Sent a Little Love to Our Vets!

Well, the other night, by the time I went to bed, my back hurt, my carpal tunnel was acting up, and I had a headache!   But, I felt great because you did it again.  I received  1,900 Valentines for Vets. It was quite a chore to get them bundled up and ready to mail, but with the help of my son we did it. 

Last Wednesday, when I arrived home, there was a FedEx box on my porch which had obviously been run over by a truck (large tire print across the middle was the first real clue!  Then I thought, "Maybe it's that FedEx driver who lost his job because he threw the flat screen television over the fence during the Christmas holidays.  I'm not sure.)  Anyway, the two ends were split, but the contents were not damaged and they were Valentines cards made by Daisy Troop 483 out of Geneva, Illinois.  I got such a kick out of going through each adorable little card, and just thinking about these young girls sitting there cutting, coloring and decorating cards for total strangers.  It was truly heart warming.

So far (and we're not quite done), I've received cards from Daisy Troop 483, Traughber Jr. High School, Oswego East High School, Oswego High School, The Oswego Jr. Varsity Cheerleaders, Churchill Elementary School, Fox Chase Elementary School, Bednarcik Jr. High School, Thompson Jr. High School, the Wheatlands Elementary School, Prairie Point Elementary School, Jewel Middle School in Aurora, Cross Lutheran Church in Plano (there were some unbelievable handmade cards in that batch for Kyle Moser), and Castle Bank/Oswego.

I think that's it, but please forgive me if I've forgotten anyone, and by all means, let me know.  I don't want to forget anyone because each of your contributions were so important.  Don't worry if you weren't able to do cards this time.  There'll be other opportunities. 

By the way, while I'm on that subject, one of the things that I could really use when I'm putting all of these cards into bundles are jumbo paperclips.  They're really expensive and I use over 1,000 of them each time I do a project.   Another item I use lots of are small envelopes...the kind that come 50-100 per box - the cheap ones.   I use them around each bundle to hold the bundle together and then I paperclip them, so anyone who would like to donate some, that would be much appreciated.

Once again, I was in awe of the vast array of styles and sentiments,  There were cards with cut-out hands, adorable moving-part lady bugs that were just TOO cute, and there were hearts, doilies, bows, buttons and gems decorating some cards.  Yes, there were great big cards and little tiny cards with an abundance of glued-on embellishments.  Just in case you don't remember being little - glue is used in large quantities and lots of things are stuck on top of it!  

Thank you to all of the teachers, parents, staff members and so on, who worked to design their cards and help the kids.  You are truly special and I wish all of you a Happy Valentines Day.  You are richly deserving.

Just who did these cards go to?  We will be delivering cards to Bickford and Tillers in Oswego, to Hillside Rehab in Yorkville, to Countryside, Jennings Terrace and Alden/Waterford in Aurora.  There were also some big boxes going to Ana Veterans Home, LaSalle Veterans Home, Manteno Veterans home, and the Hines Blind Center.  

Also,  I suggested to my fellow members of the Oswego Civic Women's Club that we send a nice knitted lap quilt to Kyle Moser for Valentines Day and was given a beautiful one knitted by Judy Smith.  I boxed that up along with a bunch of cards to remind Kyle that he's constantly in our thoughts and prayers.

Some of you ask why I do this.  Why am I always coming up with ideas or little projects for our Veterans?  You must know the answer to that...they are real American heroes.  What they have sacrificed is so patriotic that I MUST give back by doing what small things I'm capable of, and by encouraging others to find their "patriotic action button".  

I took Kyle's package over to Herschel Luckinbill's home so he could deliver it to Kyle's father who is going down to visit him.  Hershel had over 180 letters and cards that he'd collected for Kyle too!

Imagine these Veterans who live in the nursing homes or Veterans homes wondering if anybody even remembers or cares.  Think about that little card coming on Veterans Day or Christmas, and then you're forgotten the rest of the year.  Patriotism doesn't sleep.  It doesn't take a holiday or wait for a special event.  It needs to be fed and nurtured.  It needs to be acknowledged every day.  So I say...let's make a consistent point of honoring these men and women by sending them a card or note anytime to let them know they are remembered and we're thankful.

And, for those of you who don't believe in Kismet, here's a little something to think about.  I went to the Post Office and mailed out all of the packages which came to a total of $50.90.   Then I went to my post office box before I left.  There was a little note from my friends at Acorn Appraisal in Oswego (Phil & Di VanTassel) with a check enclosed to help defray expenses - for $50.00!  Now, explain that any way you want, but I call it Kismet!

Thank you Oswego.  So many of you have once again done something beautiful and on Wednesday these Veterans will think so too.

As always.....live an inspired and patriotic life!