USS Harry S. Truman CVN75

Gosh Bigmama, I sure hope your packages arrived to our sailors!!

I sent out 7 packages on Nov 11th and i know 4 made it 3 for my son and 1 N4M box so i don't know if the other 3 N4M may it   I sent another package on Dec 4 and he has not received that one and i sent a stack of christmas cards and some birthday cards i hope they all make it. 

Gaisey i know how you feel about the tree but i do have one up all because of the ladies of my church they came put up my tree and decorated the house and brought a meal   I have to admit it looks good.  Still laid up with my knee.

sharoncede  ok i will put in my order you can sent the cabana boys with a tall ice tea or water and i will have the m&m and we can have a party

Have a great day ladies

I sent 10 lbs of Mandarin oranges this morning,fresh off the tree, they should go nicely with the gourmet fudge and the coffee! I hope they make it without getting moldy!  Sherryl I am so happy your son will be with you on the holidays. Girls I like my ritas on the rocks with salt, thank you very much for all the support!!!

the oranges sound great!!! yea it has put a little more motivation to get things done around here:) with my son coming!  and im more of a martini gal so guess I better start mixing!!!  cant wait to meet you all at homecoming! we will be driving from California:)

Sherryl   Oranges sound great hope they make it. Can't wait to meet you and everyone we also will be driving up for Georgia 

Wow! Thinking of all the goodies they hopefully WON'T be missing out on! I never even thought about all the Christmas cards I sent that may or may not make it. I do have some hope on that though...my son told me a gal (didn't say the name) on the ship looked him up and told him I had sent her a card (again not sure what kind of card it was i sent) and wanted to know my email so that she could write and thank me. I told him that was fine to go ahead and give it out. If and when I get that I will let you know who's daughter it was. I think I am going to ask him if it was a Christmas card?

I have my house all decorated for Christmas and do have to admit I had a little trouble with it thinking of my son and feeling sorry for myself and for him and all the others in the service this time of year, but keep telling myself this is the last year. His time is up June 10, 2014--6 long years he has been in.Sometimes it seems like so long, other times I think wow that flew! I am thinking I am going to miss talking to you all when this is over. You ladies understand how I feel and can always manage to make me feel better! Thank you so much! This truly has been a great group of people to talk to and get to know!

sharoncede: I know this happened once on the last deployment and the one lady was so upset as she had ordered a new laptop and shipped to her son to use and that went into the sea and insurance would not cover it. How sad!

Sharoncede: I know the mail can come different ways. If it's another ship and they are lifting the mail with the crane over from one ship to the other and something shifts it can fall in or the whole load drop into the sea.If it's flown directly to the ship by helicopter then that is actually safer. I would imagine it's all Navy anyway it comes in as after it's done with the P>O> ot goes to Navy mailing sites for p/u then goes to the ships. I don't KNOW this for sure though...ANYONE out there who can enlighten us?

I don't see how they can be held accountable for Acts of God so to speak. It's an accident and it's the Military. I thought when I fill out the form it's insured up to $50 per pkg automatically per the P.O; but someone on the FACEBOOK site commented the other day that once it leaves the P.O.'s hands and is in the Military's hands nothing's insured. I don't know...I am gonna file a claim or at least attempt to if he doesn't get it, but I really do think it's kind of tough luck to whomever this happens to...If ANYONE knows MORE on this I would appreciate being enlightened though...

Tammy Jo: Thanks for that. Was the insurance cuz you had it on a credit card and they covered it or did the P.O. really cover it? Did you pay extra for insurance to cover it before you shipped it?

Best email from your girl today   "I LOVE YOU MOM"   short, sweet and oh so very BEAUTIFUL!!!!

Carol Ann  I now you are counting down the time we will miss you when  you are gone. 

On a good note i got a beautiful bunch some flowers today from my son  he said it was for my birthday and he wanted to put a smile on my face. It made me cry. We have good friends who have a flower shop he called them the last time they were in Dubai. It was a surprise 

Carol Ann You are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.  Happy for you and your sailor.  

Tammy Jo my daughter's 23 birthday was last week so I know how your feeling. 

pschip, that is so sweet

my sailor sent us a christmas gift from Dubai that arrived today, completely smashed.  She sent "sand art" in a bottle.  I wondered why there was sand all in my mailbox when I opened the lid but I quickly found out why. :( It was wrapped in bubble wrap and fragile was written all over the package.  At least all of my jars of goodies have arrived to her unscathed.  

these are the pictures of the birthday cake in a jar that I sent my daughter.

Hugs to you Tammy Jo

pschip happy for you and your flowers   Happy Birthday!!  Very thoughtful and so sweet of your boy!!

sharoncede yes doesn't take much to make us smile!!  

too tall Joan    I just love that you sent cake in a jar.  Your personalization is sure to make her birthday extra special.  Such a clever idea.  I'll be doing that in April.  Far away but always close in our hearts our wonderful Sailors!!!

