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Showing posts with label mail. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mail. Show all posts
Monday, March 30, 2009
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Over 900 Soldiers Waiting To Be Adopted Today!
Soldiers' Angels hero adoption waiting list is over 900 today. All these heroes waiting to be adopted are currently serving overseas, away from their families and could use some additional support form you. Won't you please consider adopting a hero today? All is takes is the commitment from you to write a letter a week and send one small care package a month during the length of the deployment. To adopt a hero, click here now.
If adoption does not suit you and you would like to get involved with Soldiers' Angels, there are many opportunities for everyone to get involved. Just click here to find out more.
~May no soldier go unloved~
If adoption does not suit you and you would like to get involved with Soldiers' Angels, there are many opportunities for everyone to get involved. Just click here to find out more.
~May no soldier go unloved~
Thursday, November 13, 2008
It Seems He Thought That Call Sucked Too
I got a letter from him that arrived yesterday. He apologized more than a few times, and explained some of the chaos and aggravation he was enduring as he waited to make a call. He also said he was very VERY upset after hanging up.
That's probably the hardest part, hanging up and then realizing that you could maybe fix what just went wrong with just another few seconds on the phone...but you can't call back.
The Army is teaching us all sorts of new things about ourselves. Mostly I think it's teaching us to be in control of everything. Not just your physical actions. Your thoughts effect your performance and conversations could very well be the last one you ever have. Taking for granted that you'll always be able to apologize or try to repair whatever was broken is not a luxury the military affords us. I think Basic Training is for the family as well as the Soldier. We need to learn to say what our hearts mean first, and not to waste one precious moment we have on the phone or in person. Anger and frustration will just have to sit on hold until we have finished our call and hung up, or until we've dropped them off at their base. Then we can vent to our fellow Army parents/spouses/siblings and know that we are helping our Soldiers maintain the positive focus they need to succeed.
Ok, I'm starting to sound like a self help book. I just wanted to let you know he wrote me and apologized. Obviously our last call during OSUT will be memorable, but only because it taught us both something.
That's probably the hardest part, hanging up and then realizing that you could maybe fix what just went wrong with just another few seconds on the phone...but you can't call back.
The Army is teaching us all sorts of new things about ourselves. Mostly I think it's teaching us to be in control of everything. Not just your physical actions. Your thoughts effect your performance and conversations could very well be the last one you ever have. Taking for granted that you'll always be able to apologize or try to repair whatever was broken is not a luxury the military affords us. I think Basic Training is for the family as well as the Soldier. We need to learn to say what our hearts mean first, and not to waste one precious moment we have on the phone or in person. Anger and frustration will just have to sit on hold until we have finished our call and hung up, or until we've dropped them off at their base. Then we can vent to our fellow Army parents/spouses/siblings and know that we are helping our Soldiers maintain the positive focus they need to succeed.
Ok, I'm starting to sound like a self help book. I just wanted to let you know he wrote me and apologized. Obviously our last call during OSUT will be memorable, but only because it taught us both something.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Phone call, promotion and graduation info
I got a 5 minute call today! :D
Mike is now PV2!! Hooah!!!!
He also said he's sending details (as soon as he gets them) about the graduation dinner. It's the night before so we'll have to zoom up there a little earlier than expected. Works for me!! I get to see him for more than a few minutes!!! :D
I was expecting to watch his graduation and maybe see him for 20 minutes, a few hours tops, on November 20. But getting to go to a dinner with him too is just awesome! Even if I have to share him with his Dad's family...if Mike is happy then I'm happy.
I also logged into his AIM account and let all his buddies know he wanted them to write to him. After asking him in this phone call, I put his address in the status window. I hope some of them write, he really is boosted by others writing to him. It means a lot when someone sits down and writes out (or even types) a letter and takes the time and makes the effort to send it. In this day of instant messages and instant gratification...most people just don't send letters through the mail anymore.
Ok, gotta fly and get some work done. Going to work on my Army store so I can start promoting stuff.
Oh, and I got approved to sell US Cavalry items through my sites as well!! That store just rocks!! LOL
now...really...going to work.
later!!
:)
Mike is now PV2!! Hooah!!!!
He also said he's sending details (as soon as he gets them) about the graduation dinner. It's the night before so we'll have to zoom up there a little earlier than expected. Works for me!! I get to see him for more than a few minutes!!! :D
I was expecting to watch his graduation and maybe see him for 20 minutes, a few hours tops, on November 20. But getting to go to a dinner with him too is just awesome! Even if I have to share him with his Dad's family...if Mike is happy then I'm happy.
