In My Own Words

I guess since I feel called to support the troops, it shouldn’t surprise me when things work out in unexpected ways and allow me to send more packages than I thought possible.  I invariably wind up spending more than I intended when I go shopping for care package “stuff,” and end up short on funds for postage. That used to make me fret and worry that I wouldn’t be able to get the packages mailed to our Warriors, but I don’t do that any more.

Somehow, it always works out. Like the line in “Field of Dreams” that says “If you build it, they will come,” I have discovered that “If I pack the boxes, they will get mailed.” Maybe Ms. Betty will pay the postage, leaving me with money to buy more “stuff.” Someone might order some bread just in time to mail a couple of packages. An angel with a generous heart may make a donation to “Help Ms. Tracy Support the Troops.” A couple of times, I have received a check in the mail from an angel in Hailey, Idaho with a post-it note attached saying “Keep up the good work.”

I was down to $21 and change in the Troop Support Account, and I’ve got a lot of “stuff” to put in care packages – and no shortage of Warriors to send them to. The very day I hit that balance, I got a phone call from the principal at one of our Middle Schools; she wanted to order two loaves of bread. ($10) Not thirty minutes after she called, one of my friends at the office asked if I could bake 4 dozen wheat rolls (another $10). So instead of mowing the yard when I got home from work, as I had planned, I got busy baking bread and rolls.

I had two extra loaves of bread the next morning, which I took to work and set out on the counter – and they were bought in no time. ($10 – we’re up to $30.) The principal sent one of her office workers to pick up her bread, and sent an extra $10 for two more loaves which she wanted to give to the staff at the board office. The principal at Ashland City Elementary came over and asked if I could bake her two loaves of bread. (If you’re keeping track, that puts us at $50) When Cindy paid for the rolls, she added an extra $5 for the troops. (Okay, now we’re up to $55.)

Today, a friend from Ashland City Elementary came over to talk to the director of finances, and brought me $20. She said she’d been meaning to pick up some items for care packages and couldn’t ever remember to do it, so she hoped it would be okay if she gave me cash instead. Without fretting or worrying about not having enough postage to send anything, I wound up having $75 within a 48 hour period of time, which will take care of several packages. God (and His angels) will provide.

This weekend, the Family Readiness Group for the 278th ACR is collecting items for care packages to go to our local National Guard troops in Iraq. I’m going to take a bunch of things over and drop them off. They’ll be there from 1:00 to 3:00 Sunday afternoon, so we’ll head over that way after church. I’ve challenged my friends and co-workers to do the same, but haven’t gotten any response to my challenge, so we’ll just have to wait and see if they come through.  I have adopted several members of the 278th who signed up on AnySoldier.com already, but I intend to support the activities of the FRG as well, to get as many care packages to our guys and gals as possible. They held bake sales and yard sales and such last time our Guard deployed; I’ll help with those when they do it again. (Hey, I can bake!! LOL!!)

Okay, I guess I’ve rambled on enough. I better sign off before somebody rolls their eyes at me and tells me to “Shut up, already!” Y’all have a good’un; don’t forget to pray for our Troops! And to my deployed Warriors – blah blah blah, nag nag nag, STAY SAFE!! Don’t make me have to come over there… Hugs {{{{{{Dana, Kenneth, Ron, Erick, Kelly, Ian, Charly, William, Erik, Yenny, Adrian, Addie, Joseph, Patrick…oh, goodness, ALL of Y’all!!}}}}}} Just be careful, okay??