I am teary... poem from my son this morning.

To all Service Members "Standing the Watch" over the holidays. 

"The Sailor's Christmas" 

Twas the night before Christmas, the ship was out steaming, Sailors stood

watch while others were dreaming.

They lived in a crowd with racks tight and small, In a 80-man berthing,

cramped one and all.

I had come down the stack with presents to give, And to see inside just who

might perhaps live.

I looked all about, a strange sight did I see, No tinsel, no presents, not

even a tree.

No stockings were hung, shined boots close at hand, On the bulkhead hung

pictures of a far distant land.

They had medals and badges and awards of all kind, And a sober thought came

into my mind.

For this place was different, so dark and so dreary, I had found the house

of a Sailor, once I saw clearly.

A Sailor lay sleeping, silent and alone, Curled up in a rack and dreaming of

home.

The face was so gentle, the room squared away, This was the United States

Sailor today.

This was the hero I saw on TV,

Defending our country so we could be free.

I realized the families that I would visit this night, Owed their lives to

these Sailors lay willing to fight.

Soon round the world, the children would play, And grownups would celebrate

on Christmas Day.

They all enjoyed freedom each day of the year, Because of the Sailor, like

the one lying here.

I couldn't help wonder how many lay alone, On a cold Christmas Eve on a sea,

far from home.

The very thought brought a tear to my eye, I dropped to my knees and started

to cry.

The Sailor awakened and I heard a calm voice, "Santa, don't cry, this life

is my choice."

"Defending the seas all days of the year, So others may live and be free

with no fear."

I thought for a moment, what a difficult road, To live a life guided by

honor and code.

After all it's Christmas Eve and the ship's underway!

But freedom isn't free and it's sailors who pay.

The Sailor says to our country "be free and sleep tight, No harm will come,

not on my watch and not on this night.

The Sailor rolled over and drifted to sleep, I couldn't control it, I

continued to weep.

I kept watch for hours, so silent, so still, I watched as the Sailor

shivered from the night's cold chill.

I didn't want to leave on that cold dark night, This guardian of honor so

willing to fight.

The Sailor rolled over and with a voice strong and sure, Commanded, "Carry

on Santa, It's Christmas, and All is Secure!"

Thought you would like this mom.

Gaisey!!   Thanks for sharing.  It brings tears.

Catsmom  Thanks I'm having a great day so far. So many phone calls this morning. Have a friend taking me to dinner. Even if i do have to use a cane to get there.  Hope everyone has a great day.

Ladies, expect a phone call this Sunday. :)

Too Tall: That's what I was planning on doing for my son's Birthday in March. Pschip: So happy for you! Any time we hear those words from our children it's music to our ears! So sorry about your sand in a bottle. If nothing else I would scoop up the sand and save it anyhow--all the way from Dubai! Pick the glass out carefully though!  TammyJo: Hang in there. We ALL have our days. That is why we are on here for each other. Hugs to you!

Ladies got a very nice thank you email for the Christmas card I sent to her from Samantha Phillips AM2 (VAW 126). Just wanted to let you all know. She found my son and asked him for my email so that she could thank me. So sweet!

My son says he is pretty sure my Christmas pkg.to him did go overboard. I guess we can add Snickerdoodle cookies to the feast teh fish are having! He said he feels bad for me cuz I am out the $ I spent on his present and the efforts I put into making it special for him. Always the optimist my son--he also said not to worry that he will have things to do, that they have activities planned for them all. He said he still will miss us even if he had received the pkg. and being with us at that special time. --That part brought tears to my eyes!

Sharoncede: Thanks for always managing to bring a smile to my face with your silliness!

I would love a phone call!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! haven't had an email in a few days:/ usually means she is busy!!!!

Gaisey: You definitely brought tears to my eyes with that poem! Thanks for sharing!

MaryButler: Do you know something I don't know!?! What phone call? I heard that they were giving our sailors free 10 min phone cards. Is this what that is about? Pschip: Enjoy your Day!

Sharoncede: I so agree with you! Thanks for expressing it so well and for being you!

Ladies-

I wanted to share what a friend at my office sent to me after I thanked my office for all of their support, they sent candy, snacks, toiletries and $$$ to be packed for our Sailors by the Blue Star mom group here in Dallas...."Thank you for raising such a wonderful, young brave and dedicated man. I have always been in awe of the brave ones that protect what most of us take for granted....and then there is their Mom, the one that rocked them all night when they had a fever, taught them right from wrong, supported them when they didn't know or maybe thought they knew more than you....I salute you for being the strong person in his life, the fear and sacrifice, I am sure you deal with daily you do with much grace. You dear one are also a Hero!! I am honored to know you and your daily commitment to our country." This applies to us all, as we know motherhood is the HARDEST job in the world. Know we are appreciated!

