I was searching for a cool way for my son to stay in touch with his young children while he is deployed. “A Story Before Bed” lets a person record audio and video of themselves reading a children’s book into their webcam right in their web browser!
The best part is that parents who are members of one of the branches of the U.S. Armed Forces who are deployed away from their children for any amount of time are eligible to sign up for free coupon codes from A Story Before Bed. Click here for more information.
You need a valid e-mail address ending in “.mil”. Enter it in the field below, and periodically we will send you a coupon code for a free recording. That’s all there is to it.
How Does A Story Before Bed Work?
You need a computer with Internet service and a webcam. Each recording cost $6.95, except for the special promo mentioned above.
- Choose a children’s book from the growing library. You can select books according to title, publisher, age, and length.
- Record y0urself reading the book into a webcam.
- Preview your recording and pay for it if y0u like it.
- Your child can play it back as many times as they like!
This is a great way for the deployed parents to stay in touch with young children! The child can see each storybook page, a video with the parent as they read the story!
I love this and we have already tried it with my son who is now deployed. Visit A Story Before Bed for more information.
Let me know your experience with this service if you decide to try it too!
SURREAL – marked by the intense irrational reality of a dream.
That sums up deployment day. We rose early to get to the Army airfield. We loaded the car with the carefully packed Army issued bags, got the kids fed and dressed, and piled in the car for the short – but long drive to the Army airfield.
I promised myself I would “smile” and work hard to hold back the tears if only to stay strong for my 1 and 3 year old grandchildren. But my tears got the best of me when I thought about the reality of the next year.
It broke my heart to see my son explain again to the 3 year old why he needed to go away for awhile and the 3 year old saying, “but why Daddy?”
We all gathered in the office area where all the soldiers were getting their equipment tagged properly and organized. There were Moms, Dads, wives, husbands, and children, all there just like us…to say “see ya later”, or to be more exact, December 2010. There were tears and hugs all around us.
We had 90 minutes of family time. Upon leaving, I hugged my son tighter than I ever did before, I just did not want to let go. We hugged for a long time and I told him the only words I could get out as this intense sadness welled up inside me, “stay safe – I love you”.
I cried as I watched him say a long goodbye to his wife.
I would not have chosen this path for my son. But I raised him with this in mind: “”This above all: to thine ownself be true.” A familiar quote. And that is exactly what my son is doing. Being true to himself. Following his passion – serving our great country. Doing a job he loves.
I am a PROUD ARMY MOM. I am the Mother of an America Soldier. Life is changed now. I will lean into it and am there to support my son 100% in his chosen life path. I will pray for his safety and the safety of all our Military that are in harms way.
Thank you for listening. God bless all of you and thank you for being strong with me.
Thanks to all of you, here are some great ideas for sending cakes and cookies to your deployed sons and daughters for those special occasions like birthdays and holidays.
You can send cakes and cookies through an online company or do it yourself! Following is a list of great suggestions from who else but the fabulous Army Moms (and others) who LOVE to make their deployed children feel special! Thank you everyone who contributed to this list!
Do It Yourself Goodies
- Some assembly required birthday cakes! Well I mailed 6 cakes to my son in late september last year while he was in Iraq. i baked them in the aluminum pans that have lids. after baking a cooling i wrapped the pan in saran wrap, put the lid on and taped it. i then included tubs of icing, sprinkles and candles along with birthday plates and napkins. i called it my “some assembly required birthday cakes”. they all arrived intact and he said they ate them!
- I bought a pound cake at the grocery – found it in the deli area in a foil pan. Included a can of frosting and other birthday accessories. Included a can of frosting and other birthday accessories. It arrived in Afghanistan during hot weather in good shape.
- Old tins are good to ship baked goods in. Some of our boxes took one to three weeks to arrive.
- Buy some tootsie rolls and make him a tootsie roll cake. Wrap the cake in saran wrap and place candles around the cake. Not only will the cake get there in one piece, but your son will be able to share the tootsie rolls with others and light the candles.
- I always make them a cake out of twinkies and put plates, balloons, napkins and confettii in the center. I tape the twinkies end to end in a round shape put birthday ribbon on the out side I put the choclate cupcakes on the top and fill in the whole. That way it is fresh and is a nice treat for all the guys in the unit.
- You MAKE CAKE IN JAR AND SEND ITEMS SUCH AS ICING AND FUN DECORATIONS WITH IT!
Cake in a Jar Recipe (thank you Julia!)
1 cake mix – whatever kind (I like to buy the different holiday ones that Pillsbury does)
4 wide-mouthed Mason Jars (Wal-Mart seems to have the cheapest price for 12)
Pam spray
Mix the cake mix and pre heat oven as directed. Spray the 4 jars with the Pam spray and set on a cookie sheet. You want to fill the jars only 1/3 full of cake batter. Bake for directed time, I have a cake tester I use to make sure they are done. As soon as you take them out of the oven, carefully screw the tops on. If the cake has risen above the top, carefully slice off excess so cake is even with the top. As the cakes cool, you will hear the tops pop as they seal themselves.
