Michigan Moms (and Family)

Shannon-03-div-315  Swartz Creek is just west of Flint.

I don't mind driving and a get together sounds fun, if the date works out.

I'd love to!

Happy Easter to all of you Michigan N4M's!   May God Bless our sailors and keep them safe.

West siders, and everyone, when would you like to get together?

Africa? We are there too? Wow, always learning. Will pray for him.

Animals are a hard one. They become our children.

I am leaving for Tennessee shortly to help cook at a camp where our youth group is serving.Van is packed.

My sailors will be deployed shortly.

Lunch? Golden Corral on Alpine in GR? Just a thought

Katie arrived Wednesday evening for 96 hrs from Norfolk.  Alicia arrived last night after midnight!  We get to be together for Easter and worship - all a6 of us!

Hello all!  I haven't been on here to comment lately, but I have been stalking you all by reading all your comments.  I just wanted to ask you all to pray for my son Allen.  His K-9 partner, Baro had to be put down this week.  Allen is very upset and was so close to him, but it was due to a very bad heart condition that Baro wouldn't have survived surgery to repair.  I know we sometimes think of dogs as just animals, but when you are a K-9 dog handler that dog is like family.  Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers.  I love being a part of this wonderful military family.

Cheryl - so good to hear from you.  I will keep him in my prayers.  I know from Katie talking about her friend in Sasebo, that was a dog handler as well, how close they are too their dogs and sometimes even she would remark 'he treats his dog better than a woman!'. 

Our daughter Alicia has a friend who is a K-9 cop in the Soo and how you get assigned to them when they are little and have to commit to no less than 5 years.....they definitely need the relationship with the dog considering what they all may train them for and ask them to do!

Thank you Marianne!  So true, they do treat them better than women.  Can't say that for sure about Allen, but hope is he treats a woman like a true man.

So happy that you get to spend your Easter holiday with your girls!  I am jealous.  lol!  I am chatting right now on fb with Allen though.  Long overdue since he hasn't talked to me in weeks.  He will be stateside in June though!!!

Kathy B, the dogs are worth it. Pets bring such joy to our lives.

Cheryl, good to hear from you but sorry for Allen's loss.

Tysmom, lunch for west siders sometime soon! I'll try to make it!

Marianne, so glad you are enjoying your girls. I'll get to see Scott later this week when I travel to Maine with his wife who is moving out there. I don't think he'll be home this year once Lanie is with him. She plans to come back for a summer visit.

yvette, I know you wish you could have seen your son graduate, but lucky for him some family was there to share with him and send you a picture. Enjoy your visit when he comes home.

Happy Easter, Colleen and everyone! Who haven't we heard from lately?

Thank you all for your comfort and prayers.  I love being a part of this beautiful military family.  Hope all is well with each and every one of you.  Dogs are definitely part of the family.

I got to chat with Allen for a little while Friday and he said he is doing ok.  He is getting through this because he knows that Baro isn't suffering anymore and in a better place.  This still makes me cry even though I never had the pleasure of meeting Baro personally.

Kathy B-Prayers for your son.  Africa - COOL!  A long way away, but definitely an adventure of a lifetime.  Glad your daughter made it back safe from Bahrain.

Dmk828-praying for your son in Bahrain.

yvette-so sorry that you couldn't make your son's graduation.  So glad he had some family there though and they were able to send you pictures.

April 6th is out for me, I have school and 3 other places to be that day.  Busy, busy, busy day.  lol!

Marianne-I am envious that you are able to spend the holiday with Katie, but so happy for you.  Maybe next year for me and Allen.  He re-stations in June to the state of Washington until 2017.

I am so sorry and I will pray for him. For you also, it is hard to see/know our kids hurting.

Happy Easter everyone!  Kathy, I hope your doggy is getting better.  Marianne, glad you got to spend some good time with your daughter.  As Dunesmom always says, Squeeze 'em tight and leave marks!  Dunesmom, how are you?  Sorry to hear your computer is not working well.  Ruth, how are you?  Lorraine, how's retirement?  Sounds like you are more busy now!  Cheryl, it has got to be tough on those with service dogs.  They are attached at the hip.  My heart goes out to him.  My Sailor is in Bahrain/Persian Gulf.  I don't know when we will hear from him.  Missing him.  We haven't gotten an email in a while.  

Well, I gotta get ready for church.  Have a Blessed Day!

Blessings on your Easter!

Hey, Colleen, I've been trying to slow things down a bit as I got over involved in some things. I want my personal time. I've worked since I was 14 and never really carved out any time for myself over the years. I also need to get more motivated to do some spring cleaning this year.

We had a great time yesterday for Lanie's going away party. Her parents and I may help her move to Maine this Thursday or we might wait one week. It will be warmer the following week but weather this week isn't too bad either.

3dsmom, good to see you pop in and comment!

Cheryl, I like calling it Resurrection Day too. Happy day to all! It sure felt good to have some relief in the weather these past few days. Once we get past Mon/Tues, we just might start gradually warming up into spring after all!

