball, I have dr's appointments, and I am helping out at the first ever "New to Ft. Lewis" potluck that another wife has put together. And that leads us into Easter and we are not sure what we are going to do yet, since Savannah's spring break isnt until April.
Valentines Day was a good one this year. With John not getting back from the field till the 13th I was able to plan and keep it from him. LOL Well we met him for lunch that day on post where I gave him his card. It also let him know that the kids where going to a sitter and we wouldnt be picking them up till the next morning. I dropped the kids off at the sitter and went to pick him up at the battery. We had reservations at Black Angus which was awesome!!!! Then we went to one of the Indian casinos and played for a little bit (and of course didnt win a cent). It was a great time and we both where able to reenergize.
Question for the week is who knows you best????
I honestly can say that John knows me the best. I never can hide anything from him, no matter how hard I try. He can always tell when something is on my mind or bothering me just by looking at me. And he doesnt pry when he knows I get that look that I dont want to talk about it.
