The Stockings Were Hung By the Chimney with Care....

They Won't Be Home For Christmas-

by Del "Abe" Jones

Another year, American Heroes

Are fighting in a foreign land

But hopefully, with an end in sight

To this part of life they hadn't planned.

They do their duty without question

And they all stand proud and tall

They are placed there in harm's way

As they answer, our Country's call.

They'll get by the best they can

And improvise ingenious ways

To find a way to celebrate

The meaning of the Holidays.

Peace on Earth, good will towards men

Is really, kinda hard to do

When all around, there are folks

Whose only wish, is to kill you.

There are far too many families

Who will never again know the joy

That the Christmastime can bring

And cruel, wartime can destroy.

The lucky will return back home

But lives will never be the same

Forever changed in heart and mind

By humankind's unholy game.

They won't be home for Christmas

And sadly, some will never be

But all of them will share one thing

That's the war Hero's legacy.

So as you gather 'round the tree

With your loved ones by your side

Think about those, "over there"

While you enjoy, your Yuletide.

http://www.theholidayspot.com/christmas/index.htm

After stitching on my candle mat this morning and taking a break reading, I stumbled upon this website that really has some good Christmas Poems, as well as other Christmas stories, puzzles, coloring pages (for young and old), etc. This poem really touched my heart this morning.

This will be the first year I can ever remember that I didn't go shopping at the last minute for stocking stuffers and I used to enjoy it so much! I had it down to a patent each year.

I started collecting little stuff between Sept and Dec. in two separate plastic bags in my closet, secretly hidden where I'm sure in recent years my kids knew where to go peek if they wanted to. And on Christmas Eve, I fretted, I mean fretted immensely, at midnight with my hubby if I had gotten them "Equal" amounts. Had I spent on them equally? I always wanted them to get the same, so I usually accumulated more than would fit in the stockings and it would overflow onto the floor by Christmas Eve night.

But I so enjoyed seeing their faces, even if for a brief minute when they pulled out their little treasures.

Of course as they got older, to me, the challenge really started at finding things that fit the stocking and also wasn't "toys", so to speak.

This year I've left the stocking hanging for the last of Christmas decorations.