Anyone with Sailors/Soldiers/Marines in War Zones and Combat Areas

TDM...Welcome to another club...The retired Moms.  LOL  I know what you mean...I feel blessed that he will never have to return to the sandbox or any other war zone, but a part of me also feels a sadness.  I know he loved what he did, and I pray that his decision to get out wasn't influenced by me.  Like you, I grew up as a brat and two of my daughters spent about 10 years each in the military.  It seems strange to no longer have any ties.  Yes...I also have the "survivors guilt"...That is why I don't talk much on here anymore, unless there is a hurting mom.  I will always remember that fear!  In fact, when a mom posts her confusion, fear, and pain,  I can still FEEL it in myself.  Just as my son's deployments shaped him, they also shaped me.  Anyway...Enjoy your new status...you earned it!

Nice one Texas Doc mom. That was funny.

Well, I had a bad breakdown last night in front of my husband.  Thank goodness he didn't tell me the usual, "Stop letting yourself worry so much. It doesn't do any good."  Instead he comforted me and let me have my moment.  My son is at a FOB and gets mail only when they convoy to Dwyer which may be once a month. It's ashame as it is their morale booster. I think I've sent enough boxes for the entire unit. LOL..

DJ, good on your husband....he's getting it....and he is as worried as you are, and is learning that it has nothing to do with "letting" emotions take over. You have a kid in a war zone and you worry. Please tell him we have dads on this board as well, so to join us any time he feels like it. I think some of these ladies can give him links to boards with more fathers on them as well.

TexasDoc...Wow..Congrats to you and your son and I dream of a day like you are having.  I'm so happy for you and your son and your family.  I'm in the nursing field and every decision we make is "Safety First" and just know our families are safe is just everything.  As for me, as I said, my son is about to deploy out soon.  I'm going to be going to give him big bear hugs next week before it happens.  I have been dreading this day.  I have brought him up right and believe God will be with him and as my son goes and your son comes I almost feel like a place is being filled and carried on.  All will be ok.  I'm very proud of my son too.  Today he got called and told he will be given E4 tomorrow and he called to tell me and the joy in his heart and mouth as he told me just was a great morale booster for him and we are so excited.  I love see him press forward and achieve. 

Anyway....you have encouraged me greatly.  Thank your son for us for his service and again congratulations. 

So...back to deploying.  I need to know how do I get a Family Readiness Officer to put me on a list to get newletters and emails while they are deployed? 

Susan, tell your son to set up his bank account where he can access it online and simply send you the passwords and account numbers. My son refused to do a power of attorney, he said "you're my next of kin, you'll have access if anything happens to me with my passwords." So, everything was set up for Bill Pay online, and I could check every month to make sure the bills came through, etc. Then when they are at home, they can change their passwords for privacy and give you the new ones if they deploy again. He has to send you all the information  including the answers to the security questions. We did a simple thing, using a dogs name as an answer to all the questions with "1", "2", or "3" after it. Question 1's answer was Spot1, etc. That way he could mess with it if he was online in Iraq or I could do it from here.

Ktssong, find that unit's web site and the FRO will be listed. If you have a problem finding it, message me or Susan with the info and we'll help you search it down.

My heart to all of you facing these new deployments in this new year and to those of you so patiently (yeah, right...) waiting for your kids to come home from current deployment. You are not alone, one thing I've learned is that we all function better as a solid team, no one should melt down alone.

The response on facebook to my announcement about my son's leaving the Navy was really something...Navy moms, Army moms, Marine moms, and all my old hippie and liberal friends just celebrating....and watching my son's page, his friends, those Marines and sailors with whom he has served, all of them just congratulating him, thanking him for his service with them, and the love coming at him....I just want you to know how much your kids are respected and loved by those with whom they serve, and I know that in deployment situations, they truly have each other's backs, and they will do what it takes to do the job and come home safely to their families. I always knew that on some level, but watching these 20something young people reaching out, laying their feelings on the line, makes me realize the closeness that comes with serving togehter in a war zone, and they are a vocal, articulate generation. They are not shy or ashamed to care about one another after their experiences together.  I think that communication like we have on social media like this and facebook, etc, will help a lot with PTSD issues, so many will get help that might slip through the cracks, so many will reach out to those with whom they served (and to our Docs !) if they need help or they see someone who is floundering. Every little thing helps. They are not alone either....

