Thank You!

As a proud mother and as a United States citizen, I would like to personally Thank You Airman Cody Shreve for making such an honorable choice. A choice that asked you to unselfishly offer up your life for this country and our freedom. So many of us have chased after our own selfish desires, but you have put your own personal desires aside temporarily to be who the United States of America has trained you to be in order to stand up as a representation for this country as well as to protect it. What a sacrifice you have made not only to yourself, your family, but for our nation. The United States Air Force and America is blessed and priviledged to have a young man with such drive and determination to be the best he can be. For that, I could not be more proud of you.

Always remember and pray Psalms 91.

Thank you Cody and I love you with every ounce of my being.

Love, mom

It's Tech School in Mississippi

Well Cody, I have to say that life has been somewhat more desireable knowing that I can pick up the phone daily and talk to you. Although, the taunting calls of you being able to sleep in on Friday's (not waking up until 3:30PM) makes me somewhat jealous, but the thoughts of the Monday thru Thursday 4:30am wake up times quickly overshadows any feelings of jealousy. LOL!
You are now on your third week of Tech school. While you are having 80 degree weather, we are here having 30 degree mornings and 60 degree temps here.
Even though we have as much communication as we do, I still miss you being here. Just being able to spend time with you. I will be coming down there to see you in about a month. I can hardly wait.
Hang in there Cody. Your on your way up!

I love you!

YOU DID IT, CODY!

How proud we are of you, Cody! No words can explain how proud you have made us. To see the man that has came out of this amazes me! Making it through BMT, you know you can make it through just about anything.

I can't begin to tell you how overwhelming the feelings were when we were standing along side the street waiting for you to come running over that bridge. Then to see you for the first time in seven weeks was so awesome. I heard Scottie say that he "didn't realize how much he missed you until he saw you for the first time".

When you think you can't be any more proud, you then come marching up in your blues. That was enough to make a hardened criminal cry. To sit in those bleachers looking out at the airman and knowing one of them is your son is a feeling that is indescribable.

There is going to be a day when you will be able to relive and share this time with kids. What a awesome role model you have already established for your own future family.

The day we had to leave you again was so tough! Man! I couldn't watch you walk away. Those heart wrenching moments allows for the question of "why does being a parent hurt so much", but then it is quickly overshadowed by a overwhelming sense of proudness! The thought, "As much as it hurts to be without you and to see you go, that is MY son right there in that uniform". But I knew that our days of no or limited communication were over. So it made tomorrow somewhat easier.

Cody, you stand proud of your accomplishments. We are in a day when you will get the recognition and respect you deserve. Always know that we stand behind you through every twist and turn that life brings you! You will always have me in your corner cheering you on. I love you so much!

Going into the 4th Week! Warrior week!

Wow! It's hard to believe that we are now one day away from week 4. I got another letter from Cody yesterday. I was so glad! I am looking so forward to possibly hearing from him tomorrow. I can hardly wait to hear his voice.

Cody,
Only 19 more days to go! You have just about made it! Amy and I spoke today about our excitment of coming to see you and finally getting "open" communication with you. Drinda and Mikki are also so excited about getting down there to see you! I am excited to hear about warrior week. Hopefully it won't be miserably hot for you. I bet you are excited about base liberty tomorrow. Any freedom I am sure is well recieved.
Well, Aunt Betty is at the threshold of the life we all desire to get to one day. Her graduation can come at any minute.
Cody, I love you so much! I can not wait to the day that I can run up to you, (look out Drinda, Amy, Scott, Roxanne, and whoever else happens to be in the way) and put my arms around you and plant a BIG kiss on you! I get teary eyed thinking about the boy I left at the MEPS. To even hear your voice the other day had a different tone. It is tuff watching your children open a new chapter, because it is really hard to close the last one.
There is going to be a day when you will totally understand what I am talking about. I am off to bed now. I love you and miss you!

Tomorrow is Week 3

August 23, 200

ONLY 25 MORE DAYS TO GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I rec'd a letter from Cody on Wednesday. It was so good to hear from him. Although to find out the real scoop, Amy is able to keep me informed. LOL! She had told me that he is doing well on the physical end of it. Able to meet all the requirements with no problem. Sounds as though he is eating well or should I gulping well. He did say that it is getting much easier and that homesick feeling is subsiding some. Thank God! It's hard as a mother knowing your son is miserable and somewhere he doesn't want to be feeling sad and lonely. I still miss him. Can't wait until BMT is over and we can have normal communications again. I wish he would call me so I can just hear his voice.

