My husband was scheduled to transfer to Chicago in January.On Thursday they woke him up at 5:00 am and told him to get his things he was being moved. So he is now in Chicago which is the best gift he could give me this year. My drive has been reduced from 2 hours to about 20 minutes which is wonderful. I get to visit him on Christmas eve for about 3 hours which is wonderful as well. I sent him a 100.00 money order , christmas cards and pictures the Monday before he was moved he has not received any of it yet. I called the prison and asked what the procedure is for his things being transfered and they informed me that all of his things including his mail and money will be forwarded. I am just sad that he won't be able to get it before Christmas. Has anyone else ever been through this before? if so let me know how long it took for him to receive his things. Thanks and Have a wonderful Christmas.

Tommy was transferred to the state jail from county on Nov. 3rd and he still hasn't gotten the money that was on his books when they moved him. I was told it could be 60 days but we are in Texas and they take forever to do anything.

I'm really happy for you that he has been moved closer. I only have to drive 10 miles to see my hubby and I am so thankful.

Willgirl...

I'm so happy that your husband is so close to you! And you're so lucky to have a visit on Christmas Eve!!! What a wonderful holiday gift to you. 20 minute drive?!?! I'm insanely jealous... it takes me 4 hours. :rolleyes:

As for mail catching up... God only knows, girl. In WA, it usually takes 1-2 weeks for things to catch up with my Travis. Sometimes sooner. But being as it's the holidays, I would give it at least two weeks. :( But look at it this way... his Christmas will just last a little longer. He'll probably get your card, money and pictures when he's least expecting it and that will make his day.

Hope you have a great visit with him! Happy Holidays!

Hey Heather,

Thanks. Did you get your letters on Friday? I did and I got this wonderful news as well. I am so happy about tomorrow I can hardly wait. I sent more money just in case he doesn't get it. I went out and had some professional pictures taken as a surprize for him and I wanted to hear his reaction when he got them. I am sure he will get them soon. Thanks again and have a wonderful holiday.

oh that is great!! merry christmas to you !

I didn't get any letters on Friday, but I got two on Saturday, so that made up for it. :)

Oooh... professional pictures! That's my plan for Travis' 30th birthday in April. I've been losing weight and still have about 15 pounds to go.... it's been slow going during the holiday season, LOL. Anyway, where did you go to get yours done? We're they portraits or kind of sexy ones? I've seen pictures where they dress you up... kind of like Glamour Shots or something, but I'm not sure if I'm brave enough to try that yet.

I'm so bad with surprises... I have a hard time keeping my mouth shut. It would kill me if Trav was transferred in the middle of a surprise and I had to keep the secret even longer!

Wills.. it takes about 30 days for money to catch up with the guys. My guy is also in IDOC and in the past four years I helped get him moved 5 different times, until I was able to accomplish my ultimate goal, which was to get him to where he currently is .. East Moline. With each move all his money and mail got to him in time.

Heather,

It was killing me that he hadn't gotten them on Wednesday it was so hard for me to keep my mouth shut but I did, but I had to tell him when he transfered because I am afraid he won't get them.

I had them taken at the picture people. I got them back in a hour and they are beautiful. I took some with the kids and some without. Nothing sexy I wish. I sent him a 8 by 10 I was worried that it would to big but I did it anyway, now he might not get them. I still didn't tell him they were professional I wanted some part of it to a be a surprise. I will keep you posted if he gets them. I am glad you got your letters.

I forgot about the Picture People! We took my daughter and my nieces and nephews a couple of years ago. They made beautiful pictures! Maybe we'll go there again in April. I'm horrible about getting pictures taken regularly.

I bet he will be surprised when he gets a beautiful 8X10 of y'all! :)

I hope he will be surprised. Is Trav's birthday in April? Mine is April 22 I willl be the big 40. Wills birthday is in August and he will be the big 30. I am already thinking about what I can do for him for his birthday.

Yes, try the Picture People they are very good

Trav's b-day is April 2nd... so I guess I better get the pictures done in March. Oh no... that means only three months to lose 15 pounds. LOL! He's going to be the big 30. To hear him whine about it, you'd think he was turning 60. He's convinced he's going bald, but I think he's hallucinating. My birthday is in March... I'll be 27.

I always try to come up with something new for birthdays and holidays, but it's so hard sometimes. Especially when he's in close custody and has even more restrictions on what he's allowed to have.

