Deployment Update

It has been a while since Jon has had the time to send an update, but here it is now.

“Greetings:

Well, thanks for all your prayers, encouragement, physical care, correspondence (snail mail, MOTO mail and E-mail), and packages—for me, Sheryl and Joshua. I’m about 2/3rds of the way through this deployment, definitely on the down-hill stretch, and the date when I will have to notify you all not to send any more packages (because if there is a delay in shipment I will not be here) is soon approaching (that date, to play it safe, will be around December 15.

Time is going by quickly for me, especially since getting back from R&R, as I’ve been attending more meetings (my boss has been on the road more, and I’ve had to stand in the gap) and still had the same amount of work to do. Over the last two months, some of the technology I’ve had access to (my blog, archived music, downloading photos and short video clips from my camera to be emailed home, etc) through government computers has been severely curtailed. Access to these services had been instrumental in maintaining a sense of being connected with all of you, so I’ve struggled a little with lower morale over the last few weeks—but thanks to your prayers, continued encouragement, and God’s blessing, I have been sustained. Additionally, I’ve transitioned back to working many hours at the computer without escaping into music via headphones—due to the secure nature of the facilities in which I’ve worked for the last 7 years, I’m historically used to it, and had gotten spoiled in the last 8 months—I’m doing OK with it. I have had to disengage from the FaBQ, the quintet I was practicing with—but that has been a good thing, as the pressure to participate in future programs was beginning to add to my stress levels, not diminish them—and it has proved essential to have that extra hour a day to catch up with my work load.

Just today I received FIVE MOTO mails, I am so thankful for all of you who take the time to write me and keep me up to date with even routine things in your lives. Just knowing that y’all are experiencing life within the expected ranges of ‘normalcy’ make the deviations from ‘normalcy’ in my own routine fully acceptable. Semper Fi, Jarhedjon”

Thank you for your continued support of Jon, Joshua and me.

Sheryl

Harvest Party

Yesterday Joshua and I enjoyed a fun Harvest Party at Dalton's house. About 25 children arrived with various items to "sell." Dalton's mom provided everyone with pennies to purchase one of each item. What fun -- cupcakes, cookies, pens, pencils, play dough, popcorn balls, apple cider, little toys and a little bit of candy. We took apples and individual carmel packets. It was all over in a little less than an hour. The kids had a great time buying and selling and everyone went home with a bag full of goodies. Thanks to Mandy for including us in this fun event. Here is Joshua with his friends Dalton and Griffin. Both are in his 1st grade class.

Sheryl

Final Birthday Celebration

Sunday I enjoyed a delicious tea at the Tea House in San Juan Capistrano with my mom, sister and college friend Lauri. Here we are after a very filling meal. It was a gorgeous day and we had a lovely time watching the leaves fall as we lounged on the patio sipping tea and munching many tasty treats.

So many people have helped me celebrate my 45th birthday. Thank you to all of you. Here's to 45 more years.

Sheryl

Another Birthday Celebration

Tonight I enjoyed another birthday celebration. Cathy, Karen, Shirley, Jill and I have been celebrating our birthdays together four times a year for almost four years. It was wonderful to gather tonight at PF Changs and share some great food, excellent conversation and fun gifts.

I am so blessed to have friends who have been in my life for many years and to have so many new friends that the Lord has brought into my life since our move to Southern Orange County.

Sheryl

Thanks for the Memories

Jon has been so blessed this week by gifts and memories. Read on...

"The San Juan Seniors are REALLY taking care of me!! Two days ago I received a great package of goodies, extra crunchy peanut butter, jerky, candy, pretzels, cans of cashews, popcorn, and candy. I immediately ate the whole bag of pretzel-peanut-butter sandwiches—they were so good I couldn’t help myself. THEN, yesterday, I received another package from the San Juan Seniors!! This box had lots MORE stuff in it, in addition to three things that I’ve never had (over here), that I’m looking forward to immensely: Googly Eye Gummy Bears, Cheeze-IT twister crackers, and Nacho Cheese dip. Wow. I am so blessed, and quite overwhelmed. I am very thankful, and very encouraged.

