families with a sailor at Little Creek Virginia

Derek is headed to Portsmouth, Virginia. He has to report June 3. I know this is close - I thought I would just tag-a-long here. Anyone else going to Portsmouth or know anything about it??
Derek is a MA.

MA is a Master at Arms - kinda like the Military Police,

Another mom and I are trying to get together a Thanksgiving dinner for anyone in Virginia during Thanksgiving. If you are interested, (or your Sailor needs a place to enjoy the holiday).
Please check us out in the events section!!!
Thanks,
Brenda Sue and Melissa (Tucson)

I just wanted to say hi to everyone, I am new here and my son just left for his second deployment to Iraq, he's a Riverine Det 1 I believe.. I also have a son in the Army who will be deploying in June. I am glad I found this site.. This deployment for whatever reason is a lot harder on me than the last one.. not sure why but it is.. I'm glad there's other Riverine mom's here..

Debby

Jennifer,

Hi! Yvonne and I are new to this NavyMoms site, but not to the Little Creek area. we open our home to servicemen and women on the weekends. Saturday we get together for fun and games and Sundays for a big home cooked dinner and fellowship.Check out our web site. We live about ten minutes from the base.

Weather up here is not bad. Today it was in the 70's. Our really "cold" weather starts in January. But then it only gets down to about the 40's during the day. Sometimes into the 30's at nite. Not bad really.

John

My son is stationed in Portsmouth and is flying home to Texas in December. I was wondering . . . which airport would be the cheapest to fly out of. He has a truck so he can drive to any of them. We looked into Baltimore - but that is a bit far. Any idea???
Thanks,
Brenda sue

Hi!

I just wanted to wish all of you moms with sailors in school in Virginia a very Merry Christmas. Being on NavyforMoms had been a learning experience for me. In all of my years associated with the Navy, I've never known, let alone appreciated how you all feel when your sons or daughters join the service. Reading the comments many of the moms have made on here I have a whole new understanding of your feelings, sometimes painful ones, especially during this time of year. This has been really enlightening for me. It's added a whole new dimension to my prayers life. Believe me when I say I will be praying for you all with much deeper understanding!

I just had to join to leave a comment about Little Creek! I love that base. We stayed at the Navy Lodge there three times when our son was on the Roosevelt. He just got back from Afghanistan as an IA and is in Norfolk till the end of January. He's looking for a couch or a room to rent, a place to stay for a month before his next duty. Let me know if you know of a place!

I do know that when my son went through his divorce, that Navy legal would not help with anything. I went to our congressman and was told that congressmen don't get involved with helping the military with anything legal. Illinois judges don't grant joint custody to the military either.

If the custody battle will be in Kansas, see if there's a legal aid office near you. They provide attorneys on a sliding scale for what you can afford. Doesn't guarantee you'll get one that's versed in child custody or the military though. If child protective services were/are involved you might get some help from them as far as advice. Two other things you can do--you don't have to join "Moms of Divorced Sailors" but do go read some of it and go find the book Married to the Military. It's got lots of practical information if you're going to marry a sailor. Being married to the military takes a special woman! Bless you if you're willing to take it on!

Married to the Military: A Survival Guide for Military Wives, Girlfriends, and Women in Uniform by Meredith Leyva. Despite the title, as a mom, I have found it very informative. I've purchased several as gifts for girlfriends of my son's. None of them remained girlfriends, and his wife divorced him saying that she found she couldn't be a Navy wife a year into Navy life. It really does take a strong, independent woman to support a military husband!

LOL, he had the wife, then the girlfriends--one at a time! That's all I can take. ha ha

I'm praying my son will finally find a woman like you! Got a sister? Who lives in the Chicago area? He'll be moving to Great Lakes for three years at the end of the month. He, too, is career.

Lea,

What an awesome attitude about your husband! Being committed to your husband and your marriage is a powerful thing. God bless you for it.

I can vouch for Ruth's son. He's a really nice guy, a good cook, and he even does the dishes! In my opinion, I think his ex really lost out! (How's that Ruth? And you didn't even have to pay me to say that :) Tee Hee...

