Day 19 - The Soldiers' Night Before Christmas...

Tonight Daddy read us all the book, 'The Soldiers' Night Before Christmas'....We loved it! The kids all climbed into Peter's lap and enjoyed the story. :)

I wish I could show you the whole book, but here are a couple of pages from the inside...

Afterwards we talked about the soldiers who are so far away from their families right now and how many of them have to spend Christmas alone. We talked about Uncle Stephen who is in Iraq and also about the soldiers in South Korea who are here by themselves too. We let the kids know that we would be having some of them over on Christmas Eve to share in our celebration, they were pretty excited about that. Then we set to work making Christmas cards for the soldiers who don't have any family with them...

We'll continue to decorate cards and bake goodies though the week until we have enough for every soldier coming on Christmas Eve. We're going to make sure that none of them will leave empty handed! :) I decided I'd type out the book for anyone that was interested in 'reading it'. I know it's without the pictures, but at least you'll get the story!

"Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the base
Only sentries were stirring---they guarded the place.

At the foot of each bunk sat a helmet and boot
For the Santa of Soldiers to fill up with loot.

The soldiers were sleeping and snoring away
As they dreamed of "back home" on good Christmas Day.
One snoozed with his rifle - he seemed so content.
I slept with the letters my family had sent.

When outside the tent there arose such a clatter.
I sprang from my rack to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Poked out my head, and yelled, "What was that crash?"

When what to my thrill and relief should appear,
But one of our Blackhawks to give the all clear.
More rattles and rumbles! I heard a deep whine!

Then up drove eight Humvees, a jeep close behind...
Each vehicle painted a bright Christmas green,
With more lights and gold tinsel than I'd ever seen.

The convoy commander leaped down and he paused.
I knew then and there it was Sergeant McClaus!

More rapid than rockets, his drivers they came
When he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:

"Now, Cohen! Mendoza! Woslowski! McCord!
Now, Li! Watts! Donetti! And Specialist Ford!"

"Go fill up my sea bags with gifts large and small!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

In the blink of an eye, to their trucks the troops darted.
The engines did flutter, they sputtered, then started.

The armored moved out---it was "Duty or bust."
McClaus disappeared in all of the dust!

As I drew in my head and was turning around,
Through the tent flap the sergeant came in with a bound.
He was dressed all in camo and looked quite a sight
With a Santa hat added for this special night.

His eyes---sharp as lasers! He stood six feet six.
His nose was quite crooked, his jaw hard as bricks!
A stub of cigar he held clamped in his teeth,
And the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath.

A young driver walked in with a seabag in tow,
McClaus took the bag, told the driver to go.
Then the sarge went to work. And his mission today?
Bring Christmas from home to the troops far away!

Tasty gifts from old friends in the helmets he laid.
There were candies, and cookies, and cakes, all homemade.
Many parents sent phone cards so soldiers could hear
Treasured voices and laughter of those they held dear.

Loving husbands and wives had mailed photos galore
Of weddings and birthdays and first steps and more.
And for each soldier's boot, like a warm, happy hug,
There was art from the children at home sweet and snug.

As he finished the job---did I see a twinkle?
Was that a small smile or instead just a wrinkle?
To the top of his brow he raised up his hand
And gave a salute that made me feel grand.

I gasped in surprise when, his face all aglow,
He gave a huge grin and a big HO! HO! HO!

HO! HO! HO! from the barracks and then from the base.
HO! HO! HO! as the convoy sped up into space.

As the camp radar lost him, I heard this faint call:
"HAPPY CHRISTMAS, BRAVE SOLDIERS! MAY PEACE COME TO ALL!"