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For a deploying husband (SCRAPBOOK QUESTION) would you.....?
I am making hubby a 6x6 scrapbook so that he has something to look at while in Iraq for the year.. (he leaves in July)
So my question is do I make it all of he and I and our puppies or do I add in his friends and his small amount of family that is left?
I would either have them each fill out a small 4x4 size thing about him and add it in with a pic of them and him or if it were just he and I- I would do all the writing myself! Which do you think is more meaningful I want it to be a surprise!
Thanks for the input
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You should add some pages for him to journal his thoughts and feelings while he's gone. Sometimes when you are away, looking at pictures can be comforting, but maybe leave space for him to comment on how they are making him feel.
Some guys might do this, others might not (too macho!), but the oppertunity is there if he is feeling overwhelmed with emotions.
Aubrey, this is a wonderful idea and such a treasure for him to take with him! Good luck sweetie!!!
First off, THANK YOU to your husband and for him being so courageous to go to Iraq (and to you, it must not be easy!!!) Second, I think that is such a great/sweet idea! I think you should include as many of his friends and family you can. If you can't get a family member or friend to physically write in the book, have them email you what they would like to say to him. Even if it is all in your handwriting, it is the words from the family, friends & all of your hard work that will impress him and mean the world to him! Oh I think the part about adding in his personal thoughts for a journal is also a Great idea!!!!
He's going to love it. I'm sorry to hear he's leaving by the way. My suggestion is to include everything that will help him smile when he thinks of home! He's going to have some really down days and if he can look at something that you handmade, it will give him so much comfort. I think it's a fantastic idea to get his friends and family members involved. They can put things into their own words that would hold more meaning I think. You know guys have a straighter way of talking to each other. KWIM?
Just imagine it this way, you're sitting alone in your bunk and you read a short page from a buddy saying, "Hey, it's your buddy, stay safe and remember the beers I'm gonna be drinking for you." Or something silly like that. --Definitely get his family and friends involved. It will be a treasured item to show your kids one day when they want to look through dad's war memorabilia. Be sure and take a photo of you in front of your home, so that when he sees you, he sees your home and has both in his mind.
__________________ "A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort." Herm Albright *2 Successful Trades
I think including a few friends and family would be nice too. I also think it's a great idea to have them write a little something to him. It will be really nice for him to have while he's gone!!
I think putting you and the doggies and maybe his close family (brother) and friends!! Either way I think he I would enjoy it because its coming from you!
I love your idea of a scrapbook. I am sure he will love the idea. If there is tension in the family, make it just of your immediate family (you and the dogs). Make this book his "retreat".
I sent pictures/cards hidden throughout his gear when my hubby left. So he found special messages each with a date he could open them up. It took 21 days for them to get packages, so that kept him going in the first month. I also made a quilt with his favorite pictures printed as the center of 12 squares. He slept with it every night he was able to. He said he kissed me every night before bed. I thought about doing a pillow case at first, that might be something easier depending on your hubbies location.
Journals were mentioned, so I will tell you what my hubby did for me while he was gone. I bought him a couple leather bound journals, and each day he wrote thoughts of what he had done, thoughts of me, sometimes twice a day. He wrote from the time he left, and his last entry was just before the plane landed for redeployment. I also kept all our emails and letters to save and scrapbook later. It was amazing to read how much he loved something I had mailed him, how he felt after he heard my voice, how much I brightened his lonely days while apart, how he missed my touch, etc. Makes me cry just thinking about it. Anyway, we use Moleskine books in our family ... very high quality. Someday our grandkids could be reading this.
My hubby had me scrapbook all the homemade cards in an Air Force scrapbook when he got home. He put them in the order in which were his favorite designs.
Your hubby will absolutely treasure it.
__________________ Proud Air Force Wife Andi Wrenn
Oh my goodness. Your post just brought tears to my eyes. What a wonderful idea for lil Aub's!
Quote:
Originally Posted by tiggerificandi
I love your idea of a scrapbook. I am sure he will love the idea. If there is tension in the family, make it just of your immediate family (you and the dogs). Make this book his "retreat".
I sent pictures/cards hidden throughout his gear when my hubby left. So he found special messages each with a date he could open them up. It took 21 days for them to get packages, so that kept him going in the first month. I also made a quilt with his favorite pictures printed as the center of 12 squares. He slept with it every night he was able to. He said he kissed me every night before bed. I thought about doing a pillow case at first, that might be something easier depending on your hubbies location.
Journals were mentioned, so I will tell you what my hubby did for me while he was gone. I bought him a couple leather bound journals, and each day he wrote thoughts of what he had done, thoughts of me, sometimes twice a day. He wrote from the time he left, and his last entry was just before the plane landed for redeployment. I also kept all our emails and letters to save and scrapbook later. It was amazing to read how much he loved something I had mailed him, how he felt after he heard my voice, how much I brightened his lonely days while apart, how he missed my touch, etc. Makes me cry just thinking about it. Anyway, we use Moleskine books in our family ... very high quality. Someday our grandkids could be reading this.
My hubby had me scrapbook all the homemade cards in an Air Force scrapbook when he got home. He put them in the order in which were his favorite designs.
I agree with everything everybody said. My only suggestion is if people cant think of what to say, ask them to write about their fav memory. BTW, my hubby is leaving in a week for only four months, so know sort of where you are coming from. Courage to you guys, may God give you support you need. And i know that this community is great for giving comfert when you most need it.
I did the same for dh when he left. I only included our family, just because there are so many of us ;-) Keely drew a flower, her signature picture/drawing at the time, she was 3. And I included a picture drawn by Daylon of him and his daddy, and Landon wrote the cutest acrostic poem. And I included lots of pictures of everyone from when the kids were babies until now. He LOVES it I think he'll love whatever you do
Tony says his favorite things are letters. Between the kids and I we send at least 1 a day.
I'm thinking of you!!
__________________ ~*~ Sunshine ~*~
Proud Army Wife to Hubby serving in OIF and Momma to Landon (9), Daylon (7), and Princess Keely (4)
My upline's-upline had an idea that I will do if my DH is ever deployed. She actually did this as a wedding gift, but you could mail it back and forth to each other. It was a love note book, a scrapbook that was just blank pages (stamped to look romantic) and with journaling spots. Just to write love notes to each other in. I know the mail takes a long time to Iraq, but it's an idea....
__________________ All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us. --J. R. R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
I would fill it with everything that would make him feel closer to home when he wants and needs to. I hope your year goes by very quickly and that you are telling us real soon that he's coming home!
My hubby will be going over there in the not so distant future as well:( I am planning to do a 6x6 for him as well but what I think I am going to do is make a layout everyweek about what is going on at home and send it to him so he can see what we are doing while he is away. Luckily my Dh only has to go for 4 months so it will probably only fill one sb!
I think for your idea to add some of his family and friends would be an excellent idea! Anything that means something to him that he will not have in Iraq would be great to SB!
For a deploying husband (SCRAPBOOK QUESTION) would you.....?
Awesome idea!
