Good Morning

This weekend Jon, Brandi, and I are invited to America Remembers.... Ron and I went last September. IT is a wonderful emotional day when our Hero's are honored.

It is held in Franklin Tennessee at Battle Ground Academy.

I will post more when I get home .

God Bless and as always

Semper Fidelis

I apologize for not keeping things updated lately. Life seems to been on a fast track as  of late.

The last weekend in July I went to Marine Parents United Conference in Kansas City Missouri.

What an awesome weekend. Donna and I arrived at the Hilton hotel late  Friday afternoon. Once we got settled in our room we went back downstairs to the main floor and started to meet and mingle with the other Marine parents.

That evening we had appetizers and a beautiful cake for dessert. Adam Marshall performed for us. He is the sweetest Marine.  He gives the best hugs and his music is great Too! The Last Marshall is the name of his CD.

Donna and I went on up to the room close to midnight... then sat there and talked til about 2 am... we hadn't had much chance to talk lately with her case load and my family time this summer so it was a great opportunity for us to catch up.

It was an early rise morning...Up at 6 am down to breakfast, then off to set up the booth and get prepared for the first workshop.
 The first workshop was Meeting the needs of Gold Star Families. How to brigde Blue Star families and Gold Star families. It started at 9 am and ended about 10 :15 the next one started at 10:30 am and I was off to learn a new technique in scrapbooking.Then we broke for lunch. Then back to work shop 3 and which Donna was leading... how to start a support group in your area, and how to go non profit.  The last workshop I went to was meet the authors. Then  everyone left to get ready for the banquet.

WE had a lot of moments of laughter, sharing of stories, and also a lot of tears as we shared different things that we were feeling. That night Frank Schaeffer was one of the speakers....What a motivational speech he gave. But I will never forget Micheal Phillips he actually gave me a wonderful gift that night. He spoke about his book The Gift of Valor. The story of Corporal Jason Dunham. But it is so much more than that. Please read the book.  It gave me a sense of peace that night the part that he had read aloud. Then we had the auction for the remaining things that were going to be used as a part of the fundraising for the next years conference. Adam came and sat with Donna and I and we talked and kidded. We even had our picture taken with him.  One of the most special moments where when Adam kissed my cheek while he was hugging me and whispered to me... you are gonna be ok.
We watched some wonderful power point presentations, enjoyed some music. Then it seems we all went off to different areas and talked and shared our stories again. I was able to share Jeremiah  with others. Also to let them know what the Tennessee Marine Family means to me. 
Once again it was almost 2 am before I had gone to bed.

Sunday morning was another up early day. I attended the church service that they had planned. Humbling, awesome sharing of the faith of Jesus Christ. God was among us and touched my life that sunday morning in a hotel banquet room. God is all around us, you just have to let him in.

Flight back home, it was so good to be home again and with my husband and daughter. Even as great as the trip was to return back home  to be wrapped in hugs from your family, nothing is greater.

TMF LUNCHEON

This past Saturday we met for our monthly board meeting and luncheon at St. Andrews Church on Thompson Lane. I think it was the hottest day  this whole summer...at least it felt that way to me. We had some new faces and some old friends that hadn't been there in a while.

It is always best when there are some MARINES in the house!!! even if we are meeting outside under a pavilion.

Next month September we will be having our Gold Star Families Banquet. I have no details since they are trying their best to keep me out of the loop...They want to surprise me...and honestly they are doing a pretty good job so far....

I can hardly wait until then I know it will be a day filled with a lot of tears, but there will be so much love and peace that comes from honoring the lives of the ones that paid the ultimate for our freedom.

I promise to try and keep you better updated.

Until next time

Semper Fidelis

Eva

This past Friday I was blessed to be able to meet with some Marine Parents. They were in town for a conference. They are from Texas. When we knew that they would be coming in we quickly arranged our schedules so that we could share some time with them. We ate lunch at Cracker Barrel in Nashville. We shared stories, laughter, pictures and most of all love.

I can not express in words what it means to be able to sit down with Marine Parents, at all different stages of their Marines life and share.

We had a great lunch and will have to do this more often

God Bless

Eva

Good Morning.

Last Saturday at our lunch we had a great turn out. We were blessed to have 6  Marines in the house.

4 of which just returned from Iraq or better known with in the Marine Family as the SANDBOX.

Major Little and 1st Sgt. Smith were there to present to one of our newest members; Lisa Ellis, a Gold Star Mom, an award for her son Sgt. Christopher Heflin who was killed in Iraq.

I can not express in words the emotions and feelings that were present on this very special day.  Amid tears of sorrow, pride, and yes even joy, that 4 Marines were back home.

The most memorable moment for me was when the dvd was playing and the MARINE HYMN came on, during our lunch our Marines stood at attention and when the song ended they expressed the one word that sums it all up

OOHHH RAHH!!  If you have never heard Marines say this oh my goodness it will cause goosebumps all over!!!

