How I Made a Difference on December 18,2007

Emily has been here encouraging me every day. She is an American mom living in London. I really like Emily! She leaves very nice comments here almost every day. Today I found out that a little girl in Emily’s son’s class is very sick. I don’t read Emily’s blog, but YOU can read about this little girl there. So…

Today I made a difference by making a card for this little girl. Her name is Julie. I also wrote her a very long letter. Emily said she would like to hear from someone who lives so far away who is close to her age. I wrote about how it is for me to be an American student and young girl, my favorites- foods, hobbies and colors, and the sports I enjoy (like Tae Kwon- Do). Today, my mom and I emailed Emily my letter so she could take it to Julie fast. We will mail the card tomorrow!

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Remember if you are tagged for my Making a Difference Meme you may tag others! Also, I am going to start visiting your memes TONIGHT!!!! Thank you so much  for doing this! I can’t wait to see your answers. That was fun!

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An Exciting Day

This morning, I received a phone call from a reporter at WGRZ Channel 2 News. Matt Pearl explained that he was interested in interviewing Laura, and he was eager to know what today’s “good deed” was going to be. This posed a bit of a problem for me……..since I had no idea what she had on her agenda for today. And so, for the first time since December 1st, I found myself having to put a bit of pressure on her, since we now had a reporter, complete with a camera, showing up at my house within the space of a few hours.

“Can I use a Coinstar machine?” Laura asked when she hopped in the car, and we headed toward home. I’ve been waiting on this request actually. It is a common known fact that Laura loves playing with the Coinstar machine almost as much as she loves blogging. And so, today’s idea was born.

We need to thank Mr. Pearl for the time he took interviewing Laura today. As a personal aside, I must tell you that this is a man who is true to his word. He promised that he wouldn’t shoot footage of my floors, which haven’t been washed in two weeks and are currently covered in the remnants of this weekend’s adventures in baking. And I notice that not a single floor board made it onto tonight’s news. Thank you!!!!!

Laura did hit up her Coinstar machine tonight, and she did donate her money to the bellringer who is probably still manning her post at the Tops on Delaware and Sheridan. If she had her way, she would be blogging about all of this until midnight, but because her dad and I are very very mean, we made her go to bed at a reasonable hour tonight.

I promised I would post her pictures of this evening’s good work….including a special photo for Hallie and CJ! Your package is on its way!

 Thank you, every single one of you, for your generous spirit and your incredible encouragement. I know that there is now one child in this world who will always be eager to do for others, due in large measure to the rewards that she has received in response to her tiny acts of kindness. It has been a very special season in our home. We can’t thank you enough.

Good luck CJ!!

How I Made a Difference on December 15,2007

This week, my mom and I have become acquainted with a mom named Hallie. Hallie’s son, CJ, is going to be a soldier in Iraq soon. He is leaving right after Christmas. He is only 18 years old too. My mom asked Hallie to tell us about what CJ will be doing as a soldier, and she sent us a great email message. Here is a part of it:

CJ is trained to be an AIRBORNE BATTLE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS SPECIALIST. What that means is that he is part of a flight crew and will be flying in support of the war.  We thought CJ would be stationed in Japan and would then be sent on “missions” (deployments) that would have him in a plane flying at 33,000 feet.  This plane acts a moving satellite – it intercepts transmissions from ground.  Even though he would have been in war zones, he would have been high enough above the action that he would be hopefully safe.
 
CJ did so well in Tech School – graduated first in class – that he was recruited to join an elite flight crew based out of Hurlburt Field in Florida.  He was so honored to be chosen.  We are so proud of him but terrified.
 
What this new job means is that CJ will now be on a plane (a gunship) that has large guns on it.  He will be sent to do his job but will not be able to let us know where or when he leaves. Sigh…this plane flies a lot lower and goes in at night.  CJ tells me that none of these planes have ever been shot down but I still worry.
 
Becasue CJ will be in a plane in a dangerous situation, he is now required to complete SERE – survival school.  He will be trained to survive, evade capture, resist and escape.  This all happens right after Xmas – he will spend 17 days in WA and will be treated as a POW for part of this time.  The intent of this training is to prepare him in case (God forbid) he gets captured by the enemy.  

CJ is nervous but ready to do what it takes to defend our country.  We are so proud of him.  Can’t believe this is my 18 year old son – what a wonderful man he is becoming.

My Grandpa Al was a Korean War veteran. He never fought in the war, but he was in the 82nd Airborne and he jumped out of airplanes. He loved to do this! My Uncle Mike was a Marine, in the Army, and he is now in the Air Force Reserves. My Uncle Paul and my Uncle John were also in the Marines. I am very proud to have uncles who served our country.

The war is something that makes me very sad. I don’t think we should have a war because people are suffering. I wish that George Bush would end the war. I wish that people like CJ didn’t have to go to war. But I am really grateful for people like CJ and my uncles because they risk their lives to protect our country.

My package will be sent out for CJ on Monday! Right now, we are waiting to get socked with a big snowstorm! Keep your fingers crossed that school is closed on Monday!!!