Hey, feel free to send me an email or IM outside of this if you want to talk more about this subject.. my husband is in Iraq right now.. been gone over 6 months. I can definitely give you some advice and tips for care package ideas, things to do on the home front end, where we are, while he's away, help with the children and coping, etc...
But here's some for now:
Care Package Ideas - Spring and Summer
Spring:
1. Take your kids, family members, friends and pets outside and take some fun pictures! Now that the weather is cooperating with us we can enjoy some time outside. If you have time, take a picnic to your favorite spot, set up the cam corder nearby and let the tape roll! You'll be able to film a picnic and send the tape to your loved one so that he/she can enjoy the event with you. Don't forget to have everyone take a few moments to give a personal video taped message to your loved one.
2. Send a little bit of spring. You and/or your family can take a walk and collect some of the "Signs" of spring. Take a few flower petals, new sprouts of grass, new leaves, blossoms and make a collage for your loved one. No matter where he/she is stationed, they'll love the touch of home.
3. Seeds of Love: Send your loved one an envelope full of heart shaped candy (cinnamon candies, message hearts, sweet tarts) and decorate the outside of the envelope with cute drawings and the words "Seeds of Love". Let them know that you are with them and that your love continues to grow no matter where they are.
Remember! Now that the weather is warming up, check in with your loved one to make sure that it's still a good season to mail chocolate and caramel items. With loved ones in Bosnia and Kosovo, the weather will start to warm up extremely fast. And if you are mailing chocolate or caramels, they will arrive in one big gooey mess.
For specialty candies such as heart shaped candy, try shopping at a local candy store or novelty shop where you can purchase candy in bulk or by the 1/4 pound.
Summer:
Make sure your summer if packed full of fun and excited activities for your family and for yourself! So make this a summer to remember and fill in your loved one of all your fun!
A few ideas:
1. Take LOTS of pictures of the kids at swim lessons, barbecue's, school functions, church functions and create scrapbook pages! Mail a binder and the first page to your loved one. Then follow with additional pages every 2 weeks or when you have pages filled. Not only will this keep a constant mail flow but it will keep him/her up to date on your activities! Don't' forget to let the kids design a few pages themselves!!!
2. Carry a disposable camera everywhere you go (or a handy digital camera). Keep one in your car, one in your purse, one in the kids' back packs. They are about $10 each unless you find them on sale. Put together a collage of things that remind you of your spouse. Have the kids take pictures of things they see that make them think about dad/mom as well as your pictures. Put them together to create a photo essay.
3. Mission: Camp Home! Create a mini camp for your kids at home. Put together a theme and make different arts and crafts, paint a T-shirt, design a door hanging for their room, take pictures, make cards, make folders, picture frames. Photograph your "camp" and send them to your spouse. Summers are a great time to get the kids busy, as well as yourself, and involved in activities that make deployment fly by.
4. Picnic Basket
How about sending your loved one a picnic care package? Find a small basket or box, line it with a linen napkin and include such picnic items as: Juice Boxes, meats (canned tuna, chicken, etc) crackers, cheese (pre-packaged, such as you would find at Hickory Farms), chips, fruit roll ups, nuts, cookies, candies, brownies, pickles, olives, etc. You can also throw in some plastic ants for fun! You won't be able to send him/her every picnic item you have, but it will be fun for them to enjoy their basket while they watch the video of you and the kids.
5. Seed Packets
Have the kids draw pictures of themselves outside. Then glue small flower seeds to the bottom of their drawings and attach a note saying something fun like, "My love for you grows like wildflowers". And also, attach a package of wildflower seeds. You can pick up a package of seeds for under $1 at your local market.
Helpful hints for Summer Care Package Mailing:
For those of you who have loved ones deployed to the hotter areas of the world, as much as they like chocolate, do not mail it! During this weather chocolate and caramel end up arriving in one goopy mess. Brownies are USUALLY safe to mail, as long as you pack them efficiently. However, with brownies being so moist, if they are being shipped to a tropical region, there is always the possibility of them mildewing.
This is a good time to send such items as: sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, dried meats, crackers, chips, fruit roll ups, etc.
POWDERED DRINK MIX!!! This can be a life saver. Next time you see PRE-SWEETENED powdered drink mix on sale, pick some up and include it in your next care package. They can easily be added to a canteen of water for a nice refreshing treat.