Operation Spread Joy / Update

Last night I read 300 postcards. Some made me laugh, some made me tear up. All of them made me feel proud of the whole bunch of high school students who wrote them.

If you’ve been following along, you’ll know that these cards were written to our Special Forces stationed somewhere in the remote regions of Afghanistan. I know that I personally feel an immense gratitude for the courage and skills of these men and women, and feel privileged to be able to reach out to them at Christmastime, to share some of that gratitude and spread a little cheer.

Reading the heartfelt words last night told me that the kids feel that way too.

Packages are also piling up, for both the soldiers and the local Afghan children, to be shipped out via military aircraft next week. What a thrill to have made this happen with the enthusiastic support of the high school, and the military transport thanks to the fantastic work of the  Silent Warrior Fund.

Most of all, I hope everyone’s efforts will make a difference overseas … so that while families gather here at home, and food is shared and gifts are unwrapped and lights are lit, these special heroes will know they’re not forgotten, know we care, and know we honor them.

Specially selected cards from Saxton's "52 Weeks of Peace" used for Operation Spread Joy


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“where in the world is peace?”… the emerald isle

Wishing Peace to the Irish. Many thank you’s for these shots of our Celtic Peace (week #29) bag in Dublin, Ireland!

Where to next…?

(ps:  all “where in the world is peace?” images are being compiled on a special “where in the world is peace?” page. Totes, mugs and things are available here. Send your own pictures to 52weeksofpeace@gmail.com or join our FaceBook page and post them there. Let’s see where peace goes!)

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Post-Thanksgiving: Sundae Peace

Peace # 55 ….. is about some give, some take, some working, some sharing. It’s having enjoyed a great meal with great people, using a little muscle to help unload truck-fulls of stuff for your brother and sister-in-law’s move back east, and leaving them with a stash of homemade hot fudge sauce to enjoy after you’ve gone. And at the end of the day, being grateful for those simple things.

© Patricia Saxton

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“where in the world is peace?”… sunny california

One of our bags found its way to the west coast, winding up at Huntington Beach, California. (I have to say, the “peace with mermaids” made me smile from ear to ear.) All three are terrific shots, and I love seeing the concept spread. More peace ambassador thanks goes out!!

Where to next…?

(ps:  all “where in the world is peace?” images are being compiled on a special “where in the world is peace?” page, here. Totes, mugs and things are available here. Send your own pictures to 52weeksofpeace@gmail.com or join our FaceBook page and post them there. Let’s’see where peace goes!)

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“where in the world is peace?”… west of the delaware and south of the mason-dixon line

Book by book, bag by bag, button by button, good people are spreading the message that “peace starts here”. Much appreciation to these new peace ambassadors!

The fabulous Hunga Bunga Java shop in Surf City, NC

The Hunga Bunga Java mascots!, North Carolina

off to school!

Christmas in October at Lake in Wood campground, Narvon, PA.

Delta Gamma house, Wittenberg University, Springfield, OH

"Tiger Spirit", Wittenberg University, Springfield, OH

My Jacket

(ps:  all “where in the world is peace?” images are being compiled on a special “where in the world is peace?” page, here. Totes, mugs and things are available here. Send your own pictures to 52weeksofpeace@gmail.com or join our FaceBook page and post them there. Let”s see where peace goes!)

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Witt World Whirlwind

Yea, say that ten times fast! Or, rolling more easily off the tongue, you could say the whirlwind Witttenberg University book-signing weekend went very well. And Wittenberg is still a beautiful campus, with classic Ohio friendliness in tact.

My book-signing was set for 10AM on the Saturday of Homecoming Weekend, and I was so pleased that a good number of people got themselves up and out in time to be there. It was a terrific crowd, in fact! I loved seeing old, familiar faces and meeting new ones. I loved that they liked my books. :  )

I also loved meeting a particular young girl who adores mermaids and aspires to be an author/illustrator, and loved that she gave me a book she wrote (complete with drawings). That was an especially precious moment, in a weekend of special moments, memories revisited and memories made.


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Traveling Peace: Book Signing Update

Heading out soon to my old college stomping grounds in the friendly midwest.

It’s homecoming weekend at Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio, and I’ll be stationed at the campus bookstore on Saturday the 22nd, between 10 & 11 am, with my 3 books and some cool gear. If you’re in the area, come say hello!


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“where in the world is peace?”… oktoberfest, of course!

We’ve made it overseas! To Stuttgart, Germany’s Oktoberfest.

Wonder if this peace bag got filled with spätzle and weiner schnitzel, some dark chocolate küchen and a nice Riesling. Maybe some dreikornbrot … ah, sehr gut. Danke schön for sending in!

Oktoberfest Peace

(ps:  all “where in the world is peace?” images are being compiled on a special “where in the world is peace?” page, here. Totes, mugs and things are available here. Send your own pictures to 52weeksofpeace@gmail.com or join our FaceBook page and post them there. Let”s see where peace goes!)

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“where in the world is peace?”… on the road

Last week it accompanied guitars, appreciated art, traveled to the airport, made friends with strangers and posed with a sports model (sort of). Thanks peace ambassadors! Where to next…?

on the road again ...

"Aesop's Fables" sculpture at MIT

9/11 art exhibit, jersey city

us airways baggage check

sharing a moment of peace with strangers (strangers no more!)

from the city of brotherly love


(All “where in the world is peace?” images are being compiled on a special “where in the world is peace?” page, here. Totes, mugs and things are available here. Send your own pictures to 52weeksofpeace@gmail.com or join our FaceBook page and post them there. Let”s see where peace goes!)

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