There are many versions to this poem, but this one is my area of interest and the point is that there on men/women serving and protecting this country right now who are not able to be home with their families during this holiday season. So please keep everyone in mind this new year and thank a service member!
A Sailor's Christmas
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, such 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 kinds,
And a sober thought came to 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 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 minute, 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 say's 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."
and these were taken just tonight. We had our cookie baking tonight. It was so much fun, and such a big mess! We made a h u g e chocolate chip cookie, lots of sugar cookies with icing and sprinkles, some russian teacakes, and some chocolate crinkles! yum yum yum. Ty helped daddy roll out the dough and make the cookies into trees, ornaments, and gingerbread men. Then we iced them all! Now that the kids are down from all the sugar highs they are in bed asleep and mommy and daddy are going to wine out and watch the lunar eclipse that is happening tonight. [10pm pst.]
Here's our 'Ugly Christmas Sweater Party that turned into PJ party because nowhere in San Diego can you find a sweatshirt since it's currently 80 degrees in December!'
love these girls
T and S with Santa & Mrs. Claus
S
baby Reese's ornament
our new ornament to remind us of San Diego
Our tree
Storie's tree....how cute is it! Its feathers!
Tyler's tree
our Christmas mantel
$1 bin bucket at Target!
