Week 5

This has been the most uneventful week thus far but it shouldnt be discredited as a pointless part of the journey.  I wanted to touch on the fact that for LOs, this OCS process is just about the biggest lessons in patience (apart from parenting) that one could ever experience.  Its one big ole waiting game. Some days there are letters, some days there are phonecalls and some days there is just silence.  The good news is, each day is a day closer to graduation! In one of Will's letters he said one of his buddies gave him a good quote to hang on to about OCS:

               "It could be worse, it doesn't last forever, it continues to get shorter"

Even though there hasnt been to much to report this week it has been ever so filled with sweet days.  I have really enjoyed getting into a bit of a routine, experiencing another baby kick around in my belly and trying to figure out the world of a toddler.  Just documenting life so that Will does miss anything is a task in and of itself.  I feel like I start out every letter to Will saying " today wasnt too exciting but it was super sweet".  Then I go into my typical rambling about nothing as if Will and I were chatting on the couch.

My biggest goal and prayer for the past five weeks have been to have some sort of purpose for the day, which can be a challenge for any stay at home mom, let alone one whos husband is away.  Whether it be the Zoo or the park for the 50th time each day is so much sweeter when we have something going on to get out of the house, espcially when the weather is slowly getting more enjoyable.  

How is it possible we almost have a two year old?? 

In reading through Proverbs the other day and going through a study called Wife School(which is amazing btw) I keep thinking I am exempt from being able to practice these disciplines in building up my husband and supporting him while he is away.  For the first few weeks I would read and think that I will just start taking it all on when he gets back.  Obviously there are some ways that I am limited in being there for him but as I came across Proverbs 31, it dawned on me that I am called to be that wife no matter the distance, and need to be renewing my mind on what God has for me as a wife starting today!  

I mean, who doesn't want to be this girl??

  It has been so rewarding to stay diligent in writing Will every day and know that even though we cant talk every day or even every other day, I can give him some sort of encouragement and be pouring out into him through letters.  Making time to write is always tough but Will has said that even if it is just a paragraph, getting a letter in the mail is like Christmas.  It is my biggest motivation to just keep writing, what I write on Tuesday might be exactly what he needs to hear on Friday.  You can never underestimate the importance of encouragement for those who are in there.  

I was able to drive my sister and her mother-in-law to the airport in Philadelphia last week and my sweet Mama kept little man so I could lose my mind in some retail therapy.  The nearest mall and Target is 45 minutes away so any shopping trip has to be very intentional, my bank account has been very thankful.  I finally broke down and got the ever-so-popular Bob Jogging Stroller in the hopes of getting out and walking more and keeping my ever growing self somewhat fit.  I almost choked checking out but it has been worth every penny!  Its a dream to push and I have been able to get out for a long walk with my buddy almost every day since I got it!! LOVE LOVE LOVE it!

I also scored this sweet stationary set for my Popeye!! While I type most of my letters I will usually send him a cute little note with a verse on it from my quiet time that day to change it up a little!! These little guys were too cute to pass by especially when my days of tearing through Target are few and far between. 

As I post this Will is just finishing "Fast Cruise" for the second time.  This is the test that cause him to roll back three weeks ago, and what he has been preparing for in H Class.  It is essentially an over the top, yelling screaming and stressful workout from hell, but we have been praying all week that God gives him the strength to conquer this challenge.  Today, along with many other LOs, I will try to stay busy, keeping my mind from worrying about my sailor and desperately hoping to not get a phone call today!  No matter the outcome, we know that there is such purpose in all that has happened and will happen and are going to chose to thank God for his sovereignty at every turn!!

Thank you so much to everyone who has written Will and has reached out to us! All the prayers and encouragement have always come at just the right minute and we are SO grateful!

H Class and Abbreviations

I totally underestimated how much of an emotional roller coaster this OCS process would be.  One day nothing is getting me down, I get an upbeat letter from Will and just feel so encouraged that we WILL get through this!  The next day could entail being mad at everyone and thinking that July is in fact three centuries away and there is no way possible that I will live to see that day.  I also have to give credit where credit is due, so thanks progesterone, for heightening any bit of emotion any normal wife would have going through this process. Fortunately there are many more happy days than sad!

