We could plan the ceremony for the Saturday in the park. We could have you say your vows on the pier next to the lake. Oh it would be so pretty. Don't tease me Deana, we should really plan this.
How are you doing - settling in your interim spot? My adjuster is JUST now coming out. We have an appointment on November 8 - 8am can you beleive it??? Almost 2 months AFTER!!!!
Hey Raquel, your insurance co. sure is taking their sweet time. I thought mine was slow. We are settled into an apartment, but I am so ready to go home. I miss my little house :(
I feel ya Ray...ours barely came out and then told us it would be another 3 weeks before we would here form the insurance company and have a check. We have lots of roof and water damage to our home and it really sux that we can't even do anything to fix it. Which I guess doen't matter since every roofing company as well as home repair company tellus that it will be a week or more before they can even come do an estimate much less the work:(...(FROWN)
The reunion plans sound great!! Let me know how I can help and I will!
For the santa pics it woulds be great if someone has a digital that hooks up to a 4x6 printer...maybe have a small donation fee to cover the cost of printing on the spot pics, but how fun would that be. It could be a great start for our reunion fund! I will help set up if you let me know what time! Oh!!! I am sooooo excited!
Deana... Just a thought. What about putting a Christmas box together for our troops and sending toothbrushes, razors, mouthwash, socks etc. Then we could add a Christmas card signed by all who attend the party.
If you do that, I have addresses! My brother (JC c/o 92) just got back in country a few months ago, so I have his address there. I also have a few other friends over there and their addresses. Plus (my kids don't know this yet but) John will probably be going back JAN/FEB time frame next year. I can give you all kinds of addresses for troops, but go figure right?....LOL
Thanks V! Get us those addresses and we will make them for them, in fact, make us a quick list of good things to ask for for collection. If you don't mind of course!
Deana- I'm going to have to sit down and go over the list of things to send. I know what things John liked to get, but then again there are the things you CAN NOT send as well.
Jenny-if you will send me your email address thru my profile page, I will get some addresses for you. I know SEVERAL people all over the country over there, so it's going to take me a day or so to put a list together for you. I say email me an address, that way their address in Iraq aren't being publicly displayed, I'm sure all of you can understand why I will not do that.
Well to have people wanting to send things to the troops touchs my heart very deeply, especially as I get ready to deal with our 2nd deployment. I'm putting together the list of things to send, and I will post that as soon as I get it together.
Ok here is a quick list of things that the guys seem to like to get or need.
Razors
Bar soap
tuna packettes(easy to open and don't need a can opener)
Beef Jerky
Warm Delights deserts (yes they have access to microwaves)
Any of the crackers sandwiches (ie, cheese crackers with peanut butter)
Copenhagen! (For some reason state side copenhagen is a hot commodity, I don't dip the stuff but they can only get the kind in plastic containers there and apparently it taste different so they want the kind in the cardboard can and metal lid. I swear I'm not making this up!)
Do not send anything PORK PRODUCTS they will be confiscated at the port! Also, no pornography or alcohol (no matter how much they want it) Socks and tee shirts are a no go as wall because you can not buy the kind they need at any local store by your home. They are required to wear green socks and tee shirts etc, etc. Again, you are not going to find what they are allowed to wear at walmart.
I'm sure I'll remember or come up with more things soon.
Candy (lollipops are great they hand them out to the kids during convoys)
Bags of Chex Mix
Fruit Roll ups or Fruit by the foot
Sports magizines
Little Debbie Snacks
Mac and Cheese singles
Hamburger helper singles
Pencils and small notebooks are good to they also hand those out to the kids while out on convoys. The kids in the country love to see the military guys coming, they will run out to greet them, and the guys like to have something to give to the kids.
