Yep, we have "adopted" a sailor who is currently deployed at sea! I found out about a ministry that a friend of mine has started where she finds folks to 'adopt' a new sailor on their first deployment. I was so excited when i found out that she matched us with a sailor! We get to send cards, care boxes and pray for our sailors. I've been trying to find something that i could include Emma in on and this is perfect. It's a bit hard sometimes to figure out how to 'serve' as a Mama with a five year old....Emma has drawn pictures for our sailor and she's done crafts. I love how she wants to 'pway for our sailwor'! Above are a few pics of our first care package to her...so much fun to put together!
Our sailor is very young; she is 20 years old and this is her first deployment. I can tell how homesick she is. It must be difficult to be on a ship that is in dangerous waters. I sometimes am shocked at how young she looks when i see her photo. I can't imagine how her Mama must feel...
One of the reasons i wanted to do this was for us, as a family, to honor Matt. I think that he would have thought us doing this was neat...a few days ago, it was a year that Matt was lost at sea in the Gulf of Aden. I spend a lot of time wondering what might have been if Matt had never been lost; perhaps it's better to celebrate Matt's life and do acts of service in his name. I can't imagine the pain that his parents, sister and grandparents feel at his loss. I do know that they are very proud of him as he comes from a long line of Navy Men.
You aren't forgotten, Matt....you never will be. You will forever be in our minds and hearts and we will continue to pray for your Dad, Mama, sister and grandparents.
