Bring it on 2010!!

Everyone is doing great and we are loving KS being home, and so sad to see him go in the next couple of days. My Christmas posts will be up next week so until then here is my New Years post.

2009 was a great year, a year full of surprises and life changing decisions. In 2009 we celebrated our 27th, 24th, 6th, 4th, and 1st birthdays. We became an Army family and we learned that we are all a lot stronger than we thought we could be. We had our first ER trip, thank goodness it took us 6 years to have one! Overall it was a wonderful year everyone was healthy and KS and I's marriage became stronger with every passing day.

2010 will bring so many changes for our family KS will be gone for months. We will have his BCT graduation, his AIT graduation, and hopefully his Airborne graduation. Then we will PCS (permanent change of duty station) for the first time to who knows where. I cannot wait to see where the Army takes us in 2010. Colin will be starting sports for the first time and Kiale will be graduating kindergarten and starting 1st grade in an unknown school. Colin will be finishing up K-4 and starting Kindergarten. Our precious Cayleigh-Grace will be blossoming and growing into a full fledged toddler and 2 year old. My husband and I will be celebrating our 9 year anniversary of being together and our 7 year wedding anniversary. I am not one to do New Year resolutions but I am one to set goals to accomplish throughout the year so here they are, in no particular order.

Finish the 3 quilts I have started.
Finish Holly's duvet cover in time for her birthday on the 17th.
Start and finish Dixie's Apron and throw blanket so I can give it to her on her birthday.
Start and complete Mom & Dad's, Alanna, Dezi, Lindsay & John, and Cammie's quilts by Easter so I can give them to them then.
Make the duvet cover for my bed.
Make new throw pillows for the living room.
Start some sort of Bible study and actually keep up with it.
Get the house 100% ready to sell or rent when we move.
Purge all the stuff that is sitting in the garage (anyone want some FREE furniture?)
Landscape the yard.
Get out of debt as much as possible, if we sell our house get 100% out of debt.

I hope everyone has a wonderful and safe New Year, have fun and God bless!

Santa Pictures

2005

2006
2007
2008
2009

A Soldiers Christmas Poem

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.

My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My child beside me, angelic in rest.

Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.

The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.

My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.

In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.

Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the
sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.

My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.

Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.

A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps in the Army, huddled here in the cold.

Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!

Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..

To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice.

I'm here every night."
"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.

No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.

My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."

My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.

I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.

Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.

I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.

I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.

I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..

Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."

"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."

"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?

It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.

To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.

For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.

Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."

The Wives Who Wait

The Wives Who Wait

Twas the night before Christmas
And there all alone
I saw a young woman
Who sat by the phone

For what was she waiting
On this holiday night
Where were the stockings
Christmas tree, lights?

I saw one little tear
As it rolled down her face
And she curled up in a blanket
Then looked round the place

Something was missing
Someone not here
In her face I saw sadness
Did I also see fear?

I paused and I wondered
What could it be?
That would cause a young woman
To look so lonely

How could anyone so precious
Choose such a life?
Then I realized this woman
Was a soldiers wife.

Her gift for this Christmas
Is to hear that phone ring
“Hey baby, I miss you
Don’t worry about a thing”

Each day I thank God for the soldiers that serve
Ever willing to fight and lay down his life
But how often do I ever remember think
About the young woman who is that soldier's wife

Thank you God for these women
They are just as strong
They sacrifice daily
And without help get along

So God please protect our soldiers
On this holiday eve so late
And give an extra hug
To their wives who wait

(written by Jeannie Lining, my mom, during OEF deployment 2008)

Christmas Past

Here is a glimpse of our Christmas's past, I would like to wish you all a wonderful and Merry Christmas from my family to yours!

2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008