Gifts for Soldiers

One last thing we did this holiday season that I've never done before were cards and gifts to soldiers. Jake's teacher's son left for Iraq this fall. Her daughter is in high school and I believe her son is very young as well. Anyway, that inspired me and then we had a cub scout leader in the pack who had contact info for a unit (right word?) over there and so we 'adopted' two of the soldiers from that list as well. We bought snacks (beef jerky, nuts, hard candies) and other items like sunscreen, lotion, toothpaste, wipes, etc., the kids made cards and I wrote a letter to put in each of the gifts.

One of Jake's cards to a Soldier
(protecting & country are the mystery words :) )

We had to fill out customs forms at the post office and the shipping was pretty expensive, but while I was at the post office a young man came up and asked me if I had mailed the packages I sent to soldiers overseas. I told him I had and he shook my hand and told me he wanted to thank me. He said he was fortunate enough to be here this Christmas but that they LOVED getting packages like that when he was over there. It certainly made it even more worthwhile.

Sydney's Picture on Her Card