Tag Archives: MCRD Parris Island

Rolling On Hodgepodge

1. Can you believe we’re rolling in to the Labor Day weekend? What’s a project you’ll labor over this fall?

Our fall projects will include continuing sorting through and getting rid of stuff we really don’t need. We will also prune trees and clean out planters. Baking in the Fall is always a great project, too.

2. Tell us about the best perks you ever had in a job?

I really never worked at a job with perks except for when I was an elementary school teacher and enjoyed summer vacation and other holidays even though I wasn’t  paid extra. I enjoyed traveling with my husband with his job responsibilities but had to pay my way. I thought that was a great perk regardless. I traveled to places I’d never have planned on like Milan, Chicago, Washington D.C., Orlando, Atlanta and San Antonio.

Then with the Mennonite Girls for book launches and signings and play openings we traveled to Winnipeg, Steinbach, Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Vancouver, Fresno, Indiana Amish Country and Ohio Amish Country. We had to pay our way for the most part but the perks were meeting lots of great people, funding our missions, and being with the “girls”.

3. August 31st is National South Carolina Day. Have you ever been to SC?

I have been to SC to go to our son-in-law’s graduation from MCRD and his successful entry into the Marine Corps. Our daughter and I stayed in Beaufort. The Marine Corps graduation was an amazing experience. We did enjoy our time there although my hair does not agree with the weather. Beaufort is a small southern town with great architecture and other southern charm to enjoy. All my photos from Beaufort are being held hostage at Photobucket. I do have the photos saved on CD’s and Memory cards that I’ll need to upload onto this computer.

Any desire to go? According to Southern Living, these are the top ten things to do in South Carolina…

Explore Charleston, bike, golf or relax on Hilton Head Island, see the beach and the boardwalk at Myrtle Beach, visit the state museum in the capital city Columbia, observe the wildlife and natural beauty of the Ace Basin, take a walk or hop on a trolley and check out Greenville’s charming main street, visit Fort Sumter where the Civil War began, stroll through Pearl Fryar’s Topiary Garden in Bishopville leaving time to check out The Button Museum, also in Bishopville, see Morgan Island (also known as Monkey Island)-home to nearly 4000 Rhesus monkeys. 

Which is most appealing to you today? If you’re a SC native, resident, or frequent visitor what would you add to the list?

Charleston is the most appealing to me but not in the summer!

4. Beef, pork, country-style, barbecued, baby back, spare or short…your favorite kind of rib? What’s a dish you enjoy that really ‘sticks to your ribs‘?

Barbecued Ribs please.

I love food and unfortunately it sticks to my mid section. But to answer your question I enjoy dishes like Stroganoff or Prime Rib with potatoes and Yorkshire Pudding. So I’m more of a beefy girl. Fish is rarely my choice unless it’s Fish and Chips or fish tacos.

5. What’s one important skill you think every person should have? Why?

I think everyone should be able to cook meals for themselves, that includes men and women. My dear old pop almost starved himself to death after my mom passed away. Dear and all of our sons and daughters can cook and I’m grateful for that. I’m sorry Home Economics is dwindling out in schools or completely eliminated. And Dear says if you drive a car you need to know how to change a tire!

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

This little one is always in our thoughts. Our Labor Day weekend will be filled with extended time with Addy and her parents. We are also going to be able to enjoy a wedding reception barbecue half way to our kids home. Our hairdresser was married last weekend in Seattle and she and her new husband will host a country barbecue reception on their 270 acres in the Okanagon area of Washington State.

Linking up with Joyce From This Side of the Pond for Wednesday Hodgepodge. She asks the questions and the answers are up to us. Do you have Labor Day plans.

We continue to follow what’s happening in Texas and we pray for all the displaced people and for relief of the suffering that everyone is enduring.

I is for Iwo Jima

The anniversary of the Flag raising at Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima is on February 23rd. I visited the monument in D.C. in 1970 for the first time.

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Retro Ellen b. , I’m 19 in this photo.

I visited the monument again in May of 2011 on a night tour and took this photo on the opposite side of the monument. We won’t publish how old I was on this visit but you can do the math!

