One Reason for Operation Holiday Stockings

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, HE LIVED ALL ALONE,
IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF PLASTER AND STONE.

I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,
AND TO SEE JUST WHO IN THIS HOME DID LIVE.

I LOOKED ALL ABOUT, A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,
NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS, NOT EVEN A TREE.

NO STOCKING BY MANTLE, JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,
ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.

WITH MEDALS AND BADGES, AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,
A SOBER THOUGHT CAME THROUGH MY MIND.

FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT, IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,
I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER, ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.

THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING, SILENT, ALONE,
CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.

THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE, THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER,
NOT HOW I PICTURED A UNITED STATES SOLDIER.

WAS THIS THE HERO OF WHOM I'D JUST READ?
CURLED UP ON A PONCHO, THE FLOOR FOR A BED?

I REALIZED THE FAMILIES THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,
OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.

SOON ROUND THE WORLD, THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,
AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.

THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,
BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS, LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.

I COULDN'T HELP WONDER HOW MANY LAY ALONE,
ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.

THE VERY THOUGHT BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE,
I DROPPED TO MY KNEES AND STARTED TO CRY;

THE SOLDIER AWAKENED AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,
"SANTA DON'T CRY, THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;

I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM, I DON'T ASK FOR MORE,
MY LIFE IS MY GOD, MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS."

THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP,
I COULDN'T CONTROL IT, I CONTINUED TO WEEP.

I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS, SO SILENT AND STILL
AND WE BOTH SHIVERED FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL.

I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,
THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR SO WILLING TO FIGHT.

THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER, WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,
WHISPERED, "CARRY ON SANTA, IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE."

ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH, AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.
"MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND, AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT."

A New Yarn

While reading some comments on another blog I came across the comment about A New Yarn, a non-profit store to benefit Northwest Family Life. What a wonderful idea. I've been communicating with Claudia, the director of A New Yarn, and Susan, Cynthia and I will be visiting the store after the holidays. I'll be sure to report more. In the meantime, if you live in the Seattle area, check out A New Yarn. I'd love to read your comments if you do.

Okay, so where did the year go? I have always been told that the older you get the faster time goes. Okay, I believe it now. It seems like we just celebrated my birthday back in April. Today is the 15th of December and the tree isn't up yet. Of course I have had a good excuse. For several weeks now my house has looked like this:

And this

And this

But it has been well worth it! We sent out a total of 18 boxes to soldiers in Iraq, Afghanistan and in the Caribbean. It's been fun, and a lot of love from a lot of people has gone into this project.

A couple of weeks ago I made the comment to David that I felt the spirit of this project was lacking this year. It finally dawned on me what the problem was. Mom loved this project. Each year I would give weekly reports and send pictures and tell her about each stocking that we received. She was so interested and so proud. I know she has been watching again this year, but I miss telling her about all of this and her wanting to know each little detail.

Well, I love spur of the moment plans. Susan needs size 6 lace needles for her lace project, so we are meeting up with Cynthia for a knitting adventure this afternoon. Good thing I got up at 5:00 this morning to finish the final details of OHS 2007, and to do the Christmas cards.

On Being Politically Correct

December 25th is CHRISTMAS, the holiday for which we Christians celebrate the birth of Christ. December 25th is also a National holiday. However, it is not politically correct to wish someone a Merry Christmas anymore. The following was sent to me by Debbie, and it so clearly states how I feel about being politically correct about December 25th, the day we celebrate the birth of Christ, aka CHRISTMAS. The poem is floating around on the Internet so I can't give credit to anyone particular person. With that being said, the author is unknown, but also well known.

The Month before Christmas!

'Twas the month before Christmas

When all through our land,

Not a Christian was praying

Nor taking a stand.

See the PC Police had taken away,

The reason for Christmas - No one could say.

The children were told by their schools not to sing,

About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.

It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say

December 25th is just a " Holiday ."

Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit

Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!

CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-pod

Something was changing, something quite odd!

Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa

In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.

As Targets were hanging their trees upside down

At Lowe's the word Christmas - was nowhere to be found.

At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears

You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.

Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty

Are words that were used to intimidate me.

Now Daschle, Now Durbin, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen

On Boxer, on Reed, on Kerry, and Clinton !

At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter

To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.

And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith

Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace.

The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded

The reason for the season, stopped before it started.

So as you celebrate "Winter Break" under your "Dream Tree"

Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.

Choose your words carefully, choose what you say

Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS, not Happy Holiday!

Enought said!

Sue

The Stockings are on Their Way!

It's cold here, but at least it's not ice. I've been reading about the ice storms in the midwest and they have my prayers and thoughts. We get those ice storms in the Northwest and they are horrible. Stay warm and stay safe.


The final tally is in. We got in 933 stockings, and sent out 17 boxes. The last of the stockings to come in are these:



Melinda sent in a bunch and they were stuffed and packed. And then ...

The Cub Scouts sent in their stockings. There are 115 stockings here, all decorated and stuffed by the Scouts. They are adorable. I've tried to get a close up of some of them ...

One of the stockings says "To all our Troops" and the other says "Happy X Mas". What a wonderful service project for these boys.

Our house was looking like the night before Christmas, except these stockings were stuffed and packed by the chimney with care.

