You learn so much

You learn so much about yourself, and others when you're going through a deployment. It mostly helps bring out the shittyness in people. I've learned a lot about my 'friends' this deployment, and how many of them aren't friends, and never really were. I have two friends in my life that has been here for me so much this deployment and I am so thankful for them. Keeping me busy so that my mind is occupied and so Conner is as well. I have a few friends I thought I'd be able to rely on but I really can't. I never get asked how I am doing, or if I need anything even if it's just someone to talk to. I don't need pitty or someone babying me but knowing I have people supporting me, and Eric helps. I tend to rely on people more then I should and it always lets me down.

Especially with people who are fellow Military Wives.. Who are, or will be going through the time thing at some point in time. They'll want me to be there for them, but they haven't been here for me. I know I'll be there whenever someone needs me because I know how it feels to be let down and not having anyone to lean on. I am so thankful I came home while Eric is gone because I'd be miserable in Mississippi. I was when we were there together, so without him would just make it worse.

I've also learned a lot about myself. I am really hard on myself in everything in life. I turn everything into my fault and feel bad more then I should. I care more about others then they ever will for me and I take a lot of things to heart. I want to be stronger, care less. I know that when Eric gets home I don't need anyone but him in my life. Having this time without him has made me realize how lucky I truly am. Being a Military Wife can be so difficult sometimes but it's totally worth it. I am so proud of my Husband and everything he does. I am proud to say I am a Military Wife.

Like I said I don't need pitty, just support. A lot of people can't offer that because they are so wrapped up in their own lives to think about someone else. That's okay too because really what goes around, comes around and when their time comes they'll understand what I feel. The only difference is I'll be there.

My Tattoo!

So I have talked about wanting a tattoo for a long time now, and I knew I wanted one on my foot because I love feet tattoo's. So I finally did it. My friend Megan took me to get it for my Birthday. I thought up the idea to get Dog Tags with Eric's name on them. It came out amazing and I am so proud of it! Eric loves it as well!



This picture is from the night I got it.. I'll get a better one once it's done peeling and looks good. :)

He's doing good

I finally got to talk to Eric yesterday for the first time since Wednesday. I did hear from him Friday when they got there but it was only for a few minutes and was a crappy connection. He sounds in good spirits. Hopefully these 3 months fly by and he'll be heading home before we know it. They have lots to do there, to keep them busy. We won't talk as much as we have since deployment started, but we'll talk whenever he gets a chance to call. There are 25 guys there, with one phone line to call home. 15 minutes phone calls are really strict right now, and will be while they are there. He does get a chance to Facebook me on some days as well. I look forward to many updates from the NMCB 7 Facebook page, which is where the picture above came from. They also post links to whats going on with our men over there, which I'll share the one they have posted in this post.

These next 3 months will probably be our hardest, but hopefully they will fly by and he'll be back in Spain and ready to head home. We will finally be a Family again in December and I can't wait! This week marks 23 weeks since he left. Seems that since we hit half way time has slowed down a bit so I pray it picks back up soon! I miss my Husband, and Conner misses his Daddy!




By Chief Mass Communication Specialist Yan Kennon, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 7 Public Affairs

ROTA, Spain (NNS) -- A detail of Seabees assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 7 departed Naval Station Rota, Spain for their detachment site of Sao Tome, Sao Tome in support of Exercise West Africa Training Cruise (WATC) July 22.

The primary mission of the detail is to conduct various construction improvements and provide humanitarian civic assistance (HCA) to their host nation.

"We are all looking forward to working alongside the local military and host nation," said Chief Builder Diane Paddock, detail officer in charge (OIC). "The projects our crew will be completing will ensure a safe learning environment for the local school children and improve security measures at the Sao Tome International Airport."

The most intense project scheduled for the Seabees will be the installation of a 3,000-meter chain link fence around the perimeter of the Sao Tome International Airport, to include the installation of three vehicle and two pedestrian transit gates. This project, upon its completion, is estimated to consume 411 man-days of labor at a cost of approximately $81,000.

Detail Sao Tome will conduct HCA through two construction projects at the Dona Maria de Jesus and Almas Primary Schools located in Sao Tome.

