March Sailors!

[Pat L. in IL]

Hello Everyone! It is my privilege to choose our March Group! First, though, I must extend hearty anniversary wishes to Navy for Moms.com! Yesterday I consulted with my "posse" who write letters and add to the boxes every month. They are ages 2 through 11. We looked at maps and anysailor. We are going to Kuwait this mont








I know that I have big shoes to fill considering my excellent predecessors but I pray you will all join me in showering these brave sailors with some N4M love! Pat

[Sue-Pillowcase lady]

Denise, good news. I mailed a box on 3-7 and Juan received it today, the 13th! That is really fast. It took over 2 weeks to Iraq and no idea to Afghanistan,. I'd mail to March, cause 30 & 31 are Monday and Tuesday.

I was on earlier with plans to post Juan's emails and another one from him popped up. So here's what he said over 3 emails. I used caps when he did:

1. Hello, my name is Juan. I am 22 years old (but turn 23 on the 18th of March! Yay). I am married and have 3 beautiful girls. I am from El Paso, TX and am currently stationed on the tiny island of Guam. I got deployed to Kuwait (10 miles south of Iraq) on 2-17-09. well, I am emailing to inform you THE PILLOWCASES WERE A BIG HIT AND EVERYONE LOVES THEM. I opend the box but was called away to do something and when I got back only 5 pillowcases remained. I love the one I picked, but I saw people with HELICOPTER ones and was like DARN IT! I wanted a helicopter one. I fly in helicopters. It is the NAVY MH 60S. Its an awesome helo. But the one I have now is great. Thank you so much for these pillowcases. If you have any questions about me or us, feel free to ask. I am trying to stay in touch with all of my supporters. Thank you!

2. Hello again. Well, I received the box today and I am pretty surprised also. The pillow cases are awesome. I kept the red one with blue trim of US Navy and PO2 and a bunch of squadron patches. Thank you so much! 191...wow that is amazing! Thank you! Well, my family moved to Guam with me when I got stationed there. My girls are 3 years, 22 months and 3 months old. They are all doing good. My wife is very strong. She had my 1st daughter when I was in Pensacola for school and I couldn't make it :(, then she had my 2nd when I was deployed on a Navy ship for 10 months :(, but fortunately I was there for my last daughter...so I admire my wife for going through all this and still being strong. She is the best. So what does your sailor do for the navy? Well thanks for everything.

3. I'm sure those guys in Afghanistan got your box. (I told him that I never heard from them and I wondered if it got there).
And I'm sure they were as excited as I was to see such awesome pillowcases. (then some personal stuff about my son).
I used to be an AM on my first deployment. I fly in helicopters and just love it. Aircrew is the way to go. I'm also a rescue swimmer. Take care Sue and thanks for writing me!

I did write again and tell him about the bikes. And you better believe that he will be getting a helicopter pillocase for his birthday! I have just alittle bit left, so it will have to be a banded one and I'll make it tomorrow morning and get it in the mail for his birthday. And the red one he choose is actually one that I made. And I will post the March pictures.

[Melissa (Tucson)]

SUE!!!!!!!

Hanky alert, girl!!!!!

You did good, made us all proud to be Navy Moms!!!!

[Sue-Pillowcase lady]

The 30 pillowcases for March. The one Juan chose is 2nd row from the top, 2nd on the right: red with a blue band.

[Sue-Pillowcase lady]

Boxed and ready to go. I included a pair of microwave potholders in a shamrock print. The flag and eagle fabric came from a 2nd hand store. I wash all of my fabric.

Got a piece of white fabric from a friend that says "beauty rest" on it. Isn't that a hoot? you know, beauty rest mattress?

Molly, have a fabulous time in VA. If you see my son, give him a hug for me!

[Melissa (Tucson)]

Sue, I'm driving to Norfolk next week. Is there anything I can take for your son? I'll have plenty of room in the car....

We're having coffee tomorrow at the Barnes & Noble on Broadway at 2:30pm. Come and join us!!!! I'd love to meet you (in person)!!!

