Preparing for Deployment

I've been researching deployments lately. Not sure exactly what I'm looking for, but I welcome any little tips I can find.

I found a few nice ideas to help the boys count down the days until dad's return. One is a paper chain...one link for each day he's gone. The other (which I like better because chocolate is involved) is filling a jar/basket with Hershey kisses so they can get a kiss from dad each day.

I also found some cute deployment bracelets. I've asked my friend's daughter if she'd be willing to make a bracelet for me once I buy the beads. Of course she said "yes" so I'm excited to go bead shopping now!

I've been taking tons of pictures of the boys with dad. I can't remember off the top of my head which organization does this, but they will make a memory quilt for the boys with pictures of their dad. I also found a website that will make handbags out of military uniforms. There are several out there, but this one caught my eye. http://militaryhandbag.com I'm excited to see what the finished product will look like.