Oh..and Chief!! so glad to see your fingertips here with news about your son's leave!! glad it was good!

You got through that first deployment because you are a strong, hard headed woman, who loves her kid....and you are a real treasure to this board, so come back often!

Chief, I agree with TDM...please come here often.  You thought you would never get through that deployment, but you DID!  Between your strength you didn't know you had, and the beef jerky, you came through with flying colors.  LOL  You will be an inspiration to our new moms.

Thank you moms.  I got an email back today that I'm on the list and I appreciate it.  I do go on their FB page for his Battalion but I'll look for a website too if that is different.  My son is a Seabee in GP, MS.

Is the FRO and Ombudsman the same thing?  The questions I'm asking are probably making some of you laugh at me because they are probably obvious and I work with numbers and math all day you'd think I could figure some of the things I'm asking out but it's like I don't want to assume anything when it comes to all I'm learning.  I'm sure you will bring me along.  Next year this time I'll know a whole lot more.  Thank you for the patience all of you.

My son is newly married in November and she left to be there with him for this last month too and they both called me today because he was filling out papers for her.  She will be coming back to OH after he leaves to be down the street from me.  We have a great relationship.  They asked me if it is better for him to fill out for her to use military doctors like on our bases up here or is it better for him to have her do her regular doctor?  Just standard paperwork I assume. 

Anyone have any advice on that topic?

kissong....Yes the ombudsman and FRO are two different position and are usually staffed by different individuals. 

As to the doctor it would depend on how long she plans to be in OH?

So what do I say to my son who is going through a depression phase at his FOB?  He tells me yesterday how homesick he is, how much he misses his gf and that he can't put a finger on it, but has a very bad feeling and he doesn't like that feeling.  It scares him.  He also said he's sick of the IED's going off daily there.  Does our freaking politicians realize what our troops are going through every day?  I think they all should have to spend a year deployed in the outposts and then maybe they will have some sort of idea.  They can go to bed at night knowing their loved ones are safe.  Most Americans have NO clue we lost at least 8 troops last week.  

I see on the chat room a Sethsmom.  Is that for Seth Michaelis?  Would LOVE to hear from you as I am good friends with him and Alex.  My son is in the same area right now in Afghanistan.  

DJones, it's so good for your son that he can share all his pain and frustrations with you but it sure is a heavy burden for you to carry. Is there a chaplain with your son's unit? tell him to go talk to him, that chaplain handles those fears and frustrations from those warriors everyday and might have the words to comfort him and keep him focused on the job at hand and help in other ways, too.

I've had a couple of people say to me (and about me!) that since my son was leaving the Navy they wouldn't "have to listen to all that crap about the war" anymore. They are so damn wrong....put a piece up yesterday about it on facebook and got a huge response from a wide variety of people. The consensus from my friends is that every voice should be raised telling and reminding people every day we have these young warriors in a war zone in our name, we have them on the high seas fighting pirates for all of the world, we have the bravest and the best in our uniforms around the world and every American should support them...but every day I also hear and read of idiots who think because we finally pulled all of the military out of Iraq, that we are no long at war. The one thing about the draft back in Viet Nam days is that it kept EVERYONE aware of that war and it's victims.

Extra prayers, thoughts and positive energy to you and your son today, DJ.

Djones....Count your blessings that your son talks to you about his concerns.  Its a good sign that he can express his feelings.  It worse when you know something is wrong and they won't talk about their fears and issues.  Remember that we are their sounding board, " safe habor".  They know they can say whatever they are feeling and we will not judge them.  Listening is a gift. 

Please keep coming here and venting, that's what we are here for.   

TexasDocMom, you are so right.  The draft would change everything.  Unfortunately my son just informed me that he is heading out on a mission now for a week and hopes he comes back with all the same parts he had when he left.  OMG....can someone please tell me why we are still there?  I really stay positive when I talk with him,  but he says he also is having a hard time dealing with his friends death.  No Chaplain there.  Everyone keep him in your thoughts and prayers.  I wish I could give him the biggest hug ever

Paymaster, Yes I love my son can talk to me.  He tells me just about everything and all his feelings.  I must have done something right raising my 2 kids.  I think it is because I have always listened to them and not judged them.  Even if I knew it would make me mad or upset..I have always been there.  I've gotten so many calls in the middle of the night because they were dealing with some major issues.  Staying positive is all I have.