One resource that I hadn't discovered until after Will was away was the friends and family support groups on Facebook.  There seems to be one for every class and without this group, I would be a lost puppy just stalking the mail man.  I can go there and see if anyone else has heard from their LOs (loved ones), read posts of encouragement and be able to encourage others having a bad hour or day or even week.  For anyone who's spouse is about to go to OCS: If you do nothing else to prepare or help yourself during this time, FIND ONE OF THESE GROUPS!! The group I have joined also had tons of files on OCS about graduation, mail etiquette, week by week time lines as well as lists of abbreviations for all of this crazy new lingo we are supposed to know.  

For the sake of keeping y'all up to date on Wills endeavors in Newport I thought a brief lesson on some of these crazy abbreviations might help! Most of these are straight from one of the files that I found on the FB group, and I may or may not have added a few that I found comical or necessary.  

OCS= Officer Candidate School

LO =Loved One

DI =Drill Instructor

H =Holding. Where LO who got rolled goes until they are added to a new class.

Rolled = Held back to join a different class later. Can be illness, failing a test/inspection, physical fitness or a not so obvious reason.

PT =Physical Training

PFA=Physical Fitness Assessment. Three are required (In, Mid, and Out)

RLP =Room, Locker, Personnel Inspection. Very big hurdle to jump. Very precise inspection that will never make sense to the rest of us.

BCG= Birth Control Glasses. Within the first week at OCS, those who wear glasses are given a more sturdy and robust pair for the remainder of OCS.  From the name Im sure you can imagine how great my blind as a bat husband is looking right now. Hehe

ORLP= Officer Room Locker Personnel Inspection. Focuses on gouge and uniform during week 6.

PI=Personnel Inspection. Week 8. Focuses on uniform.

PIR =Pass in Review. Parading at GRADUATION! A very big deal. And a major tearjerker.  

OC =Officer Candidate

CO =Candidate Officers. Next advancement after OC

Candio =CO

PP- Pity Party.  An event experienced by loved one not at OCS.  May last anywhere from 5 minutes to 24 hours and consist of movies, tears and junk food of any sort. 

Will has also talked about Chow Hall Procedure, which sounded pretty strange to be completely honest, and then I was introduced to this video.  It is just as strange as I had imagined, but is what they do three times a day during their first nine weeks at OCS.  Lets just say I thought twice about sitting down and inhaling my dinner that night.  While it looks absolutely miserable it is always interesting to get a real look at some of the procedures they have to go through at OCS.  This video is definitely worth watching and I am anticipating Chow Hall is going to make for some interesting date nights when Will gets out! 

Since the doom and gloom phone call a week and a half ago, both Will and I have been able to really pray and see the purpose in his time in H Class.  He has overall had more down time and gotten somewhat of a break to be still and actually learn all the things that have been screamed at him the past 3 weeks.  Even when I heard from him early this week his spirits seemed SO much better than the voice I had heard two Fridays ago.  He said one of the biggest helps has been me sending pictures! 

Some nights when I have gotten a call from Will, little Will has been able to get on the phone and can I tell you my heart wants to explode when I see the that little face light up when he hears his Daddy's voice.  The entire time his ear is to the phone he repeats "DA DA DA", I think we would both agree it is the highlight of our evening!

The civilized way to eat a blueberry

Life in New Jersey for little man and myself has been pretty uneventful besides our frequent trips to the park on any day it isn't raining.  We are used to the increasingly warmer weather in Memphis this time of year, but we still feel like we are in an arctic Tundra most days.  We are hoping that May is going to come with many flowers because the April showers have been plentiful!  I can't say that I have hated some rainy days in jammies being lazy watching countless episodes of "Mo"(Elmo).  

