So we are.......

Counting the days

til his boots hit the ground...

American soil that is!

Busy As A Bee....O Me!

Better late than never....Soldier B's Quilt     

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our girls made the table decorations for the Welcome Back Teachers Luncheon.

The teachers enjoyed the "Whole Hog Cafe" pulled pork, BBQ beans and the Potato Salad

We had a Senior Adult Group come to paint our halls and Club rooms.

Another shot of the rooms.....

We even had help tightening and gluing the legs to our dining room chairs.

Then we had a couple of days off and we are back at work with our girls.

We did here from Soldier B from overseas on Sunday....He is doing well. 

As for me....well, I can say one month down and 11 more to go!!!

Name that Care Package.....

 Recently I have been looking for any and all information on sending care packages to my soldier.  I came upon this blog:  Some Soldier's Mom  She was very informational and has some GREAT ideas for care packages.   Read them first then I will pick back up towards the end of my post....see ya in a few!

 

Care Packages

I know a lot of people that read my blog either have family or friends in the military or have an interest in them and/or have adopted soldiers serving overseas... So I offer this list from a private chat group for families of 3ID soldiers. Some will evoke smiles and others are just plain fun and bound to bring a smile to your soldier.

If you really do SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, here are some places you might want to visit to lend a hand:

Adopt a Sniper
Adopt a Soldier
Any Soldier
Disabled American Veterans (DAV)
Fisher House
Foster Care for Military Pets
Helmets to Hardhats
Soldiers' Angels
USO
Wounded Warrior Project

~~~THEME BOX IDEAS~~~
(for the days when you can't think of what to ship)

"Surviving the Sandstorms"- Eye wash; Nasal spray; Chap stick; Bandana; goggles/sun glasses; etc

"Laundry Load"- Laundry soap ('sample size' or Tide tablets kind) to pack in with their clothes..in case there are no washers/dryers; Fabric softener sheets; clean socks and undershirts; Febreeze or All refresher fabric sprays

"Lotta Java"- Tea; Cocoa; Coffee singles; creamer; sugar; International Coffee tins; cookies for dunking in coffee

"Thanks a Million!!"- Things that may "seem" expensive. Ex: Grey Poupon; electronic game of "Who wants to be a Millionaire?" - small amount of cash; wrap items in green tissue paper.

"Hang in There!"- Stuffed animal monkey; Banana bread; Banana chips; Banana pudding (the kind that doesn't have to be refrigerated); Monkey's in a Barrel game; card with a monkey on it.

"A Day at the Beach!"- sunscreen; beach towel; beach snacks; flip flop sandals (shower shoes); aloe vera gel;

"Medicine Cabinet"- aspirin; band-aids; Neosporin cream; A&D ointment; cold medicine; alka seltzer; Rolaids; etc.

"Staying Healthy"- nutrition/health bars (ex: Power bar; Tigers Milk; Myoplex); vitamins; Nutri-grain bars; Gatorade or other sports drink (to stay hydrated);

"MRE/Mess Hall Survival Kit"- restaurant size condiment packs of: BBQsauce, mustard, ketchup, mayo, relish, salt. Pepper, taco sauce, ranch, cheese in a can dip, etc

"Correspondence Carton"- notebook paper; stationery; pens; pencils; stickers (who knows they may even play with these!!); envelopes, address book (filled out already of course); camera (with a note to send back onceit is full);

"Action Heroes"- Power bars; squirt guns; Red Bull drinks; small Army figurines; comic books; Gatorade; Red Bull drinks; etc

"To Be A Kid Again"- silly string; bubbles; small bouncy balls; hacky sacks; brain teaser toys (rubix cube, etc); deck of cards; dominoes; slinky, Frisbee's; Pez w/ dispenser; Nerf balls; sand box toys (pail, small shovel, etc);

"Bathroom in a Box"- TOILET PAPER!!! (the soft stuff); razor refills; foot powder; bars of soap; fresh, clean, soft washcloth; travel size shampoo/conditioner; toothpaste; toothbrush; etc

"Ruck Sack Snack Pack"- packed full of your loved one's favorite snacks ... possibilities endless. Doritos; M&M's; nuts; chips; dips; crackers; jelly beans; beef jerky; gum; etc. (but don't send any chocolate in the summer!)

"Breakfast on the GO"- mutrigrain bars; instant oatmeal cups; small boxes of cereal; pop tarts; Hostess donuts: Otis Spunk Meyer muffins; cocoa; coffee; Tang; cereal bars

"Tube O Tasties"- Just as something different, send a package in a tube instead of a square box. Make sure the parameters are acceptable though.

"Stress Reliever"- back scratcher; bubble wrap; yo-yo's; bubbles; squeezy tension ball; nerf stuff

"Sloppy Kisses"- send a bunch of Hershey's kisses. Bound to be "sloppy kisses!" (forget this in the summer... it's a mess!)

"I'm Nuts About You"- peanuts; cashews; pistachios; peanut butter cookies; any candy or cookies with nuts in them; Nutter Butter's; Peanut Lover's Chex mix; Fiddle Faddle with peanuts, CrackerJacks

