“Merry Christmas, My Friend” by James M. Schmidt

I’ve always loved this poem, and heard the altered to soldier version on the radio the other day.  So, I looked up the origional, and found it, the story behind it, as well as the youtube clip to listen to the beautiful reading of the more military branch neutral version.  Enjoy my friends. Enjoy.

Merry Christmas, My Friend

By James M. Schmidt, a Marine Lance Corporal stationed in Washington, D.C., in 1986, as printed in ‘Leatherneck’ back in 1991:

Twas the night before Christmas, he lived all alone,
In a one bedroom house made of plaster & stone.

I had come down the chimney, with presents to give
and to see just who in this home did live

As I looked all about, a strange sight I did see,
no tinsel, no presents, not even a tree.
No stocking by the fire, just boots filled with sand.
On the wall hung pictures of a far distant land.

With medals and badges, awards of all kind,
a sobering thought soon came to my mind.
For this house was different, unlike any I'd seen.
This was the home of a U.S. Marine.

I'd heard stories about them, I had to see more,
so I walked down the hall and pushed open the door.
And there he lay sleeping, silent, alone,
Curled up on the floor in his one-bedroom home.

He seemed so gentle, his face so serene,
Not how I pictured a U.S. Marine.
Was this the hero, of whom I’d just read?
Curled up in his poncho, a floor for his bed?

His head was clean-shaven, his weathered face tan.
I soon understood, this was more than a man.
For I realized the families that I saw that night,
owed their lives to these men, who were willing to fight.

Soon around the Nation, the children would play,
And grown-ups would celebrate on a bright Christmas day.
They all enjoyed freedom, each month and all year,
because of Marines like this one lying here.

I couldn’t help wonder how many lay alone,
on a cold Christmas Eve, in a land far from home.
Just the very thought brought a tear to my eye.
I dropped to my knees and I started to cry.

He must have awoken, for 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."

With that he rolled over, drifted off into sleep,
I couldn't control it, I continued to weep.

I watched him for hours, so silent and still.
I noticed he shivered from the cold night's chill.
So I took off my jacket, the one made of red,
and covered this Marine from his toes to his head.

Then I put on his T-shirt of scarlet and gold,
with an eagle, globe and anchor emblazoned so bold.
And although it barely fit me, I began to swell with pride,
and for one shining moment, I was Marine Corps deep inside.

I didn't want to leave him so quiet in the night,
this guardian of honor so willing to fight.
But half asleep he rolled over, and in a voice clean and pure,
said "Carry on, Santa, it's Christmas Day, all secure."

One look at my watch and I knew he was right,
Merry Christmas my friend, Semper Fi and goodnight.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

ABOUT "MERRY CHRISTMAS, MY FRIEND"

(from gospelweb.net)  Thanks to Brett Kramer, who wrote us yesterday with the correct information, we have learned that the beautiful poem sent to us some years ago by one of our "web friends" is a modified copy of the original circulated on the internet for some years. The original poem's true author, James M. Schmidt, was a Lance Corporal stationed in Washington, D.C., when he wrote the poem back in 1986.

The true story of the poem, as told by Lance Corporal Schmidt: "While a Lance Corporal serving as Battalion Counter Sniper at the Marine Barracks 8th & I, Washington, DC, under Commandant P.X. Kelly and Battalion Commander D.J. Myers [in 1986], I wrote this poem to hang on the door of the Gym in the BEQ. When Colonel Myers came upon it, he read it and immediately had copies sent to each department at the Barracks and promptly dismissed the entire Battalion early for Christmas leave. The poem was placed that day in the Marine Corps Gazette, distributed worldwide and later submitted to Leatherneck Magazine."

Schmidt's original version, entitled "Merry Christmas, My Friend," was published in Leatherneck (Magazine of the Marines) in December 1991, a full two years before it was supposedly "written" by someone else on Christmas Eve 1993 (and had appeared in the Barracks publication Pass in Review four years before it was printed in Leatherneck).

As Leatherneck wrote of the poem's author in 2003: "Merry Christmas, My Friend" has been a holiday favorite among "leatherneckphiles" for nearly the time it takes to complete a Marine Corps career. Few, however, know who wrote it and when. Former Corporal James M. Schmidt, stationed at Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C., pounded it out 17 years ago on a typewriter while awaiting the commanding officer's Christmas holiday decorations inspection . . . while other leathernecks strung lights for the Barracks' annual Christmas decoration contest, Schmidt contributed his poem to his section."

Over the years the text of "Merry Christmas, My Friend" has been altered to change the Marine-specific wording into Army references (including the title: U.S. Marines do not refer to themselves as "soldiers") and to incorporate line-ending rhyme changes necessitated by those alterations.

