Norfolk Sailors - Family & Friends

Proudmom, are you sure you can take that many people? Five people seems like a lot for one Sailor to bring on. It may be different now but I was limited to how many people I could bring and I think it was two. I just don't want you to buy tickets and make plans if this hasn't been cleared yet.

I hope you all get to go as it's a neat experience and would be great for the other kids to see.

Marcy,

It was sooo nice to see you and your Sailor son on that clip!  You're a pretty lady!  Now I have a face to pop into my head when I see you post.  About when was that clip filmed?

I think the best thing to regarding the tiger cruise is check with your ships Ombudsman because it sounds like every ship is different.  My Ombudsman told me that females had to have a female sponsor.

Great video Marcy!  I can't wait until I can hold my sign high!!

We always love it when servicemen and women come back into this area and get in touch with us to reconnect. Yesterday Eric Trejo contacted us about coming over today. He joined us for Sunday school and worship at church and then joined us at the house for lunch. Yea!

Eric was in the Army at the School of Music in 2003 and came over to the house on the weekends. He played the tuba. It was really nice to see him again! He contacted us back in August when he was in the area so we could get together. But we were on vacation in West Virginia. He's out of the Army now and lives in California.

Yvonne fixed Creamy Chicken and Broccoli for lunch and finished it off with Blueberry Macadamia Nut Coffee Cake and ice cream.

Eric reluctantly agreed to let me take a group picture of the three of us, and then really groaned when I said yes after he asked me if the picture was going to be on Facebook. Thanks for being a good sport Eric!

I was in Virginia Beach on Friday and saw the USS Mahan making its way back to Norfolk.  Thanks to all the sailors and their families for their dedicated service to our country.  I am so happy that everyone made it home safely!

So awful about the shootings in Washington DC. Cant believe the shooter originally came from about 5min  from where I live. God bless all the wounded and deceased

We took our kids to DC years ago, keep wanting to go back...love all the museums there plus they are free since our taxes dollars support them. Our favorite place we went to was Mt Vernon in Vernon, VA, they do charge a fee...if the weather is good that would be a great way to spend a day...:))

Lori - I love Annapolis!  about a 45 minute drive from D.C.  Historic and beautiful!  The City Dock has beautiful boats tied up plus shopping and dining.  From City Dock you can walk right into the U.S. Naval Academy, go to their museum and gift shop, and have a serve-yourself lunch downstairs at Dahlgren Hall - good soups, and sandwiches to order :)  http://dc.about.com/od/daytripsgetaways/a/Annapolis.htm

Anyone have a banner made for homecoming? A mom on another group shared this company that will make one for free...check them out:

http://www.buildasign.com/Troops

She said, "They are very good quality cards and banners.  It is wonderful what they are doing for our troops. Just wanted to pass this on to all of you."

I used them and it turned out fine, just be aware that company charges a LOT for shipping if you don't order way in advance, so if you're thinking of using them, do it now! 

Frankly I loved the homemade and very personal posters at homecoming far more!   And, you could tell your sailor what color to look for, like bright yellow or red, from when they're looking from the ship to coming through the gate.  I took these at the USS Iwo Jima homecoming; and I still wonder if the sailor accepted the marriage proposal LOL

This afternoon Yvonne and I went to Norfolk Naval Station, and walked up and down the pier in front of the aircraft carriers, cruisers, destroyers, and submarines, praying for the crews on board the ships. We prayed that God would keep them safe and help them to do their jobs well.

But more importantly we prayed that God would open their minds and their hearts to spiritual things. We prayed that the young men and women stationed on those ships would receive a hunger for God, and His Word. The bottom line for us, is that they would come to know Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.

While we prayed and walked, I thought about the passage of Scripture in 1 Corinthians that say the enemy of their souls has blinded the minds of those who do not believe. And in Isaiah it says there are those who sit in dungeons, their throats parched with thirst. They search for water, the prophet says, but there is none.

We walked by pier after pier, with young men and women standing as sentries at the gates. We prayed for each one as we walked by them, asking God to open their eyes that they might see Him! That He would connect us with some of them so we might share God's love with them.

The thought was overwhelming of there being four to six thousand men and women on the carriers. And while there are only a few hundred sailors on the destroyers and cruisers, there were many of them in port! Young men and women being tempted by the world, the flesh, and the devil.

