MAILING MY LOVE

At last!

2010-06-01T15:07:00.000-04:00

Happy to announce that the infantry division that had been deployed to Afghanistan since June 2009 is home. I still have several friends who are deployed to Iraq & Afghanistan and have many more letter prompts and package ideas to come, so stay tuned!

Please show your support... 2010 Run to Home Base

2010-05-07T00:05:00.004-04:00

The 2010 Run to Home Base at Fenway Park

Please support my team!

http://www.runtohomebase.org/

Benefiting soldiers returning from Afghanistan & Iraq
who are suffering from PTSD & other brain-related injuries

Sponsored by
The Red Sox Foundation

Boys Night/Game-Themed Care Package

2010-04-29T19:21:00.009-04:00

Sometimes the simplest things in life, like playing cards, can be easily forgotten when you're away from home. I put together a Games Package of things I picked up at Target for about $20.

POKER NIGHT PACKAGE:
*Two decks of Playing Cards (Jack Daniels brand decks.. a reminder of his favorite!)
*A Pack of Dice
*Pretend Money (from the kid's goody bag/birthday aisle, also at party-supply stores)
*List of Games (written on index cards w/ adhesive laminating sheets from CVS)
Ranging from one-player games to some you can play with 10+ guys
A few easy to play/explain in case the soldiers teach ANA guys or local children how to play
Rules to different Poker games which I found online
... also found confusing, since I'm happy with a magic trick as far as cards go :)
*Last but not least... COOKIES (of course!)

Boston Marathon

2010-04-20T16:35:00.001-04:00

Not quite mail related, but wanted to post the below photo (courtesy of Michael Blanchard Photography) of soldiers crossing the finish line of the Boston Marathon yesterday, April 19, 2010. The soldiers ran all 26 miles in full gear. Just an inspiring picture, one of those that is really worth 1,000 words.

Reading List: Children (Part II)

2010-04-16T07:49:00.002-04:00

More books for children... Click Here to see the previous list

My Mommy Wears Combat Boots

by Sharon McBride

Deployment Journal for Kids

by Rachel Robertson

A Paper Hug

by Stephanie Skolmoski

God's Going Too! His Promises for Kids During Deployments

by Cursha-Pierce Lunderman

Reading List: Redeployment

2010-04-16T07:06:00.001-04:00

Books I'm reading (and/or have stacked next to my bed because, despite how hard I wish for 30 hour days, I don't have as much time as I'd like to dedicate to reading things other than text books on Human Factors Engineering and Interface Design). Still, what I've gotten through so far has been a tremendous help in preparation for redeployment. Happy to share once I've finished, just email me if you want to borrow one (or more) of the following:

The Long Road Home: A Story of War and Family
by Martha Raddatz

After the War Zone: A Practical Guide for Returning Troops & Their Families
by Laurie B. Slone, PhD & Matthew J. Friedman, MD, PhD

The Road Home: Smoothing the Transition Back from Deployment
by Elaine Gray Dumler

Songs for the soldiers [OneRepublic "Marchin' On"]

2010-04-16T06:46:00.003-04:00

Excerpt from the lyrics...
"For those nights when I couldnt be there, I've made it harder to know that you know
That somehow, we'll keep moving on.
Theres so many wars we fought, theres so many things were not,
But with what we have, I promise you that, we're marching on.

For those doubts that swirl all around us, for those lives that tear at the seams,
We know, we're not what weve seen, for this dance we'll move with each other.
There aint no other step than one foot, right in front of the other.
Right, right, right, right left right... we're marching on.

We'll have the days we break, and well have the scars to prove it....
We put one foot in front of the other, we move like we aint got no other,
We go where we go... we're marching on..."

Songs for the soldiers [OneRepublic "Come Home"]

2010-04-16T06:25:00.007-04:00

Excerpt from the lyrics...
"There’s someone I’ve been missing. I think that they could be the better half of me.
They’re in the wrong place trying to make it right, but I’m tired of justifying
So i say to you: Come home, come home
Cause I’ve been waiting for you for so long, for so long.
Right now there's a war between the vanities, but all i see is you and me.
The fight for you is all I’ve ever known... so come home."

As Good As It Gets

2010-04-15T22:09:00.001-04:00

My soldier has a serious love for strawberry ice cream; however, since ice cream can't make it home from the grocery store without melting, getting it to him is just not a possibility until he comes home (in six weeks!!). Til then, and because I feel that astronaut ice cream is just plain weird, this is as good as it gets: Strawberry snacks!

