10-39-Halt!

10-39-Halt
(My best imitation of a football play - shows how little I know of football, right?)

This past week has been a whirlwind of activity and celebrations.  We celebrated the 10th anniversary of landing in Indiana with Cambria and Cadin, October 16, 2002.  The joy and relief that we felt at that moment, the airplane finally landing (after it almost landed and then lifted off again due to debris on the runway) is a moment we will never ever forget.  The celebration and the greeting crew that met us added to the joy of that moment.  They continue to be the most delightful of cherubs and celebrating their Happy Welcome Home Day every year is an important family tradition that we will continue forever.

Our normal tradition is to have an ice cream cake from Dairy Queen, but this year, we celebrated with gelato!  When in Naples...:)

Not to leave little Miss Sullivan out of the celebration, here is a shot of her getting a ride from her daddy on our way home from gelato.  I must say, she has been very pleasant as of late, and we will take it!  

Best buddies still... 

Then, 2 short days later it was my birthday - 39!  The actual day was full of normal things and an evening activity at school, so we celebrated on Saturday.  My morning began with breakfast in bed, crafted lovingly by Cambria - assisted by Dirk.  The only thing Dirk did was make the cappuccino and turn on the stove.  Look at that presentation!  Our little Doodlebug loves to cook, no complaints here:).  

After a leisurely morning, we headed off to a secret location for a birthday lunch.  It was about an hour drive north of Naples and the scenery continues to amaze me around here.  It really is beautiful and full of lots of mountains and quaint little towns.  Our drive was fabulous and we arrived at Agriturismo San Cristoforo for a scheduled birthday lunch!  What fun! 

The food was delicious, the atmosphere fun and classically Italian, and the house wine fantastic!  I think the cherubs were not nearly as impressed as we were, but they had fun and learned the lesson between "fizzy" water and "regular" water.  Verdict = none of them like the "fizzy" water.  A lot of restaurants here in Italy have play areas and this one was no different, so they had fun playing on the playground equipment and climbing the dirt hill.  

After our leisurely meal, including antipasti (meats, cheeses, beans), pasta, roast pork and potatoes with amazing gravy, dessert and cappuccino - we waddled out to tour the grounds of the Agriturismo.  There were lots of olive trees to investigate, beautiful views to take in, and even 2 donkeys!  

This little adventure was just what we all needed, to get away from the house and the remaining stuff that needs put away (which might happen someday...sigh).  Sitting at the restaurant, enjoying my family, the food, the scenery - it made me want to stop time and just enjoy it all.  I sometimes wish to declare a halt to the busy days, the growing up of the cherubs, and the aging of my own self.  

Knowing that a "halt" is not possible and knowing that each stage and phase brings its own new joys and growing opportunities, I say bring it on!  I have the most amazing best friend by my side and we are up for the next adventure.

Blessings Abound.

10 Years - Not Possible

I find it simply incomprehensible that 10 years have passed since we landed in Indiana with our adorable little sidekicks, Cambria Maryn and Cadin Andrew.  As most of you reading this know, we had one hell of a fight getting them home.  We had their referral for less than 2 months when the US government pulled the rug out from under us and said sorry, Cambodia is closed, no more adoptions for US families from Cambodia.  While the reasons were and continue to be legitimate, the manner in which it was handled was less than acceptable and far from humane.  

The fight to bring them home changed both Dirk and I in profound ways.  It changed our relationship with each other (in a good way) and our outlook on the world.  It changed our life direction in fact.  It certainly solidified and proved to any and all that we were then and continue to be dedicated parents to these amazing little people.  

I don't want to dwell on the past though, I want to celebrate these amazing cherubs.  They honestly have been an absolute delight since the first pictures hit our computer screens.  Cambria is so full of life, fun, and creativity.  She exhibits more and more qualities that truly resemble Phoebe from the tv show Friends, including her running skills.  She does most everything with joy and passion and is considerate and concerned for the world around her, including all things creepy and crawly;).  Cadin is our little intellectual, gathering facts like a vacuum cleaner and never hesitating to find an opportunity to share them.  He is a very hard worker, as demonstrated by his hours of gymnastics practice, and his sense of humor and smile are unmatched.  

