GROTON, CT. SUBSCHOOL & "A" SCHOOL MOMS

Thank you SoProud!  He's a pretty special kiddo!  

I'm crying now too!  Can't see through the tears.  That is a really nice cadence though!

I like the idea of a just because cookie too-am thinking for his half birthday next May!!  Gotta keep those boys happy!

BJA57 our boys will be sailing together. HOORAH! USS North Dakota!

Aww, great photo mrsb! What a handsome young man!

That's a great cadence SoProud! Thanks for sharing!

Thanks Annette!!

Very nice fathomom!!!  You did it!  He looks very happy!  :)

That;s awesome Fathomom! Thanks for sharing, that's a handsome sailor you have there!

WOW- I did it.Sheeeesh - took me long enough, then I didn't add a message. So here is our son for his 23rd birthday cookie delivery. He loved it! He was sooo happy to receive it. He was really jazzed about the dolphins she made on the cookie (the black mustache looking thing). Annette,Thanks for introducing us to your niece - she is a sweetie.I will definitely call on her again!

So Proud - that cadence made me cry, made my husband cry too. God bless those fine young men  - love it! I can see why he didn't send it to Mom either.

mrsb -It was so nice to see you at the Blue Star Mothers, Corona packaging day. It was quite overwhelming to know all of those packages will actually be in one of our deployed arms! They are really, really going to make a difference! I do like that half birthday cookie delivery idea. Or even Valentine's Day, Easter or  just because day! I hope your pup is feeling much better. 

BJA57 - Fair Weather and Following Seas - that works for submariners too doesn't it? May God guide and bless the USS North Dakota - HOOYAH!

Fathomom, Handsome Sailor! He looks so Happy! I love those blueberries. Looks like my Sailor is coming home on Nov. 27th! This momma is counting the Wednesdays. I'm super excited to see my baby boy! Last time I get to see him was on June 22nd, it was a long time ago. I already ordered the "Welcome Home" banner to put it on the house. I can't wait to go to the airport to pick him up! God Bless all our Brave Sailors!

I just found this Old school Navy Recruiting poster. I thought it was too cute not to share.

SoProud, so happy you get to see your son in only a few short weeks!!!  Hooyah!!

Thank you mrsb! I can't wait to get Sailor HUG!

Txgal-Donna, I sent you a friend request, it's the only way to send you a message! I am sure Kristen will be happy to make you anything you request. One sailor got his family recipe popcorn balls!

SoProud - Awesome that you will have your boy home so soon! I am so very happy for you. Enjoy every moment! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving. We hope to have ours home for Christmas. 

FATHOMOM, Thank you so much. I hope all the boys can go home for Christmas. I don't think my Sailor is coming home for Christmas, that would be a little too much to ask for, I think. I'm not sure if it's ever going to get easier, when I think about that I have to say Good Bye again who knows for how long, I  start crying. It's been a little over 6 months my boy is gone but I don't feel it's getting any easier. Even though we communicate almost every day. Any of you feel this way? 

Hi FATHOMOM - I want to see my son as much as possible.  He has to use his pay to come home to me.  I am using my retirement to go to Connecticut to see him.

Let me just say that if I miss the chance to hug him and show him love now, I may not get the chance to, later.  It is worth everything to me to be able to be by his side whenever I can.  Money is no object.  I will do without food or work twice as hard to be with him.  But - everyone is not in the same situation as I am in and I appreciate the fact that some moms can not see their son personally for six months to a year.  I cry now, just thinking about that.  Doesn't mean we love or miss them any less.  And No, it does not get any easier, I am afraid.  My son hasn't even gone out on a sub yet.  That's gonna be the big one!

Our sons are in the Navy....this is a time to let them grow up and become men...and we as moms have to allow them to do that....it is not easy but we have to be strong for them...we have to be their rock....I had to put it in my head and accept the fact that he would be gone under the Pacific somewhere. I would not know where he was or what he was doing. I did a lot of praying for him and the rest of the crew members when they were gone.

This is where N4M comes in, we are on a journey together....some are beginning and some are farther in their journey and we all understand.....we are there for you!!!!! We cry tog and acknowledge our sons success tog.

See if your state has a group...some of them meet for lunch at diff times.....in MI we had a lady have some to her cottage this past summer...I hosted a card-making party which included making cards for Operation Write Home.

The transformation of our boys into men is an amazing thing that happens when they are in the Navy (or any other branch of the military).

My son was 28 when he went in.  I know he is a man  but I will always be a mom too.  Life is short and very fragile.  I pray alot and wish him well -he is more grown than I am, really. 

Thank you Ladies for all the kind and encouraging words. I know I'm getting stronger, it's just some days are lot harder than others. Navymom2013, I think that is true in my case also, my son is more grown than I am. Ha! Navy made him a such a strong young man and he's growing up so fast, it amazes me every day. I also pray a lot and constantly burning the blue candle. I'm very Proud of all our Bravest of the Brave!

