Something Fun for a Very Special Thanksgiving?

Talk to your mom. See if she can recall what his favorite foods are. Then talk to him and ask him if he is craving something special. Make the entire menu about him even if it is not traditional Thanksgiving fare. Make sure there's enough to sen him home with a substantial care package. The way to a man's heart really is thru his stomach. = )

Hmmm...What else? Is there anything going on in your hometown that you could all attend as family? Any special program at your childhood church or community center? But then, if it were me...An evening at home with all my family and friends (invite his friends over for dessert and drinks after the meal) would be so welcome after what must have been a very intense 5 yrs. Your simple presence is probably gift enough.

Thanks him for his service from me!

Maybe ask the kids to compose a Thank You prayer that focuses on his safe return and surface. They can recite it before dinner.

When my husband came back from Iraq after 15 months away, I decorated the house with banners, streamers, etc. Family members had written welcome home letters/cards and those were out too. I had made his favorite foods (including his favorite meals for a few days in a row...and anything I knew he was craving that he couldn't get over there.) Mostly though, he was very tired and needed opportunities to nap/rest. I'm not sure how long your brother has been back in the country since his deployments. But needless to say, just having his family around will mean the world to him. give him a little space though, make sure people don't ask him direct questions about the war or what he saw. Truly, you don't have to do much to make him feel welcome and some guys actually shy away from the attention. Hugs, some posters, favorite music on the cd player....good to go. Enjoy!

First off, what a blessing it will be to have your brother home again! Second, your ideas are great, but I'm sure that having everyone there to be around him will be the best part of it, and no frills can compare with that moment. Maybe get a picture of the family all sitting around the table and have it framed for him as a memento of the day.

I agree to his favorite foods.

Are you a sports-type family? I played kickball with my son today and had a blast. He's only 2 and had a grand old time too. That's a game all ages seem to like! If not sports, then maybe a family game (Apples to Apples is fun).

Is he going BACK to Iraq? Perhaps each person could write a letter to him with encouraging words, scripture, etc and put it in a sealed envelope. He can open one a day or when he really needs some mail and hasn't seen any.

maybe you could make a quick scrap book or collage of pictures showing him what happened while he was away- to catch him up and let him know y'all were still thinking of him while he was gone.

I like the idea of having the special family dinner, then having some of his friends over for dessert later. If he's a football fan, have a game of flag football for everyone. Your best bet is to ask him what kinds of things he'd like to do for Thanksgiving. Ask if there's anything in particular he has missed and make sure to have that.

Hmm my first thought is to make sure you make some of his favorite foods, and make sure he has something comfortable to wear so he can be nice and comfy when he comes to visit. Maybe you can have everyone in the family email you a special note about your brother and print them out and paste them on a huge ' thank you we love you' card. He might enjoy reading something like that since he has been gone for so long, and might like that also instead of being 'bombarded' with visitors right when he gets home. Hoping you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!

Great food-think of all the wonderful dishes your dear brother, God love him, missed while serving our great nation! Don't forget Champagne!

ballons may not be a good ideal since more then likely somebody will decide to pop them , loud,sudden noises and combat veterans are not a good mix.
what you might want to consider is having someone, preferably a fellow veteran, drive out to WA to pick him up, and give them a chance to talk. once at the dinner, have a private space just for him so that he can relax. dont everybody rush him at once, because that may stress him.no surprise boxes for him for obvoius reasons. if everything goes right, he should be fine
K. h.