Dear ELDER Valentine's Day PACKAGE

I just sent out my brother's Valentine's Day package. I filled it full of love and a bit of rushed exhaustion. In the end I am surprised I was able to make it out on time and in one piece. I was so proud of my stuffing abilities, because honestly after looking at everything that was supposed to go in, I kinda laughed at myself. But in the end I made it work!

I saw lots of heart ideas on Pinterest. Everything from conversation-like hearts, or heart attack heart packages, scripture hearts, count down hearts and on and on. I decided to do a scripture based heart countdown idea, although he will get this package with little time to countdown, I think the idea is still fun. If I had time managed better I would have done cute designs on each heart with the countdown number, instead I just let my little ones scribble and draw on them. I would have loved to draw cute little arrow heart designs or an x's and o's border or something similar.

I used these scriptures,

1. Deuteronomy 6:5
2. 1 John 3:18
3. 3 Nephi 12:44
4. Moroni 10:32
5. John 15:13
6. 1 Chronicles 16:34
7. Ephesians 4:2
8. Moroni 7:47
9. John 3:16
10. Romans 12:10
11. 1 Peter 4:8
12. 1 John 4:7
13. Moroni 8:17
14. Jacob 3:2 

You could easily search the word "love" on lds.org and find your favorites, scriptures or quotes alike.

I found this Top 5 Things I Love About You Printable HERE, and wrapped the Nutty Bars (one of my brother's most loved treats) in the printable. And then I used the bottom portion of the printable, with the cute arrows, to wrap his Butterfinger candy bar up with.

I found the LOVE printable HERE, and printed it on cardstock, then I took a regular piece of paper and cut both pieces in a heart and stapled them around the edges (you could also sew or tape). I left a hole at the top and inserted the candy and stapled it up. I like having little pieces of the candy sticking out, and it makes for a fun present opening like experience for the missionary.

My little ones loved making valentines for our missionary. My son helped make a paper airplane valentine, which I found the free printable HERE. And my daughter helped (in spirit ;)) making the "Eye Heart You!" Valentine. I've seen the googly eye inspired cards everywhere so I made my own version with a googly eye, yarn and some scraps of red paper. In theory I was hoping to have my daughter do the glue work and help stick on the scraps of paper as the center of the heart, but she was far from interested.
For the hands and footprint valentine, I had my daughters on one side and my sons on the other. I stumbled onto this idea via Pinterest, and there is a link to the picture I originally found HERE.

After I did the creating I laid out the insides of my package and started stuffing. With a little trial and error I got everything almost everything inside :)

Here is a full list: 

Valentine's from the kids

14 Scripture Hearts

Classic Candy Filled Valentine Heart

Sweethearts, and mini boxes of the candied hearts (for him to share with other Elders or investigators)

Love Printable Heart, filled with candy

Lindor Truffle Heart

Peanut Butter Cookie Mix

Butterfinger Candy Bar, wrapped in arrows printable

Little Debbie Nutty Bars, wrapped in Top 5 Things I Love About You Printable

Bear Favor Box filled with candy (most of the candy made it in, but the Bear Box was a little too big)

Although it was a bit rushed I was happy to get my Valentine Package off to our Elder AND very relieved :) Sometimes it is too much work, especially if you cram it all into one day with only a couple hours till the post office closes!

If you would rather fill your package up with some non-candy items as well you can find all sorts of themed items this time of year that would fit your package, anything like: A Scarf, Lotion, Old Spice Deodorant, Themed Tie, Mug w/pink marshmallow hearts inside, Photo Album (I've seen some done where everyone is making kissy faces or hearts with their hands), or for Sister's in particular lip gloss/lip balm, nail polish, jewelry, a wallet, or even some red and pink hair accessories. 

Please share what you would or did put in your Valentine packages!

VDAY

It is the month of cupids, and hearts, and kisses, and love.
Send your missionary some love from home too.

Valentine's Heart Attack
See Here

Wouldn't these hearts be cute with scriptures on them about love and care.

 Or even quotes. Or messages from your missionaries loved ones. 

Toddler Heart Notes

See Here

I know these say Thank You Notes but they are too perfect for Valentines. 

Just think Red Card stock instead of white with a little white insert with their drawing. 

Mailed Kisses

See Here

Valentine Kisses

See Here

This is not just for kids either, I can totally see pictures of the family making 

goofy kissy faces. Your missionary is sure to love and laugh over it. 

Heart Wreath

See Here

I could see a mini version of this tucked in a package for Valentine's Day. 

Eye Heart You Cards

See Here

God's Conversation Hearts
See Here

Tis The Season, Christmas Package!

My brother's Christmas Package this year was filled with ideas from Pinterest and alike. I included a list of what we (My Mom and I) put in and some pictures of some of them too. Hopefully this will give you some good ideas for your Christmas Packages. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS ELDER!

Whats Inside?

