March Adoption: First to be Second!

[MomByHeart]

No one ever wants to be second.   Not unless it means they will be getting showered with love by Molly moms for the second time!

The USS Cape St. George is our FIRST ever SECOND time adoption!  You ladies did such a great job the first time that they are back for more.  Our first time supporting the Cape was a Christmas adoption in 2010.  Over 50% of the crew is new since then, so even though the ship is being adopted a second time, many of the sailors will be first-time recipients of our love. 

The Cape St. George is a guided missile cruiser based out of San Diego and is deployed as part of the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group to the U.S. 5th Fleet  as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. They left on their current deployment on December 7 and have already heard that they will be extended.   Their theme is "Dragon Slayers."  Their moto is "Always Victorious."

I did some research and found out that April is “Humor Month,” so the theme for this adoption is “humor.”  When I asked the POC about this theme, he said the crew will certainly be ready for some humor by the time our boxes start arriving.  So let’s try to bring smiles to their faces and laughter to their day!  Here are few ideas to get us started:

• Clean joke books
• Comics from local newspapers
• Movie/sitcom dvd’s with a comedy theme
• Silly putty
• Funny ties
• Those Groucho Marx fake glasses with the furry eyebrows
• Knock-knock jokes from kids .  I thought this would be great for groups of kids…they can write down all their favorite corny jokes that we parents  get tired of hearing over and over =]
• “Gag” gifts
• A collection of humorous stories/pictures from the internet or your own family

 

Their specific requests are:

• Magazines
• Toiletries
• Personal hygiene items
• Snacks
• Microwaveable food
• Candy
• DVD’s and popcorn for “movie nights”
• Phone cards—The chaplain has requested phone cards and has said that he is willing to distribute them on an “as needed” basis.  There will be a separate address for the chaplain listed when shipping time comes.
• Pillowcases: This group is able to receive pillowcases, so pillowcase moms, you are on duty!

 

We are also going to have some extra support and love from the Makin Island moms this month.  As a way to “pay it forward” for our adoption of their loved ones last month, they are going to hold a special packing party for the Cape St. George!  Thanks, Makin moms, you rock!!!

 

The male/female count is 350 male, and 6 female.

 

 Here is a list of what we need and what we have so far:

Female pillowcases (6)—All taken care of!

Male pillowcases (350)—All taken care of!

Magazines:  Loraine 100+

Toiletries (female):  Boxes for the 6 females

Toiletries/Personal hygiene: 1 full box of misc., deodorant, toothbrushes (1 case+), lip balm, razors, dental floss-240, hand sanitizer, body washes

Microwaveable food/Snacks: Popcorn-2 boxes+, 400 cookies, Fortune cookies - 2 boxes,

DVD’s:  40+

Candy: Laffy Taffy-101, fruit snacks, several boxes of misc. goodies

Drinks:  Drink packets-500, water bottles filled with goodies-36, energy drinks-800

Games, etc: 120 decks playing cards, "game" cards (Monopoly, Clue, etc.), puzzle and brain teaser books, puzzle pages-350

Silly stuff:  Groucho glasses-4, glow-in-the-dark glasses-4, Silly Putty

Banner: 1

I know you moms are going to be full of great ideas for how to get some huge belly laughs out of this awesome crew!   So let’s get busy and show our FIRST SECOND that our love is just as strong the second time around!

 

Shipping Dates:  March 21-23

 

 

 

[MomByHeart]

:)

[carols_kitchen]

Loraine, I was scared last year with a 1,029 size group.  These MAS Moms are amazing what they can pull off!  This month I joined the one box Moms out of time and money constraints, but it was packed pretty heavy with large size body washes for the guys.  Plus, my kids at church made bookmarks and cards.  The postal worker complained about the weight of my box, and it was only 12 pounds. 

Congrats on your great month!

[MomByHeart]

Thanks, Carol.  It was fun and felt good to do something for all our sailors. 

[Laura]

So...funny story about when I shipped my package.

I tossed the box into the backseat of my car. I was ready to start driving when I heard a buzzing sound coming from the backseat. I couldn't figure out what toy may have turned on to make a buzzing sound.  I had scizzors and tape in the car so I started slitting open my wonderfully taped box.

I practically emptied the box looking for the buzzing sound. I was in a frenzy because I couldn't find it! I finally decided to carry the box back in to the house and that is when I discovered the source of the noise.  It wasn't coming from the box.  My son left his cell phone in a backpack next to the box and the alarm was buzzing.  If only I had moved the box in the first place!

 

[Pat L. in IL]

OH NO, Laura, that is funny!!!! Bet that box has PLENTY of tape on it, huh???

[Pat L. in IL]

Mombyheart (Loraine), Thank you for being a wonderful Mom of the Month! You rocked it, girlfriend!!!

 

[MomByHeart]

Thanks for all your help, Pat  :)

[MomByHeart]

Great news from our First to be Second adoption, the Cape St. George!  They received about 40 boxes today and several last week.  They are so thankful and excited!  They promise lots of pics soon, but here are a few to get us smiling.  This is their sweet chaplain.

[MomByHeart]

[MomByHeart]

Anyone recognize this pillowcase?

[kayakhinkle]

So excited -- just received a thank you email from one of the sailors on the Cape St. George:

 

Dear Hinkle family,

 

                I am a soldier on the USS cape ST. George and I really wanted to let you know how much your act of kindness is appreciated. We received the care packages and everyone had a smile on for the first time in a while. What you have done really goes a long way and I know it made my day a lot better . So thank you very much.               

 

                Very Respectfully,

                XXXXXXXX

[MomByHeart]

Yahoo! Makes you smile, doesn't it?