Twas the night before Christmas, the ship was out steaming, Sailors stood watch while others were dreaming. They lived in a crowd with racks tight and small, In a 80-man berthing, cramped one and all.
I had come down the stack with presents to give, And to see inside just who might perhaps live. I looked all about, a strange sight did I see, No tinsel, no presents, not even a tree. No stockings were hung, shined boots close at hand, On the bulkhead hung pictures of a far distant land. They had medals and badges and awards of all kind, And a sober thought came into my mind.
For this place was different, so dark and so dreary, I had found the house of a Sailor, once I saw clearly. A Sailor lay sleeping, silent and alone, Curled up in a rack and dreaming of home.
The face was so gentle, the room squared away, This was the United States Sailor today. This was the hero I saw on TV, Defending our country so we could be free.
I realized the families that I would visit this night, Owed their lives to these Sailors lay willing to fight. Soon round the world, the children would play, And grownups would celebrate on Christmas Day.
They all enjoyed freedom each day of the year, Because of the Sailor, like the one lying here. I couldn't help wonder how many lay alone, On a cold Christmas Eve on a sea, far from home.
The very thought brought a tear to my eye, I dropped to my knees and started to cry. The Sailor awakened and I heard a calm voice, "Santa, don't cry, this life is my choice.
Defending the seas all days of the year, So others may live and be free with no fear." I thought for a moment, what a difficult road, To live a life guided by honor and code.
After all it's Christmas Eve and the ship's underway! But freedom isn't free and it's sailors who pay. The Sailor says to our country "be free and sleep tight, No harm will come, not on my watch and not on this night.
The Sailor rolled over and drifted to sleep, I couldn't control it, I continued to weep. I kept watch for hours, so silent, so still, I watched as the Sailor shivered from the night's cold chill.
I didn't want to leave on that cold dark night, This guardian of honor so willing to fight. The Sailor rolled over and with a voice strong and sure, Commanded, "Carry on Santa, It's Christmas, and All is Secure!"
***************************************************************** The story to date:
As of my last thread (number 21), I am now legally able to consume alcohol
The lock fairies are running around the boards. I also noticed that SG has moderator under her name again. HHHHMMM does that mean she is back??
I know I have not been around that much and I do apologize to those that are hunting me down and talking to me. I am reading, I am not ignoring, but I am spending a lot of time thinking and praying.
Ian, I felt the 2x4 and I get it. I know I am strong enough to stand on my own. I can survive if my marriage were to end, but I am not giving up on it, either. My house has never been cleaner with just me taking care of it, I am more organized for school, I am getting discipline issues in hand (that is taking longer than I would like), and I am generally happy most of the time. I am spending time with friends I have made at church, I have a PJ party planned for the weekend, and I have plans for working out more after the holidays, when things settle down a bit. I have found some new babysitters and am working on having one come in a couple hours a week--just so I can have time for me.
D9 is doing well and I am confident God will give me the grace to continue to deal with the intricacies of her diagnosis. D17 is calling and coming over the house. She also wants to spend Christmas Break here.
I am grateful for all of my friends, RL and virtual. I am blessed to have four relatively healthy children, I am blessed to be healthy myself. My cars run, my house is warm, and my cat still likes me. My faith is deepening and I give thanks to My Heavenly Father for all the blessings he has bestowed on my life, as well as the challenges. It is through tackling these challenges that I truly know the wonder of God's grace and mercy and honestly appreciate all that I have, knowing that He is taking care of me.
I love my husband. I believe I always will. I always knew that if something were to happen to him, that I would be content to be a widow for the remainder of my life, as I have known true love in my marriage and have no desire to look elsewhere for more. Thinking of my DH fills my heart with joy still, as I can remember both the good and the bad and cry equally for both, not in mourning but in gratefulness for all he has brought to my life to make me the woman, wife, and mother that I am today.
SMW
M40/H36 T16/M14 4K B2/08 S4/08 current
Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. I Corinthians 13:7
