Monday, December 18, 2006
One More Week/ and the Best Christmas Ever
Well it's almost here. The anticipation is building. Last minutes thoughts of what you should get someone.
I always do that. I spend the entire month of December thinking, oh that would be a cool gift, and of I run to find it. I could spend three whole months shopping with the intention of buying gifts and not find a thing I would want to give someone. Let me sit awhile over a cup of coffee, drive around a bit, or be out in the barn shoveling 'paca beans, and I'll come up with the perfect gift for someone.
I woke up Friday morning knowing exactly what I was going to buy my wife. Mind you had have already gotten her the perfect gift already. As a matter of fact, that gift took 5 people in 4 countries to locate. And it WILL be a perfect gift. But, there's always these ideas. Oh and yeah I went out Saturday and got her the "Other Perfect Gift".
My daughter is getting harder and harder to buy for. Not just because she is getting older. Because of a "special" gift I give her each year. It has been getting harder and harder to find it. I mentioned once that I thought I would find something else for her, maybe she was getting too old for it now. I was promptly told that she looks forward to it every year. So, I guess instead of being too old, it may mean more to her each year knowing that it is getting harder to find.
My son, what a great young man. He has the heart of a giant. I asked him last month, "what do you want for Christmas?" He tells me, "Well I need some jeans." What 11 year old tells his dad he "needs jeans" for Christmas. We are by no means "wealthy" family, but we have a roof and food. My son, young Mr. Practical, would like to make sure all else is taken care of. I'm not trying to kid myself or anyone else, if there came a time when there was nothing under the tree, he would be hurt like any kid, but ... I think he would pick up whatever he had and give his Mom a hug and an I love you. He will be a big man among men one day.
Myself? Well ... I always get something special from them all. I get great, wonderful memories. Oh sure I get gifts too and I'm just as big a kid as anyone when I open them. I always seem to guess what my wife has gotten for me. Except one year. That was the year she bought my a digital camera. I had no idea that time. I'm sure it can be upsetting, and really I do not try to guess. It's just sometimes, there's the package, she asked what I would like. Right size, right shape, ... yep I know what it is. Now there is a bright side and a dark side to this for me .. First I will get something I would really like. Second ... I BETTER tell her something I would really like. From my son I always expect a flashlight. I don't always get one but I look for it. You can never have too many flashlights and I never think of buying them myself unless I need one at the time. So ... It's an understanding between us, I would always like to have another flashlight.
There is another story behind the flashlight present also. My dad always needed them too. So, I always bought him one for Christmas. I guess it's my way of feeling like my Dad if I get one now. Even at 42 I still want to fill that man's shoes. It's not one of those, "I try and I try but I can never be good enough for him" stories. It's a "My Dad is such a GREAT man I could never completely fill his shoes. But I will try to do my best to make him proud."
I promised that I would tell the story of the Best Christmas ever. I suppose I am running out of time to do it, so now is as good as ever.
We lived in Southwest Arkansas at the time. About 4 miles outside Wickes, Arkansas. It was our first Christmas after leaving Indiana and we had snow. A pretty good snow for SW Arkansas too. It was about 3 or 4 inches.
Well when we moved from Indiana, we had the car and everything we could fit in a small U-Haul Trailer. There just wasn't room for all our stuff, so thing larger things got left behind. One of those things was my bike. Now my bike was a beat up bike frame with decent tires and brakes. It had been through some pretty hard times but still rode great. My brother had rode it for a while when we were younger and I was too small to reach the peddles. So when I was big enough and it was mine now. That made it the greatest bike ever. But, it had to stay behind.
We moved at the beginning of summer and lived out in the county, so I spent a lot of time running around woods and fields.
Now came Christmas. Like I said it was a pretty good Christmas that year. My dad worked hard and provided very well for us. What I remember of that year I got a little pool table that was a big hit with all my friends from school, but what I has asked for was not under the tree. (well the pool table wasn't either but that was a gift from my mother and I got a whole other story for you on that one.)
