Hang In There.

Package time!!

Yes, I thought it was about time that Matthew get an extra special piece of mail, packed with love from his Georgia gal. :)

Since he is nearing the close of his mission (having only 5 1/2 weeks left as I write this), I started putting together a "Hang In There" package I had found on Pinterest...

Well, there weren't a whole lot of resources so I had to take what I could find and make some stuff up on my own, which is perfectly fine because it's suppose to be your own special creation, and your missionary is going to love it much more when it's from the heart. :)

Because it is titled "Hang In There", the theme of monkeys and bananas tends to go with it. In fact, all of the other packages I saw on pinterest had a stuffed animal monkey included... unfortunately, I couldn't find any monkey.... disappointing, I know. 

Anyway, here is what I came up with!

P.S. It's ALL food, but that's fine because I know he will enjoy it. :)

The food.

I tried to stick with the yellow and brown colors (monkeys and bananas). The muffin mix is included because it is BANANA! And banana stuff is kind of hard to find in comparison to other flavors.

I am THE WORST at creativity! Especially trying to come up with little notes/saying to tie into all of the items inside a package. Needless to say, I gave it a try this time (for the first time), and they are extremely cheesy! Haha 

All packed away before the box decorations... I have to add that I had banana pudding and some Keebler cookies to put in here too, but there was absolutely no room. What's one of my favorite things about putting together a package? Eating the extra food that didn't fit inside the box!! haha I actually ate some of the extra AS I was making this!

The finished product-- decoration and all!

Feel free to take any of these ideas!

Happy Package-making! :)

L-E- double-T E-R --->What does that spell?!

One thing I have learned from being a Missionary Girlfriend is that nothing makes me happier than a letter with the name Elder Parks written on it! AAHHH! It's enough to instantly put me in an amazingly good mood. hahaha I love that man, so very much and it's so wonderful (and relieving) to read that he is happy, safe, and that he loves me and is thinking about me. Music to my ears!

All during work this morning, I was in anticipation of a letter when I got home, since it had been a couple weeks...what happened when I got home? No letter. (Insert disappointment HERE) Surprisingly, it didn't phase me a whole lot because I went on with my day. All of a sudden in the middle of dinner, my sister Rachel says "It's your lucky day!" and slides a letter across the table. WHAT?!!! (Insert big smile HERE)
Apparently, she had kept it a secret, even from the rest of the family for what had been about three hours. That's some pretty good self control right there, if you ask me. lol Needless to say, I am having an awesome day!

So, in honor of receiving one of those wonderful letters today, this post is solely dedicated to letters.
Here's to 2 months left!!!

My absolute favorite mailbox picture. :)

Postcards are fun too!