The Velveteen Rabbit
The USO has a wonderful program called “United Through Reading.” The program is set up for deployed military members, and it allows them to read a book of their choice while they are being filmed. The book and the disc with the soldier reading are then sent to a child the soldier designates.
Michael read Chicka-Chicka-Boom-Boom and The Velveteen Rabbit on video for Emma. The video shows Mike sitting on a couch holding the book. He also got to tape a quick message to us before and after the reading. The Velveteen Rabbit book came with the CD and it had a written note in it from Mike to Emma. This will be something that she can enjoy now, and it will certainly go into a little box of golden treasures I am storing up for her when she is older. I know that when she misses her Mike she can at least sit with her book and listen to him read the story that I used to read to him when he was her age — it was his favorite book too!
As far as siblings go, these two are an odd couple to say the least –they are 19 years apart, and they simply adore one another! As far as Emma is concerned, every soldier we see is “a Michael.” I do have to tell one quick story on Mike and how he spoils Princess Emma. When he was home for his final visit before deploying we met my parents at Cracker Barrel for lunch. After we were done eating Mike was holding Emma and they were looking at stuffed animals. Emma was pretty interested, but could take or leave what she was looking at — that is until she spotted IT! She saw a red dragon with green wings. She has been absolutely fascinated with dragons since watching Sleeping Beauty and Pete’s Dragon. Emma grabbed the dragon off the shelf before Mike even knew she could reach it. Emma then loudly proclaimed “OH! This dragon is mine!” She squealed with delight. Mike looked at me and said “Mom, I just have to get it for her!” How could I say no? People who know me know I do not give into impulsive indulgences, but gosh… I could see it meant as much to him as it did to her. Now every night Emma gets tucked into bed with “baby,” an ugly white stuffed toy, and “Dinosaur” which is what she has named her dragon. Life is good.
If you are interested in reading more about this program, would like a list of participating sites, or would like to make a donation to the USO, then please visit this link.
It is so sweet that Mike did that for Emma and such a great program they are doing
Thats great, I didn’t realize that they had this program! It is a great way to keep morale up bothe at the lines and at home!
What a wonderful program for the soldiers and kids…..absolutely wonderful!!!
Too cute about the stuffed animal named Dinosour!