Reports are that after leaving the Corps, Corporal Schmidt earned a law degree and now serves as an attorney in Los Angeles and is director of operations for a security consulting firm.

The following clip is a reading of “A Soldiers Silent Night” by a former Marine.  This is an altered version of the origional poem posted above.

Now up and running . . . Mom’s Brain

IN the interest of self preservation, and crossing my fingers to salvage at least an ounce of my sanity during this school year, I have chosen to take my brain, and put in into a physical, visual, color-coded, interactive format to better assist me in keeping up with all the crazies that live under my roof.

Any an all information anyone feels needs some “Mom attention” must be submitted in writing and then deposited into either the file slot of said child, OR attached to the white board.  The white board also is for phone notes, information from my husband OR my sister, seeing I need to keep track of where they need to be and when.  They don’t get file slots due to the fact they won’t be coming home with ALL sorts of papers and packets from school I’ll need to see, sign, and return to slot for them to pick up and return to school.

Each child has their own color.  It is reflected in many ways, including their magnets to hold notes on white board, their own colored dry erase marker, AND their own pad of post it notes!!  What are the chances that THEE 5 colors we assigned the kids would come in ONE pack of post-its.  So glad.  Funny enough, the color assignments came from the need to stop going thru SO many cups each day with everyone home.  I found the 2 for $1 at Wal-Mart, and got each of the kids a 2-pack of cups.  This color coding is already working out GREAT!! You never have to wonder what is who’s.  Hey, we even got computer thumb drives in the right colors for each of the kids. 

So, once important things are submitted, I am the ONLY calendar enterer person that can enter ANYTHING onto the calendar or attach it to the cork board.

I will NEVER be able to put into words how happy I am to have finally gotten this all UP and how eager I am to get it RUNNING.  I don’t need to remember, I just need to LOOK as I’m passing by with a load of laundry, or off to drop someone’s stuff in their room, etc.

 

Some day I’ll get on the ball with this blog…

…but for today, I’m just going to hit the recent highlights. 

School is out in a few days.  It’s weird to say that because I was just out of town for 10 days visiting my bestest friend Stephanie and her family.  I was there for their last week of school, Em’s graduation,   and then home I came. 

Now MY kids are taking finals, having their fun days, and doing the final countdown.  Weird déjà vu.

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Our garden is growing very well.  (this pic is from about a month ago…it’s grown SO much bigger)Robbie supervised it’s care while I was away, and everyone enjoyed the first 2 zucchini squash cooked up with dinner a couple days after I came home.  YUMMY!!! The cherry tomatoes are looking good (2 are nearly ready to pick already with LOTS more close behind) and we even have 2 cantaloupe growing.  I haven’t counted how many more zucchini or how many beefsteak tomatoes are growing, but the whole family is finding great satisfaction is watching this all thrive and tastes pretty darned good so far.

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Randy had his Junior Prom a couple of weeks ago.  He and Shelli looked GREAT and had a marveloso time with Jenna & Eric. Our little boy’s all growed up.

 

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Jason started 2 college courses: algebra and psychology.  There are some days it just wears him out to have to use THAT much brain power, and he gets so frustrated with his memory problems, but he is determined to do this and do it the best he can.  I think HE will need a good long vacation after these classes wrap up.

The end of this week, Jason will be having his surgery to hopefully stop his acid reflux that has been wreaking havoc on his esophagus for over a decade now.:

“Laparoscopic anti-reflux surgery (commonly referred to as Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication) involves reinforcing the "valve" between the esophagus and the stomach by wrapping the upper portion of the stomach around the lowest portion of the esophagus - much the way a bun wraps around a hot dog.”

I’m sure all will go well, but please keep him in your prayers.

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Next big thing for Jason is that he is awaiting the arrival of his working dog.  He is getting a psychological working dog, and this should do good things to help keep him calmer and (how do I put this without sounding like he’s a little kid?  I can’t)… basically I won’t have to be out with him a large majority of the time so he can manage being in public.  The dog will be his companion so he can maintain longer stretches of independence without the anxiety or depression and especially the ‘war zone’ mentality taking over.  I want Jason to be as independent as he can for as long as he can.  Much as I love spending lots of time with him, he needs to continue to feel as productive as possible, knowing his injuries haven’t stolen everything from him. 

