There's the song on the radio this time of year - Soldier's Silent Night, that's just so meaningful and special. I wasn't sure what it was called, and had to do a bit of research, but I found a website talking about it, with a YouTube clip where you can hear it.
It's recited like Santa describing the home of a US Solider on Christmas Night. Turns out it was written by Lance Corporal James M. Schmidt in 1987. Not sure why I'm just finally hearing it this year, and don't ever remember hearing it before.
If you haven't' heard the song on the radio (they run it as much as the Christmas Shoe Song) take a minute to watch the YouTube Video below. It'll bring a tear to your eye for sure.
It'll give you a moment to remember our soldiers who aren't home this 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, net 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.
The 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.
Here's a cool Christmas Gift I received today. He's named Mr. Roboto and he's a cool metal, flexible, poseable guy, who's got an alarm clock for his face and clips for hands. He's the perfect companion for sitting on your desk, holding on to important cards and papers, and reminding you what time it is.
To help continue the Holiday Mood, I made some cookies tonight. Peanut Butter with Hershey Kisses.
They have 8 processing centers around the country - the largest being this center in Charlotte. It's expected that they will process over 8 million shoe boxes to be sent to children around the world. As of Saturday, the Charlotte processing center had processed 1,079,000 shoe boxes.
We opened shoe boxes and checked for donations (people insert donations in either cash or check to many of the she boxes to cover the shipping of the box), removed the donation, and pre-sorted the boxes by age range. It was really neat to be checking so many different boxes.
I'm attaching photos that I took in the processing center - as you can see, it's a HUGE facility, with cases containing shoe
boxes piled to the ceiling and 50 feet deep. That one picture of all the brown cases, they told us, was about 2 days worth of work to process.I believe It's too late to prepare a box for this year but if you'd like to help you can go to http://www.samaritanspurse.org/OCC.asp?MPGID=1 and use the EZGIVE option to sponsor a box and pay the shipping on sending a box.
I had my Dish Network system upgraded this weekend to the HDTV system. WOW! HDTV is awesome.
It required a new dish though, which is quite a bit bigger and pulls from 4 satellites at the same time.
I have my house exterior decked out for Christmas. I live alone so I don't do much inside anymore, by way of a tree etc... But my whole neighborhood is actually Christmas named (the development name, street names etc...) and since I live on Christmas Court, I really needed to do something to the outside.
So I've got wreaths on all the windows, garland above the garage, the spiral tree and white lights on the shubs. I will attempt to get a decent picture after it gets dark out.
The Christmas Season is officially here!
I went to the After Thanksgiving Souvinir Blowout at Lowes Motor speedway friday. With a certain purchase amount, our a donation to Speedway Children's Charities, you can drive your car on the track for 2 laps.
This is a pretty cool thing - but also a bit scary, since you sign away all liability of injury or damage before you do. But it was really cool, especially driving fast into the high-banked corners. My top speed was 80 MPH and I did pass a slower moving SUV on the high side down the backstretch.
Very cool experience!
Kathy didn't know what a blog was - so I took this silly picture of her and put it on my blog. I post this just after I've finished my Thanksgiving turkey.
I went with some friends to a Georgia Bulldogs Football game this last weekend. Actually made a weekend of it, stayed in a beautiful cabin in North Georgia and did the game on Saturday.
Weather was Purrrrrfect and the bulldogs won their homecoming game. I look forward to my next game. Go Dawgs!
I spent the day Saturday with a friend of mine at the Food Lion Auto-Fair at Lowes Motor Speedway in Charlotte. It's the largest auto-fair in the world... And it was amazing to see all the different types of old cars, amazingly restored. Every bit around the speedway, the concourse and the infield were covered, it was amazing to see.