Strawberry Short Cakes, Twizzlers, Pop Tarts, 100 Calorie Strawberry cupcakes (I know, I know, but they were too cute to pass up), Strawberry Sugar Wafer cookies, Strawberry Ensure (these have really long expiration dates and are shelf-sustainable, so these are good to send at all times), Strawberry granola bars & Strawberry Instant Oatmeal. Oh, and best of all... strawberry marshmallows! I was quite proud of myself for this find, so hopefully they are as exciting to receive as they were to find!

Spring... means Summer is getting closer!!

2010-03-21T13:18:00.003-04:00

These went out last week with photos of the beach & lots of beautiful American sunshine to look forward to... til then, one patient (sort of) day at a time! At least until summer (and homecoming) I can listen to American Honey to pass the time.

Reading List: Love Letters of Soldiers

2010-02-10T07:31:00.000-05:00

So far, I've found comfort and some inspiration in the letters between soldiers and their significant others, regardless of which war they were written through. A few of my favorites...

Dearest Virginia: Love Letters from a Cavalry Officer

by Gayle Hunnicutt (Ed.)

More coming soon!

Happy Valentine's Day!

2010-02-05T06:32:00.005-05:00

Goodie Bags & Candy Galore.
...enough to share, since it is the holiday of spreading the love, and there is plenty to go around for these guys :)

These adorable Conversation Heart boxes are made of plastic but are strong, and stay closed with the lids on... each bearing a different little Valentine's message.

The goodie-bags also included a mix of Valentine's Day candy and individual Valentine's Day cards in this little pink mailbox I purchased at Michaels. I used adhesive-backed felt letters and put their Troop numbers along the side without the flag.

Last but not least, Valentine's Day Cookies!!

Reading List: Children of Soldiers (Part I)

2010-01-21T07:32:00.012-05:00

Books for children about deployment, missing their Mom or Dad, and helpful ways to explain the war and separation.

I Miss You: A Military Kid's Book About Deployment

by Beth Andrews

My Dad's A Hero

by Rebecca Christiansen

A Yellow Ribbon for Daddy

by Anissa Mersiowsky

MORE BOOKS FOR CHILDREN

JETS Football Surprise Package

2010-01-01T06:31:00.000-05:00

So, for football fans (or any sport) it is one thing to miss out on a season, quite another when the season is as exciting as that of the New York Jets this year. Being a sports fan myself, I would have been devastated, so I imagine it was tenfold for my soldier, to miss out on all of the games and excitement. What is the solution? Bring the Jets to Afghanistan (so to speak).

Care Package Contents (photos below):
Copies of game tape, recorded onto DVDs
JETS Cheerleader Calendar
JETS-issued camouflage winter hat
JETS Sweatshirt
JETS insulated coffee mug
Football Cookies (Double Chocolate Chip Footballs)
Jersey Cookies (Sugar Cookies, Home & Away)
Team Logo Cookie
Photos of him with friends & family at past games

Happy New Year!

2009-12-14T08:17:00.000-05:00

New Year's Eve 2010... in Afghanistan

To help the guys ring in the new year, I put together a next-best-thing celebration & toast package. Party poppers, party horns and party hats. Since New Year's Eve-- as far as I'm concerned-- must involve champagne, I had to think outside the box on this one. You can't send alcohol, obviously, and I searched high and low for sparkling grape juice in anything other than glass (no luck): Welch's white grape juice and plastic champagne glasses for a 2010 toast!

Reading List: Women in War

2009-12-12T07:50:00.000-05:00

A few books on the history of women in war, women in the military and the impact of co-ed forces.

The Kinder, Gentler Military:

Can America's Gender-Neutral Fighting Force Still Win Wars?

by Stephanie Gutman

Women and War

by Jean Bethke Elshtain

Christmas Letters

2009-12-10T09:00:00.000-05:00

Rather than sending more candy, which I know there was a ton of around the holidays, I decided to reach out to my local community (including friends, family members, the sisters of a sorority from the undergraduates at my current graduate school, and anyone who was interested in sharing their love and support for the soldiers). Initially I planned to craft a box or a giant stocking to send these in once collected, but I found at Michaels, the Arts & Crafts store for $2.99 this amazing Christmas Gift Bag, already bearing the perfect message: Don't Open 'Til December 25th!

What a great deal (as is everything at that store, which has come to be like a second home to me throughout this deployment... you'd be surprised how many good ideas come to you while wandering up and down the aisles... more to come!)

Anyway, here is how it turned out:

Cell Phones for Soldiers

2009-12-05T16:54:00.003-05:00

Cell Phones for Soldiers hopes to turn old cell phones into more than 12 million minutes of prepaid calling cards for U.S. troops stationed overseas in 2008. To do so, Cell Phones for Soldiers expects to collect 50,000 cell phones each month through a network of more than 3,000 collection sites across the country.