 Complete List 

- Candy Sleigh

- Grinch Pills

- Believe Bell

- Prep and Landing Characters

-I want a hippopotamus for Christmas song lyrics and paper print out of a hippo (My brother said he didn't want anything for Christmas except maybe a hippo from the song so that's what he got)

-Elf suit and hat I found on Pinterest and added my little brothers face to 

-Reindeer cut out and some other Christmas print outs

- Symbols of Christmas cutouts

-Hot Cocoa packets

-Mug

-Peppermint Sticks

-M&Ms, Christmas Story

-Snowman Poop (White Tic-Tacs)

-Christmas Candy

-Stocking

-Homemade Christmas Card

A Sneak Peek ..

 Candy Sleigh
(made out of Christmas candy)    

Grinch Pills

 (You can pretty much get any green colored candy and add the Grinch sign to it. I got green butter mints and attached the Grinch tag to it)

                                            

Bell, from Polar Express

(Polar Express quote found here)

Prep and landing characters
 (Found here )

I added some cute Christmas print-outs I found
on Pinterest to the package.

   

   

Hot cocoa packets in Mug & Peppermint sticks
  

   

Peanut M&M's and Christmas story
There are tons of these M&M Christmas Poems floating around on Pinterest. I don't have an original source, but here is a printable you can use and the poem for future reference. 

M&M’s Christmas Story
As you hold these candies in your hand
And turn them, you will see
The M becomes a W, and E and then a 3
They tell the Christmas Story
It’s one, I’m sure you know
It took place in a stable
A long long time ago.
The E is for the East
Where the star shone O so bright
the M is for the Manger
Where the baby Jesus slept that night.
The 3 is for the wise men
Bearing gifts, they say they came.
W is for worship, Hallelujah
Praise to His name.
So as you eat these candies
Or share them with a friend
Remember the Spirit of Christmas
And never let it end.

 

Symbols of Christmas

 I saw many renditions of Symbols of Christmas but none of them had every symbol I wanted so I made the paper and symbol myself from all the ideas I saw online. To be honest you could do a whole package just based on the symbols of Christmas. 

This is what the paper says... 

Symbols of Christmas

Each year as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ at Christmastime we are surrounded by symbols.

Christmas Tree: Christmas trees are evergreen trees. They do not die in the winter, but stay green all year.  This is a symbol of eternal life. Christ made it possible for us to live forever in heaven after we die.

Star: Stars represent the new star that appeared when Christ was born.

Candles: Jesus said that He is the light of the world. He shows us the way to go and leads us with His light.

Candy Canes: This candy is made in the shape of a shepherd’s staff. The shepherds came to see baby Jesus. Christ is known as the good shepherd.

Red, White, and Green: Christmas colors are symbols of Jesus Christ. Red represents the blood of Christ. Green represents eternal life. White represents the purity of Christ (he was perfect).

Gift Giving: Gifts represent the gifts the wise men brought to the Christ child and the gift of the Savior that Heavenly Father gave the world.

WREATH: Symbol of the never ending nature of love … having no beginning and no end.

We when see these symbols throughout December we should remember the true meaning of Christmas; the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Christmas Card
Front 
(Christmas Movie's themed card)

    

Inside

Back

                                               

Decorating the Package:

On each flap of the package I made a little scene from a Christmas song
Green: Oh Christmas Tree
White: I'm Dreaming Of A White Christmas
Red: Santa Clause Is Coming To Town
Blue: Once There Was A Snowman

This was a fun package to make and with all the fun little ideas I found it filled it up to the brim. My brother didn't want gifts so you can see we had lots of fun finding other things to put inside :) 

Feel free to list some ideas you had to send your Sister's or Elder's, and if you'd like to send us a picture of your Christmas Packages we would love to include them so we can all learn from each other!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Stories

I love spreading the Christmas spirit this time of year. And for our missionaries who are far from home, family and friends during this season it can be hard. So I believe bombarding them with love and Christmas is a great way to remind them how much you are thinking of them.

One way to do this is through Christmas Stories; in an email, or written letter, or dearelder message, or tucked within a package. These can be your favorite ones, the most traditional, or brand new finds. It is a great little gift for your missionary to share with his companion or investigators. Tell him to print out if it is an email so that he has time to read and share it.

I sent my brother a Christmas Story in his Christmas Email. But next year I hope to send him one in each December Email.

(This is the one I shared with our missionary, I had heard it in Relief Society and looked it up when I got home)
"Christmas Day in the Morning" tells about how Rob, the main character, learns the true meaning of love and finds a way to demonstrate his true love for his father.
Rob wants to get his father something special for Christmas this year -- something that shows how much he really loves him. But it's Christmas Eve, and he doesn't have much money to spend. What could he possibly get? Suddenly, Rob thinks of the best gift of all...
You can find the full story Christmas Day in the Morning.

Share some Christmas spirit with your missionary. By sending him a Christmas Story off this list below, some of them may be too long to send but an excerpt or quote may be a fun addition to an email or letter as well. 

