Saturday, November 13, 2010

OWH Veteran's Day Bloghop

Welcome to the Valentine Blog Hop
If you arrived here from another source, you can start at the beginning by going to the

My earliest memories from childhood are seeing those 'funny looking letters' arrive from my brother who was in the Navy.  I didn't really know him then because I was too young when he left.  I know the letters made my mother cry and she saved them all.  All I understood then was that I had an older brother who was in the war.  As I became more aware, I learned that he was in the South Pacific.  I have later learned that he was on Guadalcanal.  When I did see him after the war, his skin was still yellow from Malaria and he was quite thin.  It's hard to believe that this happened nearly 70 years ago.


I learned to love my brother and became close as he was married and raised a family.  He's still very important to me, but has never talked a lot about those experiences.  Thank you for your service, Loyd.

I have also known many other friends and family members who are veterans.  My husband spent 20 years in the Air Force, as a fighter pilot, and we currently have several grandsons on active duty.  I honor and respect them all.

My support for OPERATION WRITE HOME began after the Memorial Day Bloghop in 2009.  We make cards for our heroes to send home to family in friends.  There are rules and deadlines for the type of cards we make.  You can learn more about this HERE.

We must make cards for special holidays well in advance to allow time for shipping both ways.  The deadlines for Thanksgiving and Christmas cards are past.  The deadline for Valentines is January 7, 2011.


Background is made with a Cuttlebug embossing folder - those are raised hearts all over it.  The cut-out letters and hearts are also from the same Cuttlebug set - Love Language.
Instead of just saying Happy Valentines Day, I like to make more generic Love cards.  These are more versatile for our heroes to send home when they have time.

Besides holidays, there is always a need for Birthday, Thinking of You, Missing You and just plain Hello cards. They don't even have to have a specific message.  This gives our heroes the option to use them as needed.  Don't forget, we have women serving also and they may wish to send masculine cards.  Many of our heroes also have children at home, so cards for children are needed.  Lots of options here.  We also try to include Any Hero cards in each package.  These cards are for the troops to show our support.

If you wish to help out the troops with Archway Cookies for the holidays, participate in this SPECIAL MISSION.  Start making Valentines that can be sent in before December 1.

Now, hop on over to Brittany at Levels of Light:  http://levelsoflight.blogspot.com/2010/11/owh-valentines-day-blog-hop.html

36 comments:

  1. God Bless you and your family for their service. I found OWH the same time you did and have been passionate about it ever since too! love the cards!

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  2. Thanks for your heroic family for all of their military service. Great job on the Valentine's Day cards. I think that they would be good for a man, woman or a child.

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  3. Such beautiful cards. Thank you to you and all your family for protecting our country and freedom.

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  4. Great cards and a wonderful story!!
    Thanks for sharing botH !

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  5. Love your cards.....thanks so much for the inspiration!

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  6. Your story is such an inspiration and makes me very proud! I love your cards and am happy that you joined this cause!

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  7. Thank you for sharing your story. Hearing people's stories have been part of what has made this hop so enjoyable. Your cards are lovely!

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  8. Thanks for sharing the picture, your story and of course your beautiful valentines. Your work is so lovely !

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  9. What a great story, Velda, thank you for sharing it with us. And your cards are adorable!

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  10. Thanks for sharing such a great story with us. Makes the hop even more worth while. Great cards.

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  11. Wow, your cards are great. Thanks for sharing your story. Thank you to your brother, husband and grandsons for their service.

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  12. Thank you for sharing your beautiful cards and story!

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  13. What very pretty cards!! I like the designs. Thanks for sharing your cards and your story!

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  14. loved reading your story about your brother....all your cards are just gorgeous!!! ;)

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  15. What a neat picture of your brother. Tell he and your husband thanks from me. The middle card is my favorite. I might just have to get that Cuttlebug set. Thanks for joining in the hop!

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  16. Thank you for sharing your family and your beautiful cards!

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  17. I made LOVE cards TOO! Love these. Thanks for sharing and taking part in the HOP.

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  18. Thanks for sharing your touching story of your brother. My father was 17 when he enlisted in the Navy during WWII. He, also, did not speak much about his experience although he is quite a bit more now at age 84. I am very lucky to still have him around. Thanks for sharing your lovely cards, as well. Blessings to you...

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  19. Hi Velda, I love that cuttlebug folder you used and your card design! Your blog entry has moved me, thank you for sharing a snippet of your life.

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  20. oh what an inspiration you and your family are! I love your sense of humor and engagement with life and your cards are too cute.

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  21. Wonderful Valentine's cards and thanks to all the heroes in your family for their service.

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  22. Beautiful cards. Thanks very much for sharing your story.

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  23. Your cards are beautiful! Your story is amazing and I am glad I found your blog! God bless you and your family!

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  24. Beautiful cards, and a wonderful story! Thanks for sharing!

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  25. Aww Velda! What a beautiful story about your brother. Thank you Loyd from us all! Your cards are so pretty - I've never seen that embossing folder before, I'll have to look for it!

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  26. Thanks for sharing about your family and your cards are beautiful!

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  27. Thanks for sharing about your big brother, a WWII hero. What we saw in books or movies about Guadalcanal, he endured and survived. Our thanks to all your family for defending our freedom. P.S. Each of your Valentines is very pretty; I love that heart embossing.

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  28. Thanks for sharing your story. Great cards.

    annjerryk at aol dot com

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  29. thank your family for their military service ,and you for taking part in our blog hop.your cards are beautiful.i love the embossing

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  30. What a terrific post!! Your cards are beautiful! Thank you for hopping with us!

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  31. What a lovely selection of cards--and a handsome young serviceman! Please thank your brother for his service to our country. We are truly in his debt.

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  32. Thank you for sharing your wonderful stories and sweet card designs.

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  33. I enjoyed reading about your brother and family, your cards are beautiful! I'm so glad you are part of OWH!

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  34. Such adorable cards, God Bless your family for their service!

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  35. Great cards and thanks for the story!May your family ba safe.

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