I'd like to share my experience

[tyota]

I'm sure Chris will have more to add along with a few funny pics of myself dressed up in a santa suit, which odly enough was still pretty tight on me.
but all joking aside. I'd like to share my experience that I had tonight with Chris and several other jeepers that I'm proud to know. We met alittle girl named Samantha, her and her two sisters Stephanie(which I'm sure will be a fellow jeeper soon) and johanna along with their mother Susan have to be the strongest people I've ever met. I won't go into details but theirs times that I'm thankful that I have what health I have. that sometimes my what seems to be big problems aren't nothing compared to what some people go through on a daily basis.
I would've like to have seen more fellow jeepers out but I'm sure everyone has their own reasons. I have a special request! log onto this website make a small donation, it doesn't have to be alot, anything will help, tell as many people as you can to help, theirs alot of people out their that need help but this family touched my heart and after reading their webpage I'm sure they'll touch yours too. This is the season of thanks and giving. please reach out and help with any donation you can. I would appreciate it and I'm sure the family would too. lets show them that local jeepers care....

http://www.deltawildcatden.org/Mazzarela.html

check it out and do what you can. thanks in advance
Nick@performanceoffroad

[My1stJeep]

Yes we have some pretty good shots of Nick as St. Nick. It was a tight fit, no way would I have every made it into that suit. I will try to get them posted ASAP.

Nick I can't thank you enough for stepping up to play Santa to the kids.

I have not read the website yet, but meeting them in person was very special. Thanks to all of you who got involved, from donating gifts, helping get them transported to deliverying them, it really helped to make their Christmas a great one.

I will have more to come, but it was very touching that the mom had taken the time to cook for us, her way to share with us. When the oldest daughter was opening her gifts, she apologied for not having anything for us and offered to run out and get us something. They are a very sweet and yes for what they are going through very strong family.

Here is a little thank you I put in with the gifts:
We would like to thank your family for allowing us to be a part of it this holiday season. We could never thank you enough for the sacrifices you are making for us, our families and our country. Our well wishes and prayers will never stop, hoping that this joyous season continue forever for your family. We hope we were able to bring a little joy and happiness to you this Christmas season. Thank you.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!!!!
The Arizona Virtual Jeep Club

More to come...

[Steve]

:D Chris, I want to thank you for allowing me to go out and be a part of that last night. They are strong people and have the hearts of gold. Special thanks to Nick (St. Nick)lol for playing Santa he was fantastic. Thanks to Jim, Roger, also coming out and handing out the gifts also. The Looks on there faces were absolutely priceless and I hope next year it will be an even better turn out. Steve :D

[My1stJeep]

Wow, what an experience for two days in a row to make someones Christmas come true, well at least as much as we could. Today we went to house number 2. Nick all dressed up, but this time the 2.5 year olds were having nothing to do with Santa. Nick did a great job trying to calm them down and let them come to him on their own terms. Finally one of them would take pictures with him, however it not only took bribary to get the other one close, he would only sit next to him in his own chair, and as soon as he had the candy cane he was gone.

I however have been fired as an elf... seems my late night getting the gifts packed I left a bag at home... I feel very bad and will be making another trek out there to get them the last gifts... Major bonehead move on my part.

I would like to thank everyone who was able to give time, gifts, suggestions, etc... to this effort. You all made a huge difference to the families and really gave me a great present in partaking in such a wonderful gift, the gift of giving, so thank all of you.

Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I will have pics up soon, just too many families for me to visit and get these downloaded and resized.

[Wind_Danzer]

Great job to all those involved!!!! :)

[AZG23]

awesome job everyone.....Merry Christmas to all of YOU! Its a wonderful thing to "give"...and that my friends is the true meaning of Christmas.....

[Jamie469]

Chris: Thank you very much for organizing this for us..... It really felt great today seeing the looks on those kids' faces when they opened the presents, and getting to listen to their mom talk about how she never expected to receive as much as we gave... It was just awesome to be there and get to share a little bit of Christmas with that family, and you can definately count me in for next year or whenever we decide to do something like this again.