Thanks V...I would LOVE to send a few care packages as well so send me a few addresses of some troops as well. I always wanted to do this but had no idea who to send to. On another note, I am in the process of doing something like this for the homeless once a month. Collecting things they can use and carry with them when they leave shelters. Not much different than the packages for troops..a pair of socks, ramen soups, plastic cups, razor, soap, deoderant, rain pancho,..these things sometimes people have extra of (like when you buy the soup pkgs, soap bundles,etc) and then I'd like to take up collections of old school back packs that people toss after their kids are done with (basic ones) and pack them with a few of these items. I'd like to collect what I can monthly, make what I can, then distribute them where I can. Boy, I can ramble when I get started huh?
ANyhow, count me in for a few private care packages. I'd be honored to help.
LOL........deana, I've started writing my ramblings down! That's how my book got started. Just like the other day, I noticed a bunch of buses coming down the HWY and the next thing I knew I had tears in my eyes. I realized I was doing the same thing everytime I see these buses, without even knowing I was doing it. When I see a group of buses heading east on HWY 24 I know they are heading for Cherry Point and most likely on their way to Iraq. When I see them I always run thru a quick prayer for their safe and quick return. When I see them heading west on HWY 24 I know they are coming home and I tear up saying welcome home guys. I see these buses coming and going, what seems like at least every month. I've gotten so use to seeing them I do these things without even thinking about it. I wish some of you could see what I see every day. I know the news says horrible things about the military and what they are doing over there. Everyone of the guys I know who have been there all say the same thing. WE ARE DOING A LOT OF GOOD OVER THERE. THE PEOPLE ARE HAPPY TO SEE US AND WELCOME US. THEY WANT TO FEED US AND GIVE US THINGS, EVEN WHEN THEY HAVE LITTLE OR NOTHING. THEY WANT TO GIVE US THEIR LAST BIT OF FOOD AS THANKS FOR HELPING THEM. THINGS ARE SO MUCH BETTER OVER THERE THAT THE NEWS IS JUST NOT TELLING ANYONE ANY OF THAT STUFF. It breaks my heart to know that some of the news people make our military guys out to be a bunch of blood thirsty individuals when they are not. I don't take my information about Iraq from the media, I get mine from the people who are there.
I want to share a story my husband brought home from Iraq. He told me a story about a 7 year old girl who approached them during one of their many convoy trips. They had stopped and were handing out toys to the children of the village. They offered this little girl any toy she wanted from the bag and some candy. She didn't want the toys are the candy. She kept pointing to their humvee. They couldn't figure out why. Well the little girl wanted their baby wipes they had in the truck. She didn't want a toy she wanted baby wipes! The toy would have been selfish, she wanted the baby wipes, because she said she needed them for her little brother. Now we all know Marines to be these big ol' billy bad asses that have no emotions right? You could not be more wrong. Apparently all of the guys that were there were in tears when they got back in their truck to leave. That a 7 year old little girl was more interested in a need for her little brother than a want for herself!
V- I always give my children's clothes away in those drop boxes. Can we send the guys kids clothes to give to the children? Or do you know where we can send stuff for the kids?
actually Jen, they do have a need for that stuff. Let me talk to some of my contacts over there......if we can't get it over there for christmas time, John is heading back over there. If all else fails you can send it to him when he gets there. He was always looking for clothes for his interpeture's kids.
Wow The Tigers Rock!!! I'm so glad we can give back and I'm so happy right now... High Tiger Paws All Around!!! Oh I posted some pics from my party on my profile. Smiles...
Wow you guys really tug at my heart. I was gettin all teary eyed myself. I normally doante the babies stuff as well as the older boys. But I will save whatever they may have left over. We just made a donation to Operation Refuge here in Cleveland with their out grown stuff. I usually take the babies stuff to the resale shop, then I get a crdit to spend back in the store for their size stuff, but I will save it up instead! Deana, my love, your dreams are coming true!!!!!
Hey can we post a complete list on the main page so it doesn't get lost in all the post???? And what about Popcorn...maybe we can get him invovled as well!
