CFH Blog Hop!

Stamp Credits - Stampin' Up!, Cuttlebug background,

Spellbinders Nestabilities Die Cut Frames
(Tie a Yellow Ribbon ...)

Welcome to the Cards for Heroes Blog Hop! I first heard about Cards for Heroes through Sandy Allnock, she's a tireless volunteer sending cheer to all corners of the world. Sandy's efforts motivate many others to join in. So, what is Cards for Heroes? I think their own website tells the story best, and today you can visit their home page to start the blog hop, along with your own CFH journey, there's a link further down in this post. All of the cards featured on this blog post will be mailed to CFH, I have made multiples, and will be working on more over the weekend. Cards for Heroes will mail the cards overseas to serving units, and those serving will be able to choose cards to send home to their families and loved ones. It's Memorial Day weekend, and this is how I will honor those who are serving.

My maternal Grandfather served in the Royal Navy, sneaking off to join up at only 14 years of age (they didn't ask a whole lot of questions back then), my Dad served in the Royal Air Force, back in the day when National Service was required of every young man, and my brother served in the Australian Army. I have a cousin currently serving in the Royal Engineers.

Grandad, circa 1923
(He had this portrait taken to send to my Grandmother,
who he was courting at the time)

The card above came from thinking about all those yellow ribbons tied in home towns waiting for their loved ones to come home. Let me fess up - I'm a pacifist, I want no wars, in my ideal world, but I acknowledge that we're in conflict right now, and I feel that it's important to support people who are risking their all. This is about supporting fellow human beings in difficult times. I'd like them to come home, and in the interim I'd like them to be able to communicate with their loved ones while they are posted far away. There are no card stores, no local grocery or pharmacy with a card rack, no easy solution for those who just want to say Happy Birthday, Happy Graduation, happy Mother's / Father's Day, Happy Holidays(all of them), With Sympathy, With Love, and my personal favorite in all situations - Thinking of You.

I work at a hospital, and one of our physicians, a cardiac surgeon, has just been called up, he's a reservist. He's leaving his family, walking away from a very busy medical practice, suspending his life to serve others. My friend Nancy has seen her son go off to serve more than once, spent her days and nights in agony of worry, hope and prayer, while he risks his life, every day. What dedication this speaks of, what selflessness.

Stamp Credits: Stampin' Up!

So, how can you get involved? Start at the Cards for Heroes Home Page - from here you can find all sorts of information, I recommend the 'Get Involved' pages - there are lots of opportunities, and they don't all involve hand-making cards yourself. If you'd like to write to someone who's in need of supportive words, you might want to look HERE

If you're not a card maker, and just don't wanna be, or you're looking for a way to make a difference that fits your availability of time and energy, maybe you'd like to make a donation to help with mailing costs? Here's the place to do that: Donation to Cards for Heroes

If you're not USA based, check into local organizations that are doing similar projects - or start a group yourself within your community. Whatever you do, don't do nothing. Please consider reaching out in the most appropriate way for you. Oh - and let me know what you plan to do, I'd love to hear about it!
Thanks for visiting - for the next stop on the CFH blog hop, visit Stacy at Scrappin' Everyday Life - Stacy comes from a service family and has made a beautiful 'Thank You' card in red, white and blue!

Start the hop at the top - to see the Blog Hop from top to bottom, over 100 bloggers, start HERE