My 100th Post and a Very Special Celebration
- April 08, 2009
- Category: Daily Diary
- (21) Comments
My 100th post. It’s a special day to me as my blog reaches this milestone. It’s been a long journey filled with many emotions and all along the way, I have had you, my readers, and your kind support. Without your comments, your encouragement and your kindness, I would not have this blog.
I had been thinking of various ways to celebrate my 100th post and last week, my choice became clear.
As many of you know, my late husband was a career Navy man which meant I spent the majority of my adult life as a Navy wife. After he retired, he joined the reserves. When my husband was killed, my active involvement with the military ended but the men and women in uniform have always retained a special place in my heart.
I’ve been thinking of ways to support those who serve our country far away from their homes and their loved ones. I’ve searched for legitimate charities that support the troops and although there are many fine organizations, I found one of special interest to me because it let me be involved beyond donating money.
The organization is called, “Operation Shoebox.” They have many ways and ideas for helping the troops. One is “Adopt a Troop Member.” I have just been approved for this program which means I have committed to writing a letter a week to a service man or woman who has asked to be “adopted.” If you have any interest in participating, please click here.
But I also discovered we can be of help by sending boxes of goodies to Operation Shoebox which they will then forward on to our men and women overseas. There is a list of items on their website that our troops would love to have.
I want to celebrate my 100th blog post by supporting the efforts of Operation Shoebox and here’s the plan in a nutshell.
I am assembling a box of needed items to send to Operation Shoebox and I would love for you, my wonderful readers, to participate.
Instead of writing a note to me in the comments section, I would ask that instead you write a note to the service members. A note of thanks, a note of encouragement or something more personal; the choice is yours. I’m going to include all of your comments in the box of goodies and the box will be from all of us.
I have started the box with the help of my wonderful blogging friend, Tara, of the “Five O’Clock Somewhere” Etsy boutique. She has generously provided me with 25 of her fabulous lotion bars and also her fantastic lip balms. I will keep adding items to the box with each comment I receive so our box will truly be a joint effort.
This will be my last post this week to give you a chance to write your notes and after that I will leave a link up to it until April 30th. If this idea appeals to you, then I plan to assemble a monthly box of goodies and your comments for Operation Shoebox to send overseas.
Let’s join together in sharing our hearts with our brave men and women in uniform.
Thank you all my dear readers. You have been the light of my life these past 100 posts.
I wish to thank you for your dedication and service.
Whoever you are…wherever you may be…I pray that you will be kept safe…that you will be guided and directed in your actions…that you will be able to return to your loved ones soon.
Your service is not it vain. Your dedication is appreciated. Your sacrifice is cherished.
The Neas Family
Date: April 08, 2009
You may feel far removed.
You may feel forgotten.
You may feel like no one sees your sacrifice and appreciates it.
But we do. We “see” you. We know you give up your safety and everyday freedoms so we may enjoy both. You are valued. You are prayed for. You are lauded and honored.
May God watch over you and bring you home to the waiting arms of those you love the most. And may that be soon.
The Reilly Family
Date: April 08, 2009
To You, (far away)
I know you must miss your family, but please know that you have a much larger family than you realize. All of us here on the home front (for me, far upstate NY) are with you in spirit and would like nothing better than to be there to honor you when you return home. With special thanks to you for what you are doing,… From Me… Cedar
Date: April 08, 2009
Thank you so much for all that you are doing. We will never forget your sacrifice and service.
Date: April 08, 2009
To a brave American. I’d like to “Thank-you” for your service to your country! You may not think your appreciated, but you are. In more ways than I can write. Just remember, we support you, love you and honor and respect what your doing for us as a nation!! Thank-you again and may God keep you safe and bring you home to your family soon!
Date: April 08, 2009
Dear Member of our Armed Forces,
You are a real blessing to us and I want to thank you for volunteering to serve our country. We could not be the great nation we are without your expertise and dedication.
I know it’s not easy to leave your family behind, not knowing if you will return to see them again. Yet you have made that sacrifice and commitment. And so I commit to praying for your safety and sure return. God bless and protect you.
Thank you from a most appreciative citizen, Sue Russell
Date: April 08, 2009
Congrats on the 100 th post.
Date: April 08, 2009
Mountain Woman,
Congrats on the 100th post!!
I just wanted to tell you teh lady who actually started Operation Shoebox lives in my little town here in Fla!
I will write my note in another comment
Have a great week, and God Bless you!
Tracey
Date: April 08, 2009
Thank you and your families so very much for the sacrafices that you make in order to serve and protect our wonderful country…the United States of America!
May God Bless you,
Tracey
Date: April 08, 2009
Each morning I get up knowing that I can choose what to do, where to go, and speak my mind. I have these rights because of the soldiers, and their families, who defend those and many other rights.
There is no way we can ever repay you. Words are not enough to thank you. Your strenth and courage are amazing.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Syndi
Date: April 09, 2009
Hello from Minnesota! Where many are cold..but few are actually frozen..completely. I send you warm wishes and many thanks, wear your flak jackets and keep your heads down..and return home safely to those who love you! Connie
Date: April 09, 2009
Hey Mountain Woman!
Thank you so much for having visited my blog: I loved having you there
!
Congratulations for your 100th post
!
This project “Operation Shoebox” is such a nice one (I am Portuguese, so I had never heard of it); I think that any soldier deserves our support and respect for the wonderful job they do in keeping us safe.
Excellent article, and excellent author
!
God Bless you!
Cheers
Date: April 09, 2009
Dear Soldier:
Whoever you are…please know that we are praying for your safe return. Thank you very much for your service.
Red:
Congrats on your 100th post!
I just wanted to say Happy Easter & let you know that I had to move. You can now find me at: http://ohiowithlove.blogspot.com/
Date: April 11, 2009
I have something for you at my blog.
Happy Easter!
Tracey
Date: April 11, 2009
You are all doing a wonderful job protecting the rest of us, and I am extremely grateful. Keep up the good work, and I hope you come home safely. Thank you very much!
Date: April 11, 2009
What a wonderful idea and gesture. Our troops need to know how much we appreciate them. Too often in the hustle and bustle of our daily lives we tend to forget they are there day in and day out sacrificing everything to keep us safe. I hope everyone who reads this will join in some way, and I’ll post this on StumpleUpon in the hopes of drawing more attention to your efforts and this worthy cause. Bless you and have a wonderful Easter.
Date: April 11, 2009
Many blessings for a wonderful idea. I must go tothat site and get involved! everyone should!
Haven’t been to your site in awhile, greta post and CONGRATS
Date: April 11, 2009
To much appreciated service person.
May the Lord protect you as you protect us!
Thank you for your service and committment
Date: April 11, 2009
Dear soldier,
I just want to join this group in thanking you for your service and the sacrifices you are making to fight for our country. I pray the war will end soon and our soldiers will be able to return to their homes soon. You are appreciated!
Date: April 12, 2009
Because of you, my children live free, healthy and happy. Because of you and others like you my boys can read anything they want, say anything they want and achieve anything they want. Because of you, my boys are free to love and worship God. They can grow to be anything they want and dream as big as they want. They can be baseball players, doctors, journalists or senators. Without your sacrifice, we here in the USA could never and would never enjoy all the countless freedoms that so many others only dream of having.
May God bless you always and may his light protect you everywhere you go.
Date: April 13, 2009
I wanted let you know how very thankful I am for all that you are, and all that you are doing. I salute you for your courage and your decision to fight for and preserve our freedom. I am so very grateful for YOU!
God bless you, stay safe and I hope you can come home soon. You are being thought of and prayed for.
Date: April 15, 2009