I also logged into his AIM account and let all his buddies know he wanted them to write to him. After asking him in this phone call, I put his address in the status window. I hope some of them write, he really is boosted by others writing to him. It means a lot when someone sits down and writes out (or even types) a letter and takes the time and makes the effort to send it. In this day of instant messages and instant gratification...most people just don't send letters through the mail anymore.
Ok, gotta fly and get some work done. Going to work on my Army store so I can start promoting stuff.
Oh, and I got approved to sell US Cavalry items through my sites as well!! That store just rocks!! LOL
now...really...going to work.
later!!
:)
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Glad he got to call us :)
Got a letter from Mike telling me how happy he was to talk to me last time. He's sending me, what appears to be, last minute instructions for our trip up. I have a list of items I'm supposed to bring, all of which will be returning with me when we come home. He's asked me to get him a laptop so he can play some games. I'll grab one this week and install Crysis for him. I'm not sure what else he wants so that's all he's getting til we get there. Unless he calls again.
He wants game news. I'm going to print some stuff out but I remember someone saying they couldn't have printed pages from the web...I'm not going to hand write 6 pages of technical details on games so...he's getting it printed right from wikipedia.com. I guess I'll find out if that is ok or not, won't I? ;)
He's going nuts for news...anything on new games, new movies, new music. He wants to see Batman, maybe I can see if it's playing at a discount movie when we are there, as I'm pretty sure it won't be in the regular theaters still on October 3.
He's all fired up about the new Challenger. I guess someone got pics or something, he's practically drooling about this cars specs. I'm going to create some note paper, to write to him, using the images I downloaded from the Dodge site.
He also got to shoot a rocket launcher and claymore mines. He sounds happy about getting a couple of pounds of C4 next week and getting to blow up whatever they want on the course. Sounds like fun.
He had to go because his DS was chasing them and shooting rubber bands at them from a "rolly chair"...He's always indicated that his troop is great and I'm guessing they all get along fairly well. That has to help a lot in this situation.
Ok, off to get girls in bed and then will catch up on the rest.
:)
He wants game news. I'm going to print some stuff out but I remember someone saying they couldn't have printed pages from the web...I'm not going to hand write 6 pages of technical details on games so...he's getting it printed right from wikipedia.com. I guess I'll find out if that is ok or not, won't I? ;)
He's going nuts for news...anything on new games, new movies, new music. He wants to see Batman, maybe I can see if it's playing at a discount movie when we are there, as I'm pretty sure it won't be in the regular theaters still on October 3.
He's all fired up about the new Challenger. I guess someone got pics or something, he's practically drooling about this cars specs. I'm going to create some note paper, to write to him, using the images I downloaded from the Dodge site.
He also got to shoot a rocket launcher and claymore mines. He sounds happy about getting a couple of pounds of C4 next week and getting to blow up whatever they want on the course. Sounds like fun.
He had to go because his DS was chasing them and shooting rubber bands at them from a "rolly chair"...He's always indicated that his troop is great and I'm guessing they all get along fairly well. That has to help a lot in this situation.
Ok, off to get girls in bed and then will catch up on the rest.
:)
Thursday, August 14, 2008
We got a few letters today
I haven't written in a couple days due to running out of stamps and money and energy...tomorrow I'm going to buy lots of books of stamps and send out Mike's care package with prestamped envelopes and writing paper.
I'm excessively tired lately and I've not been able to keep up with anything here. I am trying to do too much and need to sit on my butt for one day and just read and relax. BAHAHAHAHA!! Like that will happen.
I'm still working but had to write something since my brain won't stop going over it...one of his letters had the dreaded sentence, "It's starting to look like we will be shipping out to Iraq or Afghanistan right after training." Now I know that was expected. I mean, he's in the Army, right? What else are they going to do with him?? But I was also thinking he was going back to PA after training for a while before he got any kind of orders to ship out of the country. And I didn't want to hear it. Period. I did start tearing up when I read that...but...then it stopped. I've not started crying yet. That worries me. It could get really ugly later. I'll be needing some serious blogtherapy later.
For now, I'm behind on work and need to feed kids and rescue the cat from the dog...so I will be back later!
I'm excessively tired lately and I've not been able to keep up with anything here. I am trying to do too much and need to sit on my butt for one day and just read and relax. BAHAHAHAHA!! Like that will happen.
