Wordless Wednesday Vacay

First time seeing my brother since he left

National Infantry Museum where they held the Graduation Ceremony

Downtown Nashville Sunrise ❤

Turning Blue Ceremony

Quick recap of  our first official day of being in Columbus, Georgia. I’ve decided we need to move here. Today is exciting because not only is it the family briefing day but also the Turning Blue Ceremony and first time we get to see my brother! I was super excited because I had never been on base before so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was really surprised to see it was like driving through a little town. On the way to the ceremony we passed by the building my brother was staying in and seen some of the obstacle course stuff they had to do. It was amzing to get a glimpse into what my brother’s been living the last 14 weeks. But what was even more amazing was watching and listening to the march they were saying. It is probably dumb to say but it brought me to tears a little bit. I’m just so proud of my brother, and yes I don’t think I can say that enough and he’s growing into such an amazing man and hero that I just can’t tell him enough. I mean since I was in 8th grade, (making him about O’s age of 7) until the start of Senior year, I was the one making sure him and my sister got home okay, that they had their homework done and fought them to get their chores done, or even covering for them when they decided to run outside and play instead. I was the after school “mom” that made sure their clothes were clean and put away, they had dinner and even took a bath and were in bed at their normal times. My mother worked mostly 2pm-10pm and that’s just what my job was growing up being the oldest. It stunk a lot of times but let me tell you having seen him grow into the man he is now, I’m over joyed with this feeling of pride. But enough sappy words, here is the video of their march. It’s a bit hard to hear at the beginning but my favorite line was: 

“If you wanna be Airborne you gotta do it my way … My way or the highway!”

Sunday Citar + Infantry Strong

It’s Sunday and we’re back to our regularly scheduled programming. That means Sunday Citar with Tabitha at Fresh Mommy! Well with the last 4 days being spent on the road and out of town I have to say this choice of photo and quote (or well in my case will be a saying) should be no surprise. I mean you’ve had to expect me to burn through my whole memory card right? Well not only did I get some great photos, shed a lot of tears, and even captured some great videos (or so I think at least) I have to tell you it was an amazing trip and I’ve promised myself in the next 10 years I WILL be living down South somehow. I’m aiming for Tennessee or Georgia. I really loved those and I’ve always felt at home when we’d visit Arkansas when I was little. But enough rambling. Here is my Sunday Citar + Quote for the week:

Infantry Strong ❤

This was for their Turning Blue Ceremony A Turning Blue Ceremony is an impressive ceremony where a soldier is specifically assigned to the Infantry.  One of our family members was given the opportunity to attach a blue Infantry cord to my brother’s Class A uniform. The one thing they pushed during the family briefing was two words that I loved and am very proud to say Infantry Strong. I’m so proud of my brother and I hope that no matter what he does he has already become a hero in the eyes of some very important people … his family! But I have to say after spending 17+ hours in the car I can barely keep my eyes open so it’s off to get some sleep!

On The Road: Photos

Away We Go

It’s hard to beleive it’s been 3 months since I posted about my brother leaving but here we are about 2.5 hours away from starting the 15.5 hour drive it takes to get to Georgia. We are getting to see him graduate from boot camp. I’m so vey proud of him and O is so excited to see Bug. He misses him so much as we all do. This is such a big step for him and I can’t wait to see where the world takes him!

Goodbye Little Brother

Wait wait wait! Good-bye seems so …. final so instead I’ll start over and say “See you later baby brother!” It’s hard to believe that it’s been a whole week since I last seen my brother. See I wanted this to post the day he left but I was so sad over it that I just couldn’t get the words to come out at the time. My brother and I are 8 years apart, add that to the fact of that awkward boy stage ALL boys go through, it made it hard for me to actually get along with my brother. I was also the mother in the house once he started elementary school. Our mother worked mostly nights during the week/weekend and my father did as well. I was the one that came home right after school everyday to try and make sure the kids had their homework done and their share from the list of chores our mother left us to do everyday. Of course they usually left the chores up to me because well no matter what I was in trouble if they didn’t get it done. I didn’t get to hang out with friends my age, or even ask if I wanted to try out for sports during middle/high school because I knew I had to be there to help the kids get in after school. That was my unpaid job. Plus my mother has a habit of playing favoritism and it was clear that the ‘pecking order’ in our was my sister, my brother, and me way at the bottom of the totem pole. I don’t know if it had to do with my mother being a teen parent, my biological father being a piece of shit, or what the reason was for me feeling like such an outcast in my family because when ever it was brought up, the blame went on the siblings and never my mother. It’s sad to say she even pitted us against each other. It was just the last 3 years since I’ve cut her out of my life that I’ve gotten along with my sister and this past May my brother turned 18 and seemed to outgrow his awkward boy stage. We were finally starting to get along and get to be close siblings and now he’s left me …. for the army.

I’m excited for him because honestly other than his family and beautiful girlfriend, there isn’t much out here for him. You’re considered having a great job if you can get into the local Lowe’s Distribution Center or even Cadbury’s. Other than that it’s Walmart and the likes. Of course he could go to college but neither of our parents can afford it and I know he’s got a better chance of going with the Army’s help because then he knows he’ll be able to use what he goes for and it gives him some time to think about what he wants to go for. I just can’t say enough how proud of him I am. I hope he knows that. I know I only heard it around my grandparents and now that my grandma is gone I rarely hear it and want to make sure he knows that at least someone in our family is very proud of him and can’t wait to see where this journey in his life takes him. He’s also such a big influence on Oj. He loves him and definitely looks up to him. I can’t tell you how many times in the day he tells me he’s going to be an army person just like his Uncle, and honestly I couldn’t think of a better role model for him. If that’s what he wants to do when he grows up I’ll be a sad mama but I def won’t be squashing his dreams.

While this took a few different turns than I expected I think you get what my jumbled brain is trying to say. I love you Bug, and am so very proud of you. We’re all counting down the days until we get mail from you, a text/phone call, and the ever so important visit home. Stay safe and I’ll see you soon!

love your Sister & Nephewfa