7 March, 0900 to 1600 (Open House schedule—drop by whenever)

Jon has been home for over 2 weeks now and we are going through the process of adjusting to living together as a family again. We have a big project coming up on Saturday, March 7, and if you'd like to come and help us, you can spend some quality time with Jon digging in the dirt. :) If not, I'm sure we'll schedule a more party-like Open House in the not too distant future. Read on to find out about our Landspacing Open House. I know we aren't updating the blog much these days, but you can find us on facebook, if you want to see pictures and learn other interesting facts about each of us. Sheryl

Sheryl, Joshua and I are finally getting around to adding some ground cover and foliage to our plot following the installation of our new prefabricated home back in January, 2008 (OK, we have some excuse for not doing this earlier, since I deployed two weeks after our house went in, and will have only been back about four weeks when we do this).

Our landscaping consultant is from Back to Natives Restoration, a non-profit that is focused on biodiversity and native plant landscaping benefits (to reduce water use, chemical herbicide and pesticide use--if not eliminate chemical use altogether). Our consultant will be conducting a “Do it Yourself” workshop to kick our day off, where we’ll learn about some of the benefits of restoring to California its native plants--while we immediately reinforce this learning with practical application.

Though these plants are hardy and drought tolerant, special treatment needs to be given during the planting portion to ensure a healthy acclimation process for the plants as they transition from a well watered container to our drought tolerant landscape! This process is noticeably different from the techniques taught at commercial nursery workshops or at the 'Do It Yourself Workshop' at your local big box home improvement store.

We’ll have the mulch and plants on hand, and would like our consultant to oversee our planting, but there is an hourly fee, so we’re looking for a few folks who might be interested in learning about native plant restoration as well as learning how to plant and care for them to help speed up the planting process. For more information regarding Back to Natives Restoration, you can visit their website at http://www.backtonatives.org

If you are willing to come help us, would you please drop us a note or give us a call? We'd like to plan to have adequate stuff on hand for breakfast, lunch, and/or artificial motivation and stimulants.

Jon

Home

Jon is home!

Joshua and I arrived down on base at 4:40 and the buses pulled in about 2 hours later. The families were able to comfortably wait in a large hanger where hamburgers, hot dogs, cookies, chips and other goodies were provided. Joshua and I read for about half an hour. The luggage truck arrived about an hour before the Marines did so Joshua and I were able to search through the hundreds of bags and we actually found Jon's two bags. They were too heavy to take to the car but a Marine helped us move them away from the hundreds of other bags. That saved us a lot of time when Jon did arrive since it was a mad house with all the Marines looking for their bags at once.

We headed to Claim Jumper for dinner -- a family tradition (we've gone there after Jon's return from both deployments). Joshua got his wish of being able to wrestle with Jon as soon as we got home. Now he is getting to have his dad read his bed-time story and put him to bed. He is one happy boy.

Jon and I are pretty happy ourselves. Thanks for your prayers.

Sheryl

In US Airspace

Jon called at 9:00 this morning to let me know that they had landed in Minnesota, their entry point to the US this time. There were only 4 phones and a long line, so we spoke for about 2 minutes, but it was great to hear his voice. As I type he should be in the air again headed toward an Air Force Base here in Southern California. He is on schedule to disembark from the bus, that will carry him to Camp Pendleton, this evening.

Thank you so much for your prayers.

Sheryl

On the Road Home

After 48 hours without hearing from Jon, I finally had an e-mail from him yesterday. He had sent a few messages prior to that, but somehow they were lost in cyberspace. He has been in his "layover country" for a couple days reading, talking to colleagues, watching movies and just resting. As I type this he is preparing for the final leg of his journey home. There will be a lot of "hurry up and wait" going on for him over the next hours. Jon should be able to call once they land in CONUS (Continental United States) so I'll hear from him maybe 6 hours before he gets home. Of course many of the locations where they enter the US are on the east coast or in the northern states, so pray that the bad weather in those parts won't delay his return or if it does that we will all be patient.

Joshua and I are anxiously waiting for his arrival. Joshua commented this morning that he hates the waiting part. I completely understand.

Thanks for your continued prayers.

Sheryl

The Excitement Grows

I just received a call from the Family Readiness Officer (FRO) letting me know the time and place to meet Jon when he arrives. It is a new location, but I know where it is, so am ready to go. Now for the waiting. I haven't an e-mail from Jon in over 24 hours so he could already be traveling. Not sure but we are definitely in the final stretch. Trying to stay busy this week. :)

Thanks for your prayers.

Sheryl

A Beach Day in January

Sorry, but I just feel a need to rub in our good weather for all of you who live where the winter is bitterly cold. Here is Joshua on Saturday, January 31, 2009. Now I must admit that the ocean water felt like ice and it only took a few minutes before my feet were numb just standing in the ankle-deep surf. But the air was in the 80s so the children and the brave played in the surf. I don't mean to make light of those who are truly suffering this winter. We hope and pray for safety and a return of electricity in areas that have lost it. Hey, my realtor friends would love it if you would like to move to our lovely state. Houses are cheaper than they've been in years, of course taxes might be going up to pay for schools and other public services.

Almost down to counting the hours,

Sheryl