Sharp Shooters

The kids are having so much fun with their grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. However, the other day Grandpa Kennedy took the boys out to shoot his bb gun! Harmony felt that was a little to "boy" for her and so she didn't do it. The boys thought it was very cool!

culture shock

(my new toy)

(view from my parents deck)

On Monday Ivan and I went to go and pick up my new car. Afterward I wanted to stop and get some groceries and a few other things. So we stopped at Fred Meyer.

Ivan, because of good behavior on the plane, was allowed to pick out a Lego set. We started walking into the store he asked me if this is where we got Legos. I said yes. Then he asked where we had to go to get food. I told him in that store also. He looked at me like I was from Mars.

In Guam, the BX and the commissary aren't next to each other. So you have to drive from place to place.

Then as we were walking into the store, Ivan stopped and said, "Mom! They have phones outside!!" Apparently he had never seen a pay phone before!

As we were grabbing a few groceries, Ivan was looking at all of the different choices and said, " I like the food here better than the ones on Guam."

The cutest however, was on our drive home. We drove on a highway next to a damn. His eyes were huge as he asked what it was!

Then he was so excited to see a train! He hadn't remembered ever seeing a train in his whole life.

The best was when he was able to go in 2 tunnels!

My son who has seen carabou's walking down a highway, many, many different cultures represented at his school/housing, wild boars being chased by boonie dogs...had never been in a tunnel.

It is like he is discovering a whole new world!

Home

Today has been a little emotional for me. I am so anxious for Ben to come home (bright and early in the morning). But while I am here, my heart is at home. At my parents house. With my brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews and everyone else who has gathered. Yep, a family reunion without me. I wish I would have been able to go. But things didn't work out the way that I expected.

I started thinking about, what home is. There is a saying that goes, "home is where the Navy sends you". And although they are talking about your station...I think there may be a little bit more meaning to it. Let me take you back to the year 2002...

I was sitting in my parents basement watching JAG ( it was the one when Bud lost his leg) and I got a phone call from Ben. "Well Marie, I have good news and I have bad news. The good news is that I got my orders. The bad is that we are not going to any of the places we picked. They are sending us to Norfolk."

I was kind of in shock. But I told him that as long as we were together, any place was home.

So we moved to Norfolk. We made new friends. We found new schools. We found new stores to go too. We found a new ward. We started all over again. And then in what seems like the blink of an eye, 4 years had passed. Our time was up and it was time to move on. We were anxious to go somewhere new, but part of our hearts stayed in Norfolk.

We moved here to Guam. We made new friends. We found new schools. We found new stores to go too. We found a new branch. And now a year has flown by. We have said some goodbyes ( miss you Tiff),we have had new experiences, we have lived our life.

While Ben was in Afghanistan, I got one call from a member of his wardroom, asking if I needed anything. Just one. This time,Ben has been gone for a little over a month. I have had 4-5 phone calls, countless emails, my neighbor has stepped up numerous times to help me. Our branch at church, has totally stepped in and supported me. It has been amazing.

I don't have family here. But in a way...it feels like I do. So am I home? Is Guam home? My kids consider Norfolk to be home. I consider White Salmon to be home. And Ben...The Dalles.

I don't know where I am going with all this. I have just been thinking about home and family. And I think whoever said, " Home is where your heart is" was right. So part of my heart is in White Salmon and part is here on Guam.

So while everyone is having fun laughing, talking,eating, teasing Darla, playing with kids, having a talent show, working on crafts and all that...don't forget about the Turner family. We miss you all and can't wait until we can see you again!