I really enjoy our church’s project of packing boxes to ship to our soldiers serving overseas.  Today was our fourth time to gather together to pack boxes.  Today we put together a record of FORTY-EIGHT boxes!  That means that forty-eight soldiers serving in Iraq will receive a package from us within a few weeks.   Each box included a letter, a CD, a box of Girl Scout cookies, a bag of candy, beef jerky, notepad and pens, magazine(s), various toiletries, packages of crackers and granola bars, individual packs of pudding, hot chocolate mix and other goodies. 

I was particularly blessed by how everyone stepped in wherever they were needed - whether it was manning the tape dispenser to put boxes together, packing the boxes, addressing labels, bagging candy or q-tips, gathering up all the trash, writing letters, sealing boxes, matching up box labels with customs forms - and so many other things.  Whatever needed to be done - someone stepped up to do it.  I loved watching the children who so enthusiastically participated.  They were so proud of the boxes they packed - along with the letters they wrote.  Sweet Stuff came to church with us again today so she could help with the boxes.  She has taken a personal interest in doing this project with us.

We will plan to do this again in May.  In the meantime, we will start collecting items again for that next shipment.  We already have enough boxes and customs forms for the next shipment.  So everyone will be looking for sales on items that our soldiers will appreciate. 

I’m getting this down to a science now - knowing the items that ship best, organizing everything so that the packing will go smoothly, and making sure that we have all the supplies we need.  However, obviously I don’t have it down exactly because I thought we’d probably pack around 30 - 35 boxes today - but we wound up with 48 very full boxes by the end of the session.

Oh yes, I also got up early this morning and made a pot of chicken and dumplings, along with a pot of chili - and took them to church with me.  Everyone who helped with the packages had their lunch provided - and there was not a drop of either soups left over.  And that made me feel good, too.

The MSM is out of control.  Apparently nothing is safe from their lust for “breaking news.”   Prince Harry was withdrawn from his tour of duty in Afghanistan because getting a story is more important to news organizations and gossip blogs than a person’s safety or privacy or . . . anything.   I guess Drudge Report got more advertising revenue and more readers because of his role in breaking the news.  The fact that the news put Prince Harry and the other soldiers in his unit - and really all soldiers - at risk wasn’t important. 

It’s bizarre, really.  Reporters can be censored or even lose their job for uttering words that some might find offensive, and yet when they report information that endangers people, it’s considered “news” and it’s okay.  In the minds of the MSM, the “right to know” trumps decency, kindness, consideration, and common sense much too often.

Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you:  Jesus Christ and the American Soldier.  One died for your soul; the other for your freedom.

Tiara tip to Fausta.

If liberals weren’t so dangerous, they’d be funny.  I just love that they probably truly believe that they can “deeply respect and support” the men and women of the armed forces while pulling such silly stunts as the Berkely City Council trying to run the Marine recruiters out of town.  It reminds me of the old saying that “Actions speak louder than words.”  And these folks are so far into their delusional la-la land that they don’t see how ridiculous they really are.

Liberal City Eases Anti-Marines Stance

AP

BERKELEY, Calif. (Feb. 13) - City council members who were criticized for telling Marine recruiters they don’t belong here have moderated their position, saying they oppose the Iraq war but support the troops.

The Berkeley City Council voted two weeks ago to send a letter to a downtown recruitment station advising the Marines they were not welcome.
After a marathon session that stretched into early Wednesday, the council decided against sending the letter, saying it recognizes recruiters’ right to be in Berkeley. The council members say they still strongly oppose the war and the recruitment of young people, but “deeply respect and support” the men and women of the armed forces.

Some on the council had pushed for issuing an apology. Others rejected that, saying they just wanted to clarify their position.

Councilwoman Linda Maio said the council opposes recruitment, not the military. “It’s behavior that we oppose, not the people,” she said.

The meeting drew hundreds of people on both sides of the issue who rallied outside City Hall from dawn until well into the night.

Inside the chamber, scores of speakers addressed the council, some decrying its earlier action.

“You owe our military an apology,” said Kevin Graves, a San Francisco Bay area resident who said his son died serving in Iraq.

Others applauded the council’s stand.

Medea Benjamin, co-founder of the anti-war group Code Pink, said her group supports the troops - “we support them so much that we’re desperate to get them back home.”