Christ is risen!

He is risen indeed!

Alleluia!

He is risen indeed!!

Marianne, you wouldn't be Lutheran, would you?

Colleen......Yes, I am Lutheran...LCMS.  I attend St Paul Lutheran in Ann Arbor....are you Lutheran?

Amen sister - LCMS also.  When I lived on the east side, I went to Holy Cross in Warren.  I attend St. Peter's in Rockford.  It was amazing yesterday when the service started.  Pastor turned around, raised his arms up and with his booming voice said, "He is RISEN!"  And the congregation practically yelled back, "He is RISEN INDEED!  Alleluia!"  It gave me goose bumps.  We didn't know he was going to do that and that's the cool part.

Kathy, good to hear your doggie is on the mend.  Isn't it amazing what our pets can sense?  I would love to see a picture of the glasses!

Does anyone have an idea for my co-worker to give her to son at his retirement party from the Air Force after 25 years of service?  He is a Senior or Chief Master Sargeant (sp).

Do any of you have a son or daughter on the USS Nimitz?

Thanks Lorraine.  Tami, my son is on the Stockdale.  They are waiting for the Nimitz.  The chaplain for the Nimitz goes to our church when he is in town.  Is the Nimitz still trying to get out?

Colleen,  I came across this short bit of information on the Nimitz: Sailors participate in a scrub exercise aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68 (sorry, photo didn't come thru). Nimitz left its homeport of Everett, Wash., for a Sustainment Training Exercise in preparation for an upcoming deployment.

Kathy B, glad to hear the dog is recovering. We do what we have to for our 4 legged family.

Here's an article on the Stockdale: http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=73049

Lorraine, thanks for the article.  Interesting that the Coast Guard is teamed up with the Navy.

Colleen, Lorraine, the Nimitz made a stop in San Diego and is now off shore for training exercises to then return to S.D. to restock before heading on deployment. I was just just looking to connect with any other Michigan Moms with Sailors on the USS Nimitz. This is my sons first long deployment. Although he has been on several short ones to Hawaii and San Diego before. This is going to be a tough one.

I hope you find some moms, TamiS. Fair winds and following seas to your son and a safe return in the future!

My heart is with you TamiS.  That first long deployment is tough.  I'm serious when I say if your Sailor needs to talk to a chaplain, have him see Pastor Rick Townes.  He is a wonderful Pastor and there's something comforting in knowing that someone comes from your home state and can relate to you and where you come from.  Keep in touch with us.  

michelle3818 - are you at the Navy Lodge? I am in Norfolk right now too, son's ship deploys Monday.

Hello everyone. This Charlevoix mom seldom posts but always reads. My son was home for 10 days over Easter & we flew back to Norfolk together so that I could bring his car home while he's deployed. Was honored to have a tour of the ship, gave me a great visual for his life while deployed. It was amazing to watch my son fly up & down the stairs without using the handrails.

When I leave here I will head to McGuire AFB in NJ to see my daughter & airman SIL on the the way back to MI.

Holy smokes Kathy!  Those are beautiful!

Deb, glad you got to spend time with your son and soon with your daughter.  Give them big hugs.

Oh My those glasses are beautiful Kathy!

So happy for all of you that have had time are getting time with your children.

I haven't heard from Allen in a few days, but he is getting through each day.  Thank you all for your continued prayers for him.

Beautiful glasses Kathy B.

Have a wonderful time Deb!

Hi Shannon! My son is in Michigan right now, but he is doing the rounds seeing all of his friends before he leaves for Japan on Friday. Ai yi yi. Three years is a long time....so I can totally relate to how you are feeling.

Eileenz - where is you son headed in Japan?  Katie was in Sasebo for just over 3 years.  Will he be attached to a ship?

Shannon - praying that your mood will change.  Focus on the part of what you said that included...... 'I'm very proud of my children"

Sasebo! Yes, he will be on the USS Denver (I think I have that right....I need to see it in print before my brain latches on!! And so far he has only told me....)

That was one of the ships from the 7th fleet out of Sasebo.  My daughter joined 10/8/08 and was off to Sasebo for 3 years by 04/2009!   I sent care packages every month to her shop/Div on the ship.  Some of the guys never got packages from home, let alone, home baked cookies.  I even took requests or made recipes again of the ones they really liked. 

Oh, I am so glad I will be able to send packages!! My son just finished C school in Pensacola, and did not know if he would be able to receive packages in Sasebo. Thank you!! I feel so much better....I am having a really hard time knowing I won't be able to talk to him (or only rarely). Knowing that I can send him treats (and others in his group) makes it much easier. 

eileenz - Katie never skyped or had an international phone.  We would get phone calls few and far between, but then we knew that so every phone call was a treat!  Once she borrowed a friend's phone and called her brother on his birthday from the top of Mt Fuji!.  Katie emailed pretty regularly, so that's how we kept in touch! 

You can clal from base at the USO building.  My daughter didn't do this, but the service is available for the sailors.

They love care packages!

Well, Marianne, you have made my night! Thank you :-)