Click here for all resources & materials!

Click here to print a FREE shipping label

Warm Love

2009-12-02T22:38:00.001-05:00

This winter, if you have some time to go through the coat closet, attic, kids rooms... or if you want to pick up a new hobby and start knitting, collect some hats, scarves, gloves, socks, even old and unworn coats and send them out to the troops.

When our soldiers can provide warmth to children in Afghanistan and Iraq, they earn the love and trust of village children and solidify our commitment to helping to protect the people of these war-torn countries.

If you'd like to donate items, I have troops in Afghanistan & Iraq that have requested these items. I am collecting winter clothing and cold-weather items.
Please email me: WhitneysArmyBlog@gmail.com if you can donate items!

Star Cookies

2009-11-23T19:54:00.000-05:00

Star Sugar Cookies

Prep Time: Mixing Batter (3 Minutes)

Rolling & Cookie Cutters (5 Minutes)

Baking Time: 5 Minutes

Cooling: 20 Minutes

Icing & Sprinkles: 5 Minutes

Shipping

Wrap cookies individually in Glad Press & Seal

Stack in a Take-Along tupperware lined with bubble wrap

Cakes for Soldiers

2009-11-17T19:26:00.001-05:00

Operation Birthday Cake

http://www.bakemeawish.com/banner/Presentation/OBC-SoldierResponse.pdf

Operation Phone Home

2009-11-17T18:46:00.000-05:00

May no soldier go unloved
May no soldier walk alone
May no soldier be forgotten
bring then operation phone home

Free Shipping to APO from Fairytale Brownies

2009-11-17T18:41:00.003-05:00

Thanksgiving is on its way!!

2009-11-12T20:01:00.000-05:00

Marie Calendar Turkey & Stuffing Meals (in the 'super pasta' aisle)
Werthers Originals
Ginger Snaps
Small pop-top cans of Corn and String Beans
Sweet Potato Chips
Microwave Popcorn
Dried Cranberries
Apple Cider Mix
Home-made Apple Spice Cakes (from muffin mix)
Apple Cinnamon Applesauce
Homestyle Gravy (wrapped in bubble wrap & zip-lock bag!)
Betty Crocker Instant Mashed Potatoes (just add water!)
Dunkin Donuts resealable coffee big-bag

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-10T08:20:00.000-04:00

Trick-or-Treat... Well, just treats for these guys!

Home-made Halloween sugar cookies (this was my first attempt at decorating with royal icing so I practiced a few times and threw out a LOT of cookies, but I was proud of my work).

Individual Halloween-themed goodie bags filled to the brim with gummy insects, candy corn and tons more.

I also included some Halloween photos from past years, just for fun!

Writer's Block

2009-09-22T16:36:00.001-04:00

If you're ever searching for a cute new idea...

Cut out words from magazines and make a collage letter
Find famous love letters and copy one down for him
Write a full page of "I Love You"s to send
Plan a future trip. You can write one day of the vacation and mail it to him. He can pick up where you left off and write another day and mail it back to you.

It's the little things...

2009-09-22T16:29:00.003-04:00

When he waits for the mail to see if there is a letter from home, make sure they call his name.

When he holds his letter close, make sure your words are something to hold on to.

When you say your prayers at night, you don't have to pray that he misses you. He does, so pray for his courage and safety instead.

OPSEC Rules

2009-09-22T13:59:00.005-04:00

What is OPSEC?

Operations Security, or OPSEC, is keeping potential adversaries from discovering our critical information. As the name suggests, it protects our operations planned, in progress, and those completed. Success depends on secrecy and surprise, so the military can accomplish the mission faster and with less risk. Our adversaries want our information, and they don't concentrate on only sailors to get it. They want you, the family member.

Protecting Critical Information

Even though information may not be secret, it can be what we call critical information. Critical information deals with specific facts about military intentions, capabilities, operations or activities. If an adversary knew this detailed information, our mission accomplishment and personnel safety could be jeopardized. It must be protected to ensure an adversary doesn't gain a significant advantage. By being a member of the military family, you! u will often know some bits of critical information. Do not discuss them outside of your immediate family and especially not over the telephone.

Examples Of Critical Information

Detailed information about the mission of assigned units.
Details on locations and times of unit deployments.
Personnel transactions that occur in large numbers (Example: pay information, powers of attorney, wills, deployment information).
References to trends in unit morale or personnel problems.
Details concerning security procedures.