I'm still working but had to write something since my brain won't stop going over it...one of his letters had the dreaded sentence, "It's starting to look like we will be shipping out to Iraq or Afghanistan right after training." Now I know that was expected. I mean, he's in the Army, right? What else are they going to do with him?? But I was also thinking he was going back to PA after training for a while before he got any kind of orders to ship out of the country. And I didn't want to hear it. Period. I did start tearing up when I read that...but...then it stopped. I've not started crying yet. That worries me. It could get really ugly later. I'll be needing some serious blogtherapy later.
For now, I'm behind on work and need to feed kids and rescue the cat from the dog...so I will be back later!
Saturday, August 2, 2008
I've been keeping busy here
Michelle is sick this week and has somehow taken over my schedule. I think I might be feeling some guilt for not spending as much time with the kids as I should and I've gone too far in the wrong direction. Or maybe I just needed some extreme kid cuddle time. Anyway, she's feeling better and now I have to get back on track.
We are probably moving in about 2 months, and I have to get my butt up to the other house to get it in livable condition before I have to start moving furniture there. This is going to be a very interesting adventure. Due to crappy economy here, we are moving from 2400 sq ft. to 900 sq. ft. It's a temporary move until we can get things stable and then I'm finding a farm and planting my butt. I need some nature. This whole beach thing ain't all it's cracked up to be. Maybe if I had about 100 acres on the Gulf of Mexico that could sustain horses and a boat dock to go do some educational dives every day....THEN I'd be thrilled to live so close to water. But this is concrete and a man made beach, it's just not the same.
I'm writing to Mike tonight and sending pics of the new dog. I had to go get batteries today and now...I can't find my camera. I'll have to write my letter and wait til morning to get the pics. The girls had the camera, so I'll just wait til they are awake and ask them. The chaos of an impending move has the girls area of the house upside down (I'm slowing weeding out unused items and taking them to be donated.) It's not worth searching for it now.
I can't tell you how relieved I am to have heard from Mike. I felt so incredibly disconnected before we got letters from him. Like the bond that he and I have had since his birth was snipped and I was feeling a bit panicky. I'm not sure that makes sense to anyone, but it's the best description I could come up with.
Ok, got to get some work done. Thanks for listening to me spew my thoughts.
:)
We are probably moving in about 2 months, and I have to get my butt up to the other house to get it in livable condition before I have to start moving furniture there. This is going to be a very interesting adventure. Due to crappy economy here, we are moving from 2400 sq ft. to 900 sq. ft. It's a temporary move until we can get things stable and then I'm finding a farm and planting my butt. I need some nature. This whole beach thing ain't all it's cracked up to be. Maybe if I had about 100 acres on the Gulf of Mexico that could sustain horses and a boat dock to go do some educational dives every day....THEN I'd be thrilled to live so close to water. But this is concrete and a man made beach, it's just not the same.
I'm writing to Mike tonight and sending pics of the new dog. I had to go get batteries today and now...I can't find my camera. I'll have to write my letter and wait til morning to get the pics. The girls had the camera, so I'll just wait til they are awake and ask them. The chaos of an impending move has the girls area of the house upside down (I'm slowing weeding out unused items and taking them to be donated.) It's not worth searching for it now.
I can't tell you how relieved I am to have heard from Mike. I felt so incredibly disconnected before we got letters from him. Like the bond that he and I have had since his birth was snipped and I was feeling a bit panicky. I'm not sure that makes sense to anyone, but it's the best description I could come up with.
Ok, got to get some work done. Thanks for listening to me spew my thoughts.
:)
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Another letter came today!
Mike wrote to his sisters, and they are thrilled! They are both writing back right now.
He did send an address for us to send mail to him now. So now we can write to him!!! Woohoo!!
I also just looked up how to get there, it's only 13 hours by car. And our route goes past Stone Mountain, Nashville, and then he's close to Churchill Downs so we can go check that out. (I'm a big horse junkie).
He says graduation is in November. No date yet, but I'm ecstatic with any information at this point so we'll just go with that...
:)
He did send an address for us to send mail to him now. So now we can write to him!!! Woohoo!!
I also just looked up how to get there, it's only 13 hours by car. And our route goes past Stone Mountain, Nashville, and then he's close to Churchill Downs so we can go check that out. (I'm a big horse junkie).
He says graduation is in November. No date yet, but I'm ecstatic with any information at this point so we'll just go with that...
