Holiday Season

When you think Holiday Season, I think about family and gifts being exchanged. It's a time for people to get together and to celebrate the things we most enjoy in life... or in some cases, this holiday season makes for some crazy times, during which you want to cut yourself away from this said family and go off drinking with your friends instead.

This is IF you have the luxury of family. As crazy as they might make you feel, they are your people. As I grow older, it has become clear to me that the holidays are a time of new family. Being able to share special moments with those who are not my blood but those who are kind enough to open their homes to me. There are those, like our fighting heroes (our service members) who are not afforded the luxury of being home (sometimes years and years in a row, to the dismay of their spouses, parents and especially, children).


If you are able, please consider sending a care package to one of our service members (deployed or stationed over seas) whose day or holiday season you might brighten up by sending them a care package. Simple things such as much needed baby wipes, socks or gum or more fun items such as candy or reading material might not sound like much of a luxury for you but in certain parts, it can make all the difference.

What makes this a more personal experience is the letter that you include. Receiving a care package from a stranger is a great morale boost for our troops and being able to make it even more personal shows your support for our men and women who SACRIFICE to fight for us (whether or not you agree with the politics behind the wars that we fight or the military's presence).

So please, while you are writing your holiday shopping lists, please consider sending a care package to one of our troops. You can ask me if you'd like to find somebody or consider going through tried and true organizations like Adopt a US Soldier or Soldiers' Angels. If you feel uncomfortable sending one personally, you can volunteer with your local USO that holds large care package assembly sessions in which you can meet other people who are interested in helping our troops this holiday season.

Thank you for your support.

My List:
1) I have an incredibly strong and supportive net of people who I am finally starting to trust in hearing my concerns.
2) A mother who had enough courage to write to strangers about helping her son through a deployment.
3) The USO. Did you know that most all of their effort (over 90%) is fueled by volunteers and donations? If you are able, please contribute.