Puzzle Pieces
These bits of information may seem insignificant. However, to a trained adversary, they are small pieces of a puzzle that highlight what were doing and planning. Remember, the elements of security and surprise are vital to the accomplishment of our goals and our collective personnel protection.

Remember

Where and how you discuss this information is just as important as with whom you discuss it. Adverse agents tasked with collecting information frequently visit some of the same stores, clubs, recreational areas, or places of worship as you do.

Determined individuals can easily collect data from cordless and cellular phones, and even baby monitors, using inexpensive receivers available from local electronics stores.

If anyone, especially a foreign national, persistently seeks information, notify your military sponsor immediately. He or she will notify the unit OPSEC program manager.

What Can You Do?

There are many countries and organizations that would like to harm Americans and degrade our influence in the world. It's possible, and not unprecedented, for spouses and family members of U.S. military personnel to be targeted for intelligence collection. This is true in the United States and especially true overseas! What can you do?

Be Alert
Foreign governments and organizations collect significant amounts of useful information by using spies. A foreign agent may use a variety of approaches to befriend someone and get sensitive information. This sensitive information can be critical to the success of a terrorist or spy, and consequently deadly to Americans.

Be Careful
There may be times when your spouse cannot talk about the specifics of his or her job. It's very important to conceal and protect certain information such as flight schedules, ship movements, temporary duty (TDY) locations, and installation activities, for example. Something as simple as a phone discussion about where your spouse is deploying, or going TDY, can be very useful to our enemies.

SOURCE http://www.heartsofourtroops.com/opsec_rules2.htm

Military Care Package Kits

2009-09-22T13:55:00.004-04:00

*thank you "R" for sending this!*

Since Priority Mail service supplies are the packaging of choice for families preparing care packages for service members overseas, the USPS has created a "Mili-kit" based on the items most frequently requested by the military.

The Kit Contains:

Boxes (3 of O-FRB1, 3 of O-FRB2 and 2 cube OBOX7s)
Address Labels (8 of #228-8 and 8 of #106-A 1)
Customs Forms (8 of 2976-A and 8 of 2976-E)

Get Yours Now!

Call 1-800-610-8734 (Packing Supply)
Select Language (1 = English, 2 = Spanish)
Press 1 for Express/Priority/Global Express Mail
Request "CareKit04" when you reach a representative

Note: These are free supplies, postage must be affixed. Expect 7-10 delivery days.

For additional information & guidelines, visit www.usps.com/supportingourtroops/

When it Rains, it Pours...

2009-09-19T18:43:00.000-04:00

Yes, this is usually true in general in life... but for now, let it remind us that if something in life gets you down, chances are it's just as hard, if not worse for them. Take, for example, a rainy day.

Rainy days make me want to stay inside, curl up with a cozy blanket and a good book or watch an old movie. I get upset if I have to run errands and I get wet, or if I have to be outside for an extended period of time (and by extended, I mean more than 30 seconds). Then I remember... at least I have an inside and a cozy blanket to turn to. A rainy day here is nothing compared to a rainy day to a soldier.

My point is -- and while I'm all for allowing myself to have pity party days and the occasional crying spell-- try to turn your bad days into a way of being surprisingly thoughtful. Send a few extra pairs of warm socks, maybe some waterproof gear... I'll think of a couple ideas and post them soon).

I'm always the most pleasantly surprised when someone calls just when I need to laugh, or just when I'm trying to make a difficult decision. Similarly, I'd like to do the thinking for him and do my best to make sure he's prepared for anything... well, anything snack, memory or comfort related anyway :)

P.S. If you need convincing that their rainy days trump ours...

"...the letters were precious"

2009-09-19T04:06:00.008-04:00

A soldier explains how much the hand-written letters he received meant to him. He explains that this is even more important in Afghanistan, because email and phone communication is far less accessible than it is in Iraq. Full Article

Best Line: "handwriting and perfume-- you can't get through the phone or e-mail"

More photos of Soldiers With Letters

Soldiers' Wish Lists

2009-09-19T04:00:00.000-04:00

A couple of resources to lists that soldiers have sent. If you're not new to care packages you've probably seen and sent most of the items on these, but it can't hurt to look through them in case you get stuck!

http://aswlsales.webs.com/wishlist.htm

http://www.give2thetroops.org/items.htm?

http://www.bootsonground.com/soldier-requested-items.htm

What NOT to send:
http://www.bootsonground.com/soldier-restricted-items.htm

Shipping Supplies

2009-09-19T03:46:00.001-04:00

Where Can I get USPS Boxes for Military Mail?
US Post Office provides FREE Flat Rate Priority APO/FPO boxes. You can order these online in packs of 10 or 25 and have them delivered FREE to your home (this can take up to 2 weeks).