"Rock On" or "Charlie ROCK"- pop rocks; music cd's

"Chili Today, Hot Tamale"- hot tamales (candy); small cans of chili; red pepper flakes (like the ones at pizza parlors); salsa sunflower seeds; Cajun flavor Pringles; Spicy chex mix; Boston red hots; peppered beef jerky; taco bell hot sauce packets; Extreme Doritos; chili powder; nacho cheese sauce in a can; Tums/Rolaids, Jalapeño Ritz;

"And this little piggy went to the sandbox"- (foot care kit)- foot powder; Dr, Scholl's boot inserts; foot lotion; foot file; fresh, clean socks; toe nail clippers; scrub brush; odor eater balls for shoes/boots; foot soaks (either include a small bucket or large Ziploc bags to soak feet it)

"How do you eat your OREOS??!!"- regular Oreos; peanut butter Oreos; double stuff Oreos; low fat Oreos; chocolate filled Oreos; chocolate covered Oreos; holiday Oreos

"Muchas Gracias. Nachos Supreme"- Doritos &/or Fritos &/or any corn tortilla chips; Mexican Velveeta; salsa (wrapped in bubble wrap); small can of olives (don't forget the can opener); bean dip; nacho cheese dip; small can of green chilies; jar of jalapeno's (wrapped in bubble wrap); taco seasoning; small paper plates or bowls (so they can make their nachos); taco sauce (especially easy are those condiment packets from Taco Bell); You could also send the sauces from the various Mexican dinner kits (they also have tortilla's in those dinner kits that are sealed so they would probably get there without molding or drying out); Taco Bell Nacho Supreme kit

"Sweet Tooth"- Nerds; Gummy Bears; Laffy Taffy; Bubble Gum; Tootsie Rolls; Lolli pops; (any candy that won't melt)

"Pamper Party" (for females)- Feminine hygiene products; shampoo/conditioner; hair barrettes and scrunchies (same color as their hair); facial scrub &/or soap; facial mask; lotion; shower gel; razors; facial moisturizer; tweezers; nail care kit; toner; special facial products (alpha hydroxy; eye cream; etc)

"Congrats on your promotion"- congratulation party favors; all your loved one's favorites snacks; sparkled cider (wrapped in bubble wrap of course); etc.

"For the Fisherman"- Goldfish crackers; tuna pouches; canned smoked salmon; cans of sardines; gummy worms; Go Fish card game; Field & Stream magazine; electronic fishing rod game; Sponge Bob Square Pants stuffed toy; fishing game toy (made by several different toy companies. Has a small fishing pole with a magnet on the end. Fish have magnets on their mouths)

"Say CHEEEESE!"- disposable cameras; cheese dip; Doritos; Cheetos; Cheesenips; Better Cheddars; Velveeta

"Kick Back & Relax"- Dominoes; playing cards; magazines; books; music cd's; crossword puzzles; jigsaw puzzles; word searches; hand held electronic games; squirt guns; water balloons; bubbles; hacky sacks; Nerf balls; board games (Axis & Allies, Clue, Trivial Pursuit, etc)

"Christmas in July"- wrap everything in Christmas wrapping paper; peppermint flavored hard candies

"Italian Stallion"- Italian cheese Ghardetto's; Pizza-licious Pringles; Pepperoni pizza Combo's; small Boboli pizza bread; pizza sauce (for dipping Boboli); canned Ravioli, spaghetti, lasagna, etc.

"American Classics"- Pez with dispensers; Cracker Jacks; Lifesavers; NeccoWafers; Pop Rocks; Nerds; Good & Plenty; Candy Necklaces; Candy cigarettes

******************************

And if you are sending things to Iraq and Afghanistan and you haven't discovered FLAT RATE BOXES... get them from the Post Office -- no matter how much you stuff in these boxes (about the size of a medium FedEx box) -- it's one price to mail! Don't pay for priority mail for things you send either, they don't get to NY any faster (which is where all APO mail goes to). 

  So...AWESOME....don't you think...so creative that it makes me wish I had been the first one to think of such things.  I do remember a time that our church via a very creative lady...(hint...hint.. Gail!) decorated shoes boxes for each of us on staff for Staff Day at church.  She, Gail, was so decorative with mine.  I only mention mine cause I can't remember anyone Else's.  Yes, I am getting old...er! My favorite color has always been purple and Gail did an outstanding job decorating with that color and music notes which was perfect since I was the pianist!  

Now that I am finished blubbering on and on .....I am wondering if there might be more ideas out there that fellow readers may have thought of...something creative but just what that special soldier might need in a box from the good ol USA.  Post your idea.....I would love to see it!

I Never Thought....