This is a replica of the monument at the MCRD, Parris Island, S.C. (Marine Corps Recruit Depot) when my daughter and I attended her future husband’s India Company graduation in September of 2010.

I is for Iwo Jima for ABC Wednesday. Thank you Mrs. Nesbitt and the ABC team!

I’m a little fuzzy in the brain since all the fun activities from this past weekend and the time change always takes a few days to get oriented to. I am enjoying the longer daylight hours here in the Pacific Northwest.

The Parish Church of St. Helena ~ Beaufort, S.C.

When my daughter and I attended her now husband’s graduation from MCRD (Marine Corp Recruit Depot) Parris Island in September of 2010 he got a few hours off and we went out to eat and explored part of the historic area of Beaufort S.C.  The Parish Church of St. Helena was a great photo back drop for Katie and Andrew. Historic information about the church can be read here.

Later this same fall Katie and Andrew were engaged in Salt Lake City, Utah. This next photo was on the evening of their engagement.

They got married in March of 2011 and their formal wedding celebration was in March of 2012. Andrew is now on In-Active Reserve status out of the Marine Corps after a little over four years and two tours of duty in Afghanistan. He left the Marine Corps as a Sergeant.

I’m linking to InSPIREd Sunday hosted by Beth and Sally.

Stand Fast for Christ Thy Savior ~ Hymn

Stand Fast for Christ Thy Savior

Stand fast for Christ thy Savior!
Stand fast whate’er betide!
Keep thou the Faith, unstained, unshamed,
By keeping at His side;
Be faithful, ever faithful,
Where’er thy lot be cast,

Refrain

Stand fast for Christ thy Savior!
Stand faithful to the last!

Strong founded like a lighthouse,
That stands the storm and shock,
So be thy soul as if it shared
The granite of the rock.
Then far beyond the breakers
Let thy calm light be cast,

Refrain

Stout-hearted like a soldier,
Who never leaves the fight,
But meets the foeman face to face
And meets him with his might,
So bear thee in thy battles
Until the war be past,

Refrain

Stand fast for Christ thy Savior!
He once stood fast for thee,
And standeth still, and still shall stand
For all eternity;
Be faithful, O be faithful,
To love so true, so vast,

Refrain

Words: Walter J. Mathams, 1913

ht: cyberhymnal

Round Robin Photo Challenge ~ For A Song…

Pick a song you like, and give us your photographic interpretation of all or part of that song’s lyrics. You can either include the relevant section of the lyrics or, for a really well-known song, ask people to guess what you’re illustrating. To see more participants in this challenge click on the Robin above.

Turn, Turn, Turn

Words-adapted from The Bible, book of Ecclesiastes
Music-Pete Seeger

To Everything (Turn, Turn, Turn)
There is a season (Turn, Turn, Turn)
And a time to every purpose, under Heaven

A time to be born, a time to die
A time to plant, a time to reap
A time to kill, a time to heal
A time to laugh, a time to weep

To Everything (Turn, Turn, Turn)
There is a season (Turn, Turn, Turn)
And a time to every purpose, under Heaven

A time to build up,a time to break down
A time to dance, a time to mourn
A time to cast away stones, a time to gather stones together

To Everything (Turn, Turn, Turn)
There is a season (Turn, Turn, Turn)
And a time to every purpose, under Heaven

A time of love, a time of hate
A time of war, a time of peace
A time you may embrace, a time to refrain from embracing

To Everything (Turn, Turn, Turn)
There is a season (Turn, Turn, Turn)
And a time to every purpose, under Heaven

A time to gain, a time to lose
A time to rend, a time to sew
A time for love, a time for hate
A time for peace, I swear it’s not too late

Photobucket replaced all my photos with ugly black and grey boxes and they are holding my photos hostage until I pay them lots of money. I’m slowly going through all my posts and trying to clean them up and replacing some photos. Such a bother.

India Company Graduation ~ MCRD Parris Island

 

On Graduation day we saw the sunrise again for the third day in a row. I dropped Katie off at the Parade Deck stands so she could grab some good seats for us. Then I zoomed down to the visitor’s center to grab some coffee and a little nosh for us.