As Dirk and I continue to stumble our way through parenthood and now early adolescence, we are so thankful that these two are our guinea pigs.  They are simply awesome kiddos.  We apologize when we make mistakes (and realize them) and they always accept our apologies and tell us that's okay.  They really seem to understand that when we have to discipline and redirect, it is not because we are being mean, but that we have their long-term interests at heart.  They know our ultimate goal for them is to raise them to be good, loving and caring people.

So, as we celebrate this 10th Happy Welcome Home Day for Cadin and Cambria, I just want to thank them for being awesome little people, thank God for placing them in our loving care, thank our parents who loved us and taught us how to love, thank our family for welcoming them with open arms, and to thank Dirk for being the ultimate Dad and best friend this mom could ever have wished for on this journey.  

We love you Doodle Bug and Meesta!

So proud to be your Mom!

Cathy

Ode to the Cherubs

I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge and commend our cherubs on how well they have handled all of this transition.  They have left behind all that they knew and that was comfortable to them, for the second time in their lives.  I am humbled by how much trust these little people have in Dirk and I.  They know we will take care of them and they are right, but it is just a surprising reality sometimes that Dirk and I are the adults, we are their parents, and we are in charge- yikes!  They trust us completely and it is humbling.

They have jumped into school with gusto, seemingly making friends and easily adjusting to the school schedule and their new teachers.  Our adventures pre-Italy with Indiana Connections made them eager for the social interaction of school and for mom to be "mom" only and not their teacher too!  They are all very happy about their new bedrooms - each of them now has their own room.  We also got each of them a new bed before we moved here and so Naples is the first time they have seen them set up, well, for now just Sullivan's is set up.  Yea...Cadin and Cambria's remaining boxes of bed parts must be in the remaining 2 crates of our stuff that we have yet to receive.  For now, they are sleeping on their mattresses on the floor - but, in their own rooms.  Cadin is the trooper who is sharing his bedroom with my office.  His room has the view of the mountains and so I kind of decided he was the one who had to share;).

They are enjoying a bit more freedom than they ever had in the States.  I am not exactly comfortable letting them walk to and from school yet without one of us, but we have allowed them to go outside and play in certain areas, within view of course.  This living on base thing is definitely all new for our family.  It will take some getting used to for sure.

Scooters and roller skates - those are the currently desired items.  We are borrowing somebody's car right now who is out of town, so this weekend with our transportation we will be getting them these "must have" on base modes of transportation.  Helmets are required on base, so that will be new for them.  We have also received 3 of 5 bicycles, no bicycle pedals for any though - weird.

Well, that is all for now.  I just wanted to give serious props to our little people.  They never cease to amaze me at what they know, remember, and care about.  I love their individual quirks - even though some of those drive me crazy.  I know, without question, that God chose them for us and us for them.  I am so proud that they call me mom and I pray that I am everything they need to have a happy childhood and eventual productive, responsible, and happy life!  I also hope they forgive me all of my mistakes, my losses of temper, and however else I am preparing them for future therapy sessions;)...

Life is so good,
Cathy

I'm Wawlkin' Heya (Best Gangsta Voice)

So ya, this has been a very busy week, with LOTS of walking.  Our jeep has yet to arrive (I CANNOT wait until it does) and we are still debating whether or not to buy another vehicle and so, we are walking - everywhere.  I walk the kids to school every day and then back from school every day.  I walk to the NEX (like a Target) and the grocery store just about every day.  We walk to church.  We walk to people's houses.  We walk.  This is actually very beneficial on most levels as the food here is very good!  However, it does get rather warm here though so frequent bathing is required.

