Holiday Mail for Heroes

So.... yet again, i am a bit behind on things these days.  Even though there are only a few days left to participate i would like share this with you.  If every one of us wrote and sent one note, can you imagine how many more soldiers and their families would receive a Christmas card this year? 
"For a fifth year, American Red Cross and Pitney Bowes are partnering to ensure all Americans have an opportunity to send a touch of home this holiday season to members of our U.S. military, veterans and their families, many of whom will be far away from home this holiday season."
"All cards must be postmarked no later than Friday, December 9th. Cards postmarked after this date will unfortunately be returned to the sender. This deadline ensures enough time to sort and distribute cards before the holidays."

Send cards to the address below:

Holiday Mail For Heroes
P.O. Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456

Card Guidelines

•All cards being sent in for 2011 Holiday Mail For Heroes program should be postmarked no later than Friday, December 9, 2011.

•Ensure that all cards are signed.

•Use generic salutations such as “Dear Service Member.” Cards addressed to specific individuals can not be delivered through this program.

•Only cards are being accepted. Do not send letters.

•Do not include email or home addresses on the cards, as the program is not meant to foster pen pal relationships.

•Do not include inserts of any kind, including photos, as these items will be removed during the reviewing process.

•Please refrain from sending holiday cards with glitter. Many of these cards will be delivered to military and veterans medical facilities and the glitter could interfere with a patient’s recovery.

•We encourage participants to mail as many cards as they are comfortable sending. If you are mailing a large quantity, please bundle the cards and place them in large mailing envelopes or use a flat rate box from the post office. Each card does not need its own envelope, as cards will be removed from all envelopes before distribution.
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You can check out the Red Cross Blog to find out more about this worthwhile program.

A Little Brown Book

Yesterday i headed out to find a birthday gift or two for a young lady about to turn 9.  Ladybug is very much into horses and reading and cooking and sewing ....it shouldn't be difficult right?  : )

I ventured over to our local Borders, which is closing sometime soon.  Everything is about 20% off right now and some sections are already wiped out - quite amazing.  So anyway, while there i found a few things in the stationary section (30%off!) that i thought she would like ... and one little thing that i knew was meant just for me.  Ok, so i should have resisted but sometimes mom has a good reason.

I purchased a little 3.5 x 5.5 spiral notebook for myself.  Yes, its cute - brown with tiny pink polka dots ...but that couldn't be helped. : )  
Now why? you ask, and that is a perfectly logical question.....

As a mommy we have a tendency to put aside our own interests while the kids are young.  There is nothing more important than being mommy.  If you can take your interests and teach your children about them and do them with the kids that's great, but that does not always work out.  Sometimes they just need to be on hold for a bit. 

Here is where the little brown notebook comes in.  Every so often (and sometimes more often then not) a brilliant idea pops into my head (i'm sure you understand completely!)  There are getting to be too many of them to remember!  My little brown notebook is my backup memory!  I have already started filling the pages..and while some ideas may sit for years (yes, they will) they will be noted and remembered for when i have the time to make them/do them.

Life is such a joy - to watch your little ones grow, to help guide and then watch them go.  But you are still you and sometimes you need a reminder that you are a pretty interesting person, and more than just mommy.  The little brown notebook is a reminder of all the God inspired ideas you hold in your heart for the times you have a free moment - both while the kids are little and once they are grown. 

I highly recommend getting one (any color and size you want!) and jotting down those project ideas for a later date.  They don't 'just happen' for no reason.