California Wildfires

 In October, 2007, we had a real Southern California experience----those infamous wildfires! When it was in full force, we had fires to our North, East, and South!! We never had to evacuate, but were one mile from the mandatory evacuation line for the fires east of us. Rodney and I had started already to talk about and plan what we would take if we got that call. We knew where'd we go--his office on Coronado! We could take our air mattress and belongings and live there for a few days. The bases on Coronado were already being used as evacuation sites. They were housing evacuees in the Navy Lodges and in tent cities. The were even housing some dogs, cats, horses, and other animals!
At our house, it actually looked like snow coming down, but it was ash. Rodney picked us up some masks for when we had to take Truman out. We hated to have him out in it, but a dog's gotta do what a dog's gotta do!! When we'd walk down the sidewalk, we'd leave trails behind us in the dusting of ash. Truman didn't like it, but he'd get his feet washed everytime we'd get back to the house.
The thing about wildfires that can make you the most crazy is that you having to evacuate can be so on-again, off-again..... "The fire's headed your way, get ready to move out!...... Oh, well, the wind changed, you're safe now!..... Oh, wait! The wind changed again and now its headed your way again, get things ready!.... Never mind, you're ok!..... Oh, well, maybe not!......" That went on for a few days! That rollercoaster of do we leave or do we stay?? That can get unnerving! But, we made it through and lived to tell the tale :)
Here a few pics I took in our back yard, just to show you what it looked like outside. These were taken a few minutes apart about mid-day.And, yes, that's smoke.....

Yes, the sun is still back there!!

Since we weren't able to spend time outside, we took off for the beach for some fresh air!! Most of what you see in the sky is the typical marine layer that rolls in off the ocean each evening. Truman got to make a new friend!

Late afternoon sun over Pt. Loma.....

So, as food for thought, I'll ask you this question---

If you had to limit your life and possessions to ONE car load, what would you keep??

The Chapel at Naval Air Station North Island

I love the blue skies out here!!

The back of the "stage" pivots for each congregation to have their altar of choice. The picture above shows the Christian/Protestant cross. The picture below shows the crucifix used by the Catholic congregation. There is also a third side that has an altar for a Jewish service.

This auditorium seats about 500. We usually have about 25-30 in attendance at the Protestant services, while the Catholic services have about 100 in attendance.

This chapel has some GORGEOUS stained glass windows. The ten windows in the auditorium tell the story of the Bible from Creation through Saul's conversion. (Close ups below.) Along with the Bible stories, the bottom section of each window tells the story of Naval Air history.

This is the window in the balcony.

Across the street from the Chapel is the Chaplain Office and the patio area where we have our after service refreshments and fellowship. The tall bldg behind the trees is the movie theater.

Here are the close-ups of the auditorium windows--

Creation

Abraham and Isaac

Moses and the Ten Commandments

Birth of Jesus

Representing the Disciples

The Last Supper

The Crucifixion

Jesus and Mary Magdalene outside the empty tomb

Pentecost

Saul's conversion on the Road to Damascus

A few more windows around the chapel--

These next two are in the cry room.

And matching windows on the front doors--

The Chapel at the Amphibious Base

This Chapel is known as "Chapel from the Sea."




This beautiful chapel seats about 200. We usually average about 25-30 in the Protestant service, but the Catholic service is much bigger.

The beige curtain and "Alleluia" banners are changed out for the different colors of the church calendar.

Beautiful stained glass windows!!

This is the baptismal. The baptism candidate will stand in the deeper well of water at this end of the baptism and the minister stands or kneels outside the baptismal. When put back into the water the candidate sits and leans back.

This replica of the Ark of the Covenant was made by a group of Filipinos as a gift to the Chapel.

Navy Life: Chapter 2

While Rodney was still out on deployment, we entered the "window" to start negotiating our next orders. He had spoken with the detailer (location assigner) and had made a Top 3 list. He called me from the ship to get my input--- we could move up to Camp Pendelton where he would deploy again, soon; we could stay here and he could be part of the Operational Ministry Center and deploy again, soon; or we could stay here and he could do shore duty (NO deployment!) at Naval Base Coronado. Hhhmmmm, tough decision----stay here for shore duty!!!! So, plans were made: Rodney would be a base Chaplain at Naval Base Coronado.

Our tour on the ship was to end December, 2007, but in August, we received a call from the detailer letting us know the current Chaplain at Coronado was having to leave early for his next assignment. Could we leave the ship early? Rodney spoke with his comand and approval was granted. Therefore, as of September, 2007, our second chapter of Navy life began. We said good-bye to our USS Dubuque family and moved Rodney's office across the bay to Naval Base Coronado.