But I was encouraged by the thought of what Jesus said in the Gospels. He told Peter that He would build His church and the gates of hell would not prevail against it. In other words, while the devil may have taken them captive to do his will, the iron bars and gates of bronze that he has them surrounded with, will not stand. Because greater is His that is in us (Jesus Christ) than he that is in the world (the devil). God has given us a love for these young men and women that just will not end.

In Isaiah God said that the captives will be set free, and those who are in dungeons will not die there. Please pray with us...

My Son was injured while on leave, Since then a blood clot formed in his leg and went to his lung, he was hospitalized at the Naval Medical Center in Portsmouth.

He has been put on 6 months limited duty and must have his blood drawn twice a week because of the medication he is taking. We (his family ) live in Georgia, my question is do they ever let  someone with health issues come home and receive medical treatment near their home so that they can be near family in case of an emergency. He was alone when the clot went to his lung and drove his self to the hospital, he seems to be alone most of the time and that concerns me with maybe him being depressed over this situation. And can they be on limited duty here like at a recruiting station? If I need to be directed to another group please let me know. Or if someone else has had this type experience please let me know how you handled it. We have traveled to visit him 3 times in the last month because we were so worried about his health.

I am one worried Mom,

Anyone with a son on the barge?  Please privately email me.  Thanks!

donnab

Please privately email me.

donnab, my son is on Enterprise at Newport News and stays on a barge during duty days.  He lives in Yorktown and may be able to check in with you son. 

John & Yvonne,

Thank you for being there for our Sailors, feeding them, engaging them, giving them a home environment to hang out in, and providing them with spiritual encouragement.  Praying many that you have met and are about to meet will make your home a regular place for fellowship and learning of the Word!  Continued blessings on your ministry!!!

donnab,

First of all, it is really good that your son recognized that he needed help and got to the hospital for that help.  Did he ask his command those questions?  Is he concerned for his own condition?  Hoping they have made it possible for someone to be checking on him. But if he told them it is no big deal, they may not feel the way you as his parents do.

Hope you can be directed to get your questions answered.

Prayers for the Knighthawk crew~~

I totally agree with GoldnG8tr, John and Yvonne.  They have a special place in their hearts for the sailors.  It really touched me that they walked the Naval base and prayed for the sailors. May God bless you abundantly for all you do for these young men and women.

donnab~I will keep your son in my prayers.  Feeling alone and depressed is a scary place to be.  I went through this with my son.  Lots of prayers.  I encouraged him to speak with the chaplain on his ship.  It really helped him to put a voice to those feelings.  It let him know he wasnt' alone. 

My niece has been stationed in Norfolk for over 2 years now.  My son is currently in boot camp with PIR on Oct 4th.  He told me he has/will put in Norfolk as his requested station! 

donnab,

Is your son still in the hospital?  Or have they released him? We would be glad or would have been glad to visit him while there.  And we would be happy to invite him over to our home for a meal. Let us know what you think. :)

Yvonne

Donna...I will keep your son in my prayers..i

Good Morning Norfolk Family

Hello Norfolk! . . . headed your way next week. My last visit was December 2011 when my son's ship, USS Anzio, came home from deployment. I was fortunate enough to be on the Tiger Cruise with them. It was an awesome experience! Almost a dozen of the family made the trip and we spent a nice weekend in Norfolk.

Next week's visit is for an entirely different reason . . . while my son's been doing great with his career and settled in well, he got hurt last month on base, off duty . . . tore his ACL in a basketball game. His treatment so far seems to be very good and he really likes his surgeon. His pre-op appointment was today, I just heard from him (as I was typing this) and I'm listed as his contact person with the hospital. Surgery is scheduled for next week. I'm driving down the night before and bringing him to the hospital the morning of the surgery. He's got me booked at the Navy Lodge through the weekend and if all goes well, I'll head back home then.

His ship assigned a "buddy" to help him if needed and his girlfriend is nearby. I think we'll be fine.

Any thoughts and/or recommendations or hints would be appreciated!

Best of luck to a successful healing...hopefully after recovery and physical therapy, he heals with full recovery..:)

My sailor is driving to Norfolk from Pcola..should be there tomorrow night...:))