Yeap you better start in March so he will get them by his birthday. I like that my birthday come first so he can stress out before me(lol) he sends me the most wonderful gifts, roses, ballons, teddy bears. Self drawn portraits of us. He send me a picture for anniversary and I was in wedding dress and he was in a tux. I was so shocked because we were married in prison. He is so creative. I on the other hand am very limited to what I can send as you know. So I try to be as creative as possible. He can't even get books anymore unless they come directly from the book store. I will come up with something by August.

Wow, you are one lucky girl! He is creative!

I've had a few ideas that I've never been able to do. I've always wanted to do one of those calendars for Travis... Go out and take a bunch of pictures, each relating to the different month and make a calendar for him. Unfortunately, I can't send him calendars in close custody and the rate he is going, he'll be home before he gets approved for medium.

One year, I found a photo thing online and ordered him two 5X7 pictures of his favorite town in Alaska, where he had lots of cherished memories. He loved that, as it had been years since he'd seen the place.

I thought about sending him 30 birthday cards for his 30th birthday... but I'm not sure about that one yet.

Thats a very good idea. One of my girlfriends did that she brought 25 cards and had all of friends and family write something to him and he was very surprised. The calendar idea is a good idea also. I sent him a calendar last year with a picture of us but I would like to do one for every month.

Do you have big plans for your birthday? I won a trip for two any where in the USA at my sisters Christams party on Friday. The problem is I have to take it by July 2004. Will won't be released until 2005 so I really didn't want to go, but of course he says I should go and enjoy myself because he is always with me. So I have decided to go to Vegas for my birthday and I am going to take my sister and have a good time. It still won't be the same without him.

Great idea about the different cards! I can't seem to ever get anyone to send him any mail with my griping, but maybe if I buy the cards and personally take them around, they'll get signed and then I can mail them in.

Congrats on winning the trip! That is awesome!!! I'm actually going to Vegas for my birthday, too! :D My best friend lives in LA, so I'm going down there for two days and then driving over to Vegas to meet my dad. It's going to be the weekend before my birthday, 'cause we're going down to see the NASCAR race. I can't wait!!!! Travis is a huge NASCAR fan, too, so it will be a little sad without him, but I'm going to take LOTS of pictures for him. Hopefully I'll hit the big one while I'm down there and can pay off the DOC to let Trav come home early. ;)

You are so funny!!! I was thinking the same thing that I could win all this money and pay a good lawyer to let him come home early. What a dream but who knows I won the trip so anything is possible.

I love NASCAR racing and so does Will. You are going to have so much fun. I am going to take lots of pictures also.

How did you win the trip? Was it a door prize or something? We had a huge raffle at work last Friday, but I didn't win a darn thing. Grrr...

Have you ever been to Vegas before? I went once, about 5 years ago... but I didn't get to see much. I can't wait to go back! This time I'll be sober, so I'll get to do and see more. LOL

I think I'm the only NASCAR fan in Oregon. I've lived in the south for the past 7 years and got addicted to it. I was in Atlanta and there are a lot of tracks within a 5 hour drive radius. I'm going through withdrawals now that I'm up here in the NW! That's why Bobby had such a bad season... I wasn't there to cheer him on!

It was a raffle. My sister is a real estate agent and they have this huge party every year and they give out all the expensive gifts. T.V's, dvd's and so on and this was the first time they gave away a trip. My number was 8603 I will never forget it and when they called that number I ran up there so fast it was kind of funny. I played that number in the lottery the next day. I couldn't believe how blessed I was. Will had just called me before I left for the party to tell me about the move and then I won the trip.

I have been to Vegas several time. My grandmother use to live there so we would go every year for Mother's day. I don't get to go as often as I like. I enjoy gambling and those wonderful drinks they give you while gambling, but I try not to do either that often so I won't get addicted(lol)

You are funny about Bobby...It will get better.

You did have some good luck that day... your sweetie got moved closer and you won a fabulous trip! I'd be playing those numbers in the lottery too. lol

Those drinks are dangerous when you're gambling. The more I drink the more I like to gamble. :D And the less I care about the money flying out of my hands at a rapid pace. lol

Hopefully we'll both hit a lucky streak this next time around!

So do I. Pm me when you get back from your trip or anytime and I will do the same for you.

willgirl, which prison is he in? I've sent ones from home to two ILL prisons without a problem.

He is at the MCC in Chicago