I'm trying to do something proactive for this first deployment in case there is no chaplain or in case there are issues with homesickness or depression.  I have a little recorder with ear phones that my son left here he used to use to try to write music and listen back to it.  It's smaller than my hand but holds hours of time and is battery operated.  I'm giving it to him next week but maybe DJones could buy one for your son and do what I've done.   I've took it to family gatherings or visits to friends and neighbors.  I've had a co-worker that impersonates Arnold Swartzenager say a few words on it.  I've had neighbor play some guitar tunes they used to play together on it.  I passed it around to all his brothers and sisters and they all said funny things to him.  I also recorded some Joel Olsteen sermons that were very positive, and some songs from church and some prayers throughout it that were praying over him and then I'm wrapping it up in a paper that has the number next to it that he can click on for whatever it is he wants to listen to.  Even an interview with his new bride and a few messages from her and from me.  My hope is that he can put the earplugs in while he's laying in bed and listen to some of the selections and take his mind off a rough day and chuckle some.

It costs about 30.00 at Target and everyone was excited to participate.  I've worked on it since Oct and giving it to him next week.  I will pray for your son but I agree....try to get him on another topic and maybe this will help time to pass. 

I forget sometimes that we have an everchanging bunch of participants here on this board, altho some of us old timers remain....so I guess it's okay if I show my age and repeat stories I've told before in these 500 ++ pages of heart and soul and pragmatic posts here. I made a video of a walk with Rosie, our dog. We walked around the neighborhood, you can hear her little fur padded feet "plop, plop..." and I talk about the neighbors..."look at Dom's new flag, just for you..." (Dom, a Navy vet neighbor), " what do you think of that color on Kathy's house...? will she ever finish it..." and Kathy's greyhounds that my son has walked a thousand times peering through the fence....the dogs in his best friend's front yards, including the one he and Jerrod rescued from the park, dumped with a broken jaw....just around about the neighborhood he grew up in. He LOVED it. I put it on youtube as well, so he could go whenever he was at a base with a media center to watch. I record the musicians that play the house concerts in our backyard, he could watch and see his back yard, a touch of Austin music...and share with his friends.It was myspace then, I watched everyday for his page date to change to see if he had a chance to jump on....and every day I put up new photos from home.

When he bought this new home, his girlfriend asked me for photos she could frame for his office, etc. "The only photos he keeps are the ones in that little book, he won't let me remove any of them". That "little book" was  a tiny photo album from the dollar store, the only place I could fine anything that small....pocket size, that I had photos made to fit, of all of us, his dog, his room, our home, our friends, his family here at home that fit in his pocket. I gave it to him the night before we took him to the plane to go to deploy....and 3 years later, he still has it, it's still important to him. Something from home with love he could touch anytime in his pocket no matter where he was, no matter what was going on.

I do want to say one thing. Everyone of us have a different relationship with our kids, some ways similar to others, some not. My son would not share anything over the phone from deployment. At all...when he got home, we had some serious discussions, and there was a lot to share....but he said "you could not change anything that was going on, Mom, and you had enough worry "...that's how he felt. Many of our sailors, soldiers and Marines feel that same way, and many times they are told to not share those things with home folks. They feel protective of us, I guess.  So, if your child doesn't talk about his day to day in Afhgan, that's not an abnormal thing. If he/she does, that's not an abnormal thing, either. It's just how it is, and over the years on this board, we have both situations all the time.  

Just remember to pay attention to OPSEC regs about sharing what anyone says at all anyplace (and, no one has done that, but reminding you is what I do) and that if any one approaches you, at all, telling you they can do anything or help you through this time....make sure you know them and their motives, and do not hesitiate to contact the FRO if anyone makes you uncomfortable by contacting you about your deployed loved one.

