Adopt a Soldier
August 19, 2008
First, may I say Thank you to those of you who have asked how to adopt a soldier. Second, if anyone downloaded the "Thanks" file in my KNK freebies before yesterday, you will want to downoad it again. Sorry, thanks Lynn for figuring out that I neglected to convert my text to graphics (again!). You can also download it here: ducky_KNK Military_Thanks. I will add the GSD version soon.
OK, the best way to adopt a soldier is meeting a soldier or getting the APO/FPO address of a friend or relative serving. But, if you don't know any, there are tons of websites.
The best: http://www.ryanrust.com/AdoptAMarine.html This is a "ma & pa" type group. Actually, it was the grandfather who sent me a name. And Lynn, they're from Florida I think, isn't that your beautiful state?
Another good website (much larger) is:
www.anysoldier.com. Click on the "Where to Send" tab at the top.
Please remember that the number one thing the soldiers request is letters!!
You can make a difference.
Joey & the Mickey Mug
August 15, 2008
4 years ago I adopted my first Soldier. His name is Joey and he was serving in Iraq at the time. He was the nephew of a friend of a friend of a friend. Every week I would send him a care package and a letter. My staff and family would always contribute to the boxes and my sister would get my nephews to draw Joey pictures and write him letters, and those too were added to the boxes. One day my sister and I took my nephews to Disneyland. At the end of the day we stopped in Downtown Disney to buy souvenirs of the day. My nephews picked out this beautiful ceramic mug with Mickey Mouse on it and said that they wanted to send it to Joey. My sister and I smiled and I explained that the mug was quite breakable and probably would not survive a trip to Iraq and suggested that they pick something else out if they wanted to send something to Joey. But their hearts were set on the mug, nothing else was "perfect" for Joey. So, the mug was purchase with a promise that I would send it to Joey. The next day I wrapped that mug in what seemed like reams of bubble wrap and foam and shipped it off to Joey with the story of the kids picking it out and some photos of the day at Disneyland.
Two weeks later I got an e-mail from Joey saying that when the box arrived he opened it in front of all his buddies (typical over there), and when he unwrapped all the plastic wrap there was the mug, intact with Mickey staring up at him. All his buddies laughed and started to razz him and then he read the letter out loud. When he finished the letter and passed around the photos, he looked around the room and knew by the look on their faces that every guy there was wishing the box had come to them.
When he was not on patrol, he drank coffee from that mug every day. When it was time for him to come home he wrapped that mug up in the same plastic wrap as well as some clothing and placed it in the middle of his carry-on bag. He flew home on a military transport plane, the kind where you sit on a bench and hang on to the netting to stay seated. One arm wrapped through the netting and one arm wrapped around that bag on his lap
To this day, he still drinks his coffee from that mug and says that it is one of his most treasured possessions. He sent me a photo of him holding his morning coffee and I scrapbooked the page for my nephews.
I know this story is long, but I want you to know that sometimes the smallest gestures can mean the most. Especially to a soldier away from home, family and friends.
August 6, 2008
Again, let me say how impressed I am with how many people found the first hidden Mickey. Oh, did you catch that? You didn't think I only had one, did you. Here is what's under the second one:
August 1, 2008
I hope everyone had fun searching for the "special" hidden Mickey on my site. I guess I'll have to make the next hidden Mickey a bit harder. I did like Colleen's hint she gave in one of her e-mails"
"The hidden Mickey is very cleverly hidden...but, he's there. The key is to keep looking..."
Sorry about not converting the font I used to curves. Woops. Thank you Gigi for letting everyone know the font I used (PassionConflict). It's only there as a sample, obviously you write anything. Wait until you see the beautiful card Gigi made with little tiny pearls on the stamens. Wow, it's beautiful. I'll add it to the gallery soon.
