DAVE RETIRED FROM THE NAVY!

After 20 years of service in the United States Navy, Dave retired on Oct. 2, 2006! His first duty station was in Yokohama, Japan as an X-ray Tech. We met while he was stationed there and we flew to Agana, Guam to get married on Oct. 17, 1988. Danica was born at the Naval Hospital in Yokusuka and we moved to the United States in 1990. He went to school at the National School of Health and Sciences in San Diego, CA to be a Surgical Tech. After graduation, he was stationed at the Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, Ca. While stationed there, Melissa came along in 1992. We lived at the Santa Margarita Housing for a few years. In 1995, the moment of truth had come. A sailor won't be a sailor without going out to sea. He was assigned at the USS Cleveland, so we had to pack our bags and went back to San Diego. He left for a 6 month tour at the Western Pacific in Sept. of '96. After 3 years, he was stationed at the Naval Hospital in San Diego and did his 3 year shore duty. We talked about going east for his next duty station but life was good in San Diego, we were scared to make changes! We decided to stay and he was stationed aboard USS Belleau Wood, did another WESTPAC and several out to sea trips. He only had a few more years before retiring, so we had to make the biggest decision for our family. The girls needed to experience some family tradition like Thanksgiving Dinner with turkey and gravy instead of crab legs! We didn't own a house and just thinking of another cross country trip from San Diego to Va. (which we had done several times) wasn't very inticing anymore. The girls were getting older and it would be hard to take them away from the place they grow up. IT WAS TIME TO MOVE ON! Dave asked his detailer to be stationed either in Virginia Beach or Maryland which is the same distance from home. He was given Maryland which I was happy because my friend lives here. We bought a house and did our last 36 hour drive from San Diego to Va. on July 18, 2003. We move to our house on July 23. Danica is not happy especially in the fall because we have to rake leaves and why we had to move to the country. Melissa developed asthma and allergies from all kinds of grass.
God already had plans ahead for us. If we were in San Diego now that Dave is sick, I couldn't imagine how we would be able to make it with our family so far from us. We are blessed in so many ways but I am still in denial, "Why Dave"?