The cakes are said to last in the jars as is for 6 months and can be frozen for 12 months.You can send icing with it!
You can also make breads like Banana Nut or Zucchini in the jars doing the same thing.
Buy Cake and Cookies Online
- Cheryl and Company
– Offering cookies, brownies and FREE shipping to APO/FPO addresses.
- BakeMeaWish.com – Send Birthday Cakes to Soldiers Home & Abroad!
- dejacreations.com – sends free birthday cakes to deployed soldiers
- Soldiersangels.org – Operation Birthday Cake
Have some ideas or recommendations? Leave a comment. Thank you!
A small Christmas tree sits in the corner of the room with its multicolored lights, decorative ornaments, and small children who delight at the sparkle and joy! With the smell of cinnamon and other holiday cheer, you can’t mistake what this family is celebrating: Christmas.
But it’s only November. Under the holiday cheer is a deep sadness and concern. You see my son is leaving tomorrow for his first deployment to Afghanistan. His lovely and dedicated wife rolled all the holidays into a short few days so he wouldn’t miss the little smiles of the children who are too young to wonder why Santa Claus came so early.
The Thanksgiving dinner came a little early too, with all the trimmings! We are not alone. Many of the men and women in my son’s Army unit — as well as across the country — have Christmas trees and other holiday cheer in their own home as they prepare to leave their own families for a year-long tour in Afghanistan.
If you see Christmas cheer a little too early this year at your neighbors home, they may be sending a son or daughter, husband or wife, or friend off to the most dangerous place in the world. Keep them in your prayers.
A year ago this month, my oldest son, age 18, was safely tucked away at college, enjoying a full scholarship and a short one hour drive home. Perhaps I should say, *I* was enjoying those things. He wasn’t. As the semester progressed and he never talked about school, I had this nagging feeling…my Mommy Antennae were twitching.
Sure enough, just before Thanksgiving we had a 2am phone call. Groggy, I heard my son announce, “Guess what, Mom?! I’m going to be an Airborne Ranger!” The enlistment process had been completed weeks before. It was a done deal. This was followed by a restless night of husband and I pacing the living room floor in our bathrobes, drinking tea, and crying. After that, there was nothing to do except love and support him.
It was a bittersweet Thanksgiving last year. We had him home till New Year’s and soaked up every moment and he seemed to do the same. I became a regular at the www.goarmyparents.forum where I read and cried with other parents and learned much about Army terminology and what to expect. The final days with him were full of tension and conflict, as we all tried to deal with this new weaning. There was much weeping and gnashing of teeth.
And then at last the final rainy night, saying goodbye in the airport hotel lobby. I was five months pregnant with his newest little brother. All the siblings hugged him. The 12-yo brother cried. I’ll never forget the feeling of my arms around his wiry waist and my head on his chest. He was wearing his blue fleece jacket. I fled to the car. Dad stayed inside and watched him walk to his room. What a helpless feeling — like he was being pulled out to sea by the tide of people wearing ACUs.
Son reached is goal and is now serving in Afghanistan. What a year it’s been.
Nations honored those who sacrificed their lives in wars on Wednesday, in many cases for the first time without any surviving veterans of World War I.
Services took place around the world to mark the 91st anniversary of the armistice signed between Germany and the Allies on November 11, 1918.
Depending on where it is celebrated, the day is alternatively known as Armistice Day, Remembrance Day, Poppy Day or Veterans Day.
Veterans – we honor YOU. Thank you for your service to our country. We join the rest of the nation on Veterans Day in remembering the sacrifices of America’s 25 million veterans and expressing our appreciation for your service.
Now available! Army Mom Strong t-shirts and other gear! We are also pleased to announce that 50% of all proceeds go to Fisher House Foundation.
Fisher House™ Foundation donates “comfort homes,” built on the grounds of major military and VA medical centers. These homes enable family members to be close to a loved one at the most stressful times – during the hospitalization for an unexpected illness, disease, or injury.
Show that you are a proud and Army Mom Strong and get your t-shirt today! The tag line is: Army Mom Strong, we’re all in this together.
You can also purchase Army Mom Strong mugs, magnets, and stickers!
We are also pleased to announce “Army Kid Strong” apparel. Again, 50% of the proceeds from ALL sales to Fisher House!
Army Kid Strong apparel is perfect for kids with a deployed parent.You can purchase t-shirts, onesies, sweatshirts, and bibs! The tag line is Army Kid Strong, my daddy’s got your back (my mommy’s got your back).
We’ll be adding lots of new stuff over the coming weeks!
Click here to visit the official Army Mom Strong store! Remember, 50% of ALL proceeds goes directly to Fisher House!
Thank you!
SOURCE: SAN JOSE — (BUSINESS WIRE) — Skype today announced the Holiday Military Connection program, which will allow hundreds of American servicemen and women stationed overseas to have the unprecedented opportunity to join their families stateside for virtual visits this holiday season, thanks to a partnership between Skype and the USO.
The Holiday Military Connection program will connect troops in the Guam, Yokosuka, and Camp Hansen (Okinawa) USO centers with their families stateside, through live, face-to-face Skype video call conversations during Thanksgiving dinner. For the first time, deployed men and women will virtually share a holiday meal with the ones they love most, but from whom they are farthest.