Now, Naval Base Coronado (NBC) is actually made up of a handful of bases. The largest and main being Naval Air Station North Island (NASNI) which is where his office is located. One of the smaller bases is the Amphibious Base, where Navy Seals train. Each of those bases houses its own chapel and each held services, both Protestant and Catholic each Sunday morning. And so, this is what our Sunday mornings started looking like: 9:30 Protestant service at the Amphib Base, while Catholic mass is going on at NASNI; then we play switch-a-roo---we head to NASNI while the Priest heads to the Amphib Base for 11:00 services! So, I get "preached to" twice every Sunday morning! Usually I get to make little critiques on the way to the 2nd service :0)

Both of these beautiful chapels (pics to follow) have lovely attendees. Many are retired military, while we have those visitors in for training or really on vacation! At the Amphib Base, we also see some of those young sailors just starting their Seal training. It's exciting to get to encourage them as they start such an adventure!

Then, during the week, Rodney is kept busy with counseling, doing prayers for ceremonies, weddings, funeral honors and memorial services, etc. We say there are times it seems like we actually had more quality time together when he was on the ship!! But, we get/make time when we can......

Happy 40th, USS Dubuque!!

We had the priviledge to still be part of the USS Dubuque family during her 40th birthday/anniversary!

While still at sea, they took this picture. Rodney is in the middle of the "S." When Rodney next saw the Photographer/Sailor, Rodney asked, "I'm worried---could you tell if my eyes were open or closed??" :)

In September (2007), we had a celebration day which included a small ceremony and as one of Rodney's last acts as the Dubuque "Chaps," he was honored to do the prayer.

And now, a word from our sponsor........

We interrupt this regularly scheduled story to bring you this information--

If you are just now joining/following this blog, we want you to be aware that even though these posts began in September, 2009, the story being told began in the fall of 2005. To read this story in its entirety, begin with the first post, "The Beginning."  We are working diligently to get this story told and caught up to "real time" before our transfer to Japan later this year. We hope you are enjoying reading this story as much as we are enjoying sharing it with you.

Thank you for following along with our Navy life!!

And now, back to our story.....

HOMECOMING!!!

A SWEET REUNION!!

But Rodney didn't just show up at the house---here's our homecoming morning story......

Elizabeth and I got up and ready early that morning, May 31, 2007, and headed down to the base.

We were passing the time enjoying the talents of the Navy Band!!

And then the first ship came in.... the USS Boxer was home!

Then, here came the USS Comstock!!

As we continued our festivities and line dancing, we (the Family Readiness Group Board and Advisors, of which I was President!) were called for a fast walk down the pier (which was not an easy task in heels!!) to board our sister ship just in time to see....our ship!!!

The USS Dubuque is HOME!!!

And there was RODNEY!!!

(signing 'I love you' in the back with his dad standing beside him)

The kicker was--the ship backed in which meant the lei hanging on the bow of the ship which the FRG spent SO MANY (wo)man hours assembling, was not seen by hardly anybody!!! But, that's okay, we sure had fun folding and rubberbanding those plastic bags, stringing those plastic bags on the rope, then fluffing all those THOUSANDS of plastic bags!!! Seriously, we really did have good times at our "Lei Parties" :)

Then, we made another brisk walk (yes, still in heels!) back to the the head of the pier to wait for the ship to be secured for our boarding....

 

There goes the gangway....

Now, since we had so many excited spouses/family members waiting to be reunited with their Sailor, the Command made a wise decision---instead of making everyone have to wait to make the climb to the gangway, they backed in the ship so we could enter through the well deck! So, here comes our walkway!!

Getting it in place...

The final fittings!!!

Now, another benefit to having been the FRG President was that I got to be, not only one of the first people to see the ship pull in, I got to be one of the first people to go aboard!!!

And, of course, Elizabeth was able to go on with me :)

Then, finally, the time to take the guy HOME!! That is, if there's room in the car for him with all his STUFF!!

Along with surprising Rodney with the sign on the garage door (hence the look on his face in the first picture of this post), I had a coordinating sign for the front door!

Now, the sweetest reunion was with Truman!!

See, when Rodney left, it took Truman's body clock awhile to realize that Rodney was not going to be getting home about 3:00; and for days and days and days, Truman would be up on the arm of the couch facing the garage just waiting to hear the garage door going up and the sound of Rodney's motorcycle.... That was SO hard to see :(

Well, another thing about Truman is that when the doorbell rings, he just KNOWS that someone is there to see HIM! So, we used that to his benefit.... Rodney's mom, dad, and I went in through the garage, just like always. Rodney waited a couple of minutes at the front door, then rang the doorbell! Well, of course, Truman knew he had company.... I opened the door and Truman bounded out... Rodney was squated down and Truman sniffed one hand, then the other, and then stood up on his back legs for Rodney to pick him up and started licking and licking and licking his face!!!

Once his licking was complete, he settled into his arms and stayed there as long as possible!

For days and days, Truman hardly left Rodney's side!

And so began our little family's readjustment to being back together :)