Hi and Hello to the most amazing Molly's Adopt A Sailor Members EVER!!!!!!

November has been so busy, and as we move into December, the Molly's Adopt A Sailor love and support has started to "ship" to Afghanistan for our Adopted Seabees.   What an absolutely amazing group both here in the States and there in Afghanistan.  We were so lucky to have the Chaplain himself be our contact this month.  He's become affectionately known as Chappy, around the Molly's Adopt A Sailor Group and oh,  how we love him.  Our Mom of the month, Diane,  announced our group November 1st, on the dot.  We needed time to gather and work on one very spectacular Christmas in Afghanistan.  Chappy's only request,  stockings and smores.  Well,  if we have learned anything this month,  we've learned that the spirit of giving, the spirit of Christmas, and the spirit of opening your heart to help, is alive and well with the Moms and Members of Molly's Adopt A Sailor.  We are so proud of the Moms' that have stepped up to the plate and knocked this latest project out of the ball park.  Not only did Diane announce and secure an astounding Christmas for  our NMCB-74 Seabees, our Mom in Illinois, Karen worked diligently, tirelessly, and astoundlingly to secure a very Merry Christmas for our group of 60 Sailors in Iraq.  It is absolutely amazing to see the gift of giving unfold with so many mighty, fiercely patriotic Americans stepping  up to show our United States Military that we stand behind them, 110%.  We are here for them, and we are here to support them. 

I must go with Highlights or I would be here for a week typing, and you would be here for at least three days reading.

1)  Central Florida Mom's co-ordinate packing party with UNO'S Pizzeria in Kissimmee. This was an absolutely stunning show of support.  All told, there are still donations coming into UNO's and one of our Molly's Moms, Mary, or AKA Molly in Florida, continues to collect those donations for our future groups. We must say thank you to Terry and UNO's in Florida to making this Christmas one to remember as a Seabee in Afghanistan.  We are forever, grateful to you, UNO's for allowing those fiercely patriotic citizens the avenue to help our "Adopted" troops. 

1)   Stockings-and I'm not just talking any kind of stocking.  We are talking the best of the best for our Seabees.  Our very dear sweetheart, LynLove, coordinated the Heads at Ease troops and our very own Knit for the Navy group, to come up with over 250 scarves for our Seabees and 250 CUSTOM (yes, I said custom) Stockings for our Seabees.  See pictures below.  The dedication to detail, the amount of Love that went into each stocking, each scarf, if anything Seabees please know that you are loved by your Navy Moms and by your Molly's Adopt A Sailor Members, and by the whole of America.  We thank you, we pray for you, and we can not even wait until you are home to the loving arms of your families.

1)  Central Illinois Moms' co-ordinate a total of over 84 care packages and this was the first packing party for our Ms. Karen.  Can you even imagine how these next packing parties will go in Central Illinois?  Bravo Zulu, Mama!  And the pictures you have for us, priceless.  Please see below.
    

1)  This month, will always be the month that I think about the dedication of our newest generation.  I will always think  about those teachers that find it in their heart to adopt troops for their entire class.  Not only are they teaching  our next generation the importance of being an American Citizen, they are teaching them that service and sacrifice to  ones' country should be held in the highest regard.  These are our Heroes.  The latest sports star is but a fleeting moment, the latest, greatest skateboarder will not be remembered, to those young Americans that believe in this country, the real Heroes are those that are recipients of the Medal of Honor, those that have sacrificed being away from their families for months and months on end, and those that are recovering from an IED blast and trying to get their lives back within the hallways of Walter Reed or your local VA.   We couldn't be more proud of those children from Chatham  Elementary in Illinois to the schools in California, Oregon and Washington, as well as, those across the country, that contributed in making our Adopted Seabees Christmas feel just a little bit more at home, and  to allow them to feel appreciation from the newest  generation of American citizens, that are proud beyond words.                        

1)  Forget about it, this is going to be a book, too many highlights not to mention.   How about our Mom that put together the  scrapbook of Mom Christmas Stories for us, so Chappy could tell those stories around a fire while our Seabees might just be savoring a smore.  Thank you to all of those that contributed to those Christmas Stories, and thank you to all the Facebook members that contributed and gave shout-outs to all of our Seabees. And Susan, thank you for the poems, thank you for the stories about the fruitcake, oh how you will put a smile on so many faces in Afghanistan this Christmas.

1)   How about the Colorado Moms.  I do believe they were the first group to attack our Molly's Adopt A Sailor group with a       packing party.  We are so grateful to them for showing us how this is done, and thank you again this month for the outpouring of love and support from the great state of Colorado.

1)   Thank you to one Terry L. that answered the friend request from one very passionate, very panicked Navy Mom on how   we need to go about adopting our latest group.  Forever grateful, that he accepted the friend request, and was very willing to help us secure our latest group of the best of the best.

1)  Chappy, to you my dear, for allowing us to adopt you and your "kids".  Thank you for allowing us to turn your world upside down in an already upside down, crazy place.  Godspeed to you, and many prayers to you and your troops.

1)  So, here at Molly's Adopt A Sailor, Christmas 2009 will be remembered as 9 brand new babies waiting for their daddies to get home,  countless next generation school children, that now know the meaning of being patriotic and supporting our troops,  and the amount of love and support when you allow an American an avenue to give that love and support, infinity.  And to all the Moms/Members who helped put the Daddy boxes together, and the amazingly beautiful baby stockings that are headed their way, we are forever grateful for your amazing talent.

In closing,  this Christmas, may you hold your loved ones' close if you are able, believe that the world revolves around the little things, and believe in the power of making things happen.  Remember that with a true passion for what you love, anything is possible and most of all remember what this Holiday season is all about.  To those, that will be missing their loved ones' this Christmas, we say, stay strong, you are the backbone of this country, and we are grateful to you as well.  Behind every good Sailor, Marine, Soldier, Airman and Coast Guard Men, there is a family, adopted or not, that has your back, and we will fiercely protect your decision to serve your country.  We could not be more proud and we thank you.  We are forever indebted to your service and sacrifice to this great nation of ours. Remember to hold your friends dear, life is so very short and fleeting.

Fair Winds, Following Seas, Godspeed, keep your head down when you need to, keep your chin up always and know we miss you, we love you and we are counting the days' until you come home. 

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and yours.

Molly and Team