Christmas Stories

20 Famous Christmas stories
The Gift of the Magi, The Little Match Girl, Legend Of The Christmas Rose, and MORE

Short Christmas Stories 
 For the Man Who Hated Christmas
 The Gold Wrapping Paper
 On Santa's Team
 The Christmas Truce

Christmas Stories
THE GOLD WRAPPING PAPER
A TOUCHING CHRISTMAS STORY
A WARM WOOL BLANKET
THE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS

A Christmas short story: Santa's Christmas morning

Kid's Christmas Stories, Popular Old-Fashion Christmas Short Stories for Children
Bipper and Wick - by Artie Knapp
The Birds' Christmas - Founded on Fact by F.E. Mann
Christmas at Fezziwig's Warehouse by Charles Dickens
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
The Christmas Carol of the Birds
Christmas Day
A Christmas Fairy by John Strange Winter
Christmas in Seventeen Seventy-Six (1776) by Anne Hollingsworth Wharton
Christmas in the Alley by Olive Thorne Miller
Christmas in the Barn by F. Arnstein
The Christmas Masquerade by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman
A Christmas Matinee by M.A.L. Lane
Christmas Under the Snow by Olive Thorne Miller
The Cratchits' Christmas Dinner by Charles Dickens
The Dolls' Christmas Party
The Fairy Christmas
The First New England Christmas by G.L. Stone and M.G. Fickett
The Fir-Tree by Hans Christian Andersen
Grandma's Christmas Gifts
The Greatest of These by Joseph Mills Hanson
How Christmas Came to the Santa Maria Flats by Elia W. Peattie
Jimmy Scarecrow's Christmas by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman
Little Girl's Christmas by Winnifred E. Lincoln
Mama's Happy Christmas
Mr. Bluff's Experience of Holidays by Oliver Bell Bunce
Old Father Christmas by J.H. Ewing
The Philanthropist's Christmas by James Weber Linn
The Queerest Christmas by Grace Margaret Gallaher
A Ragged Christmas Feast
Santa Claus Does Not Forget
Santa Claus's Letter
Susy's Christmas Present
The Telltale Tile by Olive Thorne Miller
Toinette and the Elves by Susan Coolidge
A Turkey For One
What Happened Christmas Eve
Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Claus


What are your favorite Christmas Stories? 
We would love to expand our list and share with each other. 

Christmas is Around the Corner

Just around the corner is Christmas, and you can send your missionary a fun festive Christmas printable like this one. 

Or one of these.

If your missionary was involved in the online social world of Facebook or Twitter, this tool can be an easy way to gather friends and family together for a joint Christmas effort.

Here are a couple ideas that I have seen done:

My friend shared this idea with me calling it the 25 Scriptures

"One scripture for every day of December until Christmas but instead of just giving her the reference written out, I had different family members/friends of her write their testimony on the different scriptures. So they would just read it and then share their thoughts on it. Then I put each individual scriptures in an envelope of it's own with their note included (I just had everyone email me so everything was typed up). Some scriptures just had one person who wrote on them, others had 2-3."

Here are some similar ideas for a 25 Day's of Scriptures for Christmas, some are advent calendar's you could send your missionary and some are scripture chains. Either way you could find scriptures to use in envelopes or any form you like. 

You could also do a 12 days of Christmas theme instead of 25. 

Advent Calendar at One Dog Woof 

Advent Calendar at Young Wife's Guide

 Scripture Chain at The Things I Love Most

Scripture Chain at Spell Out loud

Last year I was invited to a Facebook event for a friend of mine that was in the MTC at the time. Her Mom and friend put it together and the invite said this:

"Hi Everyone,
Whitney's Mom, is trying to put together a photo book for Whitney to send her for Christmas. She would love it if you would e-mail her a picture of either you, your family, or you & Whitney, along with your favorite scripture or quote.
She is hoping to get everyone's picture no later than Dec. 1. Please help make Whitney's first Christmas on the mission special!
Send your picture & quote to --------------@aol.com
Please add other friends of Whitney's to this event so we can get as many people as possible to participate.
THANK YOU!
P.S. This is a surprise, so don't let the word get to Whitney in any letters! "

I don't know how the photo book turned out, but I found a similar idea below
at spoonful.com

Holiday Cards

Some of us family and friends don't have the money or the energy to gather together a whole package for the holidays. This year I am planning on sending my missionary my Christmas Card, with scriptures inside, I'll post that as soon as I get it out in the mail.

For now I wanted to share a free Christmas card printable, and some card ideas for you to share with your missionary:

Christmas Cards
Via Lost Bumblebee

Christmas Cards
Via Bloglovin
(This site has a bunch from different sites)

Holiday Cards
Via Ziploc

Christmas Cards
Via Rosy Glasses

July 4th. Wrapped and Sent.

Just in time for the Fourth of July, we wanted to share the package we sent last week to our missionary. We got to make and send this package together as sisters and enjoyed every minute of it.

 

You will notice we sent our very own patriotic printable and the rockets we posted about before. Check it out here!

 



 

We also sent our missionary a set of

 RED,

WHITE, 

and BLUE items!

You can tell we had to stretch a little for some: by wrapping hand sanitizer in red tissue paper, or using silver/baby blue as "white", etc. Anyway we had a lot of fun and sure enjoyed putting it together.