In addition, the USO and Skype’s Holiday Military Connection program will enable the estimated 140,000 troops visiting the 18 Pacific Region USO centers to make free Skype-to-Skype voice and video calls home to loved ones all season long. Troops can also make unlimited1 calls to family and friends’ cell phones and landlines free of charge through the donation of Skype’s Unlimited World subscription plans.
For some troops, many of whom will be returning from deployments on submarines or aircraft carriers, the live calls will mark the first time seeing their families in more than a year.
Skype’s partnership with the USO and the launch of the Holiday Military Connection program expand upon a successful trial program that started in May 2009, in which Skype donated calling plans to USO Pacific centers.
“The USO is focused on lifting the spirits of America’s troops and their families; we are proud that Skype can play a pivotal role with the USO in helping connect military families and in turn make a season that is often challenging for them that much less difficult,” said Don Albert, VP and GM of Skype Americas. “Skype is committed to removing barriers and helping to foster meaningful connections that make a difference in people’s lives. Through the USO and Skype’s Holiday Military Connection program, we are doing just that for thousands of military families.”
As part of the Holiday Military Connection program, Skype is also giving away 2,000 holiday gift sets consisting of a headset, plus Skype calling credit or a Webcam to servicemen and women who visit a participating USO center during the week of Thanksgiving. The gift sets will allow troops to continue making memories with their families even after the holiday season is over.
“The USO is thrilled to partner with Skype on this amazing program. Staying in touch with friends and family is truly the best morale booster for troops who have been deployed. With Skype, we can help troops stay in touch all season long at no cost to them or their families,” said Tom Kolstad, USO Vice President for Pacific Operations. “We cannot wait to see the looks on the faces of the troops and their families when they share their meals face-to-face on Thanksgiving Day.”
Those interested in learning more about the program and how military families can connect with Skype can log onto the Holiday Military Connection program Website: www.skype.com/go/uso. Visitors to the site can also submit their own story of how they use Skype to stay connected.
Hey Army Moms! FRG is the Army Family Readiness Group and YOU are eligible to sign up for it. The Army FRG will keep you informed about important issues. You can also contact Army FRG with questions or concerns.
What is Army FRG? Family Readiness Group (FRG) is a command-sponsored organization of family members, volunteers, soldiers and civilian employees associated with a particular unit. They are normally organized at company and battalion levels, and fall under the responsibility of the unit’s commanding officer.
FRG’s are established to provide activities and support to enhance the flow of information, increase the resiliency of unit soldiers and their families, provide practical tools for adjusting to military deployments and separations, and enhance the well-being and esprit de corps within the unit.
ArmyFRG is your a direct connection to Command information for your unit. The ArmyFRG was created primarily for the Family Members and friends of Soldiers. We know that when your Soldier is far from home, there’s no such thing as too much information.
How does a Family Member subscribe to an FRG?
Note, in order for a Family Member to subscribe to an FRG, the Soldier of Interest must be in the Soldier Database for that FRG first. In order for the subscription to be automatically approved, the Soldier must have entered the Family Member into the invitation list. Otherwise, the subscription will be put in a Pending state awaiting approval by the FRG Administrator.
Visit ArmyFRG for more information: http://www.armyfrg.org
What’s your experience with Army FRG? Please leave a comment and let us know! Thanks!
While her son has been deployed to Afghanistan, one Army Mom created a cause called “Operation Hooah!” Operation Hooah! sends care packages to soldiers deployed to the Forwarding Operating Bases (FOB) in the rugged outer reaches of Afghanistan, where they have no access to facilities.
Here’s the cool part: for the past year, every package sent through Operation Hooah was personally delivered by her son, an Army Chinook pilot. He ensured that every package got delivered. She is hoping to continue these package deliveries when his deployment ends, but will need pilots to be Santa Claus(s) for Operation Hooah.
And, getting those packages and flying them out truly enriched her son’s time in Afghanistan. As you can imagine, he was a pretty popular guy with the soldiers out there.
Thousands of brave soldiers are deployed to FOBs in rugged conditions. Some in remote outposts live in dugouts or hand built fort-like structures of timber and rock/mud sandbags. In the WINTER, it is very cold and wet, and in SUMMER it is beastly hot, dusty and dry over there in Afghanistan. Soldiers deployed to outposts and firebases are often dirty, hungry, bored, lonely, very cold, or miserably hot, and much of the time, in harm’s way. Many do not have any laundry facilities; the only water is what the Chinooks can deliver, so some only get a shower once a month. Often, sanitary conditions are quite dispiriting. Though the platoon FOBs and outposts are resupplied by helicopter, it is no small task to keep them completely supplied and able to function and keep morale high when their surroundings are unsanitary, crude, hostile… and… WAY in the HECK out in the wilderness so far away from comfort, safety, and loved ones!
What an awesome job Operation Hooah is doing! There are 2 simple ways that you can help. Visit Operation Hooah! to find out how you can help! – http://www.operationhooah.com/
HOOAH!