In rallies outside, pro-troop group Move America Forward sponsored one protest, holding signs that said “Stop Bashing Our Boys.” On the other side, anti-war group Code Pink held bouquets of flowers and waved signs saying “Peace Now” and “Bring Our Troops Home.”

Police estimated the crowd at about 2,000 at its height. A handful of people were arrested for scuffles between protesters, police spokeswoman Sgt. Mary Kusmiss said.

The recruiting office opened in Berkeley in late 2006. It operated quietly until four months ago, when Code Pink began holding regular protests.

Today, after church and after a pot luck dinner, many from our little church gathered to pack over 30 boxes to send to soldiers fighting in Iraq.  It was a really good time.  Before starting, our pastor led us in prayer that each package would find its way to the soldier who most needed it.  We are sending most of the packages to the leader of a unit who will distribute them to his soldiers.  Several of the packages went to soldiers who are related or somehow associated with members of the church.  We sent packages to two friends of my nephew, a nephew of a church member, the niece of another church member, and the friend of the son of another church member.

Each box contained magazines, writing tablets, pens, toiletries, snacks, CDs, candy, batteries, and assorted other items.   We made sure each package included something “fun”  a game, a toy, some cards.  The last thing placed in each package was a letter from someone in the church. 

Sweet Stuff came to church with us today.  Sweet Stuff had helped us pack boxes once before, and she enjoyed doing something concrete for our soldiers.  So she was anxious to help get the packages ready to send to the soldiers again.  She wrote two of the letters herself today, and she probably filled at least three of the boxes - with RT’s help.

If you’d like to send packages to service personnel fighting in Iraq or Afghanistan, you can contact Soldiers’ Angels to get the name of a soldier.  Be aware, though, that they don’t give out names to just anybody.  There are too many kooks out there who would misuse that information.  You have to provide information about yourself, and you have to make a commitment to support your soldier with letters and packages.  It is a great organization that is doing a lot of good for military men and women.

There is sad news in the blogosphere - in the world.  Andy Olmsted, an American soldier serving in Iraq, has died.   He wrote a post that was only to be published upon his death.  Read it here and also here at his own webpage. 

You can also read his last post at Rocky Mountain News - written the day after Christmas.

Andy, thanks for your service, thanks for all your writing, God bless and be with your family, and may you rest in peace.

Tiara-tip to Raven.

This morning I read Blue Star Chronicles (as I do every day) and found an amazing story.  A psycho anti-military Chicago lawyer, Jay Grodner, saw a car with military stickers and decided to key it - causing $2400 in damages.  When the Marine Sgt Mike McNulty saw Grodner keying his car, he confronted him.  Grodner immediately took on the victim role by claiming he was being picked on because he’s Jewish.  You know,  McNulty wouldn’t mind if a Christian, atheist, Buddhist, Muslim or agnostic keyed his car, but since it was a Jew who did it . . .  I’m wondering if Grodner is really going to get away with this offense. 

Black Five originated the story and has updates.  Click over to BSC or Black Five to read the entire story.  Baldilocks makes a prediction. Moonbattery tells us what Grodner will see in the mirror.   Conservative Belle asks “What do you get when a bad lawyer . . . .?” Fausta says it’s a hate crime. Volokh Conspiracy wants answers about the legal issues in the case. Planck’s Constant  says Grodner is an idiot and he has the photos to prove it.

The following is a post I wrote last December.  Lots of people enjoyed reading it, and it provided encouragement and a positive message for many.  Since we’re into the Christmas season again, I wanted to re-post it.

After over 25 years of teaching, I still enjoy experiencing fresh examples of the insight and compassion of children.  I found that to be the case when the children at my elementary school wrote letters to soldiers serving overseas.

Since I have a nephew who is serving in Iraq, some of the letters were given to me to send to him to share with his unit. Here is a small sampling of the drawings and letters that I’ll be shipping to my nephew tomorrow:

I will start off with the card that should win an award somewhere! This child gets it - because of our American soldiers there IS still hope in the world.

The following are pictures and exerpts of letters from children from kindergarten through fifth grade.

Dear Soldier,

Happy holidays. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas. I feel very bad that you have to be in the war during the holiday, but the one thing we’re all happy about is that you’re fighting for our country.

Dear Soldier,

I dedicate this letter to you because you are fighting for the U.S.A. Is it hot in Iraq? I do thank you for keeping us little kids safe. I wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

Dear Soldier,

Merry Christmas to you. Thank you for serving our country. You are so brave for going across the ocean. I am so proud of you.