:)

[Sue-Pillowcase lady]

Hi Melissa,

that is such a kind offer! where will you be in Norfolk? At this point, I wasn't planning on going to the coffee. And we met on 1-24 at the potluck. But I wasn't wearing fabric-haha. an apron though.
Let me know where you will be in Norfolk and I'll see what my son's schedule will be. you have me thinking. haha

[Melissa (Tucson)]

Yes, now I remember!! The apron!! To much going on that day for me to remember...lol

I'll be staying at the Navy Lodge and Matt will be coming back from deployment, so I'll be on a pier also. Matt will be checking into his barricks after homecoming and we won't fly back to Tucson until the next day. I'm also taking a tour of the base. And spending lots of $$ at the NEX.

I'm meeting Molly and Mary (Nick's mom) in Norfolk!! I don't know if I'm more excited about our Navy Mom reunion or Matt's homecoming....lol

[Pat L. in IL]

I'M BAAAACK!! Molly, Have a wonderful time with your sailor! Got to talk to my sailor on the phone two days in a row. His security clearance should finally come through in 2 weeks and then on to Power School. I'm thinking the DVD gift is beginning to look like a good option. But it is only Mar. 13 so we could reserve judgment until we see if we get some good info on the bikes. Safe travel, dearie!

Staci, Thank you for your help while I was pulling my hair out!! Both hubby and son are PC genius', so they keep me up and running except when the server crashes (Comcast). You are a sweetie and I appreciate your help.

Lynn, WELCOME! One tip to help you if you pack a box. It is getting warmer in Kuwait so be sure not to pack food and hygiene products together. If the box sits in the heat waiting for delivery all food items will taste like deodorant or shampoo!!

Denise, Depending on how many boxes you have, how about half to March sailors and half to April? Whatever you decide the important thing is that you are helping our sailors know that they are loved!! Thank you for that.

Sue, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your pillowcases. Bless your heart!

Well, I hope no more glitches because I hate missing the latest news and had to wait SOOOOOOOOOO long to see Juan's picture! Love to you all, Pat

[Sue-Pillowcase lady]

Lynn, put everything into a ziplock baggie, even if it is packaged in plastic and sealed. I did that with my son's boxes and we didn't have any trouble. that way if something melts, spills etc, it hopefully won't effect anything else. I even put the lip balms to Kuwait in plastic bags.

Melissa, what base will you be staying at? There are 5 Naval bases in Norfolk. Ben is at Oceana. Boy, that sounds like so much fun!

I just got my 4th email from Juan. He said he told Staci that the bikes were too much and now he feels bad. I told him not to, cause the moms really did want to help with the bike issue.

A woman at my church was recently deployed to Kuwait and I think she worked in supply or admin. I will ask her about the possiblity of buying a bike from the PX.

Oh and sorry about the Hanky alert. I forgot.

[Melissa (Tucson)]

We're staying at Norfolk. I'll be at the Newport News Airport and also at Norfolk International. How far is Oceana from Norfolk? Does your son have a car? I'm going to look at a map. brb

[Sue-Pillowcase lady]

well, I for one, am really excited and blessed. Staci, I think he will be getting back to you on the bike issue, cause I just assured him that what you said was correct. I will try to track down the lady who was in Kuwait today.

Did you notice the shamrock ones? a patriotic print and then the 2 green ones-they are banded with white on white stars. Anything stars says patriotic to me. More so than stripes.

I just cut out Juan's birthday pillowcase, so best get to the sewing of it, so I can mail today.
I love being part of this group. My pillowcase crew does too!

The Curves that I belong to wants to support my project. I will bring in flyers and a couple of cases to display next week. That is pretty exciting.

and was little Miss Molly eating something okay? doggies-gotta love them. Have an awesome day ladies!

[Molly Molly Fo Folly]

Mel I know we have some plans BUT what about a *take a sailor to dinner* night ? Great way to meet our N4M sailors :) You know Im good for whatever ---if you get names / get cell phone numbers too so that we could call and tell them details !!