Virginia Beach Vaca

I can't believe it's Christmas Eve! We made it up to Virginia just fine last Saturday but the snow storm that we drove through was just crazy. Luckily VDOT was prepared this time and there were plenty of snow plows and salt trucks out. The worst of the storm was in the DC/Richmond area. That's where we used to live and never had any snow!

We had an early Christmas celebration with the in-laws. It was a lot of fun. We celebrated birthdays in the afternoon. My someday SIL's is the 13th, mine was the 17th and E's is Jan 5th. Then I went to a cookie exchange with my mom in Virginia beach. I think it's fun to spend time with old friends we don't see very often. After dinner we celebrated Christmas. Let's just say I will be making some fabulous scrapbooks come the new year!

We spent tuesday in Va Beach visiting friends and family. E's brother just bought a house there so we had to go visit it! One of E's best friends had a baby in and we haven't seen the little cutie since she was two weeks old. So of course I got my baby fix in. She is just adorable. We went to outback and passed her all around the table and she stayed happy the whole time. I wish I had been smart enough to take picture but I wasn't.

Last night we went to the celebration of lights in Newport News. My mom told me that 24 years ago when I was first born she wanted to take me to this christmas event. And this is the first time we have been able to do it....we haven't always lived around here so that's why it took so long. That's the life of a military family.

I think we are about half way through our vacation and having lots of fun. I'm really writing all this so next year when I can't remember what we did...I'll have this to remind me of where we were.


I really hope everyone out there is has a little time off from work and has a chance to relx, enjoy some cookies and enjoy the holiday season!

A Soldier's Christmas Poem

My mom sent this to me and I just loved it so I had to post it! It came in perfect timing because I am baking cookies for my adopted soldier. :)

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.


GOD Bless Our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen This Christmas!!!

Holiday Mail for Heros

This time of years is when the marjority of people find a way to somehow give back to others. So here's another easy chance for everyone to thank a hero. The Red Cross and Pitney Bowes have created a program to send Holiday Mail for Heros! Click the link and you can find out more information.
For those of you who are crafty make a few cards and those of you who aren't a store bought card is just as great. It's really the thought that counts here....not how much money you spend! Here are a few guide lines I have taken stright off the website.

Do...
Sign all cards

Entitle cards “Dear Service Member, Family or Veteran”

Limit cards to 15 per person or 50 for school class or business group

Bundle groups of cards in single, large envelopes (there is no need to include individual envelopes and postage for cards)



Don’t...
Send letters

Include personal information such as home or email addresses

Use glitter – excessive amounts can aggravate health issues of wounded recipients

Include inserts of any kind as they must be removed in the screening process'
 
 
 
Here is the address you can send the cards to until Monday, December 7th!
 
Holiday Mail for Heroes
P.O. Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456

You still have two weeks to participate...so why not make someone smile today!