Once the dog arrives I’ll do my darndest to post pictures :O).  oh, and due to the impending arrival of the new dog, we worked hard and found a wonderful new home for our precious Baby Grrrl.  I didn’t want her to be lacking in attention, but more importantly, I didn’t want either dog to lack in care – and pets are expensive.  SO, she is now with a great woman, keeping her company while her husband is deployed and she is expecting a little baby girl.  So our Baby Grrrl will grow up with their Baby Girl ;o).  She’s getting lots of beach time, and apparently LOVES it, so much as I miss my little spazzy shadow, I know she is in good hands.

OHhh yeah, and Robbie managed to hurt her foot while I was away, and my dear sweet hubbie didn’t want to hinder my ability to enjoy my trip, so I found out when I got home from the airport and saw her foot/leg all wrapped up.  LOL.  The kids were SO sure I was gonna be MAAAAAAaaaaaAAADD that dad didn’t tell me.  Have they not learned, I can only shake my head, roll my eyes, and say “WHAT happened???”  So far, doesn’t look like anything’s broken.  A wave slammed her at a bit of an odd way and she had her toes bent WAY too far with the rest of the foot still jamming forward.  ouchie.  Then, a few days later, even though her foot was a LITTLE hurt still (probably more then a little) it was field day at her school, and she HAD to participate in the events she had signed up for.  She just couldn’t let the class down.  Then, well, she wanted to hurry home to get OFF the foot, so she – in her infinite wisdom- RAN home.  OYE!! What’s a mom to do??

 

Let’s see, Curtis, Craigan & Zyzax are all doing well.  Nothing major to report with them, which is kind of a good thing.  whew.

I did make the little boys new drawstring backpacks before I went on vacation…. here they are, more then happy to show them off.  :o)

Please have yourself diagnosed for A. A. A. D. D

(this was shared with me, and is OH so accurate! How could I not pass it along :o) 

Age Activated Attention Deficit Disorder

This is how it manifests:
1) I decide to water my garden.
2) As I turn on the hose in the driveway, I look over at my car and decide my car needs washing.
3) As I start toward the garage, I notice that there is mail on the porch table that I brought up from the mail box earlier.
4) I decide to go through the mail before I wash the car.
5) I lay my car keys down on the porch table, put the junk mail in the garbage can under the table, and notice that the can is full.
6) So, I decide to put the bills back on the table and empty the garbage first.
7) But then I think, since I'm going to be near the mailbox when I take out the garbage anyway, I may as well pay the bills first.
8) I take my check book from my purse on the porch table, and see that there is only 1 check left.
9) My extra checks are in my desk in the study, so I go inside the house to my desk where I find the can of Coke that I had been drinking.
10) I'm going to look for my checks, but first I need to push the Coke aside so that I don't accidentally knock it over. I see that the Coke is getting warm, and I decide I should put it in the refrigerator to keep it cold.
11) As I head toward the kitchen with the Coke, a vase of flowers on the counter catches my eye--they need to be watered
12) I set the Coke down on the counter, and I discover my reading glasses that I've been searching for all morning.
13) I decide I better put them back on my desk, but first I'm going to water the flowers.
14) I set the glasses back down on the counter, fill a container with water and suddenly I spot the TV remote. Someone left it on the kitchen table.
15) I realize that tonight when we go to watch TV, I will be looking for the remote, but I won't remember that it's on the kitchen table, so I decide to put it back in the den where it belongs, but first I'll water the flowers.
16) I pour some water in the flowers, but quite a bit of it spills on the floor.
17) So, I set the remote back down on the table, get some towels and wipe up the spill.
18) Then, I head down the hall trying to remember what I was planning to do.
At the end of the day:
* the car isn't washed
* the bills aren't paid
* there is a warm can of Coke sitting on the counter
* the flowers don't have enough water,
* there is still only 1 check in my check book,
* I can't find the remote,
* I can't find my glasses,
* and I don't remember what I did with the car keys.
Then, when I try to figure out why nothing got done today, I'm really baffled because I know I was busy all day long, and I'm really tired.
I realize this is a serious problem, and I'll try to get some help for it, but first I'll check my e-mail.
Do me a favor, will you? Forward this message to everyone you know, because I don't remember to whom it has been sent.
Don't laugh -- if this isn't you yet, your day is coming!!

GROWING OLDER IS MANDATORY. GROWING UP IS OPTIONAL.
LAUGHING AT YOURSELF IS THERAPEUTIC.

You figure it out.

So parents, you know how you have those times, where you have said the exact same thing to your kids probably a dozen separate times, with at least a dozen variations (just in case wording it differently SOME how actually will get thru to the part of their brain that “get’s it”) all in only a weeks time (maybe 2 or even 3 if you’re lucky).  Well, I’m getting better and better all the time at looking at my kids calmly when there arises some sort of anxiety amongst the ranks over nothing of substance whatsoever, and just saying to them, “YOU figure it out.” 