Wow! Thanks. I agree, his ex lost out, but there's someone wonderful out there for him. I wrote to Lea on her page that we should connect Andy and George since he's at Little Creek. Andy has no idea we'll have the women lined up at his door when he gets to Great Lakes! I visited his new apartment in Zion yesterday. Great location out of the city, close to the train line to downtown Chicago and Milwaukee, plus an easy drive to Great Lakes Naval Base. His family will be visiting often!

Absolutely! In my life here, I meet a lot of military wives. I always thank them for their service and sacrifice, too, which sadly surprises most of them. Most civilians don't think about those wives' service. It's different than being a military mom--we raise our kids to be adults, to serve humanity in some way. We have to raise strong, independent kids, knowing we give them up. Marriage is a partnership, and it's hard unless you're prepared--and even worse when it's a military marriage. But when it works, it's SO GOOD!

There's one in Pembroke Mall south of LC.
Regal Pembroke Cinema 8
4554 Virginia Beach Blvd # 500
Virginia Beach, VA 23462
(757) 671-7469

Michelle,

We don't have anyone on the Ft. McHenry, but when your sailor gets here Yvonne and I would love to invite him or her to participate in our weekend activities if they'd be interested. It would give them a chance to get away from the ship and veg in a real home.

John

Hi MRM3

Welcome aboard the "USS Little Creek Virginia Moms" Everyone here looks forward to smooth sailing and an exciting voyage...(lol). We have to have a little fun too - right?

John (not the momma)

Lea,

Google Northampton Blvd and Diamond Springs Road. That is probably the nearest major intersection to Little Creek with a lot of Motels. There is a Quality Inn, a Red Roof Inn, an Econo Lodge, a Best Western and a Days Inn. They are all within about a five to ten minutes drive to Little Creek.

John

Welcome to the group, jenda. I truly hope you will enjoy your fellowship here with us. John

Valley and Martha,

I agree. A car is a necessity here. Everything is quite a distance from the base and there is really no good public transportation system. Taxis are really expensive too.

John

Hi all, son got orders and will be a Riverine in Rivron II. Says will be stationed in Little Creek but has to go to Camp Lejeune for a while. He should get to leave GL this week and home for 2 wks first. Anyone tell me about the Riverine training?

Hi Connie, thanks for the wise words. Josh still waiting orders to leave GL. Says Riverines backed up so has to wait to leave. Wish he could come home the whole time. Says gets 15 days but needs official orders. Maybe soon. He can't wait to get on with it!!!

Thanks Lora, Josh is so excited but sitting waiting at GL is getting to him. Something about the Riverines in training right now are backed up. I'm just looking forward to him coming home for 15 days before training. Wish they would let him go now, I could keep him longer. I've seen the Pentagon Channel, scares me a bit but he is a dare devil. No fear in anything. Scuba dives, sky dives, now this. Oh well, he'll have a blast!

Sandy,

The Navy Lodge at Little Creek is new and very nice! I'm not sure of the cost. It is located near the base commissary and exchange and is in a nice green shaded area. Right now the weather here is getting pretty warm (mid to upper 80s). The humidity hasn't set in too bad yet.

Hope that helpts

God bless

John

Yvonne and I open our home on the weekends lfor sailors to come over for fellowship.

Tonight we had one sailor from the USS Fort McHenry and one from the USS Oakhill. We ate hot dogs and chips, ice cream and cookies for dessert, then played Phase 10 (a card game), and ended our evening taking turns praying for different prayer requests.

Tomorrow we'll start the day by going to Sunday School together at 0945, church at 1045 at Azalea Garden Church, and then back here to the house for a big home cooked dinner (home made bread, Yvonne's home made spaghetti, salad, and a lucious dessert).

While Yvonne finishes dinner we'll start a good movie. After we eat we'll do the washing up and then we'll finish watching the film and talk about it some, share prayer requests, and take turns praying together. Everything wraps up about 5:00pm.

We pick guys up at the ships if they don't have transportation and take them back too (no, we don't make them walk back :)

Michelle,

If you're into history Fort Monroe is close by and was where Jefferson Davis (confederate presdient) was imprisoned after the Civil War. Jamestown settlement is about 45 minutes away - great living history museum! Colonial Williamsburg is also a great living history museum (although tickets are necessary and pricey).