WEll, my son called to tell me some interesting news.  He thinks he is re enlisting. Says he is not ready to leave the military and is going to try to be an instructor at  Field Medical Training.  Oh my.  Deep inside I knew he wouldn't be ready.  He needs the structure, discipline and knows he has a great paycheck right now.  I did tell him he must get his degree done if he re enlists. Hopefully he won't have to do another one of these deployments.  I don't think I can go through it again.

DJones...I know an instructor spot open in San Antonio! maybe he'll get that one...actually it kind of sounds like the same job...teaching combat technique to military and nonmilitary medical personnel. If so, my son loved that job almost as much as being greenside with the Marines.  I loved it because he was close to home for the first time in years, he was almost always off when I wanted him home for family gatherings. Usually off weekends, except when class is ongoing, or they have that 24hour on/8 hours off thing. This particular job is not necessarily easy to go to school with the hours they work during the classes they teach. My son did do some night classes, but today he starts full time at UTSA! so moving forward!

Welcome Inga! to the group no one ever wants to join! we've know each other so long on these boards, you have been so much help with your daughter being the source for so much information about our corpsmen and what they can expect, and school, etc...and now, she's headed to a war zone. We're right here with you. You, of all people, know you are not alone, you and our little group held me together for the months my son was deployed, and I'm proud, if not a little sad, to do the same for you. We'll pray her home, Inga. Much  love to you. and Happy Birthday!!!

Hi Ladies,  I am increasingly on here more and more with deployment nearing.  I know not to say dates and never will but because we don't want to miss the opportunity to give a physical hug before he goes I'm going one more time to see him for a long weekend.  I leave in two days.  This week my throat has a lump in it.  I'm choked up and have indigestion so bad which is abnormal for me.  I don't want to be a cry baby so I hope when I'm there I'm able to pull off the positive mom I like to be as always but deep inside I know that I will have a long twelve hour drive back bringing his car home and hopefully I can save the tears for the trip home.  I want to encourage him and let him know my support is always going to be with him even stronger than I promised when he started bootcamp this time last year.  But what if I do have a tear roll down my cheek? The tears seem to have a mind of their own some days. 

I was in Zumba class tonight remembering that last year I started taking Zumba to help keep me occupied during his bootcamp, now I think I'll have to stay in it through this year for deployment.  Even while I exercise, I think about him.  I don't think there is anything on earth I can do to take my mind off this.  So when we say "keep it real".  This is real.  I am not looking forward to this, I have a goal to be a strong and positive support system, send care packages, be happy if I have any word from him during this time and hang in there even if I don't.  Tonight I didn't want to go to exercise class,  I feel a little depressed but I made myself go.  It's a high energy exercise and I really felt like someone would have to drag me in but I went and was glad I did and by the end of the class I did give a little Zumba sqeal  out during the workout.  I didn't think I had it in me.  Times like these, I think we have to make ourselves do what we don't want to for our own physical health because if we get sick it will make them worry so we have to keep healthy so we can encourage them. 

I just need to get this off my chest.  If it wasn't for Navy Moms, I don't know who I'd talk to because I feel like alot of people I work with just don't know what to say and try to avoid the topic and my family seems to not need to talk about it as much as I do.  It makes me feel like I'm obsessed but I know I'm not.  I have given birth to him, raised him for 20 years at home and then he continued to live at home several more years and only lived away from home a year and half before he left for bootcamp.  We've always been close.  I have five kids and he's my youngest and they all helped keep him safe all these years since I was a single mom, this is the first time we can't be with him to keep him safe.  I believe God will but I'm not doubting God's ability when I want to talk about it, I just need to "keep it real" and say I need to talk about this.  Somedays more than others.  This week more than others so far. 

Anyway, thank you for being on here to let me read all your posts and see that I'm not alone.  Many moms feel the same way and we're not crazy, we are just moms that love our kids no matter how old they are. 

My son and I used to work on songs together when he was home.  He would write a song and words and come in and play to me and ask me if it sounded right and we'd change it around alittle together and then it would come together.  So I wrote a little song for him and have a little tune in mind to go with it and I'm taking the words with me to see what he thinks he can do with my music.  It's about the journey that began last year.  Maybe it will be something to help someone think about their journey.  It's called "My Heart"

My heart left for Afghanistan, it left here yesterday.

It's in my son's shirt pocket where it's beating everyday.