I mean, honestly, did I wear your sneakers and then NOT put them on the shoe shelf?  Well then, why do I have to stop what I’m doing to go look for the missing one?  Did I teach you to hit your sibling “only joking” and then wonder why in the world they hit you back?  Did I make all the dirty dishes when you and 2 other kids had friends over and no one cleaned up after all the late night munching?  So why are you wondering why there are no clean bowls to eat breakfast with?

I looked at the kids, and not sure if it was out of total exhaustion, or just that I was blessed with the total disconnect I needed at the time, but with NO emotional stress whatsoever, I asked a couple of them … “So, just wondering something?  Is there anything different I could say today then what I said yesterday, the day before, or even the day before THAT that would make it easier for you to understand YOUR role in the argument you want me to stop between you all?”  ‘Noooo.  Not really.”  “Well then, I suggest you take a deep breath and then YOU go and figure it out. See ya. :o)”  you must end with a happy grin, just to let them see that YOU can choose NOT to yell, pitch a hissy fit, or let their desire to be big old grumpy farts have any effect over YOU enjoying YOUR day. 

Nope, I’m going to enjoy my book, putting it away when I’m done so I know where it is next time I want it.  I’m going to make myself something to eat, and even clean up after myself so the counter is clean for whomever comes in after me.  I’m even going to rinse and stack my dirty dishes, occasionally even loading the dishwasher if the kid with the duty has unloaded it.  I’m going to clean out the kitty litter and tend to the dog, because I chose to have the pets.  I’m even going to save your little toys from ending up being hidden by the dog, even though you did NOT put them away.  Why? Because I don’t want the dog to have them.  I never said you were going to get your little toys BACK, I just took them away from Baby Grrrl.  I know, I know, I’m such a mean mom.  But one of these days, I’ll get to sit back and grin as I listen to YOU tell YOUR kids “You’ll figure it out” as you shoo your kids off to settle their own quarrels. 

todays answer

Purple Pancakes

Today's answer....WEAR YOUR HELMET!!!

Okay, so over the last few years, we've gotten a LOT more insistant with our children always wearing helmets.  Biking, skateboarding, skiing/snowboarding, whatever.  Dad already has a brain injury, and Iwould like to NOT add anyone ELSE to that list. 
Proven to be needed --> last years ski trip when the snow was more ice in places then it was snow.  I was learning to snowboard, and ended up falling backwards SLAMMING my head on a huge patch of ICE.  Not enjoyable.
Proven to be needed ---> me AGAIN out on the ski slops, but this year.  Didn't get good footing under me getting off the ski lift, and when I fell on my butt, I apparently fell backwards and also slammed my head.  I have NO memory of the head smacking...just thinking to myself to ignore whatever hurts and get OUT of the way before the next chair gets to the landing.  MOVE it.  Jason and our instructor told me I hit my head a good one. 
Lucky to have not needed ---> Zacky, back when he broke his arm.  He said he knew AS he was falling off his bike he should have had his helmet on.  At only 6 years old, that is what he thought?!  Then put his arm up to protect his head, and landed on the arm.  We are pretty darned sure he could have gone without the break if only he'd had his helmet on.  (yes, he wears it always now.)
SOooooo lucky --->  Randy TODAY...  Was passing someone on the sidewalk heading to school, and ended up wiping out on his bike.  Slammed his shoulder, and THANKFULLY his head tapped the grass...missing the sidewalk just barely.  He ended up breaking his clavical.  All in all, a crummy start to the day, but all in all, we are SO happy it wasn't worse. 

Guess what HE will forever remember to wear??!!!!

a very over due update list….with more to come…eventually

February 19,2010 a Friday

(when I wrote the update.)

As I started up the family blog for 2010, I really thought I could easily take a little time each weekend to post a brief update, maybe some pictures, and things would be good. All it takes is a few weekends of pure exhaustion followed by a couple more weekends being down and out SICK, and the next thing you know you're nearly finished with 2 full months on the calendar. My overall goal is to print the blog as a family journal, so playing catch up with the essential highlights is very much in order.