We were able to go watch my cousins lacrosse match on Easter in Philly and visit with our sweet Maryland family!  I really thought I took many things seriously in life until I watched a James Madison Womens Lacrosse match!! Woah this sport is not for the faint of heart but so fun to watch.  Will had a big time running up and down the ramps and dancing to the time out music!

The blonde to the left with legs for days…Yes.  That would be my amazing cousin! 

Tomorrow is a big day for Big Will in that he will be joining the new class that came in this past Sunday (4.12)  this means we are one step closer to the end with more tests and challenges but I have no doubt God will sustain him and give him exactly what he needs to do well!  Lots of prayers for my sailor man!!

Thanks always for everyones prayers and encouragement!!

  

  

"No News is Good News"

Let me preface this post by saying, I hope these postings do not come off as sad or depressing.  That is not my intent and I know many people and couples endure much harder and trying times than my family and I are facing now.  However, my hope is that someone in my shoes can find some comfort in reading this blog.  

With that being said, I got the dreaded phone call Friday night…  Over the past two weeks I have discovered a support group on Facebook for friends and family of the class that Will is in at OCS.  It was started by two moms of men that were rolled back into H-Class after not passing their RLP test (hold tight ill explain what those are).  This group has been such a relief to my worrisome mind, through instantly finding a group of parents and spouses who are in the same boat as me.  There will be posts of when mail is received or when someone receives a phone call.  Up till this point I have been repeating the motto "no news is good news" despite the fact that I have been desperate for a phone call.  Friday was a big test called Fast Cruise that involves a ton of running around with heavy sea bags and all kinds of works outs.  I am not exactly sure what else they are tested on but I know it is grueling and Wills class has had a tough time of it being given such a tough DI(Drill Instructor).  

Quick Explanation:

For those(probably most) of you who don't know when someone enters OCS there is always a chance at just about every point that someone can "roll back".  What does this mean?? It essentially means that the officers in charge of their class find that they haven't passed a certain test or performed any part of their tasks correctly.  Test points like Fast Cruise are big target areas for them to roll back.  When this happens to someone, they go into a place called H Class.  It varies in time but it essentially means they get pushed back 3 weeks.  It can happen in the first second or third month of OCS and it is what everyone in OCS tries to avoid.  This time spent in H Class consists of lots of PT and studying, and I have heard that it is a chance for them to really get ahead of the game in training.  

I bet you can guess at this point what kind of phone call I received Friday night.  Yes, Will did not pass Fast Cruise and has rolled into H Class.  He was one of five(that I know of) that this happened to.  I am not going to lie, he sounded pretty broken and upset.  Can you blame him? He just spent the last two weeks getting his butt handed to him and is now essentially having to start over.  While this sounds super depressing that is not my purpose in writing this.  Will is most definitely bummed but the crazy guy was so upset and worried about Wilbur and I?! What?? Yes he was worried about leaving us for another 3 weeks!! I set him straight very quickly and assured him that while we miss him like crazy, we are perfectly fine!  He further explained that usually people in H Class end up as leaders in their next class, and are given the time to recharge and focus on PT and perfecting what they have learned thus far.  He said he will also have more time to write and possibly call, and it will overall be somewhat of a break for him(hopefully).  

Nevertheless, this is a setback for everything, including Graduation.  He was initially supposed to graduate June 12 and now it looks like July3.  Yes, we are still supposed to have a baby July 22, so that might get a little close towards the end.  I do know that God is in control of all of this and that is where we are choosing to hang out.  I don't know how the rest of OCS will be for Will but I do know that all of us can rest in Gods promise that he will not leave any of us in the wilderness.  His grace is sufficient and will carry us through the process.

What a better weekend to remind us of our gift of salvation through Jesus Christ!  We can choose to be muddled in the circumstance of today, or to rejoice in the promise of eternity with out Lord and Savior! His death and resurrection are such proof of his powerful love for all of us and if we can rest in that we will find comfort beyond all understanding.  I am so grateful that I get to spend eternity with my favorite sailor because of the price Jesus paid for all of us, so what is 12 or 15 weeks in the big scheme of things?? NOTHING  How reassuring to know that He promises so clearly that He is with us ALWAYS, till the very end!

