Good Morning Gentlemen....
I just recently gave myself...The Gift Of Joy !! .....About a year ago, I received a email from a SFC, stationed in Wisconsin, who said he always wanted a custom rod made for himself !!
Over the year, he said he was saving his money for a custom rod, and little by little, a friendship was forming !!
Being a ex-military person myself....I know how hard it can be for a SFC, to come up with the money for a rod, while supporting a family, with children !!
Well, I knew he could not really afford, the rod he wanted, so I started looking around, for a rod to send him, before he is deployed, to Iraq.
I had built myself a fluke rod, with action to spare, embellished with an American Flag......so I decided, I really did'nt need that rod.....so Ipacked it and shipped it off to him !!
In the meantime, I emailed him and told him, I just did'nt have the time to build a rod for him, and he accepted that, not knowing, a rod was heading his way....I could hardly contain myself !!
Yesterday, I received a joyous email form the SFC, saying he received a wonderful surprise in the mail.!! With many " Thank You's "
My question is....who do you suppose is the happiest person here ?? Thats what I call The Joy Of Christmas !!


MaryLou
Weatherford,TexasUSA

Bless you, Mary

Mary;
Thank you for sharing the story. And for putting action behind the words "supporting our troops"
Merry Christmas.

Bless you, Mary.

Merry Christmas to all.

That is the Spirit of Christmas.

Truely the sprit of Christmas, As a vet thank you very very much
May you never have a loose wrap.
Paul

Paul@soonercustomrod.com

Way to go Mary,

If this fine soldier is going anywhere near Baghdad have him look up LTC Bill Jones. He heads up the Baghdad Fly Fishing School. He could actually put that rod to good use be it a spinning or fly rod.

Regards

Scott M. Ryan

That's the kind of story that brings joy to the heart. Very nice Mary.

Mark Syck

SYCKO Custom Rods
There Are No Limits To The Imagination

That's such a great story, it makes me want to do the same thing :-) Awesome!!!

Something that soldier will cherish for ever and a memory you will. Good on ya.

My hat is off to you Mary. Thanks for sharing your joy. That is an example of the Christmas Spirit at its finest.
Wishing you continued blessings;
Dave

Mary:

Regarding the "Joy's of Rod building" I my many years of rodbuilding I have yet to come across any rodbuilder named Joy, so I have yet to encounter one Joy in rod building let alone two as you indicate. Moreover, not being greedy, one Joy would be enough to my way of thinking. This might be a personal problem as I don't get out that often.

MaryLou;
Thank you for sharing. I think you have shown us all that you have found out what this season is all about! And thank you from this vet as well.

Fred Crum
Dixon, Ca.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/01/2006 03:04PM by Fred Crum.

Mary Lou, For you have given what was laid upon your heart. You also shall reap many times over..
Bless you Mary and have a Happy Holiday.

<<<<DON AT HOBBYRODS >>>>

Fantastic, Mary Lou! If you make it to High Point, I would love to shake your hand!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!

Mary Lou; The " happiest person here" has got to be you ! God bless you, You have such a wonderful heart.
That story was so heartfelt. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones.

Jay

J.B.Hunt
Bowling Green, KY