 Sunday the sailors should be able to make phone calls.

Every day is a tissue day for me and my son is 25!!! I will tell my Blue Star mom group that your son got a box, with the help of a local bank we sent 575 boxes!!! FYI, I just got the anchor bracelet from Red Envelope, it was on sale, arrived in three days, came beautifully wrapped and with a $10 gift card and is lovely. I ordered the silver one and am thinking I need the gold one as well. Thank you all for all of your wise words and support.

gmill75--That is so sad to hear about the disc drive. That is memories you won't be able to recover or replace. Well I guess they still have a few months and can do another one.

Good morning everyone:

Marybutler:  Thanks for sharing.  Makes our hearts soar!

Sharoncede: We get it. We know what you mean about all the moms on here sharing a special bond. One day that I was really missing my son, I tried talking to a mom who doesn't have anyone in the military. Her comment to me was "He chose to be there". Unbelievable! I don't share my feelings with regular moms anymore. I'm usually strong and positive, but you guys know how it is... we are human too.

Gaisy:  Thanks for the "heads up" on the phone call.  I'm sooo excited!!! :)

WOW! Changing the t.v. I just saw a banner at the bottom of the Pentagon channel: "NAVY sailors aboard the USS HARRY S. TRUMAN donated their hair to the Non-profit organization Locks of Love Dec 15th".  GOD bless them. 

NavyMom2: I tried sharing my feelings with my good friends from H.S. last week when we were at the one gal's house for a jewelry party and the one gal said "My brothers were in the Navy too. I don't remember my Mom having troubles with missing them. He's been in almost 6 years now, aren't you used to it by now?"

I just smiled and replied you never get used to it, especially during the Holidays. In my mind I was slapping her upside the head!

How Cool is THAT!?!

HA, HA, HA... I know what you mean Carol Ann!

ALHOA,....my friends here.  MADE IT.  In spite of the snow and awful weather I managed to get out of New Jersey....all transportation connected to JFK, New York and my Hawaiian airline flgith to the Big Island.  Just spent 6 days with my wonder ful son who lives here....he ran me all over the Big Island through and in volcanoes and lava and some of the most beautiful areas I've ever seen.  We flew to Maui yesterday (where he lives) and another couple of weeks visiting through Christnas (and my birthday...on the 21st)  He and his wife have a beautiful little place in Wialuku...and I had my morning coffee on the lanai with a view of the west Maui mountains AND Haliakala and the sea.  So nice to hug him again...he lives so damned far away.  He's almost as far away in the Easterly direction as my sailor grandon is in the westerly direcdtion....ha.

Shame about the jpackages and mail that went into the sea......remember.....SHIP HAPPENS.  BTW;  The postal service insurance only covers up to the time the mail is delivered to the zip code...which is the mailing depot for the military.  When it reaches there, it it considered delivered.

As for the Navy being responsible.......WE are the Navy...it is our tax dollars that support the military...so, compensation is silly......reimbursing yourself with your own money....WHA?

Will return home on 27  December.  Will be sending my sailor a package with an Hawaaian theme, for sure.  For YEARS, he spent summers here with his Uncle being a little hawaiian boy....and he's SO jealous I'm here and he's not...ha.  So we will send him a little bit of the islands........

Happy Hohlidays to all my friends here.......hope all is nearly perfect for you all.

Merry Christmas Grandma BarB So glad that you are having a great time enjoy your visit with your son. And have a safe trip home. You can ship some of that sunshine south to Georgia. Have a great day 

Gaisey and sharoncede...thanksfor your nice words.  Yes, he'l luky to live here.  He's been here 15 years.  Came with a job managing a small healthfood store in Lahaina but since then, has worked hard doing many things.  About 7 years ago, he had the chance to buy a cleaning company...and he did.  They clean rental condo's at resorts, etc.....and makes a good living at it.  It's very expensive here, for sure.

He also met........a wife.  My son who was "never going to get married, never going to have kids" fell drop dead in love with a wonderful woman living here ande they married about 3 years ago.....he at 45, she at 43.....lovely marriage for a couple of wonderful people.....I'm so happy for hom.

Gaisey.....my very first trip to visit him back about 2002 or so, we did the road to Hana....and stayed overenight there at this lovely tiny place owned by a very old japanese woman.  We were there 2 days...then continued the drive on around the island on a road that was almost not a road in places.  Quite beautiful.....and lonely as we were the only ones on it.......ha......  I was never a fan of the islands until he moved here.  He has shown me part and things that are simply not in the "tourist" arena.... I've always been a Caribbean gal...it being so close and so diverse....but Hawaii...away from the hustle and bustle is lovely.  He's trying to talk me into moving here now the Kid is off on the 7 seas heading for his own life.  My lovely daughter is relocating to Ohio so there is not much to keep me in New Jersey....except I really love it there.....  We'll see.