Today I'm taking full advantage of all my bragging rights.  And rightly so.  It's not often that a mother can brag about something like this.

Our Navy son (24 years of faithful service) has just been promoted to Master Chief.  Now, if you're like me, you don't know much about all these things.  So I went to the internet to learn some things.  Now I can talk with authority.  Here's the deal.  For an enlisted man there are nine ranks.  Master Chief is the 9th and final rank.  Only 1% ever achieve this rank.  It's a very big deal.  

We are incredibly proud of our son.  Jim's practically stopping strangers on the street to tell them about this!   But far more important for us is the fact that Tim, his wife Carmen, and their children walk well with God.  His light shines brightly wherever he goes.

How well we remember the times we have been on base with Tim down through the years.  So often we meet his commanding officer.  And always we hear what a fine man Tim is.  He's bright, honest, moral, friendly, hard working, always looking out for others, helpful, kind, and on and on the list goes.  They thank us for raising such a fine man.  We swell with pride and say "thank you Lord" cuz we know that it isn't us.  We made more than our fair share of mistakes.  God is very gracious, loving and kind.

Congratulations Tim.  Keep on keeping on until Jesus comes.  That's all we ask of you.  That's all we've ever wanted.