If you like sea food Captain George's is an all you can eat sea food restuarant that is fabulous - but quite expensive ($28.00). Macaroni Grill is a good place to eat here too (and much more reasonable).

John

(Saturday May 30, 2009)

Just finished a great evening eating pizza and playing Phase 10 with Brandon and Savannah (NAS Oceana), Trever (USS Gunston Hall), David (USS Harry S. Truman), Brad (USS George Bush). By the end of the Phase 10 game I think we were all a little flaky! It was fun! We laughed a lot!! Check out the photos on our profile page if you like.

My son just got orders to Little Creek. Not sure when he will leave GL as of right now. He will be in Rivron 2.

Hi all,

I just thought I'd let you all know how our weekend went with our adopted sons and daughters.

(Saturday June 20, 2009)

We had a great evening with Savannah (Navy Wife), Brandon (NAS Oceana), Erene, and Trever (USS Gunston Hall). We ate hamburgers, chips, and cream cheese brownies and ice cream. We played RISK (haven't played that in a long time)! Then we closed with sharing prayer requests and taking turns praying for them. We all had FUN! Check out the new pictures on our profile page slide show.

(Sunday June 21, 2009)

Had a great Father's Day! Yvonne was up at 5:45 a.m. making cheesecake and homemade bread dinner today to be celebrated with Sarah (daughter) and Brian (son-in-law), Trevor (USS Gunston Hall), Branden (NAS Oceana) and Savannah (Navy Wife), and Erene (civilian). Sarah and Brian got me a tripod for my camera (that's why I'm in this group photo). We watched "Time Changers" while Yvonne finished fixing dinner. A good Christian movie! Interested in time travel? Dinner included a pork loin roast, peas, and rice, that were great! But then came the cheese cake for dessert! MMMmmmmm! Need I say more?

For those of you who have sons or daughters at Little Creek, we would love to invite them to participate in our weekend activities if they are interested. Simply let them know about us. Give them our email address and have them contact us.

John

Connie, did Steven go directly to Gulfport from GL or did he check in at Little Creek first? Did he go directly from Gulfport to Camp Lejune? Thank you for any information you can give. I am so curious how all of this is going to work. Thanks.

Hi all, Son Josh just finished up in Gulfport for a month and now on to Little Creek last weekend. He's in Rivron II and after a month down in MS is still loving it.

My Son is a Riverine and has been one for almost 4 years now.. they train a lot.. for the new Riverine moms if you want to see some of it I have 3 video's on my page.. My son is in Rivron 1 Det 1...

Darcy my son went to one of the chiefs during basic and begged.. cried .. pleaded and offered his 1st born.. this was when the groups were just starting so it was all new.. at first he got turned down but he was persistant and 1 day he walked in to do his normal pleading and a sailor had just gotten in serious trouble and was in process to be seperated and they accepted my son.. I will however ask him if he knows the current process and let you know... he got back in May from his 2nd deployment and is leaving next May for his 3rd deployment.. he thinks Afganistan is next but doesnt know.. his little brother is in the ARmy and is currently in Iraq...

Thanks Lora for sharing that...I just sent out 3 care packages to my Army son in Iraq... that might have saved some cash...

Hi all,

It's been a while since I gave you an update on our weekend activities. So here is last weekend. We adopt all of the servicemen and women who come to our home as our own "sons" and "daughters" so naturally, when they get married and have children they become our adopted grandchildren. This is the latest - a granddaughter! :)

Saturday Evening (July 18, 2009)

We had Randy (Marine Cpl) and Nikki and little Sarah here visiting us for the weekend from Camp Lejeune North Carolina. It was fun making and eating home made pizzas and playing catch phrase with them and Savannah and Brandon (Oceana), and Trever (USS Gunston Hall). We all shared prayer requests and prayed together. Check out the new pics.

