Cookies cooked up for the troops

Sierra Vista Herald/Bisbee Review ^ | Laura Ory

[SandRat]

SIERRA VISTA — More than 1,000 snickerdoodles and other cookies are on their way to troops in Saudi Arabia, a holiday treat inspired by a Andrea Fisher’s recent trip.

When Fisher was asked to visit Saudi Arabia in October by her husband, who was stationed there with the military, she was nervous to make the journey.

She never expected to travel to the Middle East, especially during a war.

“My initial reaction was a simple ‘No thank you, I am not the one who signed my name on Uncle Sam’s dotted line,’ ” the Sierra Vistan wrote about the experience.

But she felt it was an opportunity she was being given by God and took the trip. She was surprised to learn about the local practices — women wearing abayas in the desert heat and traffic stopping and businesses closing six times a day for prayer.

Although she feared for her husband’s safety overseas, she also was reassured by the 300 people in the 64th Air Expeditionary Group, who provide security for the military in Saudi Arabia.

“I think their job is so important. I just wanted to thank them for protecting my husband while he’s there,” Fisher said.

After returning home, she decided to send something them something sweet before Christmas. She hoped to send 1,000 cookies and ended up with about 1,200.

She made about 400 frosted cookies with her children, Karlie, 13, Kyler, 11, and Mikey, 6, who also helped by taste testing the dough and frosting the cookies.

Members of her church and others donated the rest of the baked goods for the care packages.

With the help of her co-workers at Sierra Vista Flowers, Fisher packed the cookies into seven large boxes and mailed them earlier this week. They should arrive to the troops around Dec. 15.

She also hopes the gifts inspire others to think of troops stationed overseas.

“Not just Iraq but the other places that get forgotten,” she said.

Herald/Review reporter Laura Ory can be reached at 515-4683 or by e-mail at laura.ory@svherald.com.

[SandRat]

Andrea Fisher of Sierra Vista displays a batch of cookies she baked and sent to troops overseas. (Photo submitted)

Karlie Fisher, 13, smiles as she helps her mother, Andrea Fisher, bake cookies that were sent to troops overseas. (Photo submitted)

[listenhillary]

Pretty sure it is policy to not accept home made cookies for the troops. I’m sure they appreciate the thought.

[nina0113]

It looks like she sent them to her husband. If he chooses to share them out (and with 1200 cookies, he’d better, or he’ll go into a diabetic coma), that’s his business.

[nina0113]

Now that I’m thinking about it, I remember that a few years ago one of our priests got called up from the Reserves, and I sent him several hundred cookies with no problem at all. I think you just have to have an actual connection to the person.