Michigan Moms (and Family)

Thanks for sharing the pics and the lovely cards that were made.  So wish I could have been there.  You all did a great job!

I did it. Took me a long time. I think Lorraine has one of the four of us N4Ms tog.

From the six of us we collected $25 for Operation Write Home. Some have to be finished up. Deb and I will do that next week and send them on their way. Thank you!

We may do this again late winter/early spring.It was a wonderful afternoon!

Sharon - I will be joining you in Imlay City - I'm carpooling with Michimom!

Thank you, thank you, Tysmom, for inviting us for a wonderful project and a very nice lunch! This was fun and I learned a lot.

Glad to see all the pics.  It looked like everyone had a great time and the cards were wonderful.

Sharon-Diego's Mom, it looks like your family has all the military covered.  Anyone in the army?

We made the news! Check out Mlive. The story will be in all the Advance papers around MI. There were a few errors in the story, I do not know if they will correct it or not.

Good news is sometimes hard to come by! Navy4Moms is such a great support group. Operation Write Home is another way to support our military. These are  positive ways to support our military families.

tysmom, where is it?  I'm searching all over and can't find it.

mlive, the title is Mail Call Military Personnel.

tysmom, I still can't find it.  When I get on MLive, where do I go?  I've typed in the name of the article - nothing.  I went and looked up the Advance - nothing.  I looked in the Mother Lode articles - nothing.  I'm stumped or stupid.

http://www.mlive.com/jenison/index.ssf/2013/09/mail_call_military_p...

Thanks Marianne!  That is a nice article! 

http://www.mlive.com/jenison/index.ssf/2013/09/mail_call_military_p...

I am a bit of a computer dummy, bot here is the link.

ILorraine: There were some errors like who was retired and Colleens son and mine were both in the Middle East. You read the corrected one.,

Sharon: I prefer to have may name spelled correctly too. I think when a journalist is writing they should at the least get the facts straight and spell correctly. It is their profession. Irritates me when TV stations put articles on line and and there are spelling errors!!!! Do they not use spell check? Rant,rant rant.

ArtPrize is a great addition to Grand Rapids. It was whipped tog 4 years ago in 6 months. An idea that really took off. We stood in line to see the pencil drawing of the Civil War soldiers a couple years ago. I would like to see the lit up ones this year. I liked the flying pig outside at the BOB a few years ago too. Come to GR to see all the art, it will be worth the trip.

One week to go before we fly the friendly skies. I have so many things to do before we go. I have to can the salsa I put tog yesterday.

cmcninch-I can't remember if I knew you lived in Belding.  I do live in Rockford and you're right, we're not too far from each other.

The only mistake about my son in the article was the year he graduated.  No big deal 'cause that makes me younger!

Well Lorraine, I made it through the Warrior Dash.  12 obstacles on a 3.3 mile course.  We didn't know it, but there was an Iron Warrior Dash going on too.  15 mile course with the same and more obstacles.  We did it in an hour.  The distance is not bad, but putting in the obstacles so close to each other is tough.  I can tell my muscles are tired.  But I was able to do all the obstacles!  Some I was cautiously slow at, but most were easier (and safer) than the Tough Mudder.  My friend Andy & I are seriously thinking of doing the Iron Warrior next year especially if they email soon with a real good deal on the price.  Gotta get it off my bucket list!

Colleen - Another Mom whose son is on the USS Stockdale said that their deployment has been extended?!?

Congrats on the run!

Marianne -  Yep, and we don't know for how long.  Had to cancel all reservations for the homecoming next month.  I'm sad.  I miss my son. :((  It's amazing what you have to go thru to cancel, get refunds or vouchers.  Right now I just feel like crying sometimes.

Colleen, I am so sorry.  I know how much you miss him.  I feel like crying too since I know when we were together in West Branch how much you were looking forward to the Homecoming!

Thanks Marianne.  I will email you.

anyone know anything more on this very worrisome news?

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/09/22/navy-helicopter-crashes-in-red...

another Navy mom has this on her fb page

cmcninch, we will have to schedule something.  My son's ship is in the strike group with the helicopter.  I emailed him this morning to ask about what to send him in a pkg. and he never got back to me.  Now I know why.  All I know is what I've read online is the news articles.

It makes my heart sad for all the Sailors on that ship and the families that are awaiting word about their Sailor.

I'm so sorry to hear about the helicopter crash. Has anyone heard if the other two have been found yet?

Colleen, I hope things quiet down so your son's ship can come home soon. Congrats on completing the obstacle course and run. Will you have to train extra for the Iron Warrior next year?

I think we all need a group ((((((hug)))))).  Peace to you Kathy.

Many prayers for the Pilots that were lost at sea, just rips at the heart. {{{Hugs}}}} to KathyB and family!!!

Well, this Saturday we are meeting at Lucky's Steakhouse in Imlay City at 12 noon. As of now, there are six of us meeting. If you are able to make it and have not let me know, please do as soon as possible so I am sure to get enough seats! I look forward to seeing everyone, sure need some hugs lately!! 

