Welcome Home Thomas

This week has been a sick week for me. I woke up Monday morning with a cold and finally seem to be getting over it. Monday we had a welcome home party for Thomas. The morning kept us busy preparing for it. Nicole came over and helped Gina do the decorating. We invited mostly family which consisted of about 45 people. Thomas wore his dress blue uniform and everyone wanted their picture taken with him. I grilled hamburgers, hot dogs, and sausage. Gina made potato salad and maw maw Sue brought baked beans. After the party was over, we visited with Dave & Chris, our son-in-law’s parents, along with Shane & Nicole. It was a wonderful day.
Here are a few pictures from the party.

Displaying Our Marine


Thomas's Cookie Cake


Another Display For Thomas


Thomas with his Aunt Dana & Uncle Rickey


Thomas with Wanda & Phil


Thomas and Brandi


Thomas Telling Stories to His Cousins


Nicole & Shane with His Parents Dave & Chris


Gina with My Two Sisters Dana & Brenda

The rest of the week has been consumed with taking medicine and sleeping. Gina has played around in her garden a little but it has rained here every day and is still raining as I write. Thomas has been coming and going all week visiting friends.

We invited Shane & Nicole over Friday Night for dinner to enjoy steak and bake potatoes with us. This week consisted of me being sick and Gina & I spending time with Thomas before he flies out on Monday the 14th. However, I do feel better today and believe I may be over this head cold / flu.

Until tomorrow, Gina & I hope everyone has a pleasant and wonderful day, enjoying what our Father has so graciously blessed us with.

Thomas in His Dress Blue's

Sunday
September 6, 2009

We woke up this morning and had our coffee inside since it was raining. Apparently this was the first rain in over two weeks. We could tell since most of the grass in the yard was brown. From there we woke up Thomas. He then dressed into his dress blue uniform for church.

One Sharp Looking Marine


Thomas & Haley

He and Haley then went to church. I wrote and published the blog while Gina worked on printing some pictures. We then went to Jack & Sue’s house for lunch. Thomas & Haley met us over there after church. Jack & Sue became our children’s adopted grandparents when Thomas was only 18 months old. They are very special grandparents to Thomas and to us.

Maw Maw Sue's First Sight of Her Grandson


Maw Maw Now Crying with Joy


Thomas and Aunt Chrystal


Proud Grandmother

From there Thomas went to visit and show Uncle Jim and Aunt Nell his uniform.

Uncle Jim Expressing His Happiness For Thomas


Aunt Nell's Smile Says It All


Very Proud Aunt & Uncle

We then made it back home and Uncle Rickey & Aunt Dana stopped by to see Thomas. I took some pictures only to find out later that I didn't have a memory card in the camera. I have to catch a picture of Thomas with them at a later time. Thomas then left to visit some of his friends. He called us later and asked what was for dinner and we asked him what he wanted. He wanted fried pork again so we went to Walmart and bought a pork tenderloin. When we got home we did a video conference with Ashley & Parker in Grenada.

IChatting with Ashley & Parker

This was the first time that Ashley was able to see Thomas other than in pictures. We then cooked and ate dinner. It all tasted great and Thomas was happy. Gina and Haley then went back to Walmart to buy everything we needed for the party we’re having tomorrow in celebration of Thomas’s graduation. They got back home around 10:30. After everything was put away we all went to bed. It was a wonderful day seeing Thomas in his dress blue uniform.

Until tomorrow, Gina & I hope everyone has a pleasant and wonderful day, enjoying what our Father has so graciously blessed us with.

Graduation Day and Travel to Louisiana

Friday
September 4, 2009

I warned everyone that I was getting up at five o’clock and would be leaving at seven o’clock. I was going to make sure I had a good seat to see Thomas. We all left at seven o’clock and made it to the base and to our seat at 7:30. After the graduation ceremony we went to his barracks and picked up his belongings. Once his bags were loaded into the truck we drove to the Iwo Jima monument to take some pictures. Thomas decided that he didn’t want to drive to Louisiana today since he wanted his favorite meal of fried pork loin, homemade mash potatoes and baked beans. After we all ate Shane & Nicole left for Florence Alabama to visit with a marine buddy and his wife. After they left we went back to the base so Thomas could get a hair cut and then we just hung out at the camper. The last item he wanted was to take a long hot shower. I think he spent over 20 minutes in the shower. From there you could tell he was tired so we all said good night and headed to bed. We are so proud of Thomas and his accomplishments. Here are a few pictures.

Platoon 1059 on the Parade Field

Thomas at Attention


Thomas giving a Hand Salute


Thomas Marching for the Pass & Review


Proud Mom


Proud Dad


Proud Sister & Brother-In-Law


A Very Happy Marine with His Girlfriend


Shane Carrying Both of Thomas's Seabags


Thomas Enjoying His First and Favorite Home Cooked Meal

Saturday
September 5, 2009

We got up at five o’clock this morning and started getting our home ready to travel. There are too many trees for me to try and navigate out of this campground in the dark so we waited for first light and was on the road at 6:32. We had a nice 783 mile trip back to our house in Louisiana. We arrived at 7:30. I’m glad that we gained an hour because the trip was getting long by the time we arrived at our house. A fourteen hour drive is a long drive but that was better than driving it yesterday after graduation. I need to learn how to stop making these 600 and 700 mile a day drives but the truck is so comfortable to drive. I got our home backed up and then all I wanted to do was relax and watch the LSU football game, which is exactly what I did. They all went to bed around eleven o’clock and I stayed up to watch the end of the game which finished at one o’clock in the morning.

Until tomorrow, Gina & I hope everyone has a pleasant and wonderful day, enjoying what our Father has so graciously blessed us with.