Emmi's New Adventure

Last week was a big week in the life of Emmi.  It was also an emotional week for her, her family and for her grandparents.  Emmi was leaving for her adventures and service in the Navy.  I had everyone over for dinner the night before she was to leave.  I tried to make the dinner setting as festive and red, white and blue as possible.  I think I achieved my goal.  It was perfect.  Uncle Sam and Mickey Mouse were the center piece.

We had a great time eating and visiting.  After dinner and dessert we sat around and talked until it was time for Emmi to report to the hotel downtown.  The next morning we all met at the MEPS building out past the airport.  We had to wait for nearly 4 hours before she would be sworn in.  Annie and I went and grabbed some subway sandwiches.  We all went in the lunchroom and sat around the table and enjoyed our last few hours with Emmi.  Right after lunch, they called us into a room where we all watched as Emmi was sworn in to the Navy.  It was a proud and very emotional moment in time.  We were each given an opportunity to express our love, being proud and any advise we wanted to give her.

 This is the gentleman who did the swearing in ceremony.  He was a really nice guy.

 Lots of very emotional hugs from everyone after the ceremony.

 It is official!

After the ceremony, Emmi was taken on a military bus to the airport and from there she left for Chicago for her Boot Camp Training for the next 8 weeks.  She was only allowed one phone call when she arrived there to let her parents know that she was there and safe.  She won't be allowed to write home for the next 2 or 3 weeks.  But she can send us a post card so that we can write her letters.  Nothing on the computer.  Everything through snail mail until she is done with Boot Camp.  I will continue the story as I learn more and as she is finally able to communicate with the family through mail.