Twenty one years ago I graduated from Marine Security Guard School in class 5-85, one of the largest classes in MSG School history (164 graduates). Over the eight weeks of the school, I survived on potatoes that I bought at Food4Less, which I stored (against regulation) in my room one night. There was a ‘hygiene’ inspection the next day, my potatoes were found, and I ‘fessed up publicly to being the culprit. No big deal. Well, a couple days ago I’m walking past the G4 shop here when a Marine stops me and asks me if I was in MSG School class 5-85. Surprised, I acknowledge that I was, and then he says, “I knew it, you’re the Potato Man.” I couldn’t believe it, more than twenty years have gone by and I’m still notorious! Over the years, I’ve run into six or seven Marines from my MSG School class, and they all remember the incident clearly. It turns out there is another Marine here in the G3 that was also in our class, we’ll have to all go to the DFAC for some potatoes in memory of those days."

Sheryl

Final Celebration Today

Enjoyed an entertaining birthday dinner at Ichibiri -- a Japanese restaurant in San Clemente. The food was prepared in front of us and the boys -- Joshua and his friends Bradley and Justin -- were thrilled. Jilinda and I were even able to carry on a conversation during most of the meal. What a blessing to have such quality friends and to enjoy good food together.

Thanks to all of you who have helped to make my 45th birthday so special. And I still have a couple more celebrations later this week. I usually try to celebrate all month. :)

Sheryl

Mid-life

Today I turn 45 and I figure that's probably about the middle of my life. Both of my grandmothers lived about 90 years, so I'm half way there.

My celebration actually started Sunday evening when our small group had birthday cake after our dinner. Thanks, Cyndi, for the birthday "sand" castle -- very creative.

This morning the first e-mail I opened included a video from Jon singing "Happy Birthday." The second e-mail included a video of Jon's brass quartet playing "Happy Birthday" to me. It was very touching to have those four guys playing for me and wishing me a special day.

Joshua didn't have a card for me, but when I asked about a gift, he ran to his room and found a couple melted bead designs that he made over the weekend and presented them as my present. I suggested that since it was my birthday we could walk to school together. That is my favorite things to do with Joshua in the morning. He didn't complain, rushed to get ready so we could be out the door by 7:15. It was a beautiful California-autumn morning and we had a wonderful conversation as we held hands on our 25 minute walk to school. That has to be one of the best birthday presents ever.

I got my jog/walk done on the way home and after getting cleaned up met Claire, Nanci and Cyndi for breakfast at Roma's House in San Juan Capistrano -- a quaint little restaurant right next to the train tracks in the old part of town. It was a wonderful way to start my day.

This afternoon I am hosting an after-school play date for Joshua's class. We'll just hang out at the playground on campus. It is a great opportunity for the parents to get to know each other a little bit while the kids play.

This evening will be topped off by dinner with friends, the den Dulks. Enjoying a wonderful celebration of my 45 years of life. I am truly blessed.

Sheryl

Good Friends

My good friend Melissa and her husband Jim (also known as Coach Jim on the soccer field) are keeping Joshua for me this weekend so I can participate in our Y Malawi quarterly meetings. For more information on Y Malawi: http://www.yafrica.net/sites/ymalawi/Homepage.

Here is Joshua (in the shadows) heading off to his soccer game with his friend Noah and my friend Melissa. What a blessing to have friends who help me out with Joshua so I can still participate in various activities. There have been so many friends and family who have stepped in this year to help me as a single mom. THANK YOU ALL!