The Dona Maria de Jesus Primary School HCA project, estimated at $30,000 and 206 man-days of labor, will encompass the painting of interior and exterior surfaces, the replacement of broken window panes, utility upgrades and the replacement of all overhead lighting.

The Almas Primary School project will task the Seabees with replacing broken windows and frames, interior and exterior painting, replacement of broken doors and hardware, and the addition of 400 linear feet of block fencing for added security at the school. The school project cost is estimated at $30K, encompassing 29 man-days of labor.

Additional projects, tasked to Detail Sao Tome, include a 69 man-day project to conduct roof repairs and the removal and replacement of a load bearing exterior wall at the Marapa Game and Fish Wildlife Refuge and a $3,000 construction repair project at the local Coast Guard facility.

"It is always a positive attribute to utilize our construction capabilities to help other nations around the world," said Utilitiesman 1st Class George Brooks, detail assistant officer in charge. "It is most evident when you can see the immediate impact of a quality construction project from start to finish in such a short timeframe. We are all looking forward to the work that we will be performing for the people of Sao Tome."

Detail Sao Tome is expected to rejoin the mainbody site of Rota, Spain in late October.

NMCB 7 and its detachments are currently deployed to various locations throughout Europe and Africa as part of the battalion's regularly scheduled 2010 deployment, with the main body of the battalion operating from Camp Mitchell at Naval Station Rota.

NMCB 7 is one of the original 10 Seabee battalions authorized by the Chief of the Navy's Bureau of Yards and Docks, in 1942. The battalion is homeported at the Naval Construction Battalion Center Gulfport, Miss., home of the Atlantic Fleet Seabees, and is currently the East Coast's Battle "E" Seabee battalion.

Normal Life...

Lately I've been thinking a lot about our days. I just wanted our normal life back. The one that consisted of Eric, Conner and I. Our little Family living everyday together, doing normal Family things. Just waking up together, having help with Conner and eating together as a Family. It seems like these things now, are just chores, and not joys. I hate meal times. Especially since Conner hates to sit and eat. I can't wait to get us back into our normal routine that we all knew 5 months ago.


Don't get me wrong.. I love being with my Parent's and they do help a lot. They love Conner so much, and he loves them just the same. But we need Eric. Our life is incomplete without him here with us. It's going to be hard to leave our life here in Ohio, the one we will have been living for 10 months, but I am ready to be back with my Family of 3. In our own house, and our own things. We'll miss Ohio so much, but we're ready for our life in Mississippi.

As the days go on I feel my patience getting thinner, and thinner. I am starting to get really antsy to have Eric home. Most days I am okay, but some days I just snap and am in this mood. I hate it. I hate getting frustrated with my 2 year old, that's just being a typical 2 year old. I want more for him, a better daily life. I know we can tough it out these last few months, we have for the past 5.


I just want him home.

We're half way there!

So we are finally half way through deployment. What an amazing feeling. We've got 5 months down, and just under 5 to go. I can't wait for my Husband to be home where he belongs. We miss him so much. Lately I've been getting really anxious for his homecoming. I have my days where it makes me sad to think we'll be leaving here soon. I've loved having this time with my Parent's, and friends. I've learned a lot about myself, and others. Overall this deployment has changed, and helped me a lot. I'm thankful for this time with them, but I am ready for my Husband to be home to be a Family again. I am ready to be back in MS with our things. I do dread being there with the drama of friends we dealt with before, but we don't talk to them anymore so it'll be another fresh start. After all these months I've realized I don't need anyone down there but Eric, and Conner. I wish I could pack my close friends, and Parent's up and take them with us. Mostly my Parent's.


Eric will finally be heading to Africa this week. It's been postponed for a while now. I'm kind of dreading it because we'll talk less, especially with how much I've been missing him lately. I guess we've been lucky to talk everyday for the last 5 months. It'll help the time go by faster, because we'll be counting down the days until we can talk again.

Another battalion just got home this week. They were gone for 4-5 months. I am jealous and got butterflies seeing their homecoming pictures. I can't wait for that to be us. I don't really envy them to much though because they'll only be home for 6 months and then go out for 10. Where we are getting out 10 month one over with and I like that idea better. Especially because Eric will be home for 13 months and then leave for 8.


So that's that. We're half way there! WOO HOO!