Those Winklers

While it may seem presumptuous that we would post a list of things that we would like in a care package, this list is actually in response to countless requests from many of you who want to send us stuff.  So, without further ado, here is a list of things that would be nice to have here.  Following the list are some tips for sending packages to us while in Nigeria.

• soup mixes (e.g. Bear Creek…particularly the broccoli cheddar, but any of  them are quite delish — and perhaps more importantly, easy to make at a moment’s notice.  And chicken noodle soup is always a great comfort food for those Not Feeling Great times.)
• foil packets of salmon, chicken or tuna in water
• Reese’s peanut butter cups/ peanut butter M&M’s
• magazines, old or new (e.g. Taste of Home, The Economist, Family Fun, Christianity Today, Sports Illustrated, ESPN the Magazine, etc.)
• dried fruit and nuts
• spice mixes (e.g. chili, white chili, tandori chicken, etc.)  We have taco seasoning in bulk,  so we’re okay with that for now. 
• dried egg whites (and not just so we can eat raw cookie dough.  But mostly so we can eat raw cookie dough.  We did have a friend over, though, who commented that he hadn’t had raw cookie dough in ages because of living here and the health risks, so we totally made a snack of raw cookie dough that evening.  It’s the simple things, you know….)
• granola/ cereal bars (Kashi makes good ones, and who doesn’t like a good Nutri-Grain bar every now and again?)
• recorded TV shows or movies or sporting events that we might like (no need, though, to break copyright laws for us!)  (No, really, we’re not just saying that in case the Copyright Police stumble upon our blog.)
• Propel powder (especially the grape flavor).  Christie also likes blue Powerade, but mostly because she likes to lick the powder like it’s Fun Dip.  (Mmm… remember that pure sugar sensation as a child?  My mom always ciphoned through our Halloween stash, but somehow I managed to make out with something like that….)  Judah is also delighted by the Smurf blue after effect on his mother’s tongue.
• pepperoni (regular or turkey are both good)
• Parmesan cheese
• Ranch dressing mix (typically the larger plastic containers rather than the packets)
• Ziploc bags (any size–quite valuable here!)
• Are you seeing a trend?  We like food.

Some non-food things that are fun as well:

• balloons for Judah
• arts and craft supplies

Tips on sending packages to Nigeria:

• Padded envelopes tend to make it here faster and with more of the contents intact than boxes, and they are also much cheaper to mail (and receive — apparently the postal system here doesn’t realize you can cram all kinds of goodies in those envelopes and so they don’t charge those pesky customs fees on envelopes.  Unless they, too, read our blog and just had a money-making epiphany.  Crud.)  We regularly receive these containing DVDs of some of our favorite TV shows and they often arrive in less than two weeks and cost less than $4.
• You will usually need to declare what is in the package.  Describing items in a way that make them sound less desirable to those who may be tempted to take the items could be helpful.  (E.g. Instead of saying chocolate you could say food of the cocoa plant.  Instead of saying large wads of cash, try government backed capital. (Kidding.  Don’t really send money.  That was a joke.)  If you want to surprise us, perhaps a customs declation like, “Mind your own business” will communicate that and ensure a prompt delivery.  Feel free to use your creativity.)
• Unless you would like to surprise us with a package in the mail, you can always check with us to see if anyone will be coming for a visit soon that could handcarry the package to us. Mailing it to someone else in the U.S. will be much cheaper than mailing to Nigeria (and it very well could get there sooner)!
• Do NOT send anything of significant value. Like your small children.  If you have something of value to send, please send it with someone who could handcarry it.
• Please contact us directly if you would like the address.  It is a P.O. box, though, so if you were planning to show up on our doorstep and surprise us, that might thwart your plans.  Just so you know.
• Also… you may want to wrap food items in ziploc bags or something, lest any critters on boats bound for Nigeria gnaw their way into them.  (Okay, I think you get the idea.  Now that I am vomiting inside, I am going to steer away from the subject.)

Thanks to all of you who have sent packages and those who are planning to.  Moreso than anything that is actually in the package, just receiving mail from our friends and family in the States is a huge blessing!  We appreciate each of you.  And peanut butter cups.  We also appreciate those.   (Another joke!  You can’t even tell Christie went in and edited this after Chris went to bed just to see if he’d notice and take her comments out, can you?  Nope, it all flows so well together….  Seamless.)