A Variety of Shapes and Sizes

Organizational supplies, while not the most exciting present, are still a good idea when mailing a Christmas package to a missionary. I have purchased the Command brand of hooks and wall mounting supplies, and I really like them. My sister and I found several other types of hooks and hangers that our brother could easily install without damaging walls or doors. Anything to help him get organized!

It seems like it’s always harder to think of presents to ship to missionaries serving in warmer climates. My sister and I searched hard to find things for our brother (who is leaving for Honduras today). One of our ideas was a lightweight, battery-operated fan. I know that when I lived in the Dominican Republic, it was so nice to have a little breeze when trying to fall asleep — the rooms were usually sweltering. When I asked my husband if a fan would have been nice in Brazil, where he served his mission he said he would have loved it, and added that the smaller hand-fans work out very nicely, too. This is a picture of the fan we bought for my brother. I included the batteries in the photo to show the size of the fan (they are D batteries), but my sister and I decided not to send them — way too heavy! You be the judge.

Courtesy Danilo Alfaro

Nothing says Autumn like freshly-baked cornbread, drizzled with honey. Delicious! And while I’m sure our grandmothers made this treat from scratch, our generation can cheat a little with store-bought mixes. My personal favorite is Marie Calendar’s — just add water. This is a fun treat to send to your missionary when the weather gets a little chilly. Just be careful: though some box mixes are light (like Jiffy), others may be more expensive to ship. You be the judge. And don’t forget a little bottle of honey — carefully sealed, and non-breakable, of course.

Fleece blankets are very easy to make–

–there is absolutely NO sewing involved!

What’s more, you can pick any pattern you like from your local fabric store. Fleece is usually inexpensive, but depending on the size of the blanket, it may get

expensive to ship, so think twice before mailing your missionary a new comforter for his king-size bed. Best to keep the size modest, but still warm.

In case you’ve never made a fleece blanket, I found step-by-step instructions at the following blog:

http://abigcupoftea.blogspot.com/2008/09/cozy-tie-fleece-blanket.html

The Postal System is coming out with new 44-cent stamps. I just found this really fun design: the Thanksgiving Day Parade!

You can order them online by clicking on the following link:

USPS Stamps

Who doesn't love the look of Fall?

This is a fun and simple craft that is sure to add autumn festivity to your missionary’s day. I found this craft, and detailed instructions, on the following website:

http://www.ehow.com/how_4610766_silk-leaves-that-seem-fall.html

Basically, the effect is achieved by sewing silk leaves together with thread, and then dangling them from the top of a window. Step inside any craft store, and you will easily find the ingredients you need. Include tape, or better yet, hooks (like the Command brand) so your missionary can hang these beautiful decorations.