:)
Monday, July 28, 2008
OMG! I GOT MY FIRST LETTER TODAY!!
I was sorting out some bills that came today, and found his letter stuck to the back of an electric bill!!! It's been here for hours and I didn't even know it!!!
I'm so happy I can't even think right now.
He didn't date it so I can't figure out how long it took, but he said in it that he won't have an address until the 21st and it was postmarked July 24th.
He sounds like he actually enjoys it!! He said how much he's learned, and how it's great when they work together. He's made some friends with the same MOS as him. The highlight of his letter was when he thanked my husband, Tom, (his step dad) for teaching him good work ethics and discipline. I thought Tom was going to cry. It made my heart fill up and get all warm seeing that written there. I'm sure Tom was just about to burst. He really has always made Mike push himself to do his absolute best, and when we pulled Mike from public school and started homeschooling him, Tom took him to our restaurant and put him to work on a regular schedule (he was 15 at the time). This is where a lot of his serious "training" came from. That kid was one of the best employees we ever had, and not just because he's my son. He worked hard, did what needed to be done, and never once complained because he got burned or because the kitchen was an average of 130 degrees every day. He was respectful to everyone, the customers LOVED him because he's just so nice and good looking. And yes, the waitresses also spent far too much time in the kitchen when Mike was working, but he'd most likely be embarrassed about all that.
I'm so overwhelmed with emotions right now...I cried because I didn't get a letter or a phone call...now I'm crying because I got a letter. Sometimes I feel like I'm going crazy.
I need to work but now I might have to take 5 and have a cup of coffee and just enjoy this feeling. :D
I'm so happy I can't even think right now.
He didn't date it so I can't figure out how long it took, but he said in it that he won't have an address until the 21st and it was postmarked July 24th.
He sounds like he actually enjoys it!! He said how much he's learned, and how it's great when they work together. He's made some friends with the same MOS as him. The highlight of his letter was when he thanked my husband, Tom, (his step dad) for teaching him good work ethics and discipline. I thought Tom was going to cry. It made my heart fill up and get all warm seeing that written there. I'm sure Tom was just about to burst. He really has always made Mike push himself to do his absolute best, and when we pulled Mike from public school and started homeschooling him, Tom took him to our restaurant and put him to work on a regular schedule (he was 15 at the time). This is where a lot of his serious "training" came from. That kid was one of the best employees we ever had, and not just because he's my son. He worked hard, did what needed to be done, and never once complained because he got burned or because the kitchen was an average of 130 degrees every day. He was respectful to everyone, the customers LOVED him because he's just so nice and good looking. And yes, the waitresses also spent far too much time in the kitchen when Mike was working, but he'd most likely be embarrassed about all that.
I'm so overwhelmed with emotions right now...I cried because I didn't get a letter or a phone call...now I'm crying because I got a letter. Sometimes I feel like I'm going crazy.
I need to work but now I might have to take 5 and have a cup of coffee and just enjoy this feeling. :D
Driving myself nuts while I wait
I need to make more shirts and maybe some coffee cups. bumper stickers. Anything to keep my too preoccupied to get depressed.
You'd think I'd never been able to deal with him being far away before. THAT I can handle. It's being out of touch that totally is no fun.
His sisters are really missing him a lot now too. I keep dreaming that I missed his call and he thinks I don't want to talk to him after that so he never calls me back.
For some reason I just think he's going to think this is all no big deal. He seemed surprised that I wanted to know when graduation was going to be and planned on being there. Maybe he just didn't realize before he left...IT'S A BIG DEAL!!!
Every other mom I see blogging seems so damned together! I wish I could just stop obsessing about him calling me or keeping me informed.
I'll go drive myself nuts while I make some more art...
See you all later!!
:)
You'd think I'd never been able to deal with him being far away before. THAT I can handle. It's being out of touch that totally is no fun.
His sisters are really missing him a lot now too. I keep dreaming that I missed his call and he thinks I don't want to talk to him after that so he never calls me back.
For some reason I just think he's going to think this is all no big deal. He seemed surprised that I wanted to know when graduation was going to be and planned on being there. Maybe he just didn't realize before he left...IT'S A BIG DEAL!!!
Every other mom I see blogging seems so damned together! I wish I could just stop obsessing about him calling me or keeping me informed.
I'll go drive myself nuts while I make some more art...
See you all later!!
:)
Friday, July 25, 2008
Happy Birthday Mike!!!