Dirk and I were talking yesterday and everything we heard before we became active duty Navy is true, you make friends easier and faster in the military.  We have already met and become friendly with more people in  Naples than we probably did in the 3 years we spent in New Albany.  It is an odd, yet fabulous benefit of being in the military I guess.  The vast majority of people have been very welcoming.

A recap of the last week:

• Cherubs started school.  So far, all is well.  Cambria and Cadin are in the same classroom and that makes me happy.  Sullivan seems to like her class as well.
• On Tuesday we moved into our apartment on base, more on that to come.
• I finished Area Orientation this week, including getting my Italian Driver's License (I actually had to take and pass a written test of signs) and my Sojourner's Permit which allows me to stay here for 3 years.
• We are making friends and feeling a bit more settled.
• We received word that our big household goods shipment has arrived!

While we are very excited about our household goods being delivered - on Monday (tomorrow!) - our loaner furniture is not being picked up until Tuesday.  I am already having nightmares that we will literally have no room to turn around for a while and we might even lose a cherub or two in the box labyrinth.  Prayers appreciated that we remain calm during it all.  

I think that is all for now, I will try to post a picture of what the place looks like when all the boxes are delivered, it should be interesting!

Until next time,
Cathy

Planes, Cats, and Screaming Kids

Greetings from Naples, including Mount Vesuvius!  

Our adventure to Naples started early Monday in Indiana and involved 2 flights in the states, a stay at the Norfolk Navy Lodge, an 8-hour "wait" at the Norfolk Navy Airport and then 2 flights from Norfolk to Naples - culminating in seeing the most handsome face in the world all tanned and waving excitedly to see the cherubs and I waiting to have our passports stamped.  Joining him were quite a few member of the Chaplain team here in Naples and we were immediately made to feel very welcome with lots of hugs:).  However, these travels to arrive here, as one might guess, were not without incident, some more amusing than others.  

The most notable however, involved our travels from Norfolk to Naples.  The scene...the Norfolk airport USO waiting area and 2 very vocal kids (not ours) who did not seem to follow their parents rules very well and who had screaming meltdowns, often.  In addition to this, there was a very loud and vocal cat in this same area who was in a carrier and who was meowing LOUDLY.  Every single person in that waiting area heard the cat, it was that loud.  You can see where this is going, right?

Oh yes, we get onto our flight and get situated for the long haul in our seats.  Then the loud kids start coming near us, I look away, my heart begins to beat faster, their parents start this way and I think, surely they are going farther back in the plane, right?  I mean, this can't really be happening to us, can it?  Well, not only did it happen, but those four were directly behind the 3 cherubs and myself.  It gets better.  The cat.  The LOUD cat that meowed nonstop.  Yes, that cat.  It was their cat and they put it UNDER CADIN'S SEAT!  Those of you who know me well know that I am a dog person, not a cat person.

Needless to say, we heard meowing about 3/4 of the way to Naples.  The engine noise did not negate the meows.  Fortunately, at some point, it seems that the parent's realized that they should apologize for their cat's meowing and that they wanted the cat in cargo but it was too full, which did somehow relieve my irritation at the cat - and them.  They also did their best to keep their kids from violently kicking the backs of our seats - not always successfully mind you, but they did try.  When Cadin and Sullivan switched seats for the second international flight, the kicking began again and when the child would not stop, I actually looked back at him and told him that he really did not want that little girl mad.  The mom seemed to go with it and told the boy that he didn't want that little girl to be mad.  She even looked back at him and told him, you don't want to see me mad. (Indeed true.)

In all, it just adds to our story of getting to Italy and it is irrelevant in the scheme of life, the important part is that we arrived safely in Naples, Italy.  I can't believe we are here and that a dream that began more than 6 years ago for us has truly come to fruition.  There have been many obstacles to overcome but persistence and hard work payed off for Dirk and the cherubs and I are getting to tag along and enjoy the benefits of his efforts.  So far, Naples has been amazing and I am truly loving the base.  Being in a community where you can walk everywhere appeals to me greatly and that is exactly what this base is like (similar to a college campus).  It is big enough to have all the necessities, but small enough that you can walk everywhere.   