Nick: Or should I refer to you now as St. Nick, thanks for hooking that whole santa gig up, I know that thing is probably about 120 degrees, but way to take one for the team. Next year we may want to look into a beard that is little girl snag-proof though. :D Ps... did anyone get a picture of that???

Jim, Mike, Mikes wife (sorry I couldn't remember her name, this damn cold is eating my brain these last few days): It was nice to meet all of you, and I hope to see you out on a trail soon.

Take care all,
Merry Christmas

Jamie

[1eagle]

Chris, I want to express my thanks for getting all of this going. I had a good time. It was a good feeling to see the smiles that we were able to put on their faces for that moment. I still have not told the wife about losing the jeep:D Like Nick said no mater how bad your day, their is always someone that is having a harder time. In just the short time that we were out their you could see the tight bond that the family had, it was a special thing. I just read the story, and that young lady is a special person. Again Chris thanks it brought things into reality for me.:)

[desertdawg]

I want to thank Chris for organizing this and allowing my wife and I the opportunity to give back to the community. You did an awesome job Chris! We both had a blast shopping for the two twins and it brought back fond memories of when my two boys were little ones. It was just a wonderful experience and I will definitely do it again next year.

It was great meeting you Nick! Thanks for stepping up to the plate to play Santa. You did an awesome job! It was also nice meeting you Jamie for the first time. Hope to be wheeling with you soon. Jim, as usual your great to be around and your always good for a laugh! :D

Simone, the mom of the the two boys, was very grateful for what all of us did and she did not expect the amount of gifts we had. She is very proud of her husband who is currently serving in Iraq. Our prayers are with her and the boys for his safe return.

This experience has allowed me to reflect on the past year and I just want to say how proud I am to be a part of this group. I have met a lot of great people and I have had a lot of good times. I see a lot of negative on a day to day basis in my job and being a part of this group is like a breath of fresh air. Thank You!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all!

Enjoy the pics!

Nick transforming to Old St. Nick
http://www.virtualjeepclub.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=3514&stc=1&d=1135529039

Strike a Pose!
http://www.virtualjeepclub.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=3515&stc=1&d=1135529039

Santa and the little girl at the Sonic that got her hair stuck in his beard.:D
http://www.virtualjeepclub.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=3520&stc=1&d=1135529655

Santa's Crew
http://www.virtualjeepclub.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=3516&stc=1&d=1135529039

There were miles of smiles!
http://www.virtualjeepclub.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=3517&stc=1&d=1135529039

Simone and the boys
http://www.virtualjeepclub.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=3518&stc=1&d=1135529039

St. Nick, Sebastin, and Mitra
http://www.virtualjeepclub.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=3519&stc=1&d=1135529039

[Antman]

Way to go to everyone involved in this operation! :D The families of our troops are the ones that suffer when their loved ones are deployed overseas. Thanks again guys.:)

[My1stJeep]

Family #1 Report:

T’was a cold winter night, we had just settled in for a ride. My wife all bundled up in jackets and mittens and things and I with mine laying between thy seats as I was running late and did not put it on, with thoughts of making up some time.

After Santa put on the suit we headed off to the house. We sat and chatted for a few awaiting the eldest daughters arrival from work. Upon her arrival we began to distribute the gifts and take pictures with Santa. She was a bit curious which Jeep was hers. The girls tore into the gifts and loved them all. While opening one of her presents the oldest piped up, she was sorry we did not have anything to open, and proceeded to ask mom, to which mom replied she was baking things for us. The oldest then offered to run up to the store and buy us all something. After all the gifts were open, it was again back to which Jeep was hers, when asked which one she wanted, she said the Red one. Upon clarification (there were two red ones) she wanted the taller one, sorry Rodger to hear about your loss (she wanted his, not mine)…LOL

We then were given a brief time to spend with their pet snake, and a quick tour of the website set up for the daughter with cancer, the one that Nick listed when he started this thread. We then proceeded outside to do a tire climb, we put the oldest in the Jeep she liked most and had him tire climb up on my tires. She loved it. She would really like to go for a ride sometime if anyone has an open seat. I am thinking after the first of the year, her mom said her dad would like to go too and he should be home soon. So if you are organizing a run and have open seats let me know and I will give them a call.