WEEK 2 -->

Randy got his Learners Permit! He has finally taken to the roads outside of the clearly labeled "Student Driver' vehicle, so look out! He he he, only kidding... Randy's actually doing fairly well on the roads. He was so happy when he finally passed the written test and said I'm the good luck charm. You see Dad took him the first 2 tries Randy had been told to study AND do the online practice tests He was SO sure he knew what he needed to. Guess NOT. So, before taking him over to the DMV yet again, I insisted on SEEING him study at least 5 separate times. When it came time for Randy to face that darned written test for the 3^rd time, Jason wasn’t about to sit for all that time yet again. I realized I had to change the address on my license anyway, so off we went. Knowing Randy's learning curve and "freak out thresh hold the way I do, I noticed he was starting to worry, causing him to forget stuff 1 KNEW he knew 50 my job was to Keep Randy distracted so he d stay calm Thankfully, there were about 12 other kids waiting as Well, one of which was a friend of Randy’s. Those guys kept each other well distracted, and BOTH left with their permits I’m glad Randy thinks I brought him luck, but I was just doing the Mom thing and helping my kid remember to Keep his cool. WAY To Go RANDY! Safe Driving.

WEEK 3 -->

We welcomed our newest family member. The cutest little Pomeranian, 2 year old female dog we named Baby Grrrl. It’s funny how we ended up choosing her…

    … Jason relaxes a lot more when our cat Mufasa, is around him. The thing is, Jason REALLY wanted some playful cats (and No WAY did he want any sort of dog) So we decided to get a couple of kittens. When you bring cats in as babies, our experience is that they tend to be more playful. Anyway, there were No Kittens free listed in the classifieds, and none at the pet store because kittens weren't in season. While at the pet shop, Jason saw a Pomeranian for sale. He stopped liking is as much as soon as they said she was $800.

        We found a lady who rescued a pregnant cat, and the kittens were SO new that they were only just opening their eyes. When we went to meet her, she had an absolutely itty bitty little Pomeranian Pekinese mix. Jason thought he was just great! By the time we got home he was eager to look at shelters and such to see if there were any Poms available.

By golly if the arrows weren't ALL sending us to Baby Grrrl. There was a brand new listing the next morning to share that there were a couple Poms at the local shelter. We were at the door when they opened at noon. First we met the male, then the shy, scruffy female. This girl went STRAIGHT to Jason. She hooked him in a heartbeat, and has been with us ever since J. I gave her a bath and she was SO good, I just know she used to be well cared for. Now she’s lost the sad little scruffy look, and we just love having her around. She's small, playful at times, and QUIET! Yes, I don't know how, but we’ve been blessed with a dog that almost never makes a sound.

Oh-- her name. She instantly responded to ‘Honey’, but that wasn't working because that’ s what Jason and I say a lot. So, since we’d always planned to foster or adopt at least 1 child, and that plan changed with all the effects of Jason’s brain injury… well, this little doggy is our new baby. So, being funny, she’s BABY GRRRL We sure love having her!!!

Week 4 =>

Zacky’s been working hard to do well at school, but his Concerta just wasn’t even getting him thru even most of the school day So we got in with the doctors and increased the dose. Oh my goodness, it is So huge for him to be in control thru almost the whole day. Zac is so much more content, and I quickly say there was no worry it was too high a dose. Zacky's ADHD is just SO overpowering for him, and he's only 7 having more struggles than Curtis did at 12 years old. Being able to have a great school day sure makes an enormous difference in his attitude. It’s good to see the days he is really content, and I m really happy the change is settling in well.

The last 3 days of January, I have no clue what happened with the family 1 went to bed kind of sick around 9 am Friday, and got sicker & sicker, barely getting out of bed The next thing I knew it was Monday, and FEBRUARY!! HUH??? What? Where did February come from?

WEEK 5 =>

The Friday I’d been sick Randy & Curtis had been at the church building with the Young Men. In their collective infinite wisdom, they all went out to the darkest part of the parking lot to play capture the flag. Well, lucky Curtis got his heel caught funny on the pavement, and then hurt his left knee. By Tuesday, Jason was getting sick and Curtis' Knee was getting worse. Though I still felt like death (not even warmed over since I was soooo cold…brrr) I just kicked into "gotta do it” mode and took Curtis to the doctor. He sprained his knee and a partially dislocated his kneecap. CRAaaaaP. We have a ski / snowboarding trip on the 5^th , so this was NOT fun timing.

        The end of week 5, Randy was in the school play-and we were all too sick to go. Big bummer. I'm glad Jessica, Randy’s girlfriend, and her mom could go. They said he did great, and he sure did love being up there on stage. I still wish we’d gotten better in time to be there to see him.