You can also stop by your local post office and pick these up, just make sure to ask for the Military boxes which have the America Supports You logo on them.

Which Customs Form Should I Use?
2976A should be used for most packages, and requires a 2976A Envelope which you can also order online or pick up at the post office to fill out ahead of time; otherwise this can be added when you pay at the post office.

2976 is required on Priority Mail flat rate envelopes or small boxes under 16oz.

Motivation

2009-09-19T03:24:00.005-04:00

This week, during my second visit to the Waltham Post Office, a postal worker smiled at me, and I politely smiled back and went back to filling out-- yet again-- the 2976A Customs Form. I had that feeling.. you know, when you can tell someone is debating whether to ask a question (usually for directions, or if you've met before). When I looked up, he simply said "God bless you, and tell that lucky solider that we thank him and stand behind him."

I stayed a few more minutes as he told me stories about serving in Vietnam, and he quickly and completely reassured me that I shouldn't worry so much about the little things-- like whether my letters are silly (what I burned in the kitchen) or uninteresting (what I'm learning in grad school), or if my packages ever get boring or repetitive. He told me something that put a smile on my face, kept it there all day, and was quickly sent right through the phoneline to my wonderful friend "R" as well!

He said: "To a soldier, hearing your name at mail-call is like hearing I Love You for the first time. It can make-or-break your spirit, especially on tough days. If your name is called, you feel like a God".

I started into a "but what if..." but before I could get another word out, he jumped in and said "It doesn't matter what you send. If you sent cookies and they arrived as a bag of crumbs, they taste like home-made cookies on a snowday. You can send a letter with nothing more than 'Hi!' written on it, and it will make his day."

So, while I have my bases covered on those last two scenarios (see Cookies and Writers Block), these words were so comforting, a welcome surprise, and are an incredible first-hand source of motivation.

Bottom Line: Find 5 minutes in your day or week and write a letter to your soldier! XO

Got Your Back

2009-09-19T02:53:00.002-04:00

Someone emailed me this poem, and I thought it was a great first Inspiration post. If you have a loved one on active duty, let this remind you that we are never alone in these times. If not, this might help you understand what the friends and family of deployed soldiers are going through. Either way, there are a lot of beautiful poems and lyrics out there, so I'll continue to add my favorites!

GOT YOUR BACK

I am a small and precious child, my dad’s been sent to fight.
The only place I’ll see his face, is in my dreams at night.
He will be gone too many days for my young mind to keep track.
I'm lucky still, because I'm proud to say: My daddy’s got your back.

I am a caring mother; my son has gone to war.
My mind is filled with worries that I have never known before.
Everyday I try to keep my thoughts from turning black.
I miss my son, but I am proud: My son has got your back.

I am a strong and loving woman with my soldier soon to go.
There are times I’m terrified, in a way most never know.
I bite my lip, and force a smile, as I start to help him pack.
My heart may break, but I am proud: My soldier’s got your back.

I am a U.S. Soldier, serving proudly, standing tall.
I fight for freedom, yours and mine, by answering this call.
I serve my country proudly, traveling off the beaten track,
Say your prayers till I come home, because It’s me who’s got your back.

Theme: Under The Sea

2009-09-19T02:11:00.002-04:00

A fun idea for a themed care package is an Under The Sea or Ocean theme. Since I have been ever so kindly asked to "send edible things" I focused on candy for this one! *Photos Coming Soon!*

What I bought:
Swedish Fish, Lifesavers, Goldfish Crackers, SharkBites Fruit Snacks, Towel (see "packaging" below)

What I made:
I drew an Octopus* on a small piece of posterboard. On leg #1 I wrote "Read on each day this week!" and then wrote a different message on the remainig legs (#2 - #8). I covered each message with blue painter's tape and wrote the days of the week on each one. This way, even though the candy will probably be eaten right away, there will be somethign to look forward to for the next few days!

Packaging:
I wrapped* all of the snacks in blue tissue paper with white ribbon. I put a new towel* (washed at home and folded with dryer sheets so it smells good) in the bottom of the box and then the candy on top! As always, I put anything edible, even wrapped, inside freezer-size zip-lock bags just in case!

Reading List: Dealing with Deployment

2009-09-16T09:30:00.000-04:00

A few books to help you realize all of the feelings you have... the fears, the strength you somehow find on the lonely rainy days, the sleepless nights, the heart-pounding butterflies you get when the phone rings and its him (or her) on the other end... well, you're not alone. Not even close.

365 Deployment Days

Chicken Soup for the Military Wife's Soul

Separated by Duty, United by Love

Married to the Military

Lizzie's War