11-24-06 Caleb will be home from December 16-27. We finally get to have Christmas together. Last year he was home after Christmas. I think he will have a lot to talk about this time. From news reports from around the world we have learned that he has not only been in the Mediterranean but also in the Persian Gulf, and not too far away from the Kuwait/Iraq coastline. They are the US security for those areas. We are so proud of him. Even though he is just a cook on the ship, he is still putting himself in harms way for our country. And someone has to feed all those hungry sailors and marines!!!!

Caleb called us from Italy a few days ago and in the news they said his ship made a stop in Tunis, Tunisia (North part of Africa in the Meditteranean) for a Veteran's Day ceremony. I have to constantly look at a map to see where some of these places are located. And we have gotten his calls in the middle of the night (2 am) or right before I leave for work in the morning. There is a 6 or 7 hour difference and he doesn't always calculate what time it will be here before he calls. But that is okay. I will take his calls anytime.

Shortly after he left last June he called from Rota, Spain. I had no idea where that was and was looking for "Rhoda" on the map. Silly me! One time when his ship went into port he Instant Messaged us. I asked where he was and he didn't answer me. He just kept right on chatting. I asked again, and he still didn't answer. I asked if he wasn't allowed to tell me where he was, and I laughed when I got the response. He couldn't tell me because he wasn't sure where they were. He just got off when the ship stopped and he was enjoying his time off. No time for formalities when there is fun to be had! That's my Caleb!

Hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving. I cooked the whole Thanksgiving feast for my family (except Caleb) and had Eric's mom and two of Josh's friends over as well. One of those friends was a last minute guest. Since he didn't have family in town he was just going to eat at McDonald's, so we just set another place at the table.

7-21-06 Caleb's ship is one of a few US vessels evacuating people from Lebanon. Watch the news on TV or search the internet for the USS Whidbey Island. If you want any news of the USS Whidbey Island sent to your email, just go to Google Alerts and then type in the name of the ship in the first box and anything about the ship will be sent to your email. That will save you a lot of searching!!! I love Google Alerts.

6-23-06 Here is Caleb's address on his new ship:
Caleb Holt,
USS Whidbey Island (LSD 41),
FPO AE 09591-1729

6-14-06 Caleb emailed yesterday to let us know he was doing fine, but he couldn't tell us where he was. He left June 6th for the Mediterranean, but it is possible they are monitoring other areas as well. It's all hush hush. Can't give away military secrets, not even to mom! He's probably sweating in the galley cooking for everyone. Someone has to do it! We love you, Caleb! Proud too!!!!