There will be many more stories to share as we attempt to get our "home" in the near future so stay tuned!

Until next time,

Cathy

Tearful See Ya Laters

I have to be honest, I have been dreading today quite a bit.  Not that I can't wait to start our Italian adventure and to be with the Dirkster, don't get me wrong.  However, this week was very emotional and busy with lots of meals, laughter and love, even a family wedding, which snowballed today when I said see you later to my van and some dear friends, my amazing dog, my incredible best friend, and my mom.  While my friends and family understand what is going on, I fear Harbour Grace does not and quite understand and honestly, it breaks my heart.  I know she is in the best of hands though, so I am trying to not get too emotionally handicapped by it, but it is hard.

The cherubs and I are packed and just have to manage to squeeze a variety of last-minute and bathroom items somewhere in our luggage tomorrow morning...and then we are off!  The last month has been a whirlwind and I am so very ready to get to Naples to get that much closer to "settled".

Praying for uneventful flights and travel - chat soon from the other side of the pond!

The Caldwell Crew!

Technology Rocks

Dirk has now been in Naples for a few days and the cherubs and I await our turn to cross the pond.  While we seriously dislike being apart, we have both recognized and do appreciate all of the options we have for communicating with each other.  We have cell phones, Magic Jack, Facebook, email, and Skype video and instant messaging - WOW.  It is so helpful to still have contact when there are still so many details that we are both dealing with that involves the other.

The cherubs continue to be troopers and we have almost finished our work with Indiana Connections Academy.  This attempt at making sure they were being educated has been a lot more involved for the parental units than I had anticipated.  The past few weeks of trying to work full-time, help the kids with school, move everything we own, and maintain some level of sanity has worn me out a bit.  I am looking forward to a break!

We are spending this last week visiting with more family and friends,  tying up all the loose ends, and making sure everything has either been shipped or is able to be packed into our suitcases.  We keep visiting Harbour Grace, but I try not to do it too often as I don't want her to think we are coming every day - and, I cry every.single.time we leave.  It is silly as she is in wonderful hands, but boy do I miss that slobbery hairy mess of a dog!

While we will miss everyone here, we can't wait to be united as a family again, and to see this handsome face...

Until next time,
Cathy and the Cherubs

The Adventure Begins

Welcome to the Caldwell Chronicles, our attempt to keep our family and friends up-to-date on our adventures as a Navy Family.  This has been quite a year for our crew with lots of changes, lots of completions (woo hoo!), and lots of unknowns.

To catch those up who are behind, here is a recap of 2012 so far...

• Dirk was ordained a full pastor with the United Methodist Church
• Dirk receives orders as a Navy Chaplain to report to Naples, Italy
• Cathy finishes her doctorate!!!!
• The family says goodbye to our church family and friends in New Albany, the Navy movers take all their stuff...(we hope we do see it all later!)
• The family moves up to the Indianapolis area
• We travel to Minneapolis and back for Cathy's commencement and hooding ceremony for her PhD.
• Harbour Grace, our Newfie extraordinaire, goes to live with friends of ours for 3 years as it was recommended that we not bring our giant beast (many tears continue to fall, but she is in great hands)
• Dirk will leave on Monday to begin the next leg of our journey to Italy....cherubs and I to follow in 2 weeks

All of the above has occurred while we have been trying to continue to be good employees at our jobs, raise our cherubs with some semblance of patience, and try to hang on to some shred of sanity ourselves.  It has been challenging to say the least.  Our friends and family have been the absolute best through it all and it is honestly humbling to feel the love from those we hold close.

While we will miss everyone here in the States terribly, we are very excited about the exciting sites to see, interesting people to meet, and new friendships to form.  I am going to do my very best to keep things updated here so you can follow along on our adventures if you wish.

Until later...