RE: ****SPAM**** Re: OT - If you love animals or have a pet would you please look ...

[Guest guest]

Hi Jenni,

We're also " military " -- my husband (retired Lt.Col., Air Force) served 21

years; I now have a son (Air Force, just took his buck sergeant's test --

stationed in Germany and set to be deployed to Slovakia in June, then

Afghanistan in September [for the second time]; and my son-in-law, a Ranger in

the Army, currently deployed somewhere in the war zone [he can't tell us his

location]). I worry a LOT about my 2 young men.....

Shortly after 9/11, I took an air flight to visit my parents -- and my son (who

is off-the-wall hyper, zany, never thinks ahead type) told me " Don't worry Mom,

me and my buddies are out there protecting you! " One of those poignant moments,

when you don't know whether to feel safer (after all, the Air Force et al was

out there protecting us), or worried (my son, the goofball character, protecting

me!).....

So blessings to you and yours -- our men and women in the armed forces are

GREAT!

Bonnie

****SPAM**** Re: OT - If you love animals or have a pet

would you please look ...

Dear Kiki,

Thank you so much for your kind words. Our entire family is military. We

retired 7 years ago after serving for 20 years. In fact I met my incredible

husband 26 years ago when I was in the Army and he was in the Navy. My boys all

have said the same thing...how can you not expect us to serve...you raised us

military It's a lot different having your children in the service though. I

have all sons...one who was infantry and is now a civilian. My middle son is my

Air Force guy and we are so proud of him. My 15 year old son has already warned

us that he's next (his brothers say no!). It will be interesting to see what

happens. Fortunately we have about 2 years before we have to worry about him

(he'll be 16 this summer).

With your permission I would like to print your email and mail it to my son. It

will mean the world to him.

with kind regards,

Jenni

Proud Air Force Mom!

May God guide and protect our troops!

Christian Air Force Mom and Dads Group

CAFMandD/join

Re: OT - If you love animals or have a pet would you

please look ...

Jenni,

I sent it off to everyone I know. Hopefully they will all do the same. I

keep my cats inside for this and all the other reasons. Some people can be so

hateful to defenseless creatures and if we can put a stop to the anti freeze

part, then we've done good.

May I just add here, that I admire all the military and what they give up to

protect us and our country. My heartfelt thanks and prayers go out to them,

and their families. Whenever I happen to run into, a military person, fireman

or police office, I make it a point to thank them for all they do. I come

from a long line of men who served, WWI, WWII, Korea, Desert Storm. I'm very

proud of their service and contribution. Please pass my thanks along to your

son/daughter (sorry, I don't know which) and ask them to pass it on. I

believe

they need to know, all the time, they are appreciated and we're behind them.

And most of all we thank them...

Kiki

[Guest guest]

Hi Jenni,

Afraid I'm not a " retiree " -- I didn't marry my absolutely wonderful husband

until 6 years ago -- he was already retired from the Air Force and had gone back

to school in preparation for his second career. We often talk how it " might have

been " had we met and married early...

Harry's been out for about 15 years -- he still speaks fondly of his service

time (well, Viet Nam wasn't exactly a picnic....) -- but he enjoyed the military

and was always super-proud of the work he was doing.

And I doubt that ANYONE drives Harry crazy -- but he may well drive the

" civilians " crazy! He has a tendency to tell someone to do something and then

expect it to be done (LOL)! I've learned to salute him (kind of a " naughty "

salute) and tone him down a bit....

The military for my son (Air Force) has really made a man of him -- he was so

directionless, couldn't focus -- now he is super-careful with his job (loading

bombs and airplane checks) -- always mentions that a pilot's life is on the line

and that he can NEVER make a careless mistake -- I love what it's done for him.

I would not mind in the least if he decided to go career (he's been in for 3

years now, currently stationed in Spangdahlem, Germany). He is so full of energy

that he volunteers for everything.....

And yes, our young people in the military are wonderful people, and I think they

" belong " to everyone in the U.S. (they sure are keeping us all alive and free!)!

Bonnie

****SPAM**** Re: OT - If you love animals or have a pet

would you please look ...

Dear Bonnie,

Another retiree! I love it. How long have you been out? We've been 7 years

now and while we've learned to adjust to civilian life I still miss the

military. It was so structured. Civilians drive me crazy LOL (present company

on this list excluded of course ) Well, I will be keeping your son and

son-in-law in my prayers. I know what you mean. My oldest was my off-the-wall

hyper, zany, never thinks ahead type and he was infantry...I never know whether

to be afraid for our country or proud that he was serving LOL

They are the best aren't they? I'm so proud of each and every one of

them.........I think of each of them as one of my own....Hooah! (it's an Army

thing) LOL

with kind regards,

Jenni

Proud Air Force Mom!

