If you didn’t already know it, my family and I live in England as missionaries, and we just returned from a 3-month visit to the US. We enjoyed visiting family, and of course we spoke at a lot of churches.
It’s always a huge blessing to receive a care package from a church we visit. It’s not that we expect people to think of us when we’re away or even send us stuff (after all, we know how expensive shipping is), but it’s just really nice to know they DO think of us and really care about us! We have a few churches that have sent us packages in the past, and it just really blesses us.
We’ve been back in England for a week now, and I’m still trying to get unpacked and organized and getting over the jet lag and homesickness. I’m so far behind on blogging…but I just had to share this package that came in today! It came from a small house church in the Chicago area. When we visited, they asked what kinds of things we’d like to receive in a care package, and I described what I do in Tot School with Gabriela and what kinds of things I’d love to receive. Since our finances are rather tight, Tot School stuff is just on my “wish” list right now. The kids and I were so excited to open this package—we had no idea they would be sending one so soon, and we really didn’t know what would be inside. So, it was just like opening Christmas packages!
So, anyway, here’s what we got in the package:
1. Lovely set of felt fruit and veggie magnets
Aren’t they cute??? 
2. Oh, and one more (I missed it earlier), plus a fancy old spoon and a small whisk.
3. A box with drawers. I’ve been wanting one of these for an alphabet box—I can’t find them in England. This one doesn’t have quite enough drawers, but maybe I can double up on some letters? Anyway, it’s very handy for storing all the cute and tiny things I have!
And here’s what came inside the drawers:
A. Springs of all sorts 
B. Foam stickers (gingerbread men, gingerbread houses, reindeer, stars, hearts, candy canes, and Christmas trees) 
C. Easter miniatures (eggs, rabbits, ducks) 
D. Metal, wood, and plastic hoops
E. Sports window clings and Christmas tree thing
F. Kitchen utensil magnets
G. Buttons and a small flower pin 
H. Little pincher thing (sorry, I don’t know what it’s called!) and plastic box
I. A funnel, a hook/chain thing, and a cute teacher pocket 
J. A bag of little plastic rakes (I think)
K. A variety of wooden hearts
Also in the package:
4. Flour, sugar, coffee magnets (and a jam one, too)
5. Several spiral notebooks (I was needing some of these)
6. Bugs Sticker Glue Activity Set
7. Set of 3 plastic cups
8. Snowman heads 
9. Holiday cake mixes and pudding mixes (we can’t get these in England)—I mean, they DO have a few cake mixes here, like maybe 2-3 different kinds—but no pudding!
10. Alphabet and number cutters 
11. Runts (which they don’t have in England) and a package of straws (I was just about to send my husband to the store to buy some—Isaac needs them for a science experiment—so very glad to see these!) 
12. Doll pillows (handmade by senior citizens)
13. Miniature tea set 
14. Headbands for the girls (there was a pink one, too, but Gabriela ran off with it before I could take the photo)
This package was so exciting to go through! I do have some ideas swirling in my head for how I can use some of these things for Tot School, such as alphabet boxes or sensory tubs, and but I’d love to hear your ideas! Please? : )
During the 3 months we were back in the US, I took advantage of every opportunity I had to go to Target, Dollar Tree, yard sales, Hobby Lobby, antique malls, used bookstores, etc. Plus, Gabriela got some nice educational toys for her birthday. Hopefully I can find time to blog about all our goodies!