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 

19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 

20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

  Matthew 28:18-20

Thank you so much for all of your prayers and encouragement.  We are so blessed to have such an amazing support system!!

HAPPY EASTER YALL!! HE IS RISEN!!

Anyone recognize a very tall, handsome bald guy with glasses in that picture?? I had to do some major FB stalking to find this!

P.S.  For those of you who emailed me for Wills address or any of you wanting to write him; his address has changed a little now that he is in H Class so email me and I can give you the new one.  More than ever, words of encouragement would mean so much to him!  

Wait a Minute Mr. Postman!!

After almost a week of absolutely no contact, and thinking my husband had either had forgotten about me or fell off the planet I FINALLY got a letter.  Let me clarify that this was just me acting crazy and had I done more research I would have not been so disappointed when I didn't get a call the first few days.  You never realize how much you talk to a person and depend on a person until you can't talk to them at all.  This week was so much harder than I ever imagined.  I wrote Will every day simply because I didn't want him to miss out on what little man and I were up to all week.  The hard part was not receiving any mail and having no idea if he was getting mine.  Every day I was like a pathetic puppy dog checking the mailbox, it was the highlight of my day and all week it was pretty disappointing…Until Saturday!!

Finally when I had given up any expectations for this week, there sat a little envelope all by itself with my name on it! I couldn't breath, it was the biggest relief and I couldn't help but get teary-eyed.  Wills handwriting was SO hard to read( I think I had to read it three times to understand what he was saying) but it was from the day I dropped him off.  He talked about how long and drawn out the day was, there was a lot of paperwork and standing at attention.  He said he was praying and trying to stay strong even though he missed us a ton already!!  This letter was such an encouragement even though it was from day one and he had the worst days right ahead of him, seeing his words on paper gave me such comfort.  

In the first four days of Will being gone I was so frantic to hear from him, I had read other blogs where wives received phone calls the first two days and as soon as Tuesday rolled around I was panic stricken that Will had either not passed his tests or had realized life without me is pretty sweet(crazy preggo hormones to blame on that one).  I obsessed about him calling or writing and what he was doing, I just couldn't shake this empty feeling.  Im sure this is somewhat normal for a wife who has never been completely cutoff from her husband in the 2 years they have been married but does not having Will around mean I crumble and lose my joy?? Is Will where I find peace beyond all understanding?? Is Will where I get my strength?? While my husband is amazing and so great at comforting me, the answer is a big fat NO.  These thing need to be found in my Savior.  This week was so eye opening and helped me realize that I need to be first seeking God for my peace and for my joy.  He is the only one that can sustain me with strength during tough times and He is the only one that is going to get Will through these next eleven weeks(eleven sound so much better than twelve eekk!) 

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.  That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Through my weaknesses and trials, Gods power is proving to be stronger at every turn.  I have to seek Him daily for happiness and reassurance so I can be all that I can be for my boys and all that I can be for Gods glory.  No letter or phone call can fill me up the way that time spent with Jesus can and he will equip us with exactly what we need to jump over any hurdle that comes our way!! 

After days of online shopping in attempts to keep my mind off the time away from my husband, I decided a needed a project to keep me occupied during Will's nap time.  Luckily the guest room I have been sleeping in at my parents house has yet to be remodeled from its fabulous 70's looking state.  It was completely covered in floral wallpaper, well it was until I got bored and started peeling way.  After almost a week my sister and I have almost successfully all of the wallpaper and repainted but in the process I learned three great lessons.