But, it was good Christmas. A while after opening all our presents my Dad told me to come help him unload the truck. I didn't know what he had in the truck, it was before we started heating completely with wood so I had no idea. But, if Dad said, "come help me with", you went. And you did what he wanted you too. Not because he would whip you. My Dad never whipped me. But because he might. And no one wanted to be on the receiving end of a whipping from him. He wasn't a mean man. He was a man that you knew you should respect. You had to. Not because he told you too, you just couldn't help but do it. But, I'm getting off the subject here.
I followed Dad out to the truck and he dropped the tailgate. Inside was something under some blankets. He told me to jump in there and pull the blankets off so we could get "it" out. Not knowing what he had in there I jumped in pulled the blankets back, and there was the best looking red bike I had ever seen. It wasn't at all like my old one. No this one looked like a "Cross-country" bike. It had suspension on the front forks. A black seat that looked like a motorcycle's. I couldn't believe my eyes. I had only ever seen one "new" bike outside a store. That was Todd's 5-speed that lived down the rode from me in Indiana. This one was even better than his.
Dad reached in and helped me pull the bike out of the truck and then stood in the cold and snow for the next 20 minutes watching me ride it around the yard.
That's the Best Christmas ever,
Merry Christmas and God Bless to all,
Dae
I always do that. I spend the entire month of December thinking, oh that would be a cool gift, and of I run to find it. I could spend three whole months shopping with the intention of buying gifts and not find a thing I would want to give someone. Let me sit awhile over a cup of coffee, drive around a bit, or be out in the barn shoveling 'paca beans, and I'll come up with the perfect gift for someone.
I woke up Friday morning knowing exactly what I was going to buy my wife. Mind you had have already gotten her the perfect gift already. As a matter of fact, that gift took 5 people in 4 countries to locate. And it WILL be a perfect gift. But, there's always these ideas. Oh and yeah I went out Saturday and got her the "Other Perfect Gift".
My daughter is getting harder and harder to buy for. Not just because she is getting older. Because of a "special" gift I give her each year. It has been getting harder and harder to find it. I mentioned once that I thought I would find something else for her, maybe she was getting too old for it now. I was promptly told that she looks forward to it every year. So, I guess instead of being too old, it may mean more to her each year knowing that it is getting harder to find.
My son, what a great young man. He has the heart of a giant. I asked him last month, "what do you want for Christmas?" He tells me, "Well I need some jeans." What 11 year old tells his dad he "needs jeans" for Christmas. We are by no means "wealthy" family, but we have a roof and food. My son, young Mr. Practical, would like to make sure all else is taken care of. I'm not trying to kid myself or anyone else, if there came a time when there was nothing under the tree, he would be hurt like any kid, but ... I think he would pick up whatever he had and give his Mom a hug and an I love you. He will be a big man among men one day.
Myself? Well ... I always get something special from them all. I get great, wonderful memories. Oh sure I get gifts too and I'm just as big a kid as anyone when I open them. I always seem to guess what my wife has gotten for me. Except one year. That was the year she bought my a digital camera. I had no idea that time. I'm sure it can be upsetting, and really I do not try to guess. It's just sometimes, there's the package, she asked what I would like. Right size, right shape, ... yep I know what it is. Now there is a bright side and a dark side to this for me .. First I will get something I would really like. Second ... I BETTER tell her something I would really like. From my son I always expect a flashlight. I don't always get one but I look for it. You can never have too many flashlights and I never think of buying them myself unless I need one at the time. So ... It's an understanding between us, I would always like to have another flashlight.
There is another story behind the flashlight present also. My dad always needed them too. So, I always bought him one for Christmas. I guess it's my way of feeling like my Dad if I get one now. Even at 42 I still want to fill that man's shoes. It's not one of those, "I try and I try but I can never be good enough for him" stories. It's a "My Dad is such a GREAT man I could never completely fill his shoes. But I will try to do my best to make him proud."
I promised that I would tell the story of the Best Christmas ever. I suppose I am running out of time to do it, so now is as good as ever.
We lived in Southwest Arkansas at the time. About 4 miles outside Wickes, Arkansas. It was our first Christmas after leaving Indiana and we had snow. A pretty good snow for SW Arkansas too. It was about 3 or 4 inches.
