1 day ago
Monday, February 13, 2012
Valentine's day
Tomorrow is Valentine's day and I thought it might be nice to see if any one can take this challenge. Tomorrow many current and past military members will be taking their sweet hearts out on the town. I want to challenge all who read this to find one of those men or women and tell them thank you for their service or go the extra mile and pay for their meal or movie, or even just a desert they can take home with them. They may be hard to spot but if you look close for real dog tags of a shirt or hat that may give them away as a soldier or veteran I know you can find them! GOOD LUCK!
Cooper and Me and the Military
I was contacted and asked if I wanted to review this children's book, I got really excited about this opportunity and couldn't wait for it to come in the mail!
Well today it came! Bryn (my daughter) and I went to check the mail and there along with the bills was the package containing the book. Once inside Bryn and I sat together, opened the package, and read the book together! As I came upstairs to write my review my 2 1/2 year old daughter told me "That's my favorite book!" It is also the first book she has ever let me read to her from beginning to end without trying to grab it from me or turn the pages before I could finish reading what was on it.
As for the book it nearly brought me to tears (in a good way). As a spouse to a military member I know all too well how it feels to have your loved one deployed. This book like a lot of things brought some of those feelings I had while my husband was deployed to the surface again.
The book series is about a girl and her dog Cooper. In this book we are introduced to Cooper's friend Trooper, a retired military dog who stays at home with a brother and sister while their mother and father are deployed. It shows one way that the siblings coped while their parent's where away, by sending their parents a package.
Both my 2 1/2 year old and I really enjoyed this book. It also has questions at the end to help your child connect and learn from the story. I think this book is great for any child but especially any child with a deployed loved one or a child who may be having trouble understanding why their friend's mother or father is over seas while their child is at home and missing them. It is hard to explain to a child why a loved one has to leave and go to a dangerous place to protect people that the child may never know. This book can help you start the discussion, and maybe help your child understand the feelings they are having and help them understand that it is okay to feel sad and miss whoever is gone. It may also help you understand how your child is really feeling.
If you would like to find out more about the 'Cooper and Me' series or order this book just click here.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Deployment Gifts
This is a wonderful idea put up by Jill at 'Our Seven Dwarfs' she was requested to help on short notice and sick to make something to give a step father and step son in her son's school class. after some help from her followers this is what she made!
http://www.oursevendwarfs.com/2011/09/deployment-gifts.html
May we all remember to contribute to or Soldiers in any way we can.
Link given to me by Kristi
http://www.oursevendwarfs.com/2011/09/deployment-gifts.html
May we all remember to contribute to or Soldiers in any way we can.
Link given to me by Kristi
Thursday, April 28, 2011
The Bad Day Box
Sent by Sydney Davis and Army GF
For when the going gets tough out there.
1.Get a box, doesn't matter what size or shape.
2. Fill the box with uplifting letters, pictures of loved ones, memories that will make them laugh, love coupons, things they loved as a child (like old type candies that keep and little toys or pictures of them.
Sydney said she went to his mother and asked her what kind of thing he liked as a child and included pictures of when he was little. The letters told all the ways she loved him and of good memories she had with him, she wrote one as if she was telling a friend about him. A "you know I met this great guy!" letter. You can include videos that show you (or your children) having fun or sending special feel good messages just for him. Sydney also put all her letters/ pictures and notes in individual envelopes. She also sent a can and on the out side wrote "If your having a bad day, Remember this, I love you!" and taped her picture to the can too.
The kids either favorite nieces and nephews or his own children can draw pictures, write letters, or make cards to go in it too.
Sydney also made coupons for her BF that where for things they could do when he got home and "get out of the dog house free" coupons for the man that occasionally get into trouble.
3. After you have filled the box completely place an envelope either at the top of the box where he is sure to see it first or tape it to the outside and on the outside of it write "READ ME FIRST!" In this envelope the letter needs to lay out 2 rules.
1. "The box is not to be opened unless he is having a bad day."
2. "Only take out a few things at once." so that there are others for future bad days.
Thank you so much for this GREAT idea Sydney! I have known several soldiers who have lost GF, wives, or loved ones while on deployment and could have used one of these boxes from their wives, mothers, or family members. What a great idea!
For when the going gets tough out there.
1.Get a box, doesn't matter what size or shape.
2. Fill the box with uplifting letters, pictures of loved ones, memories that will make them laugh, love coupons, things they loved as a child (like old type candies that keep and little toys or pictures of them.
Sydney said she went to his mother and asked her what kind of thing he liked as a child and included pictures of when he was little. The letters told all the ways she loved him and of good memories she had with him, she wrote one as if she was telling a friend about him. A "you know I met this great guy!" letter. You can include videos that show you (or your children) having fun or sending special feel good messages just for him. Sydney also put all her letters/ pictures and notes in individual envelopes. She also sent a can and on the out side wrote "If your having a bad day, Remember this, I love you!" and taped her picture to the can too.
The kids either favorite nieces and nephews or his own children can draw pictures, write letters, or make cards to go in it too.
Sydney also made coupons for her BF that where for things they could do when he got home and "get out of the dog house free" coupons for the man that occasionally get into trouble.