My son is officially 20 now. Happy Birthday Kid! :D
This has become quite the consuming thought for the last few hours. He's 20. It's his birthday. I don't even know what he's doing for sure. I'm positive he's not doing what he used to do on his birthday. I doubt the Army lets you sit around playing video games while you chat with 50 friends and eat Doritos.
My friends are trying to cheer me up. I hate to be down in the dumps but it's hard to kick the crappy mood today.
I keep wondering if he'll even call me at all. or write. I'll take a letter. I just want to know that he's ok.
I keep writing when I'm tired. I think that's when I lose control of my ability to suck it up and just roll with it. I need to post when I'm awake, alert and (hopefully) in a good mood.
I'm not sure why this is so different from him being up in PA, 1800 miles away. Of course, up there he had his dad's family to support him (not that they all did but some were there for him). He was working a really good full time job, AND driving a tow truck to help out his friend (no pay - just tips) AND he was a volunteer fire fighter. He also raced ATVs and Motorcycles when he could. He is not the kind of person to just sit and be safe. BUT he did call me at least every other day, sometimes he'd call every day for 4 days in a row. If he didn't call, I'd see him online.
I know that no one can guarantee that anyone is going to be safe. Even civilians get hurt or even die every day doing "safe" things. I guess I just have to leave it up to a higher power than myself to do what needs to be done. And I'll also have to learn to live with it.
This has become quite the consuming thought for the last few hours. He's 20. It's his birthday. I don't even know what he's doing for sure. I'm positive he's not doing what he used to do on his birthday. I doubt the Army lets you sit around playing video games while you chat with 50 friends and eat Doritos.
My friends are trying to cheer me up. I hate to be down in the dumps but it's hard to kick the crappy mood today.
I keep wondering if he'll even call me at all. or write. I'll take a letter. I just want to know that he's ok.
I keep writing when I'm tired. I think that's when I lose control of my ability to suck it up and just roll with it. I need to post when I'm awake, alert and (hopefully) in a good mood.
I'm not sure why this is so different from him being up in PA, 1800 miles away. Of course, up there he had his dad's family to support him (not that they all did but some were there for him). He was working a really good full time job, AND driving a tow truck to help out his friend (no pay - just tips) AND he was a volunteer fire fighter. He also raced ATVs and Motorcycles when he could. He is not the kind of person to just sit and be safe. BUT he did call me at least every other day, sometimes he'd call every day for 4 days in a row. If he didn't call, I'd see him online.
I know that no one can guarantee that anyone is going to be safe. Even civilians get hurt or even die every day doing "safe" things. I guess I just have to leave it up to a higher power than myself to do what needs to be done. And I'll also have to learn to live with it.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Mike's sisters are feeling the stress now
We are having problems with Mike's 9 year old sister acting out and I'm not sure if it's the stress of me being so unpredictable lately (could start crying for what she thinks is no reason) or if she's just scared something will happen to him. She was pretty quick and figured out the risk involved before he left for Basic Training.
I think I need to start finding some other outlets for them. They were supposed to be writing to Mike every day but they keep avoiding it. I'm fairly sure they are afraid to open up right now.
I keep trying to tell them he's fine (and myself too). I mean, he's at Basic Training...ok, so he's sleep deprived, physically exhausted and being stripped of all but the most basic of emotions...but he's still in the country, and he's got medical care nearby if something does happen. So...technically, he should be fine. Right? (ok, I'm not convincing myself here. LOL )
Well, we have 2 hours of gymnastics practice to race off to. I'm going to try to get through one practice without looking like a sad sack. I'm gonna smile! A lot! Of course, then they might think I've lost it...but whatever.
I'm in control of my own little hell here, I might as well try to make it bearable.
Later!! :)
I think I need to start finding some other outlets for them. They were supposed to be writing to Mike every day but they keep avoiding it. I'm fairly sure they are afraid to open up right now.
I keep trying to tell them he's fine (and myself too). I mean, he's at Basic Training...ok, so he's sleep deprived, physically exhausted and being stripped of all but the most basic of emotions...but he's still in the country, and he's got medical care nearby if something does happen. So...technically, he should be fine. Right? (ok, I'm not convincing myself here. LOL )
Well, we have 2 hours of gymnastics practice to race off to. I'm going to try to get through one practice without looking like a sad sack. I'm gonna smile! A lot! Of course, then they might think I've lost it...but whatever.
I'm in control of my own little hell here, I might as well try to make it bearable.
Later!! :)
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