Here we are again, dear friends, in touch to share our year...

And wishing each and every one the finest season's cheer!!!

With family all too far away,

To see on a regular basis...day-to-day,

We’ve found some gapin’ holes on our 'dance card'.

So we’d set about their patchin’...

We’ve always got new ideas ahatchin’...

"Can't dance? Then might as well sing!", suggests this bard!

Gene ‘n’ Trish are a real well-rounded pair,

And, come to singin', they're much more'n fair,

As "Center Stage"...we’re Karaoke groupies now!

And, through them, Justin, Gene’s fine son...

Who does Elvis as well as Brooks ‘n’ Dunn...

And always adds a nice touch to the "show"!

Then there's Charlotte, who was always there,

And she brought Tina, with 'er own sense o' flair,

A sweet and talented darlin' of a girl.

Then "Da Boys" showed up as a regular thing,

And Karaoke nights really got into swing,

And we gave the thought of "adoptin' 'em all" a whirl!!!

Tim brought Nicki, Kellie, and Tonia, ya see...

Then Bruce (with Aidan) got with Kelly (‘n’ J.T.)...

And Tina 'n' Matt became a wonderful match as well.

Cormac, Joely (Da ‘Beau’) , & Eric...each a winner...

Three fine, young examples of proud submariner...

Finally Alva...Kristen...independently round out "our crew"!

We love our distant families, and as-distant friends,

And what'll be next year, Lord, always depends,

On whatever crop ya might've sown this year!

But these fine, hybrid "seeds" we've found,

Will, when planted in our own love's fertile ground,

Yield a bounteous crop of "family/friend" right here!!!

HOME'S WHERE YA HANG YER HAT…AND FAMILY...YER HEART!!!

Our love and best...for the season...and the new year it begins...Ray 'n' Mindy Hamilton
(That's just two of our "new kids", Matt 'n' Tina, in the picture.
We'll be addin' the rest as they make their pics available!)

And, speakin' o' the New Year...here's this year's reflections:

GOD ~ COUNTRY ~ FAMILY

What better theme this year, as we reflect on this wonderful season of promise?

And that “promise” was God’s…fulfilled in His Son Jesus Christ…Whose birth we celebrate this holiday in honor of…regardless those who would have us believe that it is “politically incorrect” to say so. Politically correct or not…it isn’t called Politicallycorrectmas! Nor Atheistmas! Not Genericmas! Neither Omnimas! It is CHRISTmas…where can the argument be here?!? It IS religious…was always intended to be…SANTA is the direct result of revisionism who, himself, is now a mere nicknamed "lite" version of the SAINT he, too, began as…also religious…CHRISTian!

So I’d like to make point one…GOD…by way of a cute little story:

The Silent Sermon

A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending services regularly, suddenly stopped coming to church. After a few weeks, the Pastor decided to visit. The Pastor found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire.

Guessing the reason for his Pastor's visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace and waited. The pastor made himself at home but said nothing.

In the grave silence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning logs. After some minutes, the Pastor took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone. Then he sat back in his chair, still silent.

The host watched all this in quiet contemplation. As the one lone ember's flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and lifeless.

The Pastor glanced at his watch and realized it was time to leave, he slowly stood up, picked up the cold, dead ember, and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow, once more, with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it.

As the Pastor reached the door to leave, his host said, "Thanks so much for the visit…and the 'fiery' sermon...see you Sunday."

IN UNITY, THERE IS STRENGTH…AND SO MUCH MORE!!!

And this leads me directly into point two…COUNTRY:

This year, for Christmas, there will be many a fireplace in play…many warming themselves in its comfortable glow…surrounded by the pleasures of life we, too often, come to take for granted. This country is the best on the planet. I’ve been to countries where the average annual income is less than one month’s pay here…and the quality of life commensurate.

Well…as we enjoy the prosperity this season…as we exercise our many and sundry rights of religious observance…as we party and celebrate in as many different ways as there are us…take a moment now and again to remember the many young men and women who are taking their Christmas MRE’s…Meals, Ready to Eat…with a side of sand in their tents. And that is delightful respite for them from patrols and suppression campaigns, where the hostility’s flavor-of-the-month is “RPG”…rocket-propelled-grenade!!! Even the decisions/risks involved in the more civic tasks of assisting the locals in rebuilding and recapturing their lives are more strained than whether or not to have a ham along with the turkey…and how many different kinds of pies are too much!?!

FREEDOM IS NOT FREE…GOD BLESS THE WARRIORS…ALL!!!

And, finally, point three…FAMILY:

When God fulfilled His promise to us, He didn’t “plant” a savior in our midst…beam Him down from heaven…have Him arrive on a glory-fired chariot pulled by angels…and escorted by some heavenly host. Christ was born to Mary and Joseph…into not just a family, but a humble one…whose qualities were intended to be…and remain…most symbolic.

It is family that is the basic “unit” of existence…fundamental…and, as it goes, foundational, as well. Our family is our support, but only a brick in the foundation of congregation… and, then, community…ultimately, constituency. We are…each and every one small and important…minor and major…all at the same time. It is within the context of belonging that our value is gauged…and met! It is within this framework that we accomplish…and, therefore, count! It is, too, herein where our deepest and most profound comfort is found…in happy love and play…and in solace…as need dictates. It is through family that our needs are met…and how we, in turn, meet others’!

Finally, remember the “love” part of this holiday. And…regardless the old saw, “Everything in moderation!”…exercise it in excess. Do unto others…intentionally…overlook the do unto you part… you’ll find the inherent reward, even more easily... unhindered by expectation! And always… ALWAYS…keep close to your heart the eternal knowledge that there is no more important way to manifest love than through forgiveness...no better a gift than a given-up grudge!

"FAITH, HOPE, 'n' LOVE ARE SOME GOOD THINGS HE GAVE US...

AND THE GREATEST IS LOVE!"

[Alan Jackson ~ Where Were You (9-11)]