A State of Family Emergency!!

This is an older picture of my wonderful family.

I love my family, my Father and my Mother, my Sister and especially my Dianna.

We have always been close and we have always been there for each other, even when we are far apart.

One would be niave to think that the greatest times in one's life last forever. With time, there is change. Hopefully good but not always. I guess you get used to having a wonderful family and you get used to Christmas together and you take for granted parents that love each other and stay married for the rest of their lives. You never think twice about anything other than love and fun in your family. All the great times you shared together and expecting nothing less in the years to come.

Your reality is set for the rest of your life. Or so one thinks. You could never think that your reality might change. Hah, no, not you. But when you receive news that perhaps your reality just might change and take a turn down a road you never thought you'd be confronted with, well, that just changes everything now. I will never not love my family. Forgiveness and love are what hold a family together. A family is made from God. He puts people together to love each other and support each other and raise a family.

Yet more importantly than any of these things, I believe, God puts a family together to combat the Evil One. Yes, Satan. He would like nothing better than to tare apart a family that serves God. As you may know, where two or more are gathered in my (God) name, there I (God) am in their mitst. A family centered on God is a powerful tool against Satan, and he knows this.

I wish I could have seen the problems hidden behind smiles before they came out to put a frown on everyones face. I know that families have problems. I know that. With my whole heart, I know that. Is it the distance that slows communication? Was I kept out of the loop? Was someone too afraid to say "Hey we have a problem and we need your help and prayers."

Maybe that would have helped or at least stalled time. But there's no point in the "what ifs."

I just want you, the reader, to know that my family needs your prayers. They are the greatest family I know and I wouldn't trade them or any time in my life with them for anything else in this world. I am not upset and I do not despise nor hold any ill feelings.

I love you Mom and Dad. My life is what it is today because of all the hard work you put into me over the years. So I thank you. Thank you for your love and support, for teaching me at home and supporting my decisions in life.

So whatever happens from this point on, only God knows. I know that I can say, believing, that God is in control. He loves me and my family. I don't know what the future holds, but I know who holds the future.

That's all that matters. Love matters.

Me and the Wee-Bean

Yes, he is as surprised as I am. At what? Neither of us can say. Maybe daddy is going to land on "Free Parking"!!

I've now been home from my temporary partrol aboard the CGC Dependable for one month. Micaiah is no longer wondering, "Who is this guy and what is he doing with my Mommy?" He's gotten use to having me around and I enjoy spending time with him. Taking him off of Dianna's hands and feeding him his bottle. Dianna says I am good at feeding him and rocking him to sleep. He loves to play on his blanket and bouncing in his chair. I can't believe how much he "talks" and coos. I'm sure all of you readers have heard before, but I don't mind saying again, being a parent for your own child is a complete difference than being a foster parent. Dianna and I have notified DYFS that we are now "Open for business." So bring on the little ones.

I suppose if there is any excitement with being a Foster parent, it comes with wondering who the next child will be, what difference we can make in their lives and, the day they are reunited with their family or loved ones. Dianna and I keep in touch with our friend/case-worker who keeps us up-to-date with previous children we've fostered.

We don't know what will happen after we move from Cape May. Hopefully we can continue foster care the next place we move. Being in the Coast Guard doesn't really make it easy to do either, not knowing where we'll move next or what the housing situation wil be like. We would like to have more children of our own, and we would rather adopt than foster. But all of this we leave in God's hands.

"Now...MK3 Spangler lay to the Engine Room, MK3...Engine Room."

Two months is a long time to spend on a 210' boat, though I'm certain anyone who is or was in the Navy would say otherwise, but with that being my first time out at sea, two months is long enough. The experience was incredible, unreal even! It was great to get involved with the "real" Coast Guard. While we were out in the open Atlantic the boat was called to several cases and a few emergencies.

This picture here is the first boat of two that the CGC Dependable towed from open water to port. The boat also towed a buoy that had come loose from its securing line, responded to a few Search and Rescues, "nursed" a freighter taking on water and commenced what is known as Helo Ops. (See photo below.) Along with a dozen shipboard emergency drills which I got to take part in. Now, because I wasn't assigned to the boat, I didn't actually have a designated position or duty on the boat. The drills I could take part in, but when it came to Helo Ops or what you see in this picture here, I had to stand-by. Unfortunately I wasn't able to take part in small boat ops or boardings, not having the proper training and all, but that's alright, I got some good pictures.

During my time on-board I was able to get Qualified in a few areas that will go on my record for the remainder of my time in service. I got along with just about everyone on the boat. The Engineering Department was awesome! Those guys really know their stuff. They welcomed me aboard and saw to it that I got right in the action. The port calls were a nice break. I enjoyed a few beers with the guys and was able to get some Christmas shopping done as well. We spent time up the East coast and stopped at few "well known" sites on the map. The boat has computer and satellite so I was able to email Dianna every day and call her each time we hit land.

NOTE: The photo to the right is not cut out in any way. The stack space was right down the middle of the ship, so I could only get shots from either the right or the left.

I look forward to getting back underway, but I know that won't happen for a while. So in the meantime I plan on taking every advantage of being home, spending time with my wife and son, being home each night and on the weekends, as well as having a second job, doing foster care and getting involved with church. All of the pictures that I took were on a film camera that I put onto disc, and as soon as I download those to the computer, I will display some of them on my blog. So stay tuned.