Coming Home

Today, Friday, November 14, 2014, the Carter family is heading to Norfolk, Va to prepare for Jordan's return from deployment.  There is a family homecoming reception tonight and tomorrow the ship will be in port by 12:15.
There are no words to express the excitement we are all feeling.  This has been Jordan's first assignment since entering the Navy in February.  We have been able to email but I haven't heard in voice in months.
Lavoy, Kelli, Craig and I are staying for four days so we can spend some time with Jordan. He will come home to South Carolina for Christmas.
I am so thankful he will be in the states and only a six hour drive away.  So much better than the middle of the ocean on the other side of the world.
I am proud to say my son serves our country in the United States Navy! Go NAVY!

Deployment Tails from my Sailor

Jordan and I have been able to email regularly.  He is enjoying the ship and learning his way around.  He started on day shift but recently was moved to night shift.  He actually enjoys that shift and the guys on the shift better.  I sent him a package and he received it in less than two weeks.  He was so excited.  We learned that Hot Tamales (candy) melt in extreme heat.  Thankfully the red ooze from the Hot Tamales did not get on his devotional. He recently passed a test that allows him to walk on the deck without a tag-a-long.  He is really excited about that. Jordan called last Thursday around 5:30am.  It was good to hear his voice.  He continues to enjoy his role in the Navy and knows God's hand is directing him. 
I am enjoying following his ship, USS George H W Bush (CVN 77), on the Facebook page.  I am hoping one day a picture of Jordan on the deck will show up.  Until then, I like seeing the other sailors and read the comments from other families.

Deployed Sailor

Jordan has been deployed to Bahrain with the HSC 9.  They are currently on the George H W Bush carrier.  He left on Tuesday, July 22 from Norfolk, Virginia.  It took over 20 hours with the numerous stops they made.  He actually lost Wednesday, July 23 because he arrived in Bahrain on Thursday, July 24.
The flight stopped in Crete and Portugal.  He sent a picture of Crete.












After two weeks on the carrier, they had liberty in Dubai.  He sent a few pictures.  He stayed in the Irish Village; visited the tallest building; and went to a mall.

He has been able to email and text. Last Saturday, he texted me around 7:45am and we texted for over 2 hours.  It was great.  He began emailing yesterday and we have been able to go back and forth a few times. It is so good to hear from him. 
He has an address that we can send care packages.  AN Carter, Wayland HSC-9 Unit 60156, FPO, AE 09501-1503
The packages will take 2-4 weeks to get to him.  I will try to send one a week.  Once he gets his first, it won't be long after he gets the next one.
He has an email and would enjoy news from friends and family. wayland.carter@cvw8.navy.mil

Please pray for him regarding these things:
God's will
Job training
Working nights (12 hour shifts)
Deployment until Nov.
Thank you for your prayers and for following my blog.
God Bless America! Go NAVY!

More Pensacola Pictures

These pictures came from Kelli's phone. Hence, the silliness and number of Kelli shots. 

Jordan, Kelli, Craig and Hudzig heading to the beach.

Jordan, Kelli and Craig 7/4/14

Jordan, Kelli and Craig being silly.

First night-eating at Flounders.

Jordan and Hudzig.

Kelli and Jordan-7/5/14.

Kelli and Craig 7/5/14.

Kelli and Jordan 7/4/14.

Pensacola Adventure

It has been a little over a month since I posted an update.
When last I wrote, Jordan was given orders to Pensacola.  We weren't sure when he would get home so we made plans to visit him in Pensacola over the Fourth of July weekend.  We had a great time.  The base is right on the bay.  Pensacola, the city, is not that appealing but Pensacola Beach was very nice.  The restaurants were great.  Our favorite was Flounder.  The food was delicious, the atmosphere was perfect and the service was excellent. We spent most of the time at the beach.  There is a bar and grill, Casino Bar and grill, right by the pier that was so comfortable.  They had a variety of seating, misting rods, umbrellas and friendly service.  Lavoy and I hung out there while the kids hung out with Jordan's friends.
I was amazed that there is no tide in the Gulf.  The sand was white and pretty but terrible to walk in.  It was hot and very deep making the walk difficult. Because we were there the Fourth of July, it was packed.  I posted a picture on Instagram and Facebook to highlight the insanity of the day at the beach.
Jordan enjoyed our visit and we enjoyed seeing him.  When we arranged the visit, we had no idea when he would be completed with classes and have leave. The Monday before we went to see him we found out he would be home July 11.  We continued with our plans because we had never been to Pensacola and we hadn't seen Jordan since March.
Here are a few snap shots from the trip.

Entering Pensacola. 7/3/14

Family on the Pensacola Pier. 7/3/14

Pensacola Pier. 7/3/14

Craig and Jordan on jet skis. 7/5/14

Fourth of July insanity on the beach.

Kelli and mom tanning. 7/5/14

View of Pensacola Beach from the pier. 7/3/14

View of the beach from the restaurant, Crabs. 7/4/14

USS George H. W. Bush Carrier

After Jordan completes training in Pensacola, Fl, he will report for duty on the USS George H. W. Bush Carrier stationed with the Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 9- The Tridents in Norfolk, Va.
He will get 10 days leave before reporting for duty.  We are excited about seeing him in a month and also about him being stationed on the east coast.  He could have easily been stationed in San Diego, Ca.  I know that is where he wanted to go but based on everything I have read about HSC-9, he will be seeing a great deal of the world and country soon enough.
I am posting the official website for the carrier and the insignia of the carrier and his squadron.
http://www.public.navy.mil/airfor/cvn77/Pages/USS%20GEORGE%20H.W.%20BUSH%20%28CVN%2077%29.aspx

So proud of Jordan! GO NAVY!

Room with a View

Jordan was kind enough to send me the corrections needed from the post yesterday.  Here is his text to me about my blog:

"I read your blog the tread was with fins but for 3 rounds of 1:30 mins after a long pt. And I'll always call you and dad I don't call either of you first or last I just call whoever I don't discriminate. I won't stop calling you mom."

He sent some pictures of his room and his good buddy, Hudzig, posing in all of them.  Here is his room in Great Lakes, IL.  It won't be his dwelling for much longer.  He has already informed me he is mailing some of his things home so he won't have too much "baggage" going to Pensacola.