Well, that’ll have to do for now.  I’m working on more to get current, and then HOPE of all hopes, I’ll make myself get in a better habit of updating.

past weeks info WILL be updated...eventually

I'd hoped to post every Sunday evening, or Monday mornings after sending the kids off and having a quiet house.  That isn't working out so well considering I have spent the last 2 weekends sick.  First one, just a bit icky along side Zacky.  This past weekend, well, I literally slept away the last few days of January I was so sick.  Today I'm on day 2 and a half of Pretending that I'm well because, well, someone has to run the show and Jason is WAY too sick to even try.  :o( Poor guy.  Zyzax is sick again, and even Randy got in on the sick and ickkkk.  Now we're in the process of using more tissue then I think we EVER have in our married lives, and I am REALLY hoping I can manage to decontaminate the house; force fluids thru all of us that have noses in marathon training they're running SO much; and desperately do my darndest to keep the other 3 healthy.  Curtis sprained his knee, so he REALLY does NOT need to add sick to his list.

Wish me luck, and I'll try to remember to pull out the calendar and update what's been up.....soon??? at least I'll get to it ... eventually.

2010 – The first 10 days summed up

Hello all!!  As you can see, there’s been a bit of a change to our family page, and I’m still trying to get a background I can love and stick with, so that may keep changing. 

I haven’t been the best of bloggers.  I know I want this one for more of what’s going on with the family.  I have saved all the old posts from before at www.crashdominoNkids.blogspot.com  just so I could know I still had all that information.  I have my own blogging page that I need to use FAR more often for the “just me” thoughts, feelings, experiences.  This blog however, THIS is for the family.  I’m not one for making new years resolutions, but I realized the other day that this would be a good time to really take this one and run with a fresh start.  Maybe even with more photos if I really try hard.

Moving on . . .

lets see how the beginning of 2010 has been.

We actually kept things pretty simple to ring in the new year.  The older kids had enjoyed an extra long activity at church the night before, so doing our traditional stay at home, make finger foods, play games, watch movies, then enjoy the last half hour of whatever is on tv until the ball dropped…they were cool with that.  Jason and I were both so darned tired, I’m still amazed we didn’t just put the youngest to bed, ourselves to be, and remind the other kids to lock up.  So, that second wind of energy hit, we watched the ball drop, and then Jason got all the kids to grab pots and pans and wooden spoons and run around banging them in front of the house yelling “Happy NEW YEAR!!”  Being that we’re in a neighborhood of military housing, I didn’t know which direction this was going to go.  Either neighbors will be mad and the MP’s show up to issue a warning (behind their chuckle that it’s good the kids had fun), OR the whole darned neighborhood is awake and in on their OWN noise making adventure.  THANK GOODNESS, this is a neighborhood that is ALL in on it.  There was a whole SLEW of people from one party actually walking around the neighborhood, wearing their party hats and tooting on their party horns yelling out to all the other neighbors that had come outside to whop it up for the New Year.  :o)  Fun fun fun.

The next couple of days were a total mix of everyone drifting in and out of nap time, playing games, watching movies, and using all their way cool Christmas presents. (of course Mom and Dad are always thrilled to see that).

Our first Sunday of the year was quite enjoyable.  We share our Ward building with one other ward, and it was decided about 4 months ago, to do away with the 1 o’clock meeting time slot, and over lap use of the building by having the 9am and 11am start times for our meetings.  So, now it is OUR turn to be in the 11 o’clock ward.  Yippie!  Yes, I said yippie!  So many others were none too thrilled with the change because they “love” getting the 9-12 time slot, and getting home to feed kids and get them down for naps.  For our family, never has there been a time slot that better accomadated food and naps over another time slot.  However, now that we have a Dad in the house that has trouble getting moving in the mornings, we LOVE that we can get going slowly, peacefully, and in a relaxed fashion.  We all made it to church, and even stayed for the entire meeting.  Robbie and I both had tummies that were really trying to twist their way inside out, but we didn’t want to be the cause of anyone else in the family leaving early.  Since that day the Young Women and Relief Society were combined, we sat next to each other enjoying the lesson, and enjoying even more how fast the time went by.

This year in Priesthood and Relief Society, the new lesson manual is “Gospel Principles.”  I took some time to flip thru the lessons, and it is going to be very refreshing to really get back to the corps basics of the gospel.  Also, the lessons are all very short, so the teachers will really get more of an opportunity to either customize more emphasis where individual wards and branches may need it, or it will provide more class interaction.  I know I’m really looking forward to it.  Along with the new books, our Bishop has issued a challenge (request?…naw, more so a challenge) for each of us to again, read the entire Book of Mormon this year.  I know for our little family, this isn’t the first time we’ve heard this challenge.  Sadly, I don’t think any of us have ever actually finished.  So, now that we’re getting the family settled back into some sort of routine, we REALLY hope to once again establish family scripture reading time, and to read ALL of the Book of Mormon together.  Long ago, when my kids struggled to understand the “old language” and “funny way they talk” in the scriptures I taught the kids to view this as no different then listening to the stories by someone from another country that learned English as a second language.  They’ve known SO many wonderful people with really cool accents, yet didn’t “quite” have the English language down, that it suddenly made it all SO much easier.  So as the weeks progress, if I can keep up on at least weekly updates, I’ll try to hold myself more accountable for making sure we actually follow thru with doing this.  Honestly, there is so much to gain, I don’t know why I’ve allowed myself to be such a slacker and not fulfilled this challenge and encouraged each member of my family to do the same every single time. 