Cody,
As always we are so proud of you and what you have accomplished so far. Thank you for the letter and letting me know you are ok. I was thrilled to hear that you are having no problems meeting the physical end of the training. Gives you one less thing to worry about. I am still reading and researching daily trying to figure out what you are doing day to day. I notice the weather has been in the 80's this week. It's been the same here. We are now getting the rain you had at the end of last week.
I spoke with Amy last night and she is crazy about some Cody. We are all so anxious to get to Texas to see you. One thing you can't deny is that you are truly loved by lots of people. Grandma is really upset that she can't make it to graduation. She cried! She really wanted to be there.
I am really curious to see what job you are assigned too. I can't wait to hear all the stories about BMT and what you have been doing this whole 7 weeks.
I wish so much that I could just give you a hug and kiss. I miss you so much. I would have never imagined this time that you have been away would be so difficult. It's getting a tad bit easier, but it's just not the same knowing you are so far away. I just hope and pray that you never have to go out of the country!
I love you Cody and am looking forward to September 18th.

Cody Called!!!

08-16-08
Cody called last night! What music to my ears to hear that he is ok. A guy had called Amy to tell her that Cody loved and missed her. It through her off some, then he also said to tell his mom that he loved and missed her also and that he was ok. I would love to know who that man was. Then a few minutes later Cody called Amy himself. He said that he doesn't regret his decision and she wouldn't either. Now that was such a relief to hear. I worried that he was there regreting his decision, homesick and wishing he were home. But to hear that he is doing good and in good spirits was so awesome to me.

Cody, I love you and am so proud of you! You are hanging in there and pursuing your dream letting nothing stop you. To hear that you were doing well and sounded happy was better than someone handing me a million dollars. No words can express how proud of you I am. You are deeply missed but deeply respected.
You are in my prayers and thoughts continuously. You've made it through the last couple of weeks with flying colors, the next four are going to go much smoother. Hang in there!

Love you lots,

Mom

Coming to the end of Week One

Well Cody, you made it through another week. Probably two of the hardest weeks you will experience in your life. You are probably looking forward to losing the title "baby flights". I look so forward to seeing you. There is not an hour that passes by that I don't think about you and wonder how you are doing and what you are doing. Well only 33 more days to go. I have to say that the past 13 have gone by pretty quick. Thank you God! I see that today appeared to be a few degrees cooler than it has been. But I am sure that running and exercising in it doesn't make it feel much cooler.
I was reading in a forum about a lady who was at her sons graduation this week and took some pictures of the "rainbows and baby flights". I sure hope and pray that she got you in one of them. Just to see you would make this time that your away a tad more manageable.
It won't be long before we will be down there taking pictures of you on your graduation day. That is going to be so awesome.
I hope you are recieving our letters and cards. I want you to realize how much I love you and miss you. It helps me to as well to feel closer to you. Odd but true.
Grandma and Grandpa have made the final travel arrangements for your graduation. So you are going to have quite the fan club out there.
I love you Cody and miss you more than words can express.

Love, mom

Whew! We are through week 0!

Cody called yesterday (Sunday)! What a relief to hear that he is ok. He called his dad, and had very little time (3 min) to talk. We were all somewhat confused about his address, so Cody might have mail floating all over Lackland AFB. I am so thankful to know that he sounded ok. Scott said he sounded a little tired, but sounded good! I still miss him.

Cody,
I hope you get all our letters. I think we were all rushing to the mailbox to see who could get thiers out the fastest. Well I had the wrong address, so I guess I lose. I still miss you so much. Amy and I continue to count down the days. I am so looking forward to this being over. It's so hard not being able to pick up the phone to see how you are doing. That is the toughest part. I had a sense of relief when I atleast got an address. It felt as though my son was just out there somewhere. From what I read, this is going to be a challenging week for you. But I hope with your athletic ability, it won't be so tuff. Kim (your recuiter) said that you will have no problem with the physical part of this. Matter of fact she believes that you will come out of basic with high honors. See, it's just not your family who sees the high achiever in you! Your awesome Cody. You make me so proud and honored to be your mother. I love you!

Winding down week zero

Week zero is coming to an end! I read this is one of the toughest weeks. With that said, I can feel a smidge of relief. I am looking forward to hearing from Cody. I wish he'd call to let us know he is doing ok. I miss him so much. Amy had texted me today to tell me we were 40 days away from the date we leave to go see him. She is missing him and anxiously awaiting this time to be over. She is having to keep herself busy and her mind occupied in order to get through this time, but admits her thoughts of him still continue to flood her thoughts.

