September 25, 2007

Valdyk the Warrior

From the Marine Corps Kids blog, here's a note from an expectant mom, married to a Marine and a former Marine herself:

Thank you so much for all you do. I do a lot of volunteer work for the government and am usually on the "giving" end of this all so this is a new unique experience for me. I am so extremely grateful and thankful. Since I have not been able to work my normal job due to my health and preserving Valdryk's it has caused such a strain on our family. I can't wait until he is born and safe in his little bassinet so I can contribute once again wholly and financially to my family.

My husband has been such an angel I am truly blessed. He is a wonderful Marine, I am a former Marine so I guess that makes me qualified to say that, ha ha..

Thank you and every one for your care and concern. It is tough being a military family at times. We have lost so many friends in Iraq leaving behind children lately, it's been a little harder on our family with a new baby coming. I can see the hurt in my husbands eyes whenever any one mentions to my husband about missing the birth. That in itself is an entire different combat battle. The thoughtfulness of yourself and others is really helping our family pull through this. Just knowing others care means so much to us.

My husband and I are Ordained Ministers and we pray so deeply for every one who opens their hearts to others they do not even know. You are truly saints in the making. God Bless you and thank you so much foryour email and every thing you do.

Sincerely,
Mandy

Check out the Marine Corps Kids blog for the rest of the story.

Posted by Deb at 09:54 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

September 05, 2007

Operation Marine Corps Kids X 5

Operation Marine Corps Kids continues to send care packages to the families of active duty Marines and other troops, but we get an occasional opportunity to do something special. Here's a post from Delia, who coordinates the program.

Operation Marine Corps Kids is dedicated to supporting the families or all our service men and women.

While we continue with our regular collections, I am posting today about a special collection that we are organizing for a soldier who is deployed with the Army in Afghanistan. He and his wife are expecting – not just one, but five children!!!

The couple is adopting five children from Ethiopia. The new mom is currently en route to the US with the kids to get their US citizenship, then they will be going to Germany where her husband is based. We would like to create a special gift package to welcome them into their new family.

Overnight this family will grow from a couple to a family of seven including six year-old twin girls, 4 year-old boy and girl twins, and a one year-old baby girl. Mom will be on her own with the kids until dad completes his tour of duty.

We will be collecting hand-crafted blankets, toys, hats, scarves, mittens, and sweaters - anything that these kids might need to help them feel welcomed and to help them deal with a climate that is a bit cooler than what they may be used to.

If you are interested in making something for these children, please feel free to e-mail me at delia.mck@gmail.com. While we appreciate all donations, we want to organize this one to ensure that all the kids receive an appropriate number of gifts.

So, let's make these kids feel welcome in their new country . . . and also support these amazing parents. Being a single mom during a deployment is hard enough - but adding five new kids is something special. If you aren't crafty but would like to help the family, paypal donations can be made via the Marine Corps Family Foundation - just earmark it for the Operation Marine Corps Kids adoption party. We'll update this regularly, so check back!

Posted by Deb at 03:56 PM