The sun came up and things actually got a little cooler when it did. Doesn’t our girl look sweet in the sunshine? Graduation wasn’t due to start till 9:00 A.M. so we had lots of time to occupy ourselves. People watching is always fun.

 

Finally the platoons marched in precision onto the parade deck to the beat that the Marine Corp band performed for them and us. The band played some patriotic songs and of course the National Anthem but then out of the blue they played the following song combined with a great swagger and the audience was surprised and cheered!

 

Nothing could be finer than to be in Carolina in the morning,
No one could be sweeter than my sweetie when I meet her in the morning.
Where the morning glories
Twine around the door,
Whispering pretty stories
I long to hear once more.
Strolling with my girlie where the dew is pearly early in the morning,
Butterflies all flutter up and kiss each little buttercup at dawning,
If I had Aladdin’s lamp for only a day,
I’d make a wish and here’s what I’d say:
Nothing could be finer than to be with Carolina in the morning.

Then I zoomed in to catch our Marine. Andrew is 2nd one back.

 

They marched closer to the stands just before they would be released for their 10 day leave. Andrew is 2nd row third Marine in.

 

First row third Marine in…

Love this smile when he spotted Katie.

Congratulations PFC Andrew for graduating and earning Expert on the firing range.

Photobucket replaced all my photos with ugly black and grey boxes and they are holding my photos hostage until I pay them lots of money. I’m slowly going through all my posts and trying to clean them up and replacing some photos. Such a bother.

MCRD Parris Island ~ Family Day

On Thursday morning Katie and I left our Inn in the dark and headed to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island for family day.

 

This is a shot from when it started to get a little lighter. When we arrived things were so dark it was hard for me to see the parking area. We arrived at about 6:00 am and hundreds of family members were already lined up anxious to see their Marine for the first time in 13 weeks.

 

The first event of family day was the motivational run. We asked around and positioned ourselves so we were most likely to see Andrew during the run. It would still be a few hours before family members could actually have any contact with their new Marine.

 

Katie waited anxiously hoping for a glimpse of her guy. Needless to say she had lots of nervous energy.

 

Here they come and the crowds were cheering loudly and the Marines were chanting.

 

We saw him and he saw us and all was good with the world. He’s the one smiling on your left. After this brief glimpse they were all gone somewhere on the base and we headed to the Visitors center.

 

Can’t tell you how thrilled I was that the visitors center had wonderful coffee choices including espresso and Mochas, etc. I needed my morning cup of Java really bad at this point. I opted for an iced Americano with an extra shot of espresso. It was already hot at 7:30 am. We waited out the time in the visitors center before they opened up the all weather facility at 8:30 A.M. so we could get some good seats for the Liberty Ceremony at 10:00 am.

 

When the doors were opened and the Marines filed in the energy in the facility was pulsing.

 

Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy, Katie was finally able to touch Andrew.

 

Andrew’s dad and stepmother traveled from Florida for the big event.

 

On family day the new Marines get an on base Liberty from about 11:00 A.M. till 2:45 P.M. We had lunch together and went through the museum on base.

 

I couldn’t help myself taking more photos of the Spanish Moss. I hear in the Spring it sheds as yellow pollen making the sidewalks yellow.

 

 

A lot of proud family members were walking around with their new Marines on this day.

 

Andrew showed us the spot where he received his Eagle Globe and Anchor making his transition from a recruit to a Marine after a grueling 3 day training event called the Crucible.

 

We also got to check out his barracks and see his little space where he lived the last 13 weeks with 60 other recruits. We dropped Andrew off at the Parade Deck and headed back to Beaufort for the rest of the afternoon and evening.

Tomorrow I’ll post my photos from the Graduation ceremony.

I’m adding this to Outdoor Wednesday hosted by Susan at A Southern Daydreamer.

Photobucket replaced all my photos with ugly black and grey boxes and they are holding my photos hostage until I pay them lots of money. I’m slowly going through all my posts and trying to clean them up and replacing some photos. Such a bother.