Climbing

Today I watched the Little One climb onto her stroller then off again.  I didn't have to give her one little push or boost (only watched & spotted).  I guess she's in her climbing stage now... I'd better watch out.

Cinco De Mayo Wedding and Straight to Boot Camp

My Hubby & I talked for the last time 2 nights ago as he was on the bus ride to his Basic Training station... I don't know exactly what he's doing or where he is right now, but I know he's somewhere in Fort Jackson, South Carolina at a... what did he call it? Reception Battalion? I'm not sure... I don't think he can call me anymore, otherwise he would have already.  His official boot camp training doesn't start 'til Friday, but I'm guessing once a soldier gets to the station, as his or her paperwork is being processed, ALL OF ONE'S BELONGS ARE TAKEN AWAY IN A VIOLENT YANKING MOTION?!?!? does anyone know? feel free to straighten me out. hehe ;)

With that said... I've been very studiously learning my ACRONYMS!! So far I've got down these: PCS, NCO, ACU, a few of the ranks like PFC & SGT... PX that's an easy one because I came across it a lot when reading about living on base.  DEERS! that's the program to which Hubby needs to add me... a some other ones I don't want to recall off the top of my head.  Anyways, YAY FOR ME! 'been doing my military homework!

I found a ton of helpful sites where I gazed upon the activity of the many Army wife "support groups" (blog rings actually) and the fellowships that were formed.  Oh how I want to be apart of such things... but I feel so... different.  Out of my element.  I would really like to fine somewhere to fit in.  It's a bit difficult because, to be truthful, I am not your typical Army wife & mother: caucasian, mid-twenties and older, living on base, & enrolled in all of those programs at the ACS.  I seem to be out of range if you know what I mean: I'm going to college, I live off-base, I'm 20 (not even legal drinking age yet in California), I'm Asian (Vietnamese to be exact... I just haven't been finding any Asian military wives online & blogging) [side note: Asians fall in the "Others" group which makes up 6% of the Army enlisted on duty... so I'm not expecting to see very many Asian spouses]. 

I wish Baby & I could be living on base with Hubby right now... that would be I could enroll in all of those helpful programs at ACS  and such.  

When I DO finally move on base I feel very out of place.  I'm just very used to my extremely Vietnamese surrounds here in Little Saigon, Southern California.  I am predicting a very Caucasian community on the base, and that will be a very dramatic change of dynamic and social group.  I read that I shouldn't get too attached when I move on base because I'll probably be moving soon again.  But I still love to form intimate sister-like friendships so I don't know how I will cope with uprooting so often.  I'll just have to wait and see...

I would like to close with letting everyone and anyone know that I am in search of a young group of military spouses who have children... do u feel my pain? (heh, this is me indulged in moping).  Anyone out there?

Hallelujah!

Yesterday Arthur was able to get out of work for his first class to become a Catholic. I was so relieved that he made it to the class. I went with him to support him in his endeavor to come into my religious community. Completing this class is not going to be easy for him because he does not like the way the class is taught.

RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) is a program that pretty much helps an adult convert to the Catholic religion. Because it is a class for adults and their developing faith, the class is not so much "taught" as it is guided. The deacon that leads the classes said that one is to grow in faith through "breaking down the scripture" and connecting it to one's own life. That's not the part that Arthur doesn't like. It is the sharing of our experiences in a group that puts Arthur beside himself. I worry that he won't be able to handle it.. However, I have hope that he is strong and will persevere. Plus, I will be praying for him constantly.

Lost & Found

For my 18th birthday, a friend named Arthur gave me a heart-shaped locket made of pure silver. The locket also had my name engraved on the front. At that time, (from the stories his friends and family told me), I found out that he was head-over-heels for me *blush*. However, his feelings were unrequited on my end (I was not ready nor was I looking for a relationship). As a result, his heartfelt gift had minimal sentimental meaning to me. I was also a bit intimidated by his bold gestures and almost didn't know what to do with it.

About two years have pasted, and Arthur and I are pregnant with our first child and closer than ever. One day Arthur asked me about the locket and told me that the gray box it was in he got from his mom (in other words, it means even MORE now). I had NO IDEA where it was! So I go into a frantic hunt for the missing locket. Months go by, and despite the enormous effort I put into looking for the locket which meant SO MUCH to me now, it was nowhere to be found. Then, on a night as ordinary as any other (September 20, 2007), my mother pops into my room and hands me a gray box. This box I opened to find:

I was ecstatic! Found at last! It came back to me =)

Arthur had such a sweet smile on his face when I showed him what I had found. Thank God this locket was in good hands all this time.