A Navy Mom I came to be the day he came and said to me

Mom don't be mad but I want to be a United States Navy Seabee.

Looked in his eyes and listened close to what he said

I thought alot about it and this is where my heart was led.

I want to join the Navy now and make this dream come true.

But one think that I want, dear mom, that you be happy too.

We drove to the recruiters through a tunnel made of birds

Recruiters answered all my questions and then I listened to their words.

That day I joined the Navy Moms and life's not been the same

Any my son joined the Navy too and then went off to train.

My heart went to Columbus It left here yesterday

It's in my sons shirt pocket where it's beating everyday.

Blizzards of all Blizzards hit the day he would sware in

That's not enough to keep this mom from going and seeing him

Icy roads, wrecks and visibility was low but Brit and I were deteremined we were gonna show.

My heart went to the Great Lakes It left here yesterday

It's in my sons shirt pocket where it's beating everyday

Praying, hoping, writing letters filled my days back then

Running to the mailbox to see if I got one back from him

200 pushups, running hard...fold those clothes just right

Shots galore, teeth were pulled,,,they were glad when it was night.

My heart went to California it left here yesterday

It's in my sons shirt pocket where it's beating everyday

The Seabee base and cadence calls and marching hard by ocean air               

Shooting guns and calling home made life much easier to bear

I flew out west we saw it all and Manny showed the way

He took us to the ocean blue where we tossed frisbee one day

Then my heart came home to see us seems like yesterday

It's in my sons shirt pocket where it's beating everyday

A family celebration to celebrate your success

And show you we were happy you could come home for a rest

Plans were made to continue on for when we'd meet again

That would be when he came home to be David's best man.

My heart left for Gulfport, it left here yesterday

It's in my sons shirt pocket where it's beating everyday

Studied hard, new uniforms a bigger room was nice too

Me and Navy moms met with the Admiral and his crew

You worked hard at the shop and when I came to visit there

We both fell through the Pier and that was really rare.

Labor Day at Destin a breakfast for us you made

Memories of this and more I'll never ever trade

Your proposal, then your wedding were all very special too

But most of all it's knowing what it's all leading up to.

So this Navy mom can't help herself she loves her Navy son

And promise to send care paks to you, I'll send them by the ton

And even though you're going to the desert where it's hot

Don't forget how much we love you and all that you've been taught.

Around my  neck I wear your name and the Seabee motto too

We Build....We fight....We Can Do!

My days will be spent praying for your every single need

but I want you son to do your best just like we agreed.

When I get scared I'll squeeze my bear you gave me Christmas Day

And then I'll close my eyes and say to God "Be with Joey today"

My heart went to Afghanistan it left here yesterday

It's in my sons shirt pocket where it's beating everyday

Yes, my heart when to Afghanistan It left here yesterday

But I'll be waiting here for  you to come back home safe to the Good Ole USA.

Up in discussions, there is a note from me from my blog....it's titled "For You"... http://www.navyformoms.com/group/momswithkidsiniraq/forum/topics/fo... 

Even with my son safely out of the Navy, I still remember that day I wrote it, and the day he left and that blessed day he returned...and I got that picture of him boots down in the USA and how I cried the whole day. Just so thankful. That's my  prayer to you, that you have those days of tears of joy and gratitude for a child returned home safely to the USA.

TexasDocMom...I followed the link and read your blog.  That was well said.  Exactly the feelings I can relate to.  Thank you for sharing.  Thank you for the prayers.  I think that's what's so great.  Last year I was praying for a family with a son in the same exact place where mine is going.  This year they are praying for mine son.  It's like a prayer chain that is like a baton passed along to the next runner.  I know you know exactly how to pray about it all too.  Thank you.

Susan! I did see that story about those seabees and how they stepped up to save those people in that car teetering off of that bridge.  I thought of each of you Bee moms and how proud you must feel knowing your kids can do the impossible in situations like that! That poor mom, looking out that window, just broke my heart, her two children trapped with her...it was a miracle that those Bees came by with a fork lift to do the job...that's what our kids can do now, they can do the job! Link to Bee story about the rescue.

ktssong...have you put melody to your song yet? make a video when you do, we'd love to see it...