AND THEN – The glorious day of “Back to School” arrived!!

Zyzax and Craigan absolutely loved being home, but they SO missed seeing ALL their friends each day.  I mean, honestly, no matter how much you love your parents and siblings, there really is only SO much of them a kid can take, and even SCHOOL is more marvelous then a longer vacation.  Keep in mind, they said they’d love to stay home longer if we could only go snowboarding and skiing, but since we can’t, and there’s NO snow right here, might as well go to school.  LOL.  They’re too funny.

Robbie, Curtis and Randy actually were all pretty happy to get back to school.  They enjoy learning, socializing, and Randy had to get back to the play practices.  They’re performances are the beginning of February, so he was eager to get on with regular practice.  Curtis likes school, with a tad too much socializing.  He’s ready for the end of semester exams to be over with this week so he can get on with a clean slate for the rest of the year.  Adjusting to High School while having ADHD isn’t always an easy thing.  He is a super smart kid, but now he sees that when HIGH SCHOOL Teachers say they will NOT accept late work, they ACTUALLY mean it!  Not like before, where you’d only loose a few points.  So, I’m rather pleased to see Curtis working harder to be responsible for his assignments, and not leaning on me or dad or teachers to be his reminder.  He’s gotten tons better and taking his meds on time each day, so that is REALLY helping (and I no longer need to ask myself what’s the point of getting them after more then 4 years if he STILL isn’t in the habit to take them.  So sad when Zac would go to take his ADHD meds and have to remind CURTIS.  funny as I’ll get out, but sad still the same.)   As for Robbie, well, she’s doing well, working hard, getting even better at the clarinet, and enjoying that she’s the only one from the family at the middle school.  All the friends ALL to herself.  She’s struggles with some “obsessive compulsive” issues.  Not stuff like washing hands a dozen times.  It’s more an obsessive worrier.  With all the struggles Jason has been working thru since his return from Iraq nearly 3 years ago, Robbie finds it incredibly difficult not to worry.  When she tries not to worry about him, the worry just gets pushed onto other things.  We finally realized that efforts to help with natural changes in foods and such combined with her counseling just wasn’t enough.  So, she too has joined some of us on the medication train.  The upside that helps me feel better…she’s slowly starting to sleep more peacefully, and the longer we put it off, the longer she would have been medicated to help balance the stuff going on inside of her.  The hope is to see a good improvement within 6 months.  Since Jason has been making improvements, I truly believe that just having Robbie sleeping better and calmer so she can SEE life is calming down quite a bit, then she’ll be SO much better off 6 months from now.  Time will tell with that one.

WHILE THE KIDS WERE IN SCHOOL enjoying getting back to things….

I GOT THIS!!!!

A VERY nice Hyundai Entourage!!

Only 3 years old, with lots more leg room for the kids then our other mini-van had, AND Cruise control, and a WONDERFUL Color, and just so many practical things I love about it, and I love the COLOR. 

Good BYE to our old money pit van.  Hellooo To my Pretty li’l New Friend :o) !!!

The funny thing is, we headed out to check out what was available at one of those “doorbuster” type sales where they were selling off cars that had been repo’d.  We REALLY needed something that offered more leg room for the older boys.  Randy is beyond 6’1” and Curtis has pushed happily past 5’7”.  Our Windstar just did NOT have enough opportunity to slide the back bench further back or any option with the middle bench that didn’t require the kid sitting in the middle to want to detach their legs and just toss-em in the trunk.  (Being with the Wounded Warrior Battalion, we know alot of people with prosthetics and so jokes about removing limbs are common and not shocking for us to hear.)  So since we wanted to allow our kids to ride with out eating their kneecaps, then HEY…go see if any vans are priced right.  This is where it’s GREAT to have a car that is FULLY paid for and to NOT be shopping out of desperation.  You don’t NEED to make the purchase but BOY oh BOY do those dealers NOT want you to leave without making a deal. 