Dear Soldier,

How is it going? You know if I was there I would be scared. I’m sure I would miss my family and friends, but you are doing the right thing. You’re saving a lot of people. You people rock! I hope you have a wonderful merry Christmas.

Dear Soldier,

I am in second grade and I live in Tennessee. I like how you are fighting for me and my family. You and your buddies should get to come home when Christmas comes.You are brave to go out and fight. All of you are real brave. I like you.

Dear Soldier,

I wish you could spend the holidays with your family. I appreciate your dedication to serving our country and fighting for our freedom. Our whole class of 25 students is writing letters. I’m the only one who wrote two. I know you don’t want to be there right now. I hope you come back in one piece.

Dear Soldier,

I like the army. I almost read all of the army books. We just moved here a week ago. The old school I went to ws good, but this school is better. We are glad you are doing this. Thanks for making the world a better place. I know I want to join the army. I had fun writing this letter and I will write another.

Dear Soldier,

I appreciate what you have done for our country. I have written a poem especially for you.

Heroic, brave

Fight, protect, guard

Thank you for everything

Fighter

I wrote the other day about how my church got together and packed twenty-eight boxes to send to soldiers serving in Iraq.  We got the contact name from a not-for-profit organization called Soldiers’ Angels - a group that provides aide and comfort to the men and women serving in the armed forces of the USA.  It’s a wonderful group of people!

Now the Gallery Collection, a great business and holiday card company,  has crafted a meaningful gift in the form of Soldiers’ Angels card.   They have donated cards to be included with care packages sent to the soldiers by Soldiers’ Angels to wish them Happy Holidays, Happy New Year and to tell them thanks.  They have also donated blank cards for the troops to use to write home.

You can support this endeavor by donating to Soldiers’ Angels and/or by buying your holiday or business cards from Gallery Collection - the Corporate Holiday Cards Company.  In addition to beautiful and classic Christmas cards, Gallery Collection has cards for all occasions for businesses or individuals.

Whatever your politics, you can wholeheartedly support our armed services men and women through these two organizations.

A few months ago, I mentioned at church that I thought it would be nice if we sent some boxes of gifts for our soldiers serving in Iraq.  I was amazed at how excited and supportive everyone was.  I put a box for donations in the church, and it was filled the next week.  I packed up the first shipment by myself - 7 boxes!  However, it took me a long time to get all the donations organized on my dining room table.  I told RT that I was going to enlist some help the next time.

So in September we made our second shipment.  I announced in church that we’d meet in the fellowship hall one evening that week and that anyone who wanted to help was welcome to be there.  We had a good crowd and had the boxes packed, the packing slips and customs forms completed in about an hour.  That time there were 15 boxes full of stuff to ship.  We only had two names/addresses of soldiers, but both of those soldiers had agreed to distribute the boxes to individual soldiers in their units.

Last night was our third time to meet.  The response has been overwhelming.  We go to an extremely small Methodist church, but we had fifteen people meet to put the packages together.  Several parents brought their young children.  I was thrilled at how excited the children were to help pack boxes for our soldiers.  Even little 2-year old Meredith drew a picture to include in one of the boxes.  Eight-year old Leland wrote a note on a Christmas card that I wish I had copied.  It brought tears to my eyes to read the sentiments of a young child expressing love and appreciation for our soldiers.

We had pizza to eat as we worked, and we ended up with twenty-eight boxes to ship to Iraq today. 

Let me relate a conversation I had on my way to the church last night.  I stopped at Walgreen’s to pick up some Ziplock bags for the smaller items in the boxes.  I saw that they had some hand and feet warmers on sale - so I bought a lot of those, too.  I wanted to make sure we could put a handwarmer in each box.  The cashier looked at my purchases and said, “You must be going camping . . . right?”

“No,” I replied, “Our church is putting together boxes of gifts to send to our soldiers in Iraq tonight.  These are for them.”

Another customer who was in line behind me, asked, “Do you have someone over there?”

I answered, “My nephew is in Baghdad, but we got an email this morning that today is his last day.  He leaves for Germany tonight.”

“That’s wonderful.  My son-in-law is over there.  This is his fourth tour.  I keep telling him to quit, but he won’t do it.”

Another customer walked past us, then turned and, with tears in her eyes,  said, “God bless them both.”

Amen.