Phil went "home" November 5th. He reported back to his old unit on the 6th and learned that he will be their Battalion Financial Officer. (I think I have the title right.) So now he deals with soldiers that need a little financial help.
We also finally got to go see my Auntie! Matthew was totally happy. After all this time of going to visit her, we finally discovered that her neighbor has a pear tree that produces delish pears. Best I have ever had. They taste like honey was smeared on them. Yum!
A couple years ago Phil's Aunti Tara begged for a pair of his BDU's to go camping in since his other aunt has a set of his DCU's she goes camping in. The Friday before Veteran's Day, she sent me this photo telling me it was "Support your Troops" day at school. This is what she wore. I think it might be the coolest thing I've ever seen!
The Sunday before Thanksgiving was my Grandmom's nursing home's Thanksgiving feast. We trucked on over to have some delicious food.
Mom looks so much like her mom in this photo.
Matthew got a little photo happy while there.
After rounds of normal photos, we had to start in on the silly ones.
Obviously, we had a good time.
The Tuesday before Thanksgiving, the kindergarten classes had a big feast that they made themselves. We took milk so Matthew's class could make chocolate pie for the feast. *photo by Beth
One class wore pilgrim hats, another indian headbands, but Matthew's had the best, being they got to make turkey head bands! *photo by Beth
His placemat he made for the feast. He used it on Thanksgiving and wore his turkey band. *photo by Beth
I was on the bus while this was happening, but it sure looks good! He said it was great fun and yummy. *photo by Beth
As soon as I got done with my middle schoolers, I ran and grabbed Matthew and signed him out of school early. We took off for TX and got to Phil's at 11:30pm. It was a long drive!
I noticed Phil's cat sitting like this and took a photo. Phil looked in and told me that that's how she sits now, and sure enough all the time she gets in the chair like that. I think she thinks she's a dog.
Wednesday we pulled together our final Thanksgiving menu and grocery list. We went shopping when Phil got off work and prepped.
Thanksgiving Day we cooked a full feast for the 3 of us. We snacked all day and ate around 4:30pm, just like Phil's family. (My side eats by noon, no questions asked.) During the cooking process Phil announced that we were taking food to some soldiers pulling 24 hour CQ duty that day. The barracks they were at is next to Phil's building, so we went to see his office.
I think it might be part janitor closet, but maybe he just makes soldiers so nervous they puke alot. (Joke, everybody laugh.)
On the way, I asked to go by the building that the Ft Hood shooting happened at. It happened 11-5-09 and rocked the military community. 13 died, 29 injured. We moved to Hood 11-4-10. Now when people hear where Phil's stationed they ask about the building. It was easy to drive by because Phil works next door. This is the building from the back, from the barracks floor the soldiers we took a feast to were on. It is all blocked off.
It sits up on a hill and is hard to see from the road, but I could tell there were flowers on the fence when I'd been by before. I was not prepared for the memorials on the fence stretching far as we pulled up. It really makes you very grateful for the fact that your own soldier hasn't been seriously injured overseas and at home.
Matthew wanted us to explain about the flowers and we did. As we pulled away, we realized that he was crying. Even to a 5 yr old, that fence is powerful enough to bring strong emotions.
Time passed way to quickly, and Saturday found us driving back home again. It was still a long drive in case you were wondering.
The last weekend of November we walked the trail and enjoyed nature with our 3 dogs. Matthew stopped at one point and began making rock piles. He told us that it was his "Jesus Museum." There were places to pray and worship him. I don't know where he comes up with stuff, but I thought it was rather powerful.
Me, I was overwhelmingly grateful and thankful to be living in such a beautiful place, where we can walk and enjoy God's nature all around us.
Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and have been counting all the little blessing in your lives!