I would also like to add, that for all the times it can be a little unnerving for people to see how often Jason is devoid of any connection to emotions, when going car hunting, BOY does that come in handy.  Negotiating was a game to him.  He HATED our other van, and I wasn’t too pleased with all the things that have gone wrong with it since we picked it up from storage upon our return from Okinawa only 2 years and 5 months ago. (over $4000 of work in that short a time_ ugh).  We both really Really REALLY like this one, and little did I realize that Jason was NOT going to leave with OUT that van for me.  (what an awesome husband!!)  Every time the finance guy came back with a lower amount he’d say something about he was able to PUSH to get down to this, and it’s ONLY “X” dollars over what we told him our max limit was.  And every time, Jason would say, well then, that’s ONLY  “X” more dollars you need to come down then isn’t it?  I really do wish I had a video camera.  It became rather funny to me as this guy came back for I think the 4th time, and Jason leans a little across the desk “What is it you don’t hear when I say my payment window goes up to “this” much money, and not even ONE penny higher? Besides, the van’s only worth $14 thousand somethin’ dollars.  That shouldn’t be too tough to work with.” 

OH, wait, that part was SO funny.  The first discussion was about monthly payment amount, and after we’d sent him away with a big old HECK NO! I turned to Jason, “did he even include the total asking price with that?” NOPE.  So when he came back, we ask, and Jason asked why nearly $19000 for the asking price when it’s only worth just over 14.   First, guys eyes got wider, and he sat back a little from the desk with a touch of “oh crap” being read all over his face”.  He quickly regained control of the situation, and says “Where’d you get that number? KBB? NOBODY on the EAST COAST uses KBB.  That’s just a free online service for people selling their own vehicles and those numbers done mean a thing with any dealers on the east coast.”  WHAT?  Uhm, don’t tell that to any of the other places on the east coast I’ve been too, they might feel jilted out of what they could have scammed people for if they ONLY used the other 2 sites he then only referred to in initial form in speed talk.

Yay for my husband, being totally un-phased by this guys efforts to totally double talk.  Now, first, he makes EVERYONE slow down so he can understand because of the brain injury, and this man knew that.  SO, Jason pretty much told him he was stupid to say NOONE uses Kelly Blue Book pricing for anything out here on the East Coast.  Also, he told him what WE would pay total for the car AND how much per month max.  He could make it work, or not.  I know the man didn’t go to far from the door, because after he left to “see what he could do” I told Jason I was exhausted, and it’s not like we NEED a new van today, so lets just go home.  Jason said “Naw, I’m not done playing with him yet.  You’ll see.” and he had the funniest, slyest look on his face.

Sure indeedy, Jason was totally un-effected by this guys cat and mouse game, and we walked out of there with OUR price, our terms, and with more for our old junkie van as a trade in then it was worth…especially because the check engine light came on while we were headed out to look at the vans. 

Wanna know how we told the kids about the new car??

It was about 8pm when we finally got home.  A VERY long day.  We headed inside and told the kids to toss on their shoes, coats, and each grab a walmart bag because the van was in DESPERATE need of attention.  he he he.  I tried to video it with my phone, and it didn’t work.  OH did they hoot and hollar and laugh and yell!!  Honestly, I’m really not sure who loves the van the most.  Me, Jason, or the kids.  But I do know this, it is SUCH a wonderful blessing to finally be able to have a van we really WANT to take good care of and make last well into the years of no kids at home (if we’re lucky).

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Last but certainly not least:

We celebrated Grandpa Jim’s 79th Birthday!!!     

This is our 3rd year in a row with him to celebrate with him, and I am SO glad he’s warmed up to the fact that those that call you family, just do NOT have to have a blood relation.  He LOVED coming over to be with the family, and was SO happy to be surrounded by the kids.  They showed him some of what they got for Christmas since we were rotating illness and didn’t want to have him over and risk getting him sick.  The best part is that we got more then 3 pictures this year.  I realized that with my camera, we can use the remote to take pictures, not just for viewing them if you plug the camera into a tv.  So, thru dinner and cards and cake, at least one of us would slyly click away with the remote.  Jim loves the pictures, he just isn’t too thrilled when he actually KNOWS someone is TAKING his picture. 

 

He really is a GREAT great man, and we love having made him a part of our family.  He and Jason are SO much alike it’s too funny.  It was great to have him over.  Now, what in the world can we do for next year.  He’ll be 80 !!  Gotta make it GOOD.  I’ve got 11 months to work on it, so hopefully we’ll come up with SOMETHING.

Well, There ya have it . . .

the beginning of 2010 is off to a pretty good start. May you all be well, comment often, and take excellent care of yourselves.  Enjoy :o)