Well when we moved from Indiana, we had the car and everything we could fit in a small U-Haul Trailer. There just wasn't room for all our stuff, so thing larger things got left behind. One of those things was my bike. Now my bike was a beat up bike frame with decent tires and brakes. It had been through some pretty hard times but still rode great. My brother had rode it for a while when we were younger and I was too small to reach the peddles. So when I was big enough and it was mine now. That made it the greatest bike ever. But, it had to stay behind.
We moved at the beginning of summer and lived out in the county, so I spent a lot of time running around woods and fields.
Now came Christmas. Like I said it was a pretty good Christmas that year. My dad worked hard and provided very well for us. What I remember of that year I got a little pool table that was a big hit with all my friends from school, but what I has asked for was not under the tree. (well the pool table wasn't either but that was a gift from my mother and I got a whole other story for you on that one.)
But, it was good Christmas. A while after opening all our presents my Dad told me to come help him unload the truck. I didn't know what he had in the truck, it was before we started heating completely with wood so I had no idea. But, if Dad said, "come help me with", you went. And you did what he wanted you too. Not because he would whip you. My Dad never whipped me. But because he might. And no one wanted to be on the receiving end of a whipping from him. He wasn't a mean man. He was a man that you knew you should respect. You had to. Not because he told you too, you just couldn't help but do it. But, I'm getting off the subject here.
I followed Dad out to the truck and he dropped the tailgate. Inside was something under some blankets. He told me to jump in there and pull the blankets off so we could get "it" out. Not knowing what he had in there I jumped in pulled the blankets back, and there was the best looking red bike I had ever seen. It wasn't at all like my old one. No this one looked like a "Cross-country" bike. It had suspension on the front forks. A black seat that looked like a motorcycle's. I couldn't believe my eyes. I had only ever seen one "new" bike outside a store. That was Todd's 5-speed that lived down the rode from me in Indiana. This one was even better than his.
Dad reached in and helped me pull the bike out of the truck and then stood in the cold and snow for the next 20 minutes watching me ride it around the yard.
That's the Best Christmas ever,
Merry Christmas and God Bless to all,
Dae
Friday, December 15, 2006
Bless You
This is a poem that was sent to me by a very close friend. Thank you.
God Bless and Merry Christmas.
Enjoy,
Dae
========================================================
I asked the Lord to bless you,
As I prayed for you today.
To guide you and protect you,
As you go along your way.
His love is always with you,
His promises are true.
And when we give Him all our cares,
You know He sees us through.
So when the road you're traveling,
Seems difficult at best.
Remember I'm here praying,
And God will do the rest.
=========================================================================
God Bless and Merry Christmas.
Enjoy,
Dae
========================================================
I asked the Lord to bless you,
As I prayed for you today.
To guide you and protect you,
As you go along your way.
His love is always with you,
His promises are true.
And when we give Him all our cares,
You know He sees us through.
So when the road you're traveling,
Seems difficult at best.
Remember I'm here praying,
And God will do the rest.
=========================================================================
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Here We Stand
This is a short story I wrote the other day. You can download it from here. Let me know if you liked it, hated it, or have accepted a life of apathy.
Enjoy,
Dae
Enjoy,
Dae
Monday, December 11, 2006
Secret Friendship
Anytime we are around, the resident "Big Dog" does everything in her power to ingore the kitty. Of course the kitty, being a kitty, does everything in her power to pester the resident Big Dog. However, we were able to secretly take a photo while they were both unaware./sigh Kids and Pets .....
Enjoy and Have Fun,
Dae
Our Christmas Tree
Just a picture of our Christmas Tree. I've got a little story that goes with it, but will have to post it later when I have more time. Until then, enjoy the tree.
Have fun and Merry Christmas,
Dae
Thursday, December 07, 2006
I Wish You Enough
I'm sure you all have seen this email over and over again. I know I have. However, "I Wish You Enough", has a very special meaning for me. I was able to share it with my father before he passed.
===================================================================
I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.