Can anyone tell me what airport my son should use to fly home from Groton during leave at Christmas?

My son's friend came by today when my daughter was home, a little freaked out because investigator called him to ask questions about the sailor. He was afraid his friend was in trouble and if he answered wrong he would get him court martialed! So daughter gave him Dad's number and I guess he reassured him, A woman was talking to our neighbors earlier (upstairs people don't really know him, but another neighbor talked to her for awhile), freaked daughters out because she heard her asking about her brother. I explained it was just a background check for security reasons. I was amused by the reactions of my girls and his friend!

Thank you Carebear!

An investigator also contacted my neighbors, and me of course, and both of my neighbors wouldn't talk to the guy.  After we were done talking I took him next door and one neighbor finally agreed to talk to him.  I think it freaked them out because they knew he was in the Navy but weren't sure what they wanted.  It was just a background check, and all was well, but people get nervous. It's all ok though!!!

These investigators don't usually just knock on random peoples doors.  My son gave them names of references in the neighborhood that knew they were going to be contacted.  It would make me nervous too, if someone just randomly came to my home without me knowing it.  It is just like when you give employment references - you need to contact them in advance to tell them that they are going to be called for a reference so they can know what it is about in advance of that call.

Stylist613, my son has been there since Aug 3, and is in the middle of ATT right now, having finished BESS on Oct 4.

thx ladies, why does it make us nervous even when our kids are great kids

I just find it interesting, and was tickled at my girls' reaction to it. Not concerned. However, I am sure our upstairs neighbors could tell them anything significant, they only moved in about a month before son left. And our other neighbor loves to talk, so I am sure she had a hard time getting away from him. Luckily he loves my kids, really proud of Dennis.

Airports: Check Boston. They may be able to get a shuttle from the Navy for a fee.

Go to "My Page" - your page and on the left side, one of the items is photos and then you have to add your photo from your computer.  Not real good instructions but you should get thru it OK - someone else may have better instructions.  I stink at instructions.

I think navymom2013 is right if you would like to add a photo to your profile. If you just want to post a picture than you do it where you post a comment. Hover over the second icon, it will say images. Than you browse your computer to find the picture you would want to post and hit upload.

I'm so thrilled!! My son was so happy to get his cake and pumpkin pie today!! Kristen is a true God send. 

OklahomaMama! What a Handsome Sailor you got there! Happy Birthday Brett, enjoy your Special Day!  I agree, Kristen is a true God send! What a wonderful thing she does for our Sailors and us Mommas.

Happy Birthday to your son OklahomaMama!!  He sure looks happy!!

OklahomaMama - such a handsome young man! Happy "labor" day to you! He looks so happy. Love the winter coats for NAVY! Pumpkin pie was a wonderful choice too!

Funny when our son had investigators talk to our neighbors, by the time our son called us to let our neighbors know they would - our neighbors had already spoke to them. Not sure why we get nervous. 

SoProudMom/NavyMom2013 - our son has been away for 6 months too. You are right it does not get easier. When my brain has a moment,I too spend so much time praying for our Sailors and all who surround them. It calms me and gives me comfort. Hearing our son's voice is great, just not the same not hugging and actually seeing them from day to day. Tysmom - yup, they are growing up. Our son just turned 23.They are ready far before WE are!  Yup, it is a good and honorable job they have chosen. Yup, we still worry. I agree, even though it is difficult, that we should do our best to help them be strong young men. My husband has no problem with that! Us Momma's are wired so differently.  Again, thank God for prayer. As mom's we include ALL of our Military in our prayers. I hugged a young woman in the grocery store the other day. She and her family were celebrating Thanksgiving early, she was on her way to deployment. I told her I would keep her in our prayers - she was so sweet, and grateful. She must of thanked me six times. I hope I didn't scare her with my looong hugg. It was not tooo long....but a little longer than most. I could not help but thinking of our son. Wah! I have had my blue candle lit all day today!

So handsome, Oklahomamama! I see the "infamous" pumpkin pie. Kristen wore some of the pumpkin filling...;)

I got a letter from my son's friend today, he is in week 2 in BC. He wrote, "Dear Mama"..brought a tear! I need to write him more, mine was the only letter he had received. :( He is doing well, been made AROC and he loves singing cadence (he and my son met in madrigals in hs).

Lolachazzy- My son flew out of Bradley International Airport in October to attend his Brother's graduation from the Marines in San Diego. He drove his car and used long term parking at the airport. I hope that helps. 

OklahomaMama- What a sweet picture of your son, Happy Birthday!

I bet somewhere outside of the picture is a pack of Sailors ready to share in the yummy treats :-D

My son's current roomie will be moving on to his other schools soon. Since he has gotten to share the cookies I have sent, he is going to get his forwarding address to me, and I will send him cookies as well. Then when Dennis's friend in BC gets to his first school in SC, I will be sending cookies to him as well. Looks like triple batches for everything!

Annette, if you want to privately message me your son's friend's address I will write to him too.  :)