We then said out good byes and headed out, oh did I forget to mention that Santa had a dead battery and had to swap it for a spare one he brought along? Then we headed out… LOL

All in all it was a great night, I can’t thank all of you enough for participating nor the family for allowing us into their home and sharing the Christmas season with them, it was an honor and privilege. The baked goods were awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!




Family #2

T’was a cold Christmas eve morning, when all through Arizona it was chilled, directions left at home and running late was just going to happen. I had to run back to get the directions and the phone number. Was hauling you know what to meet up with Santa, who’s battery was still not doing well. We headed out to meet the rest of the group, but part way there the battery died. We determined to swap his battery into my Jeep and mine which was fully charged into his (alternator on Santa’s XJ was not functioning). Us we are disconnecting mine the alarm starts to go off… uh oh… I don’t have the little remote for it. So after some testing, we learn if the battery negative is connected, you turn the ignition to the on position, then connect the positive you get no alarm. So we complete the swap, use one of the other Optima’s to help Jump start mine and we are off, but of course we are now really late. I call the family to let them know that Santa’s sleigh is having issues, but we are on the way. We meet up with the rest of the group, Santa gets dressed again. While in the parking lot a little girl sees Santa, he dad brings her over and Santa gives her a hug and plays it up, it was very cool.

We head off to the house, Santa expresses concern over how the two little boys are going to react, he was right on target, he walked it and then took off. After a bit of time, and Santa just letting them warm up he was able to distribute the gifts. They tore into them, they played with the legos, the army sets, the fire truck and police car, they had a blast, however still really did not want to go near Santa. One of the boys finally broke down and took his picture with Santa, the other the best we could finally bargain for was a bribe with a candy cane and to sit in a chair next to Santa. Right after getting his candy cane the sitting next to Santa was over.

During the opening of the presents it was noticed that some boxes were missing, hmmmm a quick call home and guess what? This elf left a bag at home. In my haste packing at 2:00am before I went to bed I overlooked a bag, so I guess this elf is fired.

Both families were very appreciative. We let them know how much we appreciated the sacrifices they were making and thanked them for all they are doing. It was a very good feeling to help make a difference in someone’s holiday this way and to be able to thank these families in person for their sacrifices was awesome.

Thanks to all of you for helping make this happen and I look forward to doing this again next year!!!!!!!!!!!! Wait, no I can't I forgot I got fired... :D

[My1stJeep]

Today I sent emails to the families thanking them for allowing us to be a part of their Christmas along with some of the pictures we took.


I received the following response:

Hi Chris, my family and I can't thank you all enough for what you did for us. your club made our Christmas special and put smiles on our faces! You all are so very kind. The boys love their toys especially the police car, firetruck, and army tanks. After everyone left they played with their legos and talked about santa claus all day. I couldn't even get them to take their nap.
Thank you also so much for the gift cards as they will be spent wisely. I also wanted to thank Kathy for the flowers that was a nice touch. Our family is honored to serve our country and keep our free nation protected and strong, its all part of being a military family.

[86_Renegade]

I thought i was reading the girls name wrong.....my wife and i lost our daughter Samantha Jo on Sept. 17th 2001. Our hearts and prayers go out to them.

[Wind_Danzer]

Again awesome job to all those involved!!!!

Chris, I always have an open seat so if you organize an event and I'm planning on going, someone is free to use my seat. :D

[My1stJeep]

Thanks, I will let you know way in advance in hopes you will have the day off!!!!!