Sheryl

My bilingual son

I have been a bit slow in posting to the blog recently, but I have to brag a bit about my bilingual son. Last Friday Joshua was preparing to do a book report in class. He had made a model of a horse (cabillo) out of Styrofoam (what a mess) and was going to show it to his class along with the book he had read. Of course the whole presentation needed to be in Spanish. Before we left for school I asked if he would practice his presentation since I wouldn't be able to see it and I wanted to video tape it so Jon could see it. Amazing! Joshua spoke for over 3 minutes in Spanish. He talked about the book and then went into detail about how he made his cabillo. I couldn't understand all of it, because his Spanish has surpassed mine, but I got bits and pieces. It was so awesome to hear Joshua speak so calmly and clearly in another language. And on top of that, he wasn't nervous about getting in front of the other 18 students in his class and his teacher to do his book report. Very cool!

I have the video on my computer, so if you ever want to hear and see Joshua's report on the book "Tres Amigos" (one of the amigos was a cabillo), just stop by the house.

Proud Mama, Sheryl

Connections

Here's an update from Jon.

"I have been blessed and encouraged mightily by a few connections that have taken place in the last month. First, I discovered that a Marine that was the only other PFC with me in Supply School at Camp Johnson, NC (every one else in the class was a private) in 1982 was now on his way to the very same base where I’m serving for a six month tour. I had not seen him since then, did not even know he was still in the Corps, but discovered (in a very roundabout way) that he was still in the Corps, found out his email, and connected with him here a couple days after his feet hit the deck. Andy and I have had the chance to eat a couple of meals together at the chowhall (taxpayer’s treat, thank you very much, y’all), and it has been fun remembering those old times and catching up on the 24 or so intervening years.

Ruth, a classmate of mine from RVA (a missionary school in Kenya where I attended in grade 10) told me of a Marine Lieutenant who was the grandson of the man who was the principal of RVA while I was there (whose uncle was in my sister Linda’s class) who was on his way to this country for a second tour. Some Marines came into my shop prior to heading out to the FOB, and they were from the same unit as Ryan—so they passed on the word to him, and I was able to meet him. We talked for about 20 minutes—and I’ve already sent him a motomail that he should receive shortly after he reaches his bivouac.

I was finally able to connect with Cameron, the grandson of one of folks who support Sheryl and I from the San Juan Seniors—unfortunately, only by email. He was out here for a short time, but I did not have his email address, and the unit he supports is a little distance from where I am. When I finally got his email, he had already been sent back to the States due to an injury. However, it is very cool that I was finally able to touch base with him.

I’ve been getting motomails from lots of folks, Ruth, John, Greg, and others. Thanks so much. Sonny & Sandy (your new picture with both of you is cute J), Helen, and Dad, thanks for posting to Sheryl’s blog. Judy, thanks for your faithful snail mail cards, they are so great! I received some items from the San Juan Seniors, including some hand-knitted caps for wear under our helmets (it gets cold over here in a couple of months), THANKS SO MUCH."

I am very grateful for all of you who are encouraging Jon. We were able to talk on the phone on Sunday morning and I can tell that your notes, cards, packages, motomails, etc. are a blessing to him. Thanks.

Sheryl

Thanks for goodies

Jon sent this note over the weekend, but I didn't get around to posting it till now.

"I got a package from Scott and Renee [France], it was GREAT! A whole large package of double filled peanut butter Oreo cookies, two books that look like great recreational reading, a 1lb pound bag of peanut butter M&Ms, some Reese’s Peanut Butter cups, a Butterfinger bar, two containers of fru-fru instant specialty coffee, and some Planter’s cashews. This just totally rocks, especially as I’m struggling with the mid-deployment I’ve-still-got-a-long-way-to-go feeling blues."

Obviously he enjoys all the goodies everyone is sending him. Please pray for healing for a "tweaked" muscle on his right side. It has kept him from his morning sit-ups and may keep him from running. With all the goodies people are sending him, he definitely needs to keep up his exercise routine. :) Thanks.

Joshua and I got to enjoy another fun day at Legoland, thanks to the San Juan Seniors who continue to demonstrate their "adoption" of us in generous ways. Joshua didn't have school on Monday so we took his friend Jack with us and met up with a school friend. All three boys played well together for about 5 hours. I think the two moms were much more worn out than the kids.

Sheryl