hello, go to www.mwrgl.com and you'll see a link for commemorative bricks, care packages and t-shirts.

accepted your friend request!

I will write as well. My daughter told me about a girl in her division who never got her name called at mailcall and always went to her rack afterward and cried. I couldn't let that happen. I am glad your daughter is sharing her letters. But I would love to write to her (my daughter - who is now in A School in San Diego - would probably write as well!).

Hi Kahli's Mom :) I would love to write to your daughter's friend. As I've said, if it was ME there not getting any mail, I'd be happy to hear from ANYONE!! LOL! I think that's girls though, we aren't so uptight as men about these things. I'm still waiting to hear from my son if it's okay to give out his lonely shipmate's address. As soon as I get the word I'll spread it like fire!

Here is the link to facebook.  Click on Ask to Join and I will accept, then your in.  It is a closed group, but feel free to invite anyone you want. 

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1649814791&ref=ts#!/groups/312077055514173/315358258519386/?notif_t=group_activity

I just noticed your friend request and your message.  Just figuring this site out.  My daughter didn't say if everyone got call.  I sure hope yours does soon.  I know I would be going crazy otherwise.  Have you joined the forum on Facebook?  I actually just started a group today also, if you need info on how to join message me back. 

Kahli's Mom,

Your daughter's recruiter should be able to get your daughter's address within a couple days of her reporting.  You should start writing her letters right away because they really, really look forward to mail call.  You can write them and number them, then as soon as you get her address, send them off to her.  Within a week or two you will get a form letter that will give you information on when her PIR will be and her address.  And if you're lucky you will get a line or two from her!!  About 2 weeks in you will get your "kid in the box".  This is where they have to ship EVERYTHING they had on them back home!!!  If she had a cell phone with her that will be in the box as well.  Some moms have a real breakdown over receiving the box so don't be surprised if you have that kind of reaction!!  Just come talk to us and we will give you a shoulder to lean on.  Some moms just set the box aside to open it at a later time!!  Whatever works for you!!!  I still have the box my daughter sent 4 years ago!!  I emptied it a long time ago, but I kept the box with her handwriting on it!!!  And I've kept all her letters!!!  Speaking of letters it may be 3 weeks before she gets a chance to write.  They are kept really busy the first few weeks, and they are only allowed to write on Sundays.  So if they are really busy on Sunday they may not be able to get a letter out.  Bummer, I know!!!!!

As far as when they leave after bc - it all depends and some of them won't know until that week before PIR.  It is very hard to plan on things.  We went up Thursday night and stayed until Sunday but she ended up staying at Great Lakes until Wednesday.  Wish we could have stayed a little longer but hubby had to get back to work and her twin sister had to get back to school.  She was kept busy until time for her to leave so she was ok.  A very common expression in the military is - "hurry up and wait!!!"  We all find we have to prepare for that!!!  And signing away our rights to them is exactly the way I felt a few times when my daughter was having a problem and I couldn't do a thing to help her.  I was not a happy mama, but my daughter did learn how to handle herself and I was even more proud of her (if you can believe that!!!)

Please let  me know if I can help you with anything else!!!  Currently I am living here in Waukegan so I am literally right in the neighborhood of Great Lakes!!!!

Kahli's Mom,

I do understand about not being to share with the hubby.  I love my hubby and he is a good father - but everytime he spoke about the kids leaving the nest, it was always like "oh yeah, the last one is leaving - this is so great" and I'd be choking back tears!!!  I am very proud of all my children, but I don't like them being so scattered around the country and I just can't see them like I'd want to.  I used to spend alot of time in the shower crying my eyes out and blaming the redness on shampoo in the eyes!!!!!  It will get easier as it gets closer to her PIR because then you are making all kinds of plan to go to GL!!!  Don't feel like you can't reach out to us for support!!