Just wanted to update you all. Brian is officially in Iraq now and from the sounds of it may be spending quite a bit of time outside the wire so be sure to keep him in your thoughts and prayers. Also, for anybody inclined to send care packages or if your church is interested here is his address:
SFC BRIAN R SICKLER
C.TRP 2/1 CAV 4/2INF
FOB TAJI
APO AE 09378
If you send packages keep in mind "no pork or pork" products and if you just list snacks on the customs form they are likely to open the package. you're better off listing candy. No combustibles either. Also, keep in mind, the temperature can average 130 degrees where he's at so things like chocolate won't hold up. I always load up my boxes with tape to try to discourage opening? I'm not sure if it works or not. Keep in mind too, not that you would but don't list anything of value because unfortunately it passes through several soldiers hands before it gets to Brian and has potential to be stolen. I've found the most economical way of sending packages is the priority flat rate boxes which you can have delivered to your door for free just go online and order them from the post office. They cost 8 dollars and some change no matter where or how heavy they are. You really can't go wrong with candy even if by some chance he doesn't like it I'm sure one of the hundred immediate soldiers in his unit will. Even if you just send him a card or letter he will love it. He says there's no feeling like it in the world when the mail comes and you have something in it! It's nice when you're in his shoes to get letters from perfect strangers just saying that they are praying for you. AT&T prepaid calling cards are awesome! Brian actually bought an Iraq cell phone and can call on it using a at&t prepaid card for 21 cents per minute depending on the card. Yes, we learned quickly that a 150 minute card doesn't really mean 150 minutes...from Iraq it can equal about 6 minutes. If you did decide to put one of them in a package it would definitely be something you would NOT want to list on your customs form.
We are all doing as good as can be expected. I put my first Lego toy together yesterday with great frustration! I have decided I hate Lego's! I think from now on I will ship it over to Brian, let him put it together and he can send it back.:0) He loves lego's and I'm sure misses putting them together for his son. Just gave me a thought on a care package...it would give him something to do in his down time. Our brand new car that we bought two weeks before he left broke down and had to be towed back to the dealer. It took me an hour and a half to go 15 minutes! They are saying it was a computer issue with the transmission and it was stuck in 4th gear so when I stopped behind the school bus and it took off I didn't! I must admit though that KIA has a great roadside assistance. I did have to suck up my pride and call on another Active Duty Female in our neighborhood to give me a ride to work so my friend from work could take me to the dealer to pick it up.
I've also realized a plugged toilet can reduce you to tears and give you a major stomach ache! I resolved that issue this morning when I actually had to pray that God would get it unplugged because I've been plunging it for three days now...and that I was going to try one more time and if it didn't work I was going to go to Lowe's instead of church to get a snake auger! God did answer my prayer so we went to church. Erika as it turns out decided to put paper towels down it. Lessons far better learned when dad is home in my opinion but we survived.
Guess that's all the news for now. Hope you are all doing well.
Love,
Kim and kids
PLEASE, everyone lets send lots of letters and cards. Try to get groups and organizations to help with boxes for the troops. Brian stated to me that mail means everything to the troops. He said that it is so disappointing when the mail arrives and you have nothing. These guys live in tents and sleep on uncomfortable cots every night. Not bad enough that there are 600 guys in the facility Brian is staying in. They plan to be there for one year or longer. Lets all do our part to encourage them. You'll be blessed for it. Thanks in advance to everyone.
SFC BRIAN R SICKLER
C.TRP 2/1 CAV 4/2INF
FOB TAJI
APO AE 09378
If you send packages keep in mind "no pork or pork" products and if you just list snacks on the customs form they are likely to open the package. you're better off listing candy. No combustibles either. Also, keep in mind, the temperature can average 130 degrees where he's at so things like chocolate won't hold up. I always load up my boxes with tape to try to discourage opening? I'm not sure if it works or not. Keep in mind too, not that you would but don't list anything of value because unfortunately it passes through several soldiers hands before it gets to Brian and has potential to be stolen. I've found the most economical way of sending packages is the priority flat rate boxes which you can have delivered to your door for free just go online and order them from the post office. They cost 8 dollars and some change no matter where or how heavy they are. You really can't go wrong with candy even if by some chance he doesn't like it I'm sure one of the hundred immediate soldiers in his unit will. Even if you just send him a card or letter he will love it. He says there's no feeling like it in the world when the mail comes and you have something in it! It's nice when you're in his shoes to get letters from perfect strangers just saying that they are praying for you. AT&T prepaid calling cards are awesome! Brian actually bought an Iraq cell phone and can call on it using a at&t prepaid card for 21 cents per minute depending on the card. Yes, we learned quickly that a 150 minute card doesn't really mean 150 minutes...from Iraq it can equal about 6 minutes. If you did decide to put one of them in a package it would definitely be something you would NOT want to list on your customs form.
We are all doing as good as can be expected. I put my first Lego toy together yesterday with great frustration! I have decided I hate Lego's! I think from now on I will ship it over to Brian, let him put it together and he can send it back.:0) He loves lego's and I'm sure misses putting them together for his son. Just gave me a thought on a care package...it would give him something to do in his down time. Our brand new car that we bought two weeks before he left broke down and had to be towed back to the dealer. It took me an hour and a half to go 15 minutes! They are saying it was a computer issue with the transmission and it was stuck in 4th gear so when I stopped behind the school bus and it took off I didn't! I must admit though that KIA has a great roadside assistance. I did have to suck up my pride and call on another Active Duty Female in our neighborhood to give me a ride to work so my friend from work could take me to the dealer to pick it up.
I've also realized a plugged toilet can reduce you to tears and give you a major stomach ache! I resolved that issue this morning when I actually had to pray that God would get it unplugged because I've been plunging it for three days now...and that I was going to try one more time and if it didn't work I was going to go to Lowe's instead of church to get a snake auger! God did answer my prayer so we went to church. Erika as it turns out decided to put paper towels down it. Lessons far better learned when dad is home in my opinion but we survived.
Guess that's all the news for now. Hope you are all doing well.
Love,
Kim and kids
PLEASE, everyone lets send lots of letters and cards. Try to get groups and organizations to help with boxes for the troops. Brian stated to me that mail means everything to the troops. He said that it is so disappointing when the mail arrives and you have nothing. These guys live in tents and sleep on uncomfortable cots every night. Not bad enough that there are 600 guys in the facility Brian is staying in. They plan to be there for one year or longer. Lets all do our part to encourage them. You'll be blessed for it. Thanks in advance to everyone.