3. After you have filled the box completely place an envelope either at the top of the box where he is sure to see it first or tape it to the outside and on the outside of it write "READ ME FIRST!" In this envelope the letter needs to lay out 2 rules.
1. "The box is not to be opened unless he is having a bad day."
2. "Only take out a few things at once." so that there are others for future bad days.
Thank you so much for this GREAT idea Sydney! I have known several soldiers who have lost GF, wives, or loved ones while on deployment and could have used one of these boxes from their wives, mothers, or family members. What a great idea!
Friday, January 7, 2011
On The Home Front
Some things you can do at home with your kids or by yourself to help the time pass.
1. Count down chain.
Do you remember Christmas when you where little and you would make count down chains at school and take them home? Same idea. Chose 2 or more colors of construction paper. Cut into 365 strips (more or less depending on the length of time your soldier is to be deployed) and glue into a chain. This can be a fun thing to do by yourself or with your children to watch the papers come off day by day until your loved one comes home. The only problem with this is that deployments are unpredictable and can often be lengthened and shorted repeatedly during the deployment. Make sure you explain this to your children so that if you get to the end of the chain and mommy/daddy are still not home they don't freak out. You being the parent are also capable of adding or subtracting links as necessary after the kids have gone to bed to make the chain accurate to daily changes. For those waiting on a Mormon Missionary the church book stores usually have countdown charts where you fill in a bubble every day till the missionary comes home, these are a little more accurate and unchanging than deployments.
2. Write a journal.
Especially if you have children, take a moment at the end of each day as you are winding down and getting ready for bed. Sit down and write in a journal. Write what you all did that day, write down what your children want your loved one to know about that day and how they feel at that moment, good or bad, happy or sad, a journal with all those things will be something your soldier can go back and read, something your children or you can go back and read, and something that can help you and your children get through future deployments by looking back and seeing how it felt last time.
3. Prepare for your soldiers return.
While my soldier was gone Christmas wasn't Christmas so I celebrated else where and my home went undecorated but with the extra money the deployment gave us I went on a Christmas shopping spree after Christmas when everything was on sale for all the decorations we would need to decorate for the year he would be home.
4. Find something to do.
Weather your children are young or old in school or not find something you enjoy doing OUTSIDE of your home. This can be a college course, a fitness class, going for a walk, going to the park, going to the gym, visiting a friend. Any thing you enjoy take at least one day a week and get out of your house, no matter what. This will help with the loneliness and isolation. GET OUT! This is SO important. If you can possibly find someone to watch the kids once a week for an hour do so. You need a break! It's hard to do it alone no matter how old your kids are or even if your kids are animals. Get out and go to lunch, do something with some one. This is the one thing that will save your sanity.
5. Find a friend.
Not just any friend. Find someone who knows what you are going through. Find another military spouse that has a deployed spouse at the same time (there are a ton of them at any given time) yes you will get on each others nerves sometimes because deployments are emotionally draining but as long as you are the kind of friend that you want to have you'll get through the hard times. It never seems that civilians know what you are going through and Spouses who's soldier has returned are a bit out of touch both physically and emotionally. My husband has returned and I will be the first to admit that when James got home I didn't want to talk to anyone and wanted to spend all my time with him, I will also admit that my joy over having him home has tainted my memory of what it was like while he was gone. It doesn't seem as bad now as it felt it was then. So make a friend of some one some where who is in the same position as you. My "Battle buddy" lived on the other side of the country from me but most nights she was my saving grace. I don't know how I would have gotten through that deployment without her.
6. Remember "It will end"
Deployments do not last forever and better times are ahead. Unless the unspoken unthinkable happens which I pray never happens to you or me, This deployment will come to an end and your soldier will come home. Stay positive. Always remind yourself that, This will end and your soldier WILL come home. My soldier and a friend reminded me of this often. "IT HAS COME TO PASS." This trial has come and it too shall pass. Stay positive and strong for your soldier and yourself.
Last 7. It's okay to cry
Being strong is good but it is also okay to cry. Be it a few minutes in your living room or crying yourself to sleep wearing your soldiers shirt and hugging the teddy bear they gave you. It is always okay to cry because this is painful, but if you can make it through this, you can make it through ANYTHING!
1. Count down chain.
Do you remember Christmas when you where little and you would make count down chains at school and take them home? Same idea. Chose 2 or more colors of construction paper. Cut into 365 strips (more or less depending on the length of time your soldier is to be deployed) and glue into a chain. This can be a fun thing to do by yourself or with your children to watch the papers come off day by day until your loved one comes home. The only problem with this is that deployments are unpredictable and can often be lengthened and shorted repeatedly during the deployment. Make sure you explain this to your children so that if you get to the end of the chain and mommy/daddy are still not home they don't freak out. You being the parent are also capable of adding or subtracting links as necessary after the kids have gone to bed to make the chain accurate to daily changes. For those waiting on a Mormon Missionary the church book stores usually have countdown charts where you fill in a bubble every day till the missionary comes home, these are a little more accurate and unchanging than deployments.