I finally heard from my son today.  All communication went down while they were searching for the 2 pilots.  He was on watch when it went down.  He and 2 other OS's were on the Search & Rescue plotting team to direct their ship to the site to hopefully find them.  It's so sad.

Colleen: I am so glad you heard from your son,even if he is involved in a sad situation. We need to hear from them. We need to keep all the crew involved in our prayers as this accident will show them how short life can be. How scary...

I have some interesting news. A Navy 4 Mom on the HI group son is on the same boat as my son. She is going to homecoming too. Funny thing is I was telling her about being there before, airline info etc, not knowing our sons are on the same boat. There is a Meet and Greet on Monday night so we will meet each other then.N4M is so good for all of us.

The cards are all packaged and sent.

tysmom, have a great time!  Thanks for getting all pkgs and cards sent.  It was a great time and I hope we do it again.

Ruth, are you back?  Can't wait to hear about your trip and the wedding.

tysmom, that is so cool.  Small world, huh?

KathyB and Sharon, I'm still on for Saturday.  Looking forward to our get-together!

Kathy B, thanks for the update to the story. So sad that they are young sailors with families. Colleen, so glad your son called. With this situation weighing on him, he probably needed to hear your voice as much as you needed to hear his.

tysmom, thanks for getting the cards out. My neighbor gave me some handmade cards to send to OWH also. I'll look them up online unless you want to offer some contact information. I know you're pretty busy at the moment with your trip. That's neat that you will soon be seeing your son and also get to meet a Navy Mom you have communicated with.

I had so much fun making cards that I bought the small Sizzix embosser and some embossing plates.

Ruth, we are looking forward to hearing from you. Hope the wedding went well.

All you gals on the east side, hope you have fun this Saturday!

Sharon: Mollys Adopt a Sailor makes pillow cases. Look on their site, I am sure you will get a response.

Lorraine: You need to go on Operation Write Homes site. You  need to print a packing slip and email them when you send the cards.

Michimom: Yes it is a small world. I just did not catch on. She never mentioned homecoming or the name of the sub her son was on.

Food ministry today, work Fri and Sat and leave for the Windy City on Sun and HI on Monday. Items are close to the suitcase, some in, but not officially packed. I am taking my favorite frying pan and a good spatula. Considering my mixer and a cake pan. 10 lbs of potatoes, some onions...ok, skip the last two...lol

tysmom, have a great trip! I will go to the OWH website and get the details.

Sharon - D's mom, is your pillowcase friend in Texas Peggy B by any chance? If so, Michimom and I have met her and she's even been to my home this summer.

Colleen, I hope you hear from your son again soon under better circumstances (like when he's coming home). Take care.

Thank Tys, I will look into that as wel;l. 

Lorraine, Yes, the one and the same. I have so much material, I expected a small box and got a big box, and bags of it. The gals grandmother has sewed for years and this was only a smart part of what she has. I remember Peggy coming up to your place. She made cases for our Sailor, we sent it to him while he was deployed last year. Maybe I should ask for the other one back, from the other half, she has no use for it now. lol 

Small world, Sharon.

I  already got a confirmation email from OWH.

One day done, two to go.I will miss our puppy. She will probably grow 5 lbs while we are gone.

It is a small world at times, but there are times in my life when I like to be lost.  in my own world; watching a sunset over the water, listening to waves crash on shore.

tysmom, I followed the guidelines on the OWH website and have my package ready to mail tomorrow. I made my own OWH stickers for the back but ordered the stamp so I'd be all set next time. Sounds like you are going to enjoy Hawaii a lot!

KathyB, Marianne and I are planning to meet you to car pool.  Looking forward to a fun lunch!

I'll meet you ladies at Lucky's Steakhouse at noon tomorrow.  I'll be wearing a red, white and blue, flag bandana as a scarf.  See you then!  My cellphone is 810-223-7211

Hey Ladies, so looking forward to getting together tomorrow. It will be great to get together again. I recently became 'FB Friends' with another mom from Fraser, but she has her son's birthday party to do. She would love to get with us another time, we can talk about meeting again at Blake's Cider Mill next month. Apple Cider and warm donuts always sound yummy!!

FYI: There is a detour on Van Dyke right at 34 mile, follow it around and you will end up back on Van Dyke. We can't wait until they get it completed!! 

Thanks for the link Kathy.  Is there another way to read the story?  Every time I try click on the link to read it, I have to answer survey questions in order to read the rest of the story.

How was your lunch?

The priority boxes are free but the shipping is not.  If they are going to a FPO or APO, they don't charge you as much.  Lorraine, is that correct?

Ask for the large flat rate apo/fpo box at the Post office and postage is less if going to an apo/fpo address. Go online to usps.com and print your own postage to save even more.

The sailors can send letter mail for free when they are deployed but we still pay postage to send to our sailors.