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Am tired and going to say goodnight - will be back in the morning. Since you two are sorta nightowls, wanted to get this here early for you. Thanks much for decorating the Finest!
I stayed up late just to see your tables. It's well worth it! Outstanding tables!
You are just too much Miss Billie. These are beautiful, as always. Goodnight to you. I will finish watching Monday night football.
Lady! Your table is just beautiful and reflects the best part of Christmas!
Great job! Beautiful tables!
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 daughter 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 Marine, I puzzled, some twenty years old, All dressed in cammies, 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.
| December 13, 2005
Two Bethlehems
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The birth of Jesus Christ was unlike any other. Mary's was an "other world" conception. The angel told her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you" (Luke 1:35). The child conceived in her was from outside our world. And it had to be so, because the boy born to Mary was Immanuel, "God with us" (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23).
The baby born in Bethlehem was of heavenly origin. God had entered the earth in the form and nature of Mary's little son. He came into the world from above, and His incarnation made possible our redemption.
Now think about it. Our own new birth—our regeneration—comes from outside the world. Jesus said that we are born again "of the Spirit" (John 3:3,7-8). Our salvation is not from an earthly source, but from God Himself through Jesus by means of His Spirit. In a sense, then, our heart becomes a "Bethlehem stable," a place where Jesus comes into the world. We open the door to Him by faith, and He is born in us by the blessed Holy Spirit.
We make Him known to others by His power in us. He affects every aspect of our lives. We are a "Bethlehem," His place of entrance into today's world. —Dave Egner
Christ was born here below that we might be born from above.
Beautiful presentations - tables, poem and family traditions.
Received an e-mail from Iraq yesterday. Our nephew has arrived at camp where he will be spending the duration of his deployment - lots and lots of sand and a small patch of grass beneath the flagpoles.
From his message...I really appreciate all of your support and thanks again for the coin you sent earlier, it means alot of me and all of us to have the support of family and friends like you.
Imagine that... He's thanking those of us who support our troops and their mission when it is US who should be thanking them for their sacrifices and service to our country.
Salute, Sir!
Merry Christmas!
LUVW, the photo of our soldier with the Christmas card and the poem that follows is so very touching....and beautifully framed in your Christmas table. Thank you for sharing your talent with us. Your love for our military and your patriotism is heartwarming.
Mrs.Nooseman, traditions are so very important and I think it is wonderful that you are preserving and handing down traditions from Germany and America to your children. One of our most memorable Christmases was in 1990, the year our foreign exchange daughter, Katja, was with us. We incorporated her Finnish traditions into our Christmas celebration....complete with the customary "rice porridge" on Christmas morning. It made it extra special for her to be able to share some of the traditions of her homeland and for us to experience something of her culture.. Thank you for sharing your traditions with us. Your table design is very pretty too!
Billie, I like that graphic with the white roses, the pine cones and pine boughs with the pretty crystal arch thing (not sure what to call it) in the center. It would look nice as my dining room table centerpiece. :-)
Thanks for bringing more Finest Tables to us today, and for doing it with such "style". :-)