2. Write a journal.
Especially if you have children, take a moment at the end of each day as you are winding down and getting ready for bed. Sit down and write in a journal. Write what you all did that day, write down what your children want your loved one to know about that day and how they feel at that moment, good or bad, happy or sad, a journal with all those things will be something your soldier can go back and read, something your children or you can go back and read, and something that can help you and your children get through future deployments by looking back and seeing how it felt last time.
3. Prepare for your soldiers return.
While my soldier was gone Christmas wasn't Christmas so I celebrated else where and my home went undecorated but with the extra money the deployment gave us I went on a Christmas shopping spree after Christmas when everything was on sale for all the decorations we would need to decorate for the year he would be home.
4. Find something to do.
Weather your children are young or old in school or not find something you enjoy doing OUTSIDE of your home. This can be a college course, a fitness class, going for a walk, going to the park, going to the gym, visiting a friend. Any thing you enjoy take at least one day a week and get out of your house, no matter what. This will help with the loneliness and isolation. GET OUT! This is SO important. If you can possibly find someone to watch the kids once a week for an hour do so. You need a break! It's hard to do it alone no matter how old your kids are or even if your kids are animals. Get out and go to lunch, do something with some one. This is the one thing that will save your sanity.
5. Find a friend.
Not just any friend. Find someone who knows what you are going through. Find another military spouse that has a deployed spouse at the same time (there are a ton of them at any given time) yes you will get on each others nerves sometimes because deployments are emotionally draining but as long as you are the kind of friend that you want to have you'll get through the hard times. It never seems that civilians know what you are going through and Spouses who's soldier has returned are a bit out of touch both physically and emotionally. My husband has returned and I will be the first to admit that when James got home I didn't want to talk to anyone and wanted to spend all my time with him, I will also admit that my joy over having him home has tainted my memory of what it was like while he was gone. It doesn't seem as bad now as it felt it was then. So make a friend of some one some where who is in the same position as you. My "Battle buddy" lived on the other side of the country from me but most nights she was my saving grace. I don't know how I would have gotten through that deployment without her.
6. Remember "It will end"
Deployments do not last forever and better times are ahead. Unless the unspoken unthinkable happens which I pray never happens to you or me, This deployment will come to an end and your soldier will come home. Stay positive. Always remind yourself that, This will end and your soldier WILL come home. My soldier and a friend reminded me of this often. "IT HAS COME TO PASS." This trial has come and it too shall pass. Stay positive and strong for your soldier and yourself.
Last 7. It's okay to cry
Being strong is good but it is also okay to cry. Be it a few minutes in your living room or crying yourself to sleep wearing your soldiers shirt and hugging the teddy bear they gave you. It is always okay to cry because this is painful, but if you can make it through this, you can make it through ANYTHING!
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
MOPS
From my cousin Kristi who dose this with her kids:
Encourage Military Moms and Their Families
A Little Love and Creativity Goes a Long Way
David, whose father is in the U.S. Air Force, is an elementary school student. His father deployed for the fifth time in July 2010 for six months. David received a KidsLink Card Kit, and he said: “[I'm going to write Dad] stuff that's interesting that's happened to me that I can't really tell him otherwise … I never got to talk to him when he was out in the desert [before] except once every two months, so it's going to be nice, ... [and] also he can write back. So it's going to be helpful a lot."
Last spring, over 250 MOPS groups were a part of creating over 5,300 KidsLink Downrange Card Kits for children of deployed military personnel. Those kits were distributed to five different U.S. military installations around the U.S. and one in Germany. Now your MOPS group can be a part of expanding this project again to reach out to more families!
KidsLink Downrange is a project from MOPS and Cadence International to support and encourage military moms and their families. MOPS groups can make card kits that contain everything a child needs to write to his or her deployed parent throughout the year, as well as other resources in the area. These kits will be delivered to children at multiple US military bases worldwide this coming spring.
Here is this year’s schedule!
September-October 2010: Your MOPS group pledges a number of kits
December 2010: You’re advised where to ship your finished
kits (via email and on kidslinkonline.org
website)
January-February 2011: Your group makes card kits
February 15-March 15, 2011: Your group ships your kits to the advised
location (no earlier than Feb. 15 and no
later than March 15)
April-June 2011: Card kits are distributed to military kids
Now is the time to pledge how many kits you will make for this year’s project so…
Want to know more? Watch this video, then pledge the number of card kits your group will create and send to military kids.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Hey, I'm Back Sorta....
Hey all! I know I have been gone a while but the hubby is home and we have been moving and working. Things are still a little crazy esp. with my comp going down on me and trying to get back in shape.
The other reason I have not posted in a while is because I am running out of ideas when I am not sending packages out everyday. Now my days are filled with occupying myself and my daughter waiting for my husband to come home from work. If any one has any ideas please let me know. I will try to get some more ideas and put them up soon. Thank you for staying with me!
The other reason I have not posted in a while is because I am running out of ideas when I am not sending packages out everyday. Now my days are filled with occupying myself and my daughter waiting for my husband to come home from work. If any one has any ideas please let me know. I will try to get some more ideas and put them up soon. Thank you for staying with me!
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