Remember our Soldiers this Christmas

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 soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old, perhaps a Marine, 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, way 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, tor 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."

Michael Marks, 2000

A Knight

JR has been a member of the Knights of Columbus for many years. I think since 1994 when he joined the Council in Ft Sill, OK, and became Scout Master for their troop. He had a fun four years with them and then the opportunity never arose again until he retired this year. He joined the Council in Wamego and then decided to become a 4th Degree Knight. The Knights were formed in 1882 to render financial aid to members and their families. They are a fraternal benefit society dedicated to Charity, Unity, Fraternity and Patriotism. The men enter as a first degree focusing on charity. As they move up, each degree focuses on another virtue. Men are considered full fledge members when obtaining Third Degree. The primary purpose of Fourth Degree is to promote patriotism and active Catholic citizenship. JR decided to join the Fourth Degree Knights in September. Here is a picture of his knighting. They are called Sir Knight but he is crazy if he thinks I am going to call him that. The second picture is when we went to a dinner. Doesn't he look different?

Alicia

Well, just four weeks till our baby graduates High School. Our last one! YEAH! Kind of bitter sweet to know that part of our life is over. YIPPEE! Here are her Senior pictures. Let me know which one you like and we'll get a copy to you.

Election 2008

There are no pictures for this blog as we are not allowed cameras at the polling site. But JR and I wanted everyone to know how proud we were of all of our children. This is a banner year for us as all of the kids have voted for the first time. And we know how controversial this election has been. Many people with many ideas, but that the kids took the time to consider the candidates and really look at all the different issues made us feel good. Whether we agree with their vote or not is relevant. That they exercised their right to vote is awesome! So we are proud of Ryan, Kathy, Bethany and Alicia!!

Staff Olympics

Usually the fall time in our building is super crazy! In September we host the All University Career Fair, which is preceded by a LOT of students coming in for resume critiques. We have a couple of smaller career fairs and we are working hard to get ahold of last years students to find out what they are doing post grad so we can get statistics done. All the while planning the spring career fairs. Really we are busy.

But in the midst of this we take an afternoon and go participate in staff olympics. This is my third one, and it's always fun. This year was no different and the pictures are priceless so I thought I would share. Even the goofy ones of me. Our office has had two teams the last three years. Too many of us want to have fun; we have a competitive team and a let's have fun team. You can guess, I am not on the first team. Even though you won't know anyone, I must point out the only male on either team: my friend Chris. Chris is a budding photographer who takes his camera everywhere!!! And we are glad. He took my girls' pics last year, and is doing Alicia's and Dani's senior photos this Saturday. He is very good. But also very good at getting some real cheesy ones. Enjoy.

A Giant of a Hamburger

Bethany's friend Jason is leaving in two days to go to Virginia. He has left the military to go home and pursue a normal career/life. As a "I have to do that before I go", he and Bethany went to a local eatery last night where they serve a 3 lb. hamburger. If the plate is cleaned (and they have till closing) the stomach abuser gets a t-shirt.

Jason just had to do this before going. Here are the pics of the hamburger throughout the meal. Here is how it started:

22 minutes into the eat fest:
1 hour into the eat fest:
2 hours into the eat fest:

3 hours and DONE!!!

Don't think he'll eat a hamburger for awhile.

A Conneticut/New York Trip

I got to looking at my blog and went WHAT!! Where have I been? Busy!! that's for sure. I wanted to post pics of Alicia's Birthday, our KSU football game trip among other things but it just didn't happen. I get into work and get caught up with that (which I should) and by the time I get home I don't want to look at the computer.



Last weekend, I took the girls out of school and we went back east. My cousin, Kristen, hosted a Hahn Womens Weekend. What fun we had. My dad decided that he wanted to drive -- I guess I am not old enough -- so he drove his van and took my mom, me, Bethany, Alicia, Dani & Brittany. What a long drive! We drove straight through going and coming. 23 Hours!! He did a great job.

So we get into Conneticut Friday morning, right ahead of everyone else. We stayed at Kristen's house (it's huge so she could accomodate us). Her poor kids were relegated to the parents bedroom floor so the adults could have beds. My girls slept in the basement on air mattresses.

Friday was a get together day. Kristen cooked lunch, snack and dinner for us. Yeah, No Cooking!! And we just sat around and visited. Here is the motley crew:

Back row: Karen (a first cousin), me :), and Kristen (hostess & first cousin
Seated: Aunt Kay, Aunt Mary Lou (my dad's only sister), Aunt Bette, and my mom
Floor: Bethany, Dani, Jenna (Kristen's daughter), Alicia and Brittany




Then on Saturday we went into the BIG APPLE!!! OMG what fun we had. Kristen drove the girls and I in and we did some sight seeing. The Empire State Building was cool. I was a little disappointed in how small the walk way was. Not like in the movies. They made us stop to take a picture and we didn't want to. Look how good it turned out though!! What a bunch of beauties.



The rest of the ladies took a late morning train and had lunch then caught up with us. We all went to Ground Zero, China Town, Little Italy and a bus ride around town. We ended up in the Theatre District and had dinner at this fun place where the wait staff sang. What fun! Then we went and saw Hairspray. Very good!

The girls and I traded spots with the train ladies, so Kristen drove them home and we wandered Times square and caught a 1 am train. It was 3 before we got back. But we had a great weekend.