TexasDocMom ..I do have the melody and hope to have it on video soon.  I hope my son will play the guitar for me for it this weekend.  If so, I'll try to be brave enough to show it.  Thank you all for the compliments. 

I also saw the video on the miraculous rescue the Seabees helped with.  That was awesome.  I just told my son about it and he thought that was awesome too.  It is very refreshing to see the good that these guys do.  I love reading the Seabee Courier.  It helps lots too.  If you like it on facebook you can read a monthly copy of it for moms that have Seabees. 

Thank you all for hearing me the last couple days.  I feel much better.  Tomorrow I will see my buddy.  Can hardly wait.  It will be a bittersweet trip though knowing when I leave next week we won't see each other til later this year again.  I don't regret running all over the country this year to see him wherever he was.  I feel like any investment of encouragement will pay off to them when they are away.  It will actually help both of us.  I definitely know what the roller coaster of emotions feels like though.  This week I've been really feeling horrible but checking in here everyday has helped.  I feel better. I didn't think I would so I'm surprised and thankful.

This is where my son is and hope he doesn't know any of them. He's already lost a good friend there and having a hard time dealing with it.  I just wish our politicians would get them home and NOW.  Not comforting to know my son is flying to another base on a helicopter tomorrow.  My heart goes out to their families and all those who knew them.  Amazing how we will here about Lindsey Lohan on the front page.

My heart is with you all, it's so terrible to read of the loss of any young Marine, soldier, sailor. I'm past ready for them to come home, thank goodness Iraq is not taking any of our young people, and hopefully the focus can be on leaving Afghanistan. It's such a turbalent part of our world, I know it's delicate balance and situation for those trying to solve this horrific problem to bring them home.

When I was a kid, the Corpus Christi paper would list every single young sailor/marine/soldier/air man who graduated out of Basic training. When I asked my local paper to do the same, just like they announce Eagle Scouts, they said no. Ticked me off, I dropped the paper. If it wasn't for the web site on this feed, I wouldn't be able to keep up with the actual goings on in Afghanistan and the rest of the Middle East as far as our military goes. I know that This Week on Sunday mornings on ABC do a memorial for those lost the previous week, I watch it every Sunday. I want those moms to know that we read those names and say them aloud, and grieve with them. An old family history saying is "as long as you say their names, they are still alive in our hearts."

Prayers and strong positive energy to each and every one of you. And I'm thankful that  you know you are not alone and come here to comfort one another.

Hello, I have a couple of questions:  Since my daughter will soon be leaving for Alfganistan is there any legal paper work should she be doing for handling her affairs back home in Iowa.  I have Power of Attornery already, and my name on her bank accounts but are there other forms or legal matters that should be taken care of?  Also what happens to her bank account that she has set up through Navy Federal?  What kind of cash if any should we be getting for her to take?   

                                          Thanks

If she has any accounts on bill pay, like Best Buy or credit cards, get her passwords, so you can make sure those payments come out on time and there's no screw ups. Also, make sure you can suspend and renew her cell phone, so you can suspend it while she's gone, but turn it on before she returns so she has it.

I don't know about cash needs in Afghanistan, in Iraq there were those big bases and even smaller ones took debit cards.

Thanks for the information and I will keep all our loved ones and their loved ones in my prayers.  Together we stand strong!

Hang on, Inga!  It is a bad moment when a Mom realizes her kid is out of reach, but your daughter is still not in harm's way.  Savor the time she is in transit...It becomes harder to be cheerful when you watch the news from over there and you find yourself scanning the faces, looking for the one you love.  (Yes!  You can get through that, also...but it isn't easy.)  The door is always open in this group and you are welcome to come here often to share whatever mood-swing you are experiencing.  LOL  Sometimes you will find the moods swinging in another direction as you sit here and type. 

So horrific to read of those Marines, and of all of those loss, just looking at those young ages kills my soul, so much potential lost. Prayers every day for all of you...

Inga, MT's right....now is the time to look for the little victories, the fact that you know she's traveling, as well as those days you get the calls, because you know they are safe that day...and we have the hope that since she's going in as a ranking corpsman in that particular unit, she'll be in one of  those combat hospitals, well guarded and protected by our troops so our wounded gets the best care. She is well trained, Inga, she trained others well...and now she's doing the job, I bet she is so excited! It's hard leaving us nervous moms, but we all know they love the job, serving with their peers and they are living their lives to the fullest. Is your heart about to burst with pride? welcome to our world!