The following was written by my daughter, Becka, on Tuesday morning. I noticed the time cause if she is mine what is she doing up so early? As I read this I begin to laugh at alot of things that she and Ben did together as siblings although she did not include the frogs. But the more I read the tears begin to fall...How do I explain to the PH girls why I am crying ....and yes they do ask. My thoughts have rambled all day from the beginning of his life til now. Sometimes I think it is not fair what this world requires of our family serving in the military. But then I didn't think it was fair when God decided to call home my mom either. I have struggled with life and death since February 27, 2008.  The day my baby (yes, he admits this) flew on a plane to start his life with the Army at the age of 17 and the morning that my mom got up to go to the bathroom with her next steps being on the streets of gold in heaaven.  It won't be long and Ben will be serving for my freedom here on Earth halfway across the world.  That is something I am proud of  but I would not be a mother if it did not bother me to some degree.  I can only cling to the verse that I have used since we begin our full time ministry as preacher and his wife:  For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you HOPE and a future. Jeremiah 29:11


I Never Thought...


When I was 5 years old



and he was just newborn;


I never thought...




Then he became the 5


and I became the 10.


We dug holes in our backyard


to build a "swimming pool";


I never thought...



Once again 5 years passed


And I became a teen


as he lingered on the edge.


While I chased him with a fly swat;


I never thought...




When I reached my 20's


he was just a teenager


lost in his own dreams.


He missed me when I left,


because he lost someone to tease;


I never thought...




Now we're both adults,


and we're known as


the baby and the princess;


How dare we forget to mention


the chosen one of all,


who's stuck in the middle.




I never thought I would have to say,


"Brother, thank you for your service!"




I never thought I would see the day,


that precious baby boy


would be half a world away.




I never thought I would be so proud


of that rotten little baby boy.


Who's given up his freedom,


so that I can hold strong to mine.




I never thought...




BOH

Lance, Ben and Becka

Ben and Becka

Ben

John, Georgiana and Brennon

 

Crafty Monday

I have been busy for over a month trying to get to a craft project.

Things just kept jumping in my way.  I can't imagine how 5 girls and a baby would do that! ha!

Yesterday I took the time to sit and make a bow with my bow a dabra that I received recently.
This is the neatest little item when it comes to making a bow...

Before I go to much longer I will explain why I have a "July 4th" bow made in April....I had to explain it to Jesse too!  I guess I am the only person with patriotic themes on my mind....but with my two boys in the Service I tend to lean that way!  So there is the reason I am making a bow and wreath for my door at the end of April!

After I was finished with the bow I sat it aside til this morning.  The following things are what I used in making my wreath. 

"Army Man Wreath"

1.  Wreath

2.  Red, white and blue flowers ( I found these at Michael's)

3. Stars and patriotic man  (I found these at Michaels too)

4. Yellow flowers with red tint (Yep, Michaels too)

5.  Glue Gun
6.  Pipe Cleaners

I started by attaching the bow to the wreath.  I put a small spot of glue on the yellow ribbons where they would attach to the wreath.  I then took the blue ribbon and attached them close to the yellow ribbons.

I took my cutting tool and cut the flowers off the stems.  I then took the flowers and attched them onto the wreath with the hot glue gun. 

I placed the Patriotic Man in the middle of the wreath at the bottom with the stars on the right and left of him. I worked with the bow some more as far as making it look better then I decided it was time to take the wreath to place it on my door.

As I past thru the apartment I asked Jesse how he liked it....He said:  "Susan, it is not July 4th."  He did not get it...this was about the boys not the 4th of July, although I can use it for that! 

Here is the wreath on the door:

The yellow is for when Ben goes overseas to Afghanstain.....goes something like this:
"Tie a yellow ribbon around the old oak tree"....

Today, my first Army man, is loading his gear

for it to begin it's long trip across the ocean

to a land to defend for our country, the U.S.A.

Seems like time is going faster and faster

It won't be long til we are telling our soldier goodbye

He will be walking onto a plane

headed across the ocean

to defend our country, the U.S.A. in Afghanstan.

I love you son!

Who Me?

While on our trip to see daddy, aka our son John, B learned how to blow his nose.  Only thing is once he started he did not want to stop blowing his nose!  We had a blast laughing at him and with him.

When he was finished for the moment, he looked at me as if to say...Who me?