The United States Postal Service announced their holiday deadlines for sending packages to overseas troops. If you want packages to reach your soldier in time for the holiday, be sure to adhere to the deadlines. Mail is very slow to overseas locations during the holiday season and it can take longer than normal to get there.

Holiday packages and mail headed for Afghanistan must be sent a week earlier than other deadlines. Express mail military service is not available to those destinations.

Priority Mail Deadlines and Destination Zip Codes :

• December 03 – APO / FPO / DPO AE (Afghanistan) ZIP 093
• December 10 – APO / FPO / DPO AE (all others) ZIPs 090-092, 094-098, 340, 962-966

Our troops need your support, especially around the holidays! Send some cheer to a soldier!

Don’t forget to order your Military Care Kit! Each kit contains six Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes (two large and four medium-sized boxes), six customs forms and envelopes, six Priority address labels and one role of military tape. Order your kit by calling the USPS Expedited Package Supply Center at 1-800-610-8734.

• For more information about holiday mailing deadlines, visit the USPS Web site.

For Army Moms, stress takes on a whole new meaning. When our children are deployed to a war zone, the stress can be overwhelming. When my son was deployed, it was one of the most stressful times of my life.

Can you relate to this? One important action to take to battle stress is to exercise. Managing your stress is essential as there is a lot of evidence pointing to the harmful effect stress has on health. Consequences of too much stress can include weakened immune system, raised blood pressure, higher cholesterol, and heart issues.

Here are 3 benefits you will enjoy when you begin exercising regularly:

• An endorphin high.
• Better sleep.
• Relaxation of muscle tenseness.

The endorphin release promotes emotional wellness. The benefits of exercise include enhanced blood flow to your brain, weight loss, and feeling better.

Will your worry and concern for your deployed soldier go away? No, but exercise will help you to relax and sleep better.

As well, during your exercise your mind will shut off the immediate problems and focus on the workout instead. This reduces anxiety and allows you to relax mentally.

You can begin an exercise regimen in a number of ways. Whatever method you go with, it is essential that you add fitness to your daily lifestyle such that it becomes a habit.

The following is a list of methods to build exercise into your life:

• Talk a walk. It’s free and the time you take to walk will reap many benefits!
• Give yoga a try. When you exercise your muscles, you can alleviate muscle tension that results from stress.
• Begin an exercise program right inside your own home. You can exercise anytime of the day inside your own house with home fitness programs that you can do at any fitness level.
• Take a long hike with a friend or two.
• Invite a friend to go dancing with you. While having such a great time you may forget that you are getting exercise.

When you begin putting exercise into your everyday activities, you may  look forward to it because you will feel terrific and little less stressed!

As I open the door and step inside,
I glance up, and see her smile wide.
She knows who I am and why I am there,
And whose name is on the package I bear.
For I’ve been there many times before -
To that postal counter at the back of the store.

The transaction is simple, just normal routine,
As I place the box on her weighing machine.
She checks the scale and stamps my form;
I pay, say goodbye, and go back out the door.
My thoughts drift to him, I try to be strong,
As I get in my car, and head back home.

For the package I sent, just like the others,
Is full of love – to a son from his mother.
He is a grown man, of that there is no doubt;
But a mother’s love just never runs out.
My prayers and these packages are all I can send
So I will pour myself into both til the end.

Until he is home with his family once more,
I will go to that counter at the back of the store.
And send love packages to my soldier faraway
In hopes that they somehow brighten his day.

May the Lord watch over you and protect you, my son!
I love you!

Many thanks to Cynthia Gibb for this wonderful poem!

After searching the Internet for hours, I was disappointed in the flag cases I found. Not sure what I was looking for but when I found it, I would know it was the right flag case.

Thankfully I found Flag Cases by Walls. Mr. Russell K. Walls, the owner, is also a veteran. Each item is hand made after the order is placed, with each piece of wood hand selected. No mass produced merchandise here!

I ordered one flag case for my Dad and later, one for myself. Even though the delivery time was at least 4 weeks, I was confident that the flag case would be worth the wait.

And it was! There are many options for these flag cases. I chose the flag/certificate/photo case. You can choose from many different woods and stains.

The craftsmanship of these flag cases is just beautiful and I couldn’t be happier! We have received so many wonderful complements from people on these flag cases.

Mr. Walls is a true craftsman who takes great pride in his work. If you are looking for a flag display case, visit Mr. Walls flag case store:

• http://showaflag.com

Flag case in the workshop.

There are no words to describe how I am feeling! Relieved, blessed, thankful, & joyous.

Thank you all for your support during his deployment. I could not have gotten it through it without all of you!

For everyone that is also welcoming their soldier home, let us remember that for each soldier that returns home from deployment, another soldier takes their place, and another family is missing their loved one.

Here is a heartfelt prayer I found to pray:

God of all goodness,

Look with love on those who wait for the safe return of their loved ones who serve in the armed forces of their country. In faith and hope, we turn to You for comfort. Grant that we may trust in Your mercy and send an angel to sustain us as we await their safe return.We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Stay Army Mom Strong, we are all in this together. God Bless.

Lisa
Proud Army Mom of a Kiowa Warrior Helicopter Pilot