Not surprisingly, in the days following a conference on blogging folks return home and …blog about the conference. A couple of these stories are so amazing, they deserve to be shared.
Sally Aho has it 100% correct; Soldiers’ Angels gets it done – Donate today!
Let me give you an example. While at Walter Reed this past Sunday for the BBQ Soldiers’ Angels threw for our wounded soldiers there, one soldier refused to leave his room and join the party. Crying in his room, he refused to come down. Patti found out about this soldier and immediately called his room. Speaking in mono-syllables he wasn’t very chatty, despite Patti’s attempts to cheer him up and coax him down to the BBQ. Finally Patti asked him, “What can I do to put a smile on your face?” He replied that he missed his wife. Fast forward about 20 minutes and the soldier is down at the BBQ, laughing and smiling, having a great time, knowing that he and his wife will be spending 3 days together in a hotel shortly – tickets and hotel paid for already.
HT: Technicalities
Donate to Soldiers Angels here.
Blackfive has an update on MOAB, the Mother of All Baby Showers, for DJ, Leslie and baby Carlee Emery. He also let us know that DJ is now Sergeant DJ Emery Jr.
At the 2007 Military Blog Conference attendees brought baby shower gifts for Carlee. The table outside the conference hall was packed and it took Smash, Hook, myself, and RSM to pack Carrie’s truck with gifts.
Oh, and I forgot to mention that DJ was able to go outside on Monday for the first time! He can’t hold Carlee yet, but he’s progressing. There’s still plenty of challenges for him to face and many more surgeries (one might be this weekend). Infection is still a significant danger.
So keep the prayers and thoughts coming for DJ, Leslie, and Carlee!
Army Wife Toddler Mom on Amazing Grace
Rachelle from Army Wife Toddler Mom, Robert Stokely and Mary Ann from Soldiers Angels Germany
AWTM: “I am so sorry for the loss of your Son.”
And I stood in front of Mr. Stokley with tears in my eyes. And much to my amazement, he grabs my hand.
Robert Stokely: “I need to thank all of you bloggers for giving me my life back, I have to be strong for my family, I need to be the rock, and you folks have given me a place where I can talk about Mike, and I do not have to be that rock….”
And I stood there in tears in front of Mr. Stokely absolutely at a loss, and feeling ashamed of them.
AWTM: “I need to thank you, because Mike gave all, and your family has really sacrificed more than most of us will ever feel.”
Robert Stokely, then wrapped his arms around me and gave me a huge hug.
Mr. Stokely, you are a rock, and you are amazing.
Thank You from my family, to yours…..
Fellow liveblogger Mary Katherine Ham took video of Robert talking about his son Michael. This is absolutely one of the highlights of the conference.