1.  DIY projects require patience
2. Peeling wallpaper does not cure a worrisome wife syndrome
3. Wallpaper is from the pits of hell

Nevertheless, I will be greatly reaping the benefits of this DIY endeavor when I am snoozing in a pretty room with a fresh coat of paint! Will also found someones hot chocolate and thought we might appreciate his painting services :) 

So thankful for more mail from Will this week!! Got three letters on Monday.  His spirits sounded great, he even drew me a picture of what he thinks his bald head looks like.  It was a scary resemblance to Homer Simpson (lets hope these are just artistic flaws).  When writing these letters he had yet to meet his DI(Drill Instructor), so hopefully even through those tough days he can keep his head up.  Thank y'all so much for all of your prayers and support.  So proud of my sailor!

The Drop Off 3.24.15

After several weeks of living in the limbo between Jackson and Memphis finishing all of the moving, we finally made our trek to New Jersey to spend Wills last civilian week with my family.  We decided to use the night time to travel to optimize time with little man asleep, which I am so thankful we did due to very impatient toddler that was ready to be out of the car come morning.  The 16 hours passed pretty quickly and before we knew it the whole loud Peterson clan was under one roof again.  It was such a sweet week of nothingness.

Thanks to some rain and many babysitters we were able to hang around in PJs and watch movies most days, taking occasional breaks for Wawa and Sam's Pizza.  However we did make it out of the house at least one night to have a proper date night at one of our favorite restaurants.  Too quickly Saturday rolled around and we woke up to a huge breakfast prepared by my dad and the family came together and prayed over Will.  Then all of a sudden it was time for us to pack up and head to Newport.  Luckily I was distracted enough with making sure we didn't forget to pack anything from Wills OCS list.

The drive to Newport was quite surreal.  It was this feeling of wanting so terribly to just get there already while at the same time I was completely dreading it.  Luckily the drive was beautiful and we arrived in Newport just in time for sunset.  We decided to check out the Navy Base to get a feel for where we would need to go in the morning, then have one final date night.  Thanks to Urban Spoon we ended up at the prettiest seafood place right on the water and had our quintessential New England dinner complete with lobster fritters and scallop chowder.  It was amazing!  We had planned on walking around and checking out the town after dinner but it got really cold really fast so we ended up calling it an early night and heading back to the hotel.  It was the picture perfect last night with my Wilbur Senior.  We talked, we prayed, we ate and just enjoyed each other in a way that I wish I would have on every date we've been on.  

Unfortunately Sunday did have to come.  It was an early morning so I was hoping my exhaustion would completely knock out my sadness....HA  The drop off was a success though.  The base looked beautiful as the sun was just coming up which was comforting knowing Will would have some scenic runs in his near future.  After following several OCS signs and crossing a small bridge we found where Will needed to check in.  I would love to tell you that I did not completely make a scene and embarrass both of us but I would be lying.  Luckily there were other people around us walking by forcing me to contain the audible level of my crying.  I imagined us getting to park and hug and kiss and say a proper goodbye but we were instructed to just pull to the side with our hazards on so we needed to hustle with our goodbyes.  I sniffled and snorted out an "I love you" as Will reassured me he would be fine.  I jumped back in the car and watched him make his way into the big building and was able to snap a picture before he made it inside.

This picture still makes me tear up thinking back on how bravely he trudged in their knowing the hard and trying months ahead of him.  Luckily they have to make a phone call first thing when they check to let someone know they made it, so before I made it off the base he had called.  He asked how I was holding up and let me know he had made it and we got one last "I love you" which made the hysterics start all over.  By the time I got to Dunkin Donuts I had composed myself and was able to sit and pray. I dont remember most of the prayer but I know I was pleading that God would just send me something to comfort me, to remind me that He's not leaving me or Wills side in the next 3 months. I then started my drive back to NJ and was so grateful for being able to drive back alone and get myself together.  

About an hour into the drive I received a text from a dear childhood friend, that I really think was my answer to prayer.  She let me know that she and her family were thinking of us and praying for us and gave me a verse...

Isaiah 26:3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. 

Thank you Jesus, not only for this sweet friend who continues to pour out love on our family, but for giving me exactly what  I needed to hear.  A promise of peace.  A motivation and goal to keep my eyes fixed on Him, the only one who can give Will or I this inexplicable peace.  What a gift!! 