May God guide and protect our troops!

Christian Air Force Mom and Dads Group

CAFMandD/join

Re: OT - If you love animals or have a pet would you

please look ...

Jenni,

I sent it off to everyone I know. Hopefully they will all do the same. I

keep my cats inside for this and all the other reasons. Some people can be

so

hateful to defenseless creatures and if we can put a stop to the anti freeze

part, then we've done good.

May I just add here, that I admire all the military and what they give up to

protect us and our country. My heartfelt thanks and prayers go out to them,

and their families. Whenever I happen to run into, a military person,

fireman

or police office, I make it a point to thank them for all they do. I come

from a long line of men who served, WWI, WWII, Korea, Desert Storm. I'm

very

proud of their service and contribution. Please pass my thanks along to

your

son/daughter (sorry, I don't know which) and ask them to pass it on. I

believe

they need to know, all the time, they are appreciated and we're behind them.

And most of all we thank them...

Kiki

[Guest guest]

and there's a LOT the people back here in the states can do for their country --

just going forward in a strong career field, backing our military, involving

themselves in politics, etc. -- I have another son (got a Ph.D. in chemistry a

couple weeks ago) who is as much a patriot as Shan-- and although Jim's life

isn't at the same risk as Shan's, he's doing his part (when he gets a job!) by

contributing to our economy and living a moral life....

there are many, many roles of patriotism...

****SPAM**** Re: OT - If you love animals or have a pet

would you please look ...

Oh Kiki,

You tell that he is my hero! Just because God had other plans for him

doesn't make him any less of one! And be grateful! It's okay Yes our sons

and daughters are serving overseas, but remember they are doing it so and

so many others can be free to live the life God has chosen for them. And the

best thing anyone can do, is pray! Please tell that this military mom is

so proud of him, for his love of his country, for his pride in serving. You

see, he is still serving if only in his heart. You just be proud of that young

man and give him a huge hug from me. I'd give it to him in person if I could

with love,

Jenni

Proud Air Force Mom!

May God guide and protect our troops!

Christian Air Force Mom and Dads Group

CAFMandD/join

Re: OT - If you love animals or have a pet would you

please look ...

Dearest Jenni,

Oh yes, please do send it to your son. That was my intent, at least for you

to pass on my gratitude. I'd also like to ask, if you would, keep me updated

on you son. And I will keep him specially in my prayers for our troops. I

have to admit, I feel guilty. That horrible day of 9/11, as I sat a cried my

eyes out with the nation, I was also thanking God. You see, my son ,

he's

24, had always planned on a military career, the AF to be exact. But that

wasn't to be, he has asthma and can't join. I knew in my heart, had he been

able

to, he would have been right there in line, signing up. So you see, I have a

hard time being grateful that my son gets to stay home while yours and so

many others are far away, risking it all for us. has guilt over it too,

to

this very day. For so long he felt that he had let his country and fellow

country men down. I'm crying mixed tears right now as I write this. Again,

my

prayers and thoughts to you and yours and OURS! God Bless them all and bring

them home safe...

Sincerely,

Kiki

[Guest guest]

Well said!

Proud Air Force Mom!

May God guide and protect our troops!

Christian Air Force Mom and Dads Group

CAFMandD/join

Re: OT - If you love animals or have a pet would you

please look ...

Dearest Jenni,

Oh yes, please do send it to your son. That was my intent, at least for you

to pass on my gratitude. I'd also like to ask, if you would, keep me

updated

on you son. And I will keep him specially in my prayers for our troops. I

have to admit, I feel guilty. That horrible day of 9/11, as I sat a cried

my

eyes out with the nation, I was also thanking God. You see, my son ,

he's

24, had always planned on a military career, the AF to be exact. But that

wasn't to be, he has asthma and can't join. I knew in my heart, had he been

able

to, he would have been right there in line, signing up. So you see, I have

a

hard time being grateful that my son gets to stay home while yours and so

many others are far away, risking it all for us. has guilt over it

too, to

this very day. For so long he felt that he had let his country and fellow

country men down. I'm crying mixed tears right now as I write this. Again,

my

prayers and thoughts to you and yours and OURS! God Bless them all and

bring

them home safe...

Sincerely,

Kiki