Ladies, please let me remind you about revealing current locations or any current information about the location of any military units in Afghanistan. OPSEC regs enforced here, thanks. It's for your safety as well as theirs, do not open yourself up to some con man contacting you concerning your child with information he got off of a public internet site.

Building in Afghnistan...women Bees!!  great story about a rather different grou pof Seabees!

Julie!!! what exciting news!! real phone..real hugs!!! good for you all!!

How wonderful, Julie!  I bet you are tearing around getting everything "perfect" for his homecoming!!!  Don't worry too much...he will be like a kid in a candy store just seeing green grass, trees, and everything else that says "home".

Thank you, Inga!  LOL  I LOVE your "who knows?".  When my son was over there, TDM posted a link to a video of a project I KNEW my son was working on.  I searched that video with a fine tooth comb looking for him, but finally had to admit this mother couldn't find her own child.  Sad to say, but the uniforms, (especially if they are in battle gear), helmets, and sunglasses that are usually worn tend to make them all look alike.  Heavens...there were times when I couldn't even decide if a person was male or female!  It was so nice when other Moms admitted they had the same problem.

I look forward to the day my son is back and safe.  I am so excited for you Julie. How nice it will be for you to be able to hug him.  

okay, I don't admit this often, malamama, but I have been known to lie for my children, draw your own conclusions.

story....when my son was deployed on the USS Bataan with his Marines on a MEU (Marine Expedition Unit) Mediterrean cruise...he asked for some of "those" kind of magazines. And being the customer service oriented person I am...off I went....to one of "those" shops down on Congress here in Austin...in I walk...and I'm wandering around, and the clerk finally comes over...and asks if he can help me..and I just tell him I'm the mom of a sailor stuck on a ship and they want magazines...he guides me to one area, and picks out a few, then suggests that I might want to check what was in the "back" room...NO!.....so I  bought them, went home, made up the package, and went to the post office, where the woman behind the counter actually quizzed me about what kind of books and mags were in the package...because "they won't let them have those bad magazines', I told her to just mail the package. A man came up to me who had been listening and he said "you mail that kid any damn thing he wants...you did good, mom". So...when my son called, and I told him, he started laughing, and then said next time to invite that woman to put on an uniform and spend months away from home (but not so politely). Then he sent me a photo of "mail day" when 40,000 lbs of mail and packages arrived with the comment..."who is going to  have time to search my packages?"

They want food, send them food!!! also a reminder to those whose kids will be there in the heat, send those lotions and creams now, so they won't melt, be sure to put everything in baggies, and send extra zip lock baggies, all sizes, for all things, including laptops, etc.

Congrats, TNM!!! and to your Doc as well!!

An article about the 1/6....

Just thought of you when I read this this morning: 

 "Courage is not the absence of fear; it is action in the presence of fear."

https://www.facebook.com/puppyrescuemission?sk=wall

This group brings home the dogs our kids rescue and raise, fall in love with, the pups and dogs that give our kids a taste of home and support we cannot...hugs and kisses....

NMCB Four photos

Took me forever to get N4M to load just now, anybody else having problems? strange....anyway spotted those Bee photos on fb, thought you might know someone in them or know someone who might know someone in them....

I need help. Hopefully someone can guide me.  I sent my son boxes before Thanksgiving and he still doesn't have them.  His address changed after I mailed them and they contain items he needs.  I sent him combat boots, webcam, cd player and most of his Christmas gifts were in the boxes.  Where do the boxes go if the address changes?  I put return to sender, but nothing....this makes me very angry as I think I spent over 1500 dollars in items and postage and he never received them.  Anyone know who I can contact?  I am so frustrated.  Talk about poor morale.

Did you insure it? Wow! that's a lot of money in one package!! Can the post office put a trace on it when it heads to the Mid East?

TNM!!! thanks for that photo, it's priceless...I know the comfort my dogs bring to me, and our kids over in those tight spots deserve that nuturing and the chance to nurture those pups as well...good for the soul!