I hope to see you at the next luncheon.... We will be packing boxes to send to the guys and gals overseas. That is a very memorable day also, for each box that is packed it is as if I am packing a box to my son.

Jeremiah's unit the 2/4 from Camp P are being deployed. Keep them and their family in your prayers as they are separated from loved ones again.

From our small town in Livingston We have 3 Marines that are in Iraq with a reserve unit out of Knoxville. Please keep their families and them also in your prayers.

Andy, Brandon, and Jamie.

2 of the guys that Jeremiah graduated with are with the Army National Guard, the K-278th and they are both deployed with approximately 70 men from Overton County. Our beloved Jr Wildcat Football Coach, and 2 of my own family members.

There is not a family left untouched in some way.. We MUST carry on and Support them as they do the JOB at hand. WIth prayers of warrior angels watching over them.

God Bless and Semper Fidelis

Until next time

Eva Savage Proud Gold Star Marine MOM  of LCPL Jeremiah, adopted mom of LCPL William, and many other Marines!!!

Today in April 11, 2005. It has been almost 11 months since that fateful day when many lives were changed. Some days are a little easier to handle than others.

I have changed the name of the site from military to Marine just because i want to link it to TMF which is a yahoo group. That I belong to.

As a part of Tennessee Marine Family we have a lot of exciting things happening. This weekend we have our monthly lunch. This time it will be held in Donelson at Donelson Christian Church at 12:00.

We will have some Marines just home from the sandbox there with us. Also a Gold Star Mom from Kentucky will be recieving an award in honor of her son Sgt Chris Heflin.  We will have some other very special guest there but that is a surprise! 

Next month May 21, 2005 we will be having another package drive. The reason that we chose this date was because May 21st is Armed Forces Day.

TMF is almost finished with the cookbook and should have it to the publishers by the end of April.

We have Camoflage rubber wristbands for sale ...$2.00 each.

One last thing... which I think is the most wonderful thing about this group ... We not only offer support to our Marines and their families. Our love and support is extended to all branches of the military. ARMY, NAVY, AIR FORCE, NATIONAL GUARD, and all RESERVES!  IT doesn't matter what your religion is, what your economic station in life... we all are one family together to support each other through not only the hard times of deployment, and yes even the most devistating times when our loved one pays the ultimate sacrifice, but also through the happy times of a new baby, a promotion, a homecoming. WE all have a common goal and that is to support our MILITARY!!!

GOD BLESS AND SEMPER FIDELIS
Eva

I have been pretty occupied the past month. Between family illnesses that have had my mind focused in other places. To the packing drive that we held in Nashville at Crossroads Community Church, we sent 150 boxes to the troops.

I have been added as a Moderator of a group on yahoo. TNMarineFamily Group!  WE are working hard for all of our Military. In December we went NON PROFIT which means that larger corporations that want to donate to us we are TAX DECUCTABLE!!!! All funds raised goes into the group. We have a board of directors. THe money raised goes to helps our Service Men and Women and their families. From packing boxes and shipping Cost which are outrageously high, to helping Gold Star families and families with wounded famlly members.

Our next meeting is February 19th .

Our local 278 is now at their duty stations in Iraq... Please keep them in your prayers.

Thank you so much for all the love and prayers. They make a difference.

Life has been a rollercoaster ride the last few weeks. I have been busy substitute teaching, and helping coordinate the Tennessee Marine Family Luncheons, speaking on Veterans day and just the normal day to day things. Thanksgiving has come and gone. We all traveled to Iowa to visit with Jer's wife Cassie and the kids. It was great to see them all.

I have put up the tree and amid some tears that the memories brought of Christmas' past

We even sat down and watched a video of Jer's 7th birthday.

The k3/278 has left for Iraq and it will be a difficult holiday for all of us  here. But we have each other and we will get through the holidays.

In January, 3 more Marines from here in Livingston will be leaving for the sandbox.

We need to remember all our Military in our prayers  Also say a prayer for the families left here at home.

This weekend is Madison Savage's 2ND BIRTHDAY!!!!!

Happy Birthday Sweet Baby Girl

Huggsssssss

Thinking of you Cassie

This past Saturday Chelsea and I were able to attend a Tennessee Marine Family lucheon in Franklin Tennessee. I was so honored to have been there. To be a part of this wonderful group of Family and friends is just more than words can express at times.

There were table upon table of things that had been donated to send to out Marines in Iraq and in Afghanastan. The sight was awe inspiring. Those that couldn't donate items donated money for the shipping.

We all brought something to share for the lunch, the food was great! We all ate tooo much and still had plenty left over.
We were blessed to have some Marines home from the sandbox share the afternoon with us and talk with us. We also had Tim Chavez a very dear friend who I appreciate very much.

We packed 250 boxes for our Marines. Complete with a christmas stocking in each.