Sunday (July 19, 2009)

Had a great day today! Sunday school was good, the lesson was about about faith. Worship was excellent. Pastor Rodney preached about Satan wanting to sift us as wheat - don't let him! Then Savannah and Brandon (Oceana), Brian and Sarah (my daughter and son-in-law), and Randy (Marine – Camp Lejeune, NC) and Nikki and Sarah Mayzak enjoyed a pot roast, potatoes and carrots, followed with apple crisp and ice cream for dinner at our house. We watched two chapters of the book of Matthew on video. Then prayed for Randy and Nikki before they left for home.

All in all, a very good weekend! Thank you Lord!

Blessings on all of you,

John

Hi all,

I haven't been on here in a long time! I've missed being here, but have been really busy. I am now the Senior Adult Pastor and Pastoral Care Director at our church which keeps me going.

My daughter and her husband have made Yvonne and me new grandparents for the first time - a grandson who they named Jacob Benjamin. Fortunately they live about half an hour from us so Yvonne makes sure we go up to see him every week.

Our ministry to the military also continues every weekend in Virginia Beach. We're actually waiting for some of our sailors to come over this evening. Praise God, isn't life fun! :)

And, oh, by the way, we are also babysitting a green parrot for a neighbor friend of ours. What a hoot that is! If we walk out of the room he says "Come here." We're trying to teach him how to say "praise the Lord." If we walk out of the room he will sqwak litke crazy! Yvonne will put the towel over his cage and you hear this little voice say "oh oh." Then, as we walk away he'll say in a tiny voice "Heeelp. Heeelp." Then he quiets right down.

Keri, my son has ATT as well but pays less. Did your daughter as for a military discount with ATT? If not she should, every little bit helps.

In addition to the Focsile the bowling alley on Little Creek has computers that are hooked up to the internet that guys can use for free too. There are abouy 6 of them. It's free to use. If they have their own laptop then there is internet access in most Barnes and Noble bookstores, Starbuck's coffee shops. There's one of those on base too. Little Creek is about ten minutes from where we live.

While I don't have it myself, Skype is definitely an awesome service. We had half a dozen sailors from Brazil fellowshipping with us in our home while their ship was in port in '08. I have a wireless router in my home and they would pull out their lap tops and talk with their families in Brazil. Once we had an international, intercontinental singalong. One of the sailor's mothers would start a hymn we knew in Portuguese, in Brazil, and we would sing the same song in English in our living room in Virginia Beach! Then we all prayed together the same way. It was awesome!

hello everyone. My husband just got to little creek in sep. But now is on deployment. Any ideas of great pleaces to go when he returns.

My Grandson is at Little Creek and will be deployed to Iraq the end of April. I am very proud of him, but also worried, of course. Does anyone have a sailor going at the same time?

Mermaid I responded to your post on the message boards, this is my son's 3rd deployment to Iraq. I know how you are feeling its scary. I do know on his 2nd deployment he complained about how little they had to do.. The Iraqi's take the lead in most things going on there now. Its much safer now than it was on deployment 1 that's for sure, however I dont want to underplay that there is obviously danger involved in what they do. I do know the Navy has invested a small fortune into each and every sailor going there, with the medical training they all receive to the security training. It mindboggling what they are trained to do.. I have video's on my page of some of the training. The Riverines have never lost a man everyone has always come home safe!!!! and that has a lot to do with the training. For those of you who are Riverine mom's we also have a seperate group Riverine Mom's, I have a list on there for deployment need to knows, especially if your sailor is single it will help you be ready for them to leave, things like what you need to have together, power of attorney etc.. Feel free to message me privately too I will answer anything that I can answer for you. There are several of us here who's son's have been Riverines since the very beginning who are always happy to help out with information and support.

Debby

Thank you Debby for telling me where to go on this site to talk to other Riverine`s loved ones. I hadn`t found it on my own. Your words of wisdom and encouragement made me feel a lot better, and I`m sure I will reread your words often! I know he has had a lot of training in several different places and is really enjoying the training. He is more of a son to me than a grandson, so we are very close.
Thanks also to Connie for responding. My grandson is in Squadron One. Maybe they are buddies who will back each other up In Iraq.
A question---Do you have to be careful what you say on here as to where the sailors are or what they are doing, also their names?

Mermaid yes and even in emails to others because as sad as it is... this is an open website so you never know who your really talking too. we talk in generalities here... :) but we all understand..