Build That Bear

Idea courtesy of Teresa

Build-A-Bear®

Prior to my husband leaving, we took our girls to Build-A-Bear® to make a special bear for the deployment. We allowed them to pick out their bear and purchased the special recording devise at Build-A-Bear® to leave a good night message for each girl from their Dad. We dressed them in the Army uniform (also available at Build-A-Bear®) and let them accessorize (with nice pink bows!!!) The girls keep these in a special place in their rooms and take them when they travel so that they can hear their Daddy's voice anytime they want to.

· Build-A-Bear® Soldier Christmas Gift - The girls and I are planning to make a Build-A-Bear® bear for Daddy at Christmas time with our own special message to him!

· Like this Idea and wish you had made a Build-A-Bear® bear before your soldier left?Don't worry you can still do this!!! - You can purchase the recording devise at any Build-A-Bear Workshop® and send it to your soldier to record a message and mail it back (or record it over their 4 day pass). Then take the recorded message back to Build-A Bear® and they will place it in the bear of your choice.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!!

Paper Chains (not just for holidays)

Paper Chains have been around for years, but this activity takes it "one day at a time." You simply do one link to the chain each day your loved one is gone on deployment.

Items Needed:

• Construction paper
• Scissors
• Two-sided tape or paste/glue

Cutout strips of construction paper for your links. You can either do this ahead of time or daily. We coordinated the months and colors (e.g. Orange for October for Halloween, Green for December for Christmas, Red for February for Valentine's Day, etc.) We are also marking the dates on each link. This is great for young children to learn dates of the month. Milestones can be added to the link dates such as birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, etc. or adding something special the child did or the score of their sports game that day, etc.





Connect links daily with glue or two-sided tape. This is a fun and great deployment activity for the young and old.

THIS IS WHAT 36 DAYS LOOKS LIKE.

The Silent Ranks
I wear no uniforms, no blues or greens.
But, I am in the military, in the ranks rarely seen.
I have no rank upon my shoulders. Salutes I do not give.
But in the military world is where I live and am rarely seen.
I am not in the chain of command, orders I do not give or get.
But my husband is the one who does, this I can not forget.
I am not the one who fires a weapon, Who puts his life on the line.
But my job is just as tough, I'm the one who is always left behind.
My husband is a patriot, a brave and pride filled man.
And the call to serve his country not all can understand.
Behind the lines, I see things needed to keep this country free.
My husband makes the sacrifice, but so do my kids and me.
I love the man I married. The military is his life.
So I pledge to support my hero and stand among the silent ranks known as
THE MILITARY WIFE

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