===================================================================
I love you Dad, a Wink and a Smile,
Dae
===================================================================
I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.
===================================================================
I love you Dad, a Wink and a Smile,
Dae
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Angels in Strange Places
This is a story that my sister Roxy told us about what happened to her daughter this week. A few of you have met Roxy on Live I.
Enjoy
Dae
===================================================
Hi, I just got off the phone with Amy and wanted to tell you about the call.
Amy works at EssenHaus in Middlebury. And tonight she was at work and she got called to the phone. When she answered the person hung up.
The person who took the call told Amy the lady on the phone just asked if the Red Headed Amy was working tonight.
Then at closing someone came to the door. The hostess unlocked it and they had bags of unwrapped toys and gifts for Amy's family and kids. Lots of them.
The person did not leave their name, just left the gifts and a card.
The card just said that they wanted them to have a good Christmas and that they wanted to thank Amy for making sure that their children knew there was more to Christmas than just presents. And she also wanted her to let her children know that God will bless them through strangers.
The only thing that Amy could think of was last week she had a table of 12 people and she was talking to them about Christmas and that this year each child would have 3 gifts that is what Jesus got.
Money was tight. So that would be how they would handle it.
Amy said all she could do was cry at the kindness of a stranger.
Isn't that amazing?
Roxy
=========================================================
You never know when you may be speaking with an angel.
Enjoy
Dae
===================================================
Hi, I just got off the phone with Amy and wanted to tell you about the call.
Amy works at EssenHaus in Middlebury. And tonight she was at work and she got called to the phone. When she answered the person hung up.
The person who took the call told Amy the lady on the phone just asked if the Red Headed Amy was working tonight.
Then at closing someone came to the door. The hostess unlocked it and they had bags of unwrapped toys and gifts for Amy's family and kids. Lots of them.
The person did not leave their name, just left the gifts and a card.
The card just said that they wanted them to have a good Christmas and that they wanted to thank Amy for making sure that their children knew there was more to Christmas than just presents. And she also wanted her to let her children know that God will bless them through strangers.
The only thing that Amy could think of was last week she had a table of 12 people and she was talking to them about Christmas and that this year each child would have 3 gifts that is what Jesus got.
Money was tight. So that would be how they would handle it.
Amy said all she could do was cry at the kindness of a stranger.
Isn't that amazing?
Roxy
=========================================================
You never know when you may be speaking with an angel.
Monday, December 04, 2006
Twas the Night Before Christmas
My family is having a little contest amoungst ourselves writing a "Night Before Christmas" story. The story starts as;
"Twas the Night Before Christmas,
And all through the streets,
Not a creature was stirring,
But Little Old Pete ......
From there, we add on. I am posting a few of them here.
Enjoy and Merry Christmas,
Dae
====================================================
T’was the night before Christmas,
All through the streets,
Not a creature was stirring,
But Little Old Pete.
Down in the allies,
Where the cans are all stashed.
He made a good meal,
Of garbage can Hash.
From a wore pocket,
He found his last match.
To make a small fire,
On a brick he did scratch.
With all the banging,
And lighting of fires.
He woke an ol’ hound,
Asleep in a tire.
Warming his dinner,
In a can that he found.
Careful to keep away,
That mangy ol’ hound
Taking his meal,
And walking the streets.
He walked to a storefront,
To his very favorite seat.
Here the TV’s,
Were left on at night a lot,
And here he could watch,
While his meal was still hot.
Too his side,
That ol’ hound, it would sit
Hoping a morsel,
Of food he would get.
And like every night,
While they sat here together
Pete would drop some,
As he shivered in the weather.
‘Ol hound, he would move,
a bit closer to Pete.
Laying across him,
And warming his feet.
“Merry Christmas my friend”,
Pete told the ‘ol hound.
And together they slept,
On the hard frozen ground.
"Twas the Night Before Christmas,
And all through the streets,
Not a creature was stirring,
But Little Old Pete ......
From there, we add on. I am posting a few of them here.
Enjoy and Merry Christmas,
Dae
====================================================
Twas the Night Before Christmas
and all through the streets,
Not a creature was stirring,
but Little Old Pete.
