Merry Christmas from our house to all of you.

A Different Christmas Poem

A Different Christmas Poem
By Michael Marks


The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, then the
sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.

A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.
"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light,
Then he sighed and he said "Itʼs really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."
"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fatherʼs before me.
My Gramps died at ' Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ' Nam ',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.

Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.
I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."
"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."
Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."

I know that I can do nothing without the Lord. I have to have faith that God will take care of this situation.

Asking for prayer for my Daughter-in-law Mirta, my son Aaron's wife, she is having surgery tomorrow at noon to correct a twisted colon. Part of the colon died so they have to remove the dead tissue and reattach. Prayer for the surgery, swift recovery and for Aaron and their three children, Lincoln age 3, Aiden age 2 and Elliott age 2 months. Aaron is in the navy and has had to take leave to be with the three children. Mirta has been in the hospital since last Saturday night and we are not sure when she will be able to return home. Please pray for all of them through this trying time. Thank you.

Happy Birthday to my adorable granddaughter Ava Joy.

Pumpkin patch

My son Aaron and his son Lincoln at the pumpkin patch on our visit.

Happy Birthday Aaron

This picture is of AJ on his first Birthday.

From Living for the simple things in life

My baby is now 25th.
Happy Birthday Aaron!


Thank you for serving our Country. Hopefully, I will see you next week.

School is back in session

It that time of year again for our children to return to school for EMU to get busy with students eager to learn. It is fun and exciting for me when our building is busy. It's Bo's last year in high school. The end of getting 6 children through high school.

Hold on tight and let the school year begin!

I love this song by the Martins.

 

I Surrender

Yours, Lord I am Yours, Lord

and my soul cries out to You

Reach deep with Your gentle touch

and draw me close to You

While I'm waiting for Your peace to come

I'm falling down upon my knees

I surrender, surrender

I surrender to You

Beautiful, so beautiful

is the love You show to me

You have brought me back to You

Where my heart has longed to be

Kneeling here in Your holy presence

I am lifting up my hands

I surrender, surrender

I surrender to You

In the light of Your amazing mercy

I will fall down on my knees

I surrender, surrender

I surrender to You

Chris Eaton and Joyce Sanders

C 2011 Here's to Jo (BMI)/ West Lodge Music

(admin. by Bug Music, Inc.)

(admin. by Gaither Copyright Management).

All rights reserved Used by permission

  Happy Birthday to my loving husband.

I'm trying so hard to not let things that come up in my life bring me down but it is very hard. I let one of the temps use my phone twice because of an emergency  that came up outside of work. She doesn't work in our building normally so I let her use my phone. She dropped it in my mop bucket. Now I have no phone and insurance doesn't cover phones that have been in water. Ugggg

They send her back over to our building again today and I am trying to be nice but she won't stop bringing it up and she got a new phone last night and she just had to show me it.

This is my husband and I 28 years ago February 14, 1986 on our Wedding Day.


















This is my husband and I 22 years later. Oh brother, I think my smile is almost as big as my laugh. Can you'll believe my husband still has all his hair.

My 23rd Wedding Anniversary is today. (Yes, it's really on Valentine's Day) I tried to focus my mind on this today while I was on my route. I have spent this week doing little things for my husband each day. My husband did special things for me as well this week. As I thought about my husband this past week, I was reminded of how wonderful he is. He is perfect for me, he puts me first, right after God. We never fight, and if we have a disagreement we always work things out without fighting, how perfect is that! He is not afraid to tell me he loves me many times each day. I told him today that I was going to buy something special to wear just for him. The sweet man that he is said, "Honey, you look good to me in everything you wear". (It just melts my heart that he still finds me attractive after all these years) I'll list more wonderful things about him on my Marriage Monday post! Our 15th Anniversary/Valentine's day is something I will never forget. I'll post all about it Monday and I'll share the most romantic love letter I have ever received. I bet you can guess who it was from? LOL!!!!

I looked on-line to see if I could find some gift ideas or anniversary ideas. I want to make this day special for him.

This is what I came up with:

Romantic Getaway

Go on a romantic getaway whether it’s for a night, a weekend, or a full vacation. Bed and breakfasts are a perfect spot for a romantic weekend. Try to choose one that is near a lake or other secluded area where you can stroll hand in hand and enjoy each other’s company. This makes the experience much more intimate.

This could be fun if we weren't so busy.

Second Honeymoon

Take a second honeymoon to a destination that you have both always wanted to visit. Whether your trip is to an exotic destination or a rustic cabin, it will allow you to enjoy intimacy in a special, private setting.

This would be wonderful also, but we never even had a first honeymoon. I don't think this is going to happen any time soon.

Stay Home

Lock the door, turn on the answering machine, build a fire in the fireplace, and light aromatherapy candles to create a romantic atmosphere. Cuddle up and share memories of your wedding day and discuss plans for the future. Relax, laugh, kiss and enjoy each other’s company.

This sounds like something I might be able to pull off. Our anniversary falls on Thursday this year. I've already talked to my daughter-in-law about keeping the kids over night, they have no school on Friday. I like this one a lot!


True Love- a Compilation of Love songs from the era you were married including songs like True from Spandu Ballet and Save a Prayer from Duran Duran.

This one would be pretty fun! My husband and I use to lie in bed and sing songs from back in the day. The only thing is I looked at all the songs from the year we were married and I don't like any of them. The only song I remember my husband singing over and over again is "Your Having My Baby" I think because for the first 5 years of our marriage I spend most of it pregnant.
For my Marriage Monday post, I'll fill you'll in on what I have come up with for our Anniversary/Valentines day evening.

My husband has already informed me that we have reservation at 6:00 p.m. at an Italian Restaurant. Only my husband would know how much I love Italian food.

I already know what I will be ordering, my all time favorite meal.

Chicken Parmigiana, a salad with Raspberry vinaigrette dressing, and garlic bread. I must save room for my favorite dessert, Carrot cake!

Happy Birthday to my sweet grandson Aiden. 2 years have gone by so very fast.

The story of my life.

I turn 51 tomorrow. 2014 didn't start off very well for me but it has gotten better. I am trying to put things in the Lord's hands each and every day. I want to try and use this blog for my journal entries each day. What is going on in my life. pros and cons to the things I am dealing with and my thoughts on how I can deal with them in a Godly way.