It's Christmas Eve and as I begin my day I wonder about all the soldiers far from home and the memories they are clinging to. Can they imagine the smell of a pine tree commingled with cinnamon and hot chocolate? Do they hear the voices of carolers and hum along trying to remember all the words? Perhaps they look back at their own childhood and recreate the images of joy that their own children will experience without them.

The magic of Christmas isn't about how much money we spend on each other or how many presents are under the tree. I have publicly proclaimed an act of non-participation this year, yet am still filled with joy as I sit here and ponder where that comes from. I guess the answer is different for all of us which leads me to today's list of gratitude.

What I am grateful for today:

I am grateful to wake up with a feeling of anticipation for what the day will bring. There are last minute preparations as my in-laws arrive today.

I am grateful for a clean house and thankful to Sarra for her hard work.

I am grateful to share in the competition of gingerbread house building with graham crackers, white frosting and assorted candies.

I am grateful for the quiet that morning brings with time for reflection.

I am grateful to have hope, which turns into enthusiasm and eventually a plan.

I am grateful for the deposit I made yesterday and welcome more checks arriving soon.

I am grateful for the kiss of my husband as he makes his way out the door.

I am grateful for shopping mall Santa's who invoke good behavior to squirming children who sit on their lap.

I am grateful to Corporal Stephen Arxer, a Marine from New Jersey who is in Afghanistan celebrating his first Christmas away from home.

I am grateful to be an American and believe that anything is possible.

I thought it would be fitting to add this forward here. Please take a moment and share your thoughts with a soldier who is missing their family and making sure we have a safe Christmas instead. Go to www.anysoldier.com to sign up and share your gratitude with an anonymous soldier.


TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS-


TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS,
HE 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 was written by a Marine
who thinks Keith Olbermann is a idiot and can prove it (all you have to do is watch him)!!
The following is his request. I think it is reasonable.....

PLEASE. Would you do me the kind favor of sending
this to as many people as you can? Christmas will be coming
soon and some credit is due to our U.S. service men,
women, and Canadian Forces for our being able to celebrate these festivities.
Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we
owe. Make people stop and think of our heroes, living and
dead, who sacrificed themselves for us. Please, do your
small part to plant this small seed