Tuesday, December 30, 2008
It is almost time to say good-bye
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Dear Family and friends, and fellow bloggers ...
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
God Bless our Soldiers
A Soldiers Poem...
'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS,
THEY LIVED ALL ALONE,
IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF
PLASTER AND STONE.
I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY
WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,
AND TO SEE JUST WHO
IN THIS HOME DID LIVE.
I LOOKED ALL ABOUT,
A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,
NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS,
NOT EVEN A TREE.
NO STOCKING BY MANTLE,
JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,
ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES
OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.
WITH MEDALS AND BADGES,
AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,
A SOBER THOUGHT
CAME THROUGH MY MIND.
FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT,
IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,
I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER,
ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.
THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING,
SILENT, ALONE,
CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR
IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.
THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE,
THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER,
NOT HOW I PICTURED
A UNITED STATES SOLDIER.
WAS THIS THE HERO
OF WHOM I'D JUST READ?
CURLED UP ON A PONCHO,
THE FLOOR FOR A BED?
I REALIZED THE FAMILIES
THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,
OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS
WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.
SOON ROUND THE WORLD,
THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,
AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE
A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.
THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM
EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,
BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS,
LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.
I COULDN'T HELP WONDER
HOW MANY LAY ALONE,
ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE
IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.
THE VERY THOUGHT
BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE,
I DROPPED TO MY KNEES
AND STARTED TO CRY.
THE SOLDIER AWAKENED
AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,
"SANTA DON'T CRY,
THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;
I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM,
I DON'T ASK FOR MORE,
MY LIFE IS MY GOD,
MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS."
THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER
AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP,
I COULDN'T CONTROL IT,
I CONTINUED TO WEEP.
I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS,
SO SILENT AND STILL
AND WE BOTH SHIVERED
FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL.
I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE
ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,
THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR
SO WILLING TO FIGHT.
THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER,
WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,
WHISPERED, "CARRY ON SANTA,
IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE."
ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH,
AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.
"MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND,
AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT,"
This poem is a reworked version from the original which was written by Lance Corporal James M. Schmidt stationed in Washington DC in 1986.
Throughout the years a request has been added to theses words.
Please share these heart warming words with your friends. The Christmas season is here and a great deal of credit is due to our U.S. service men and women for our being able to celebrate these festivities.
Thank You and Merry Christmas.
Proud to have been able to serve.
Mike Meehan ETCM(SS), USNR (Retired)
12-24-2003
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
I am a slave
Why is it that the teenager ended up with a better car than Mom and Dad??
Don't answer that one. Please.
Monday, December 15, 2008
My Christmas cards are made!
Tonight I can address and stamp all the envelopes and then tomorrow I can mail them all. If I can remember, I will have the cards scanned and add pictures of them to this post later.
Then on Wednesday night, I have to start baking .... never got to that this weekend.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Christmas Carols
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Stephenie Meyer
Thank you Amanda!
Manda started reading the "Twilight" series last year on the recommendation of her freshman english teacher. Manda was hooked instantly, but I had no interest in the series. A human, a vampire and a wolf .... yeah - okay .... I'll pass.
But then, "TWILIGHT" was due to be released in the theaters, and of course, Manda wanted to see it. I felt compelled to read the book at that point. I read about 1/2 of the book before the movie came out. We went to the movie the day after it was released, and after seeing this wonderful story on the big screen I was completely hooked and finished the rest of "TWILIGHT" before the weekend was over.
By Thanksgiving I had read all four books in the series.
Check out Stephenie Meyer's web site for information on the wonderful author, her books and other projects.
I love Christmas music
(Yes, even BEFORE Thanksgiving.)
I have multiple copies of Donny Osmond's "CHRISTMAS AT HOME" so that I can listen to it in my car(s), at home, in the craft room, and at work.
Track /Title
1 Angels We Have Heard On High
2 God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
3 I've Been Looking For Christmas
4 After December Slips Away
5 he Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
6 Baby, What You Goin' To Be
7 Deck The Halls / Hark The Herald Angels Sing
8 I'll Be Home For Christmas
9 Who Took the Merry Out of Christmas
10 O Holy Night / Divine
11 Soldier's King
12 The Kid In Me
13 My Grown-Up Christmas List
14 Mary Did You Know?
15 Come To The Manger
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Puppy Love, Soldier of Love, Enduring Entertainer
As I logged into Comcast to check my email this http://www.comcast.net/slideshow/entertainment-celebbirthdays1209/5/
caught my eye.
I couln't help but smile. Go on ~~~ click on it.
Yeah, that is what brought the smile to my face .....
Happy 51st Birthday Donny Osmond!
(I guess if he is in his 50's, it is time for me to admit that I am no longer in my teens!)
Sunday, December 7, 2008
I really do not like being sick
By Thursday Morning I felt almost as horrible as Manda - my whole body ached everywhere, I was nauseated, and food sounded horrible. Manda went to school, but came home after 1st period. We both spent the rest of the day between the restroom and trying to sleep. Notice I said trying because there was not much sleep that could happen as restroom trips were the main activity of the day.
Friday was better for Manda, and worse for me. Although she still could not think about food with out wanting to heave, Manda was able to go back to school. On the other hand, I was so dizzy it hurt to focus. Food was not an option. Sleep was a necessity that had been severely lacking.
Saturday was marginally better - the dizziness was mild, and food was started to be an option, as long as it was bland. I had sent Russ to the store on Friday to get all the ingredients for a roasted turkey and mashed potatoes - nutritious, not too heavy and bland enough that we'd be able to eat it.
Today was better and thankfully I was able to actually leave the house. Manda had a Christmas dance recital. Then we came home so she could catch up on homework.
I am still cautious around food, and feel like I have recently been ran over by a Smart Car, but I can tell I am on the road to recovery.