The rest of the drive seemed to fly by and I made it back just in time to celebrate my youngest sisters 14th birthday.  An exhausting day but so grateful to see how God molds and shapes my family in this adventure to come!!

Please email me if you would like Wills address.  I know he would love to hear from everyone!!! Chelseaep@me.com  He can only receive standard letters and envelopes right now and any boxes or packages could get him in trouble or even pushed back and therefore I would have to hunt you down and fight you! (joking, kind of) I know mail will be a treat for him though so I know he would be so appreciative of anyone who wants to write him!

Thank yall for your prayers and encouragement!

Here Goes Nothing!

Well after years of going back and forth with much prayer I have finally decided to jump on the bandwagon and start a blog!  Let me not mislead anyone into thinking that I have words of wisdom in the areas of fitness, beauty or parenting for any of you. However, I have found myself in a place where I have received so much encouragement and information in others who have put their thoughts and experiences out there.  I figured just maybe at some point this blog could do more than just publicly display my poor grammar skills (writing is not my strong suit, you have been warned).  At the very least I am creating a journal that I do not have to worry about losing or becoming a casualty of a Wilbur coloring session.  However with the many BIG changes our family is about to encounter I felt like there was no time like the present to let our family and friends in on what those crazy Fitts are up to.

"In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." Matthew 5:16

Before getting into our many life updates, my heart for this blog is ultimately to give glory to my Lord and Savior.  If I can be challenged in my faith or encourage others in theirs, or be "the only Bible someone reads" this blog will have accomplished much.  Through the journals I have kept over the years it has always been such a reminder of not only the abundant blessings that have come our way but also the harsh trials, while difficult, have grown us and reminded us that at no point did God leave our side.  It is such a mighty God we serve and my heart craves a more intimate and growing relationship with Him and while my walk is far from perfect I am more than happy to share all the joys and hurdles along this bumpy road!


Now onto that crazy news I was talking about..... many of you may have already heard through the grapevine but yes the Fitts family is moving!! Over the last 6 months, Will has been in the process of applying as a Nuclear Propulsions Officer in the Navy.  Yes, the US Navy!! It is a crazy change from the med school route we were on but Gods hand has been so obviously in this process and we feel so blessed by this opportunity presenting itself.  This new job starts with 3 months of OCS(officer candidate school) starting March 22nd in Newport, Rhode Island followed by 6-12 months of nuclear power school in Charleston, South Carolina.  So what does this mean for Mama and Little Will? We will be heading up on March 16th to New Jersey to spend those 3 months with the Peterson clan while big Will is getting his booty kicked, I mean working hard at OCS.  Then after OCS we will venture down to Charleston together and set up house while Will completes his training.  We have a lot of moving ahead of us but for those of you who know my childhood know that the Petersons might have missed their calling in starting a moving company! After spending almost the past 10 years in Memphis this move is going to be so bittersweet.  I am so excited for what is in store but I will be so sad to leave the city where I have created memories from some of the best times of my life.  In the meantime to keep from being a blubbering mess for the next 3 weeks I need to keep my eye on the positives ahead of us!  I plan on updating in more detail on this aspect of our lives being that there is so little up to date literature out there for wives who know very little about the military, navy or ocs like myself.  I would love to be of help to anyone facing this adventure who is as clueless as I am.  Bring on the Navy Wife Life!!

While this has become quite the long post, some of you may be thinking, arent ya'll supposed to be having a new baby in the midst of all this change?? You are correct!! Our new bundle of joy is due to arrive July 22 right in the middle of our transition from New Jersey to Charleston.  We are not certain of any of those details except for the fact that God is sovereign and will work out all the ins and outs of baby Fitts arrival.  In the meantime we are dwelling in the bliss of being blessed with new life and thanking God for this precious gift!

While this was not a well-kept secret we also found out baby's gender a few weeks ago!!

Baby Fitts is a BOY!!!!  Little Will is getting a little brother and we could not be more thrilled!!