His gray beard was long,
his hair, it was shaggy.
The clothes that he wore,
a bit dirty and raggy.
Pete had no family,
no wife and no children.
No Mother, no Father,
no squabblin siblin.
But, Pete was not lonely.
Oh no, he was not.
He had many friends,
He had quite alot.
The bag that he carried,
held close to his chest.
He had filled through the year,
for the ones he loved best.
So through the cold night,
Old Pete, he did go.
Never minding cold numbness
of finger and toe.
First came the Butcher,
who's floor Pete did sweep.
For a pound of ground beef
and a dollar to keep.
Pete searched through his bag,
til finally he found,
the rusty old bell,
someone, had tossed on the ground.
On the door he hung it,
cleaned and tied with a bow.
Each time the door opened,
the Butcher would know.
Next came the Bakers
still smelling divine,
with pies, cakes, cookies and
many breads so fine.
For her kindness and friendship,
Old Pete, he did give,
A pretty box made of tin,
for her pencils to live.
On down the street,
on through the night.
Pete delivered his gifts
with joy and delight.
The cold wind was blowing.
The snow coming fast.
Old Pete grew weary,
as he delivered his last.
I will sit here and rest
Pete, thought in his head,
Then on to the mission,
for hot soup and a bed.
The Angels did sing,
that cold winter morn,
for many years ago,
a child had been born.
But, on this bright day,
Angels sang with much might.
Old Pete, who loved all,
has entered the light.
and all through the streets,
Not a creature was stirring,
but Little Old Pete.
His gray beard was long,
his hair, it was shaggy.
The clothes that he wore,
a bit dirty and raggy.
Pete had no family,
no wife and no children.
No Mother, no Father,
no squabblin siblin.
But, Pete was not lonely.
Oh no, he was not.
He had many friends,
He had quite alot.
The bag that he carried,
held close to his chest.
He had filled through the year,
for the ones he loved best.
So through the cold night,
Old Pete, he did go.
Never minding cold numbness
of finger and toe.
First came the Butcher,
who's floor Pete did sweep.
For a pound of ground beef
and a dollar to keep.
Pete searched through his bag,
til finally he found,
the rusty old bell,
someone, had tossed on the ground.
On the door he hung it,
cleaned and tied with a bow.
Each time the door opened,
the Butcher would know.
Next came the Bakers
still smelling divine,
with pies, cakes, cookies and
many breads so fine.
For her kindness and friendship,
Old Pete, he did give,
A pretty box made of tin,
for her pencils to live.
On down the street,
on through the night.
Pete delivered his gifts
with joy and delight.
The cold wind was blowing.
The snow coming fast.
Old Pete grew weary,
as he delivered his last.
I will sit here and rest
Pete, thought in his head,
Then on to the mission,
for hot soup and a bed.
The Angels did sing,
that cold winter morn,
for many years ago,
a child had been born.
But, on this bright day,
Angels sang with much might.
Old Pete, who loved all,
has entered the light.
===============================================================
T’was the night before Christmas,
All through the streets,
Not a creature was stirring,
But Little Old Pete.
Down in the allies,
Where the cans are all stashed.
He made a good meal,
Of garbage can Hash.
From a wore pocket,
He found his last match.
To make a small fire,
On a brick he did scratch.
With all the banging,
And lighting of fires.
He woke an ol’ hound,
Asleep in a tire.
Warming his dinner,
In a can that he found.
Careful to keep away,
That mangy ol’ hound
Taking his meal,
And walking the streets.
He walked to a storefront,
To his very favorite seat.
Here the TV’s,
Were left on at night a lot,
And here he could watch,
While his meal was still hot.
Too his side,
That ol’ hound, it would sit
Hoping a morsel,
Of food he would get.
And like every night,
While they sat here together
Pete would drop some,
As he shivered in the weather.
‘Ol hound, he would move,
a bit closer to Pete.
Laying across him,
And warming his feet.
“Merry Christmas my friend”,
Pete told the ‘ol hound.
And together they slept,
On the hard frozen ground.