To Cody,
My thoughts this last couple days were wondering what you are doing at specific times of the day, how you are surviving the intense training and heat, and if you are ok. I seen today was a hot one. It said it was 99 degrees. Ugh! I can't imagine training in that heat. I noticed that the rest of the weekend, it will be 100.
When people call to ask about you, I still give way to tears at the discussion of you being so far away. Even though it's painful to discuss you not being here, it's exciting for me to tell them how proud of you I am.
The mother in me wants this next two weeks to fly by. (I actually want September 19th to be here tomorrow.) I know these are the toughest weeks for you. Once you make it past the first three weeks, my mind will be at ease (somewhat).
If what i am reading is true, you probably got your training uniforms yesterday or today. You have got past the "rainbow" phase.
I hope you have made some friends that are willing to encourage, strentghen, and motivate you as well as you do the same for them. I am praying daily that God will give you strength and peace to get through this time.
Cody, you are continuously on my mind each day. I miss and love you.
Grandma and Grandpa Shreve miss you so much. They are planning thier trip (coming to San Antonio on Amtrak) to be there on your graduation. I don't believe there is anything that would stop them at this point.
Then there is Drinda. You know her, someone who has a difficult time showing emotion.... Well let me tell you, she has become quite the cry baby lately. LOL!!!!
There isn't a one of us who doesn't miss you and feel the emptiness of you not being here.

I also spoke to Roxanne today to see if you had called yet. She had mentioned the house isn't quite the same without you there! They all miss you over there as well.

Hang in there Cody and know that your family is always backing you 100%. No matter what!

A Mother's Tears

A mother cries today,

She has given birth to a beautiful baby boy.

This is her first child,

She is shedding tears of joy.

The years have gone by quickly,

And her baby is now a man.

She loves him very deeply,

As only a mother can.

A mother cries today,

As her son goes off to war.

She can't believe this is happening,

It was just yesterday when she watched him playing on the kitchen floor.

She begins to remember the days,

When he was just a child.

How she would sing him to sleep each night,

Just to see him smile.

She was the one who wiped away his tears,

And bandaged his scrapped knees.

She loved to watch him play ball,

And worried when he climbed trees.

The first day of school she cried,

just as she did the day he graduated.

For all these years she cared for him the best way she knew how,

And now he is going off to the Air Force,

Who is going to care for him now.

Who is going to wipe away his tears,

And ease all his fears?

Who is going to sing him to sleep at night,

And who will hold him tight?

A mother cries today,

As her son goes off to war.

He tells her not to worry.

But she says,

"That's what Mothers are for."

Week Zero -Day 2

I miss him so much! Cody, you are in my thoughts continuously. You are in my prayers daily. I look forward to graduation so that I can see the justification of the hurt we are all going through now.

Cody, there have been many tears shed already since you left yesterday. But there have also been much conversation on how proud we are to have you as a son, brother, nephew, and grandson. Being the first grandson, you are and have been a wonderful example to those coming up behind you.

I spoke with Scottie today about you and by golly I think he is really missing you. He said it was hard being at home knowing you weren't coming home. As much as you two fought, there is that emptiness he feels since you have gone. I know he is going to be so proud to see what his older brother has accomplished at graduation.

As for now, we miss you Cody and our prayers and support are behind you continuously.

Week Zero

Tuesday, Aug 5th 2008
Today my son opened a new chapter in his life.

It seems like yesterday when Cody was this cute little boy dancing to the sound of his grandpa's guitar with not a care in this world. I would have never dreamed 18 years ago the time would have gone so fast. My mother always said to enjoy the time when they are babies because once they go to school time will pass you by.

I am so proud of Cody. He is handsome, smart, athletic, and an over achiever in everything he sets his mind too. He has and continues to make me proud to be his mother.

Today I believe was the hardest day of my life. To see that young little boy take those first steps into adulthood.

When we arrived at MEPS in Indianapolis (about 8:00am), Cody was there going through the final processing before his departure to Lackland Airforce base in San Antonio, TX. Each time I heard "shipper Shreve" (what a label), it made me proud to have a son willing to put his life out there for his nation. When they called us back to witness him being sworn in, it was moment never to forget. The boy that is leaving me today, will come back a man! We sat around with him until his bus arrived at 12:00pm. When I saw the bus pull up, reality sucker punched me right in the gut. To see him walking down the side walk heading for that bus tore my heart in two. As I headed home, a piece of me was missing. How in the world do these other military moms do it?!

Being the typical (i hope) mother, I got online to watch his plane make it's way to Forth Worth, TX. I was somewhat concerned as Texas was being threatened with a hurricane. But I believe Gods protection is on Cody.

I think the difficult part for me is the unknown. What is he doing? Who is screaming in his face? Is he wanting to come home? Is he ok? Are they breaking his spirit? The list goes on. It is also very difficult to know that there is no communication with him for atleast a good couple weeks if not more. The only thing I can do is pray that God give him strength and peace during this time as well as his family.