The 40 Day Focus
Today marks 40 days till my son ships for Navy Boot Camp. In addition to all the obvious stuff I worry about, I don’t want him to be gone and then wish I had really taken advantage of the time we still had. You know how you tell yourself that THIS Christmas you’re going to really relish the season, and then slam, bam it’s New Year’s? I don’t want that to happen.
His leaving isn’t in any way comparable to all of the “40 days” in the Bible, but being Christian, 40 days can’t help but stand-out in my attention as a time to take notice.
I set the date and started inviting people to Beef’s going away party, I cried like a silly girl when he hugged me this morning and fist pumped the 40-day mark. Then, we talked about if he would want to be informed if something bad happened while he was gone. And, finally, I picked out the fabric to start sewing my Blue Star.
Day One: Quilting the Blue Star
I’ll keep you updated on my Blue Star’s progress. I have a bunch of kids and I’m not very consistent by nature. I also started writing Beef letters, so he will get letters while he’s gone even when I’m scatterbrained or overwhelmed by regular life.
In my focus on my own family, I don’t want to forget that three families of young men in their 20s changed their blue stars to gold over the weekend, according to iCasualties.org.
BooRadley
Category: Navy, Support the troops
That is really sweet boo.
Just sent you an email.
Please post the pattern you are using, my folks are interested!!
Good luck to your son Boo!
I wish that young sailor fair winds. 40 days, huh? Before you know it, he’ll have 20 years in and be retired. But he won’t get paid til he’s 60. If then. May GOD bless him and keep him safe, and you!
I’m always overjoyed when I hear of a young person setting out on this journey for the first time. I have four daughters myself and I’m hoping at least one of them turns to the military for a career. If not, maybe they’ll at least join the Air Force as it is a lot like the military.
I wish your son the luck of the chicken and the pig. If he doesn’t understand that, ask any sailor. Good luck!
When my son left for Army basic at Benning’s School for Boys, I bought a small blue star flag (about 4X6″) and hung it on my front door so that anyone coming to visit would see it. It stayed there the whole time he was gone, and it’s now been retired to the memories box. I’ll give it to him when he gets his own place.
As to letters, I made certain to write to him at least once a week. Because of problems with arthritis I typed each one but hand signed and hand-addressed them all. I’ve also printed out copies of those and have them in a folder along with the letters he wrote back.
God bless him, Boo…… and you too. Anything he needs, you just ask.
V/R
http://quiltbug.com/PDF/blue-star-services.pdf
Lucky, this is my starting point. I will scan in the pieces as I draw them or if I find a pattern that has them drawn out. I have three more kids leaving this summer, so I’m making my flag with four and then covering the stars w white muslin until they leave.