Friday, December 4, 2009

Paying It Forward

**UPDATED** I hear from Debbra that she hasn't been sending out books over the last year or so because of the increase in use of Skype and other ways of communication. HOWEVER, we still have our books and will be donating them to our base's Family Support Center which offers a similar program. If you're still wanting to participate, any base with have a Family Support Center that would be happy to take your donation.**

While Tony was deployed in Iraq, he took advantage of a really wonderful thing. A woman named Deb Johnson had organized a program that sent books, blank tapes, and in some cases, mini tape recorders to troops stationed overseas. The parent could then read the story onto the tape and send it and the book home. My kids LOVED this...especially to hear their daddy's voice when phone calls were sporadic at best.

Last week, we were giving Anna's room a good once-over and we found the tapes of the books that Tony had made during his time in Iraq and hunted down the corresponding books. On our way to the valley later that week (a 40 minute drive), the kids listened to the tape of their daddy's voice and followed along in the book. They were enraptured.


So as a service project this Holiday season, one of the things we have chosen to do is pay it forward so that other military children missing a parent this year might be comforted by a parent's voice. We bought some books new and went through our stash to find some gently read ones and are sending them to:

Ramsey's Read Me Home
c/o Debbra A. Johnson
P. O. Box 4335
Greenville, DE 19807-0335


If you are interested in doing the same, please read about the beginnings of this program and the wonderful lady who keeps it going.

Happy Holidays!!

9 comments:

Montserrat said...

What a lovely thing to do!

ME said...

what can I say besides I am in love witht his idea...

Montay said...

LOVE IT !!!!!!!!!

Heather said...

I love this! We will look through out books too!

BeckyRuss said...

That's such an awesome idea! I also meant to call you the other day on your birthday, but I'm an idiot and procrastinated all day and time just seemed to slip away. Just know I was thinking about you all day on your birthday. Your Christmas cards look adorable too. Can't wait to get one and put it up in our house. Love you guys!

MooreInterest said...

Amber, what a great thing to do! We'll have to participate!

Jenni said...

This is such an amazing idea! I love it! :)

Deb said...

Imagine my surprise when I accidently ran across this blog! Read Me Home really had a good run, but it has been over a year since I've had a request from a serviceman/woman for supplies. I attribute it to an increase in the use of Skype and DVDs ... and I'm hopeful that mothers/fathers are still reading to their children even when they are far from home.

I still have my supply of books/tapes/recorders and will gladly send care packages to anyone who requests them.

Thank you so much for posting about your family's experience. I am so happy to know about families who benefitted from this idea.

Happy Holiday Wishes,
Deb Johnson
Ramsey's Read Me Home

katydidnot said...

this is all kinds of good.