We sent boxes to:

Virginia's son Rick
La Shona's Uncle Jay
Peter's nephew Kainoa
Cathy's son-in law Seth
Brandi's friend Joshua
Lindsey's friend Andrew
Jaclyn's friend Taja
Lynne's cousin Pat
Cindy's son Jer
and
Our friend Lisa

Thank you to everyone who helped. The knitters, crocheters, semstresses, decorators, stuffers, and packers, and the wonderful folks who provided the items to put into the stockings, and sent in donations for postage. This is truly a labor of love, and a lot of love has gone into it.

Here's the list of everyone involved:

OPERATION HOLIDAY STOCKINGS 2007

List of Contributors

Annette of Bainbridge Island, Washington
Arlayne of Seattle, Washington
Beth of Bothell, Washington
Betty of Salem, Indiana
Bitsy of Olympia, Washington
Bonnie of Sequim, Washington
Cathy of Seattle, Washington
Christine of Wilmington, North Carolina
Chiya of Bellevue, Washington
Cindy of Renton, Washington
Cub Scout Pack of Shoreline, Washington
Deb of Lake Forest Park, Washington
Deborah of Seattle, Washington
Diana of Lyle, Washington
Dr. Jeff of Bellevue, Washington
Elaine of Seattle, Washington
Emily of Seattle, Washington
Eric of Seattle, Washington
Erlene of Grass Valley, California
Gillian of Lynnwood, Washington
Girl Scout Troop of Seattle, Washington
Grace of Kirkland, Washington
Heather of Mollala, Oregon
Honora of Seattle, Washington
Jaclyn of Lacy, Washington
Jamie of Cincinnati, Ohio
Janell of Canby, Oregon
Janette of Renton, Washington
Jeff of Poulsbo, Washington
Jennifer A. of Issaquah, Washington
Jennifer H. of Seattle, Washington
Jim & Sue of Sherwood, Oregon
Jim of Seattle, Washington
Jody of Seattle, Washington
Joe & Stacy of Bellevue, Washington
Karen of Kirkland, Washington
Kathy of College Place, Washington
Kari & Mike of Bellevue, Washington
Katie of Bellevue, Washington
Katlyn of Washington DC
Kelli of Cheyenne, Wyoming
Kristen of Seattle, Washington
Kristine of Arlington, Washington
La Shona of Seattle, Washington
Linda A. of New York, New York
Linda R. of Springfield, Ohio
Lisa H. of Bellevue, Washington
Lisa M. of Seattle, Washington
Lisa P. of Bellevue, Washington
Lynne of Seattle, Washington
Maggie of Plainfield, Illinois
Marina of Bremerton, Washington
Maryanne of South Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Melanie of Grass Valley, California
Melinda of San Rafael, California
Nancy of Corvallis, Oregon
Patti of Seattle, Washington
Peg of Overland Park, Kansas
Preceptor Alpha Nu Sisters of Beta Sigma Phi, The Dalles, Oregon
Richard of Seattle, Washington
Sam of Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Sandra of Edmonds, Washington
Santa of Seattle, Washington
Sharon of Edmonds, Washington
Steve of Kent, Washington
Sue and David of Bellevue, Washington
Sue of Oakland, Rhode Island
Susan B. of Bellevue, Washington
Susan S. of Kirkland, Washington
Susie of Grass Valley, California
Torero's Restaurant of Bellevue, Washington

What a amazing bunch of people!


Meanwhile, I better get in some knitting updates here.

I finally got the right size knitting needles to start on the shawl from the book Arctic Lace. I truly love this book. Donna Druchunas has written an amazing book, full of history, factual information, and lovely patterns. It was through this book that I was finally able to figure out how to read the lace charts and enjoy it. There are practice lace patterns to learn with and they are fun.

As you can see, the book is well used. I am knitting the Parka Trim Stole and using Jagger Spun's Zephryr in Bottle Green, on size 3 Addi Turbo Lace Needles. This is not a quick knit, but it is a lovely, soothing knit for me. Granted it is a challenge to read the chart and knit with three dogs in my lap, but it is possible. The color is so beautiful, it does remind me of the Douglas Firs in my yard during the winter months, and the touch is so soft and warm, it feels good on the hands. We'll see how long it takes. Don't hold your breath, after all I am knitting with three dogs in my lap.

I've already knit the Skeleton Scarf in Donna's book out of a 60/40 Merino Angora fingering blend from Toots LeBlanc & Co. It is in the natural white color and it's on my neck all winter long. I love, love, love it!

Last week while standing at the bus stop I was privately bitching to myself about how cold my head was. I'm bitching about this in my head when it dawns on me ... "You're a knitter, knit yourself a hat." Maybe the cold wind was freezing the gray matter, who knows, but anyway, I knit myself a hat.

Nothing too exciting about this hat, except it is done, keeps my head warm, and I love the yarn I had stashed away. I used two yarns stranded together. Knit Picks Wool of the Andes in Hollyberry, and Artful Yarns Portrait in Color 167. The pattern is a standard stocking hat pattern. I did use size 9 needles to accommodate the yarn, and the hat expert, Susan, suggested the 84 stitches (and who is to argue with the Susan, the hat expert, she knows what she's talking about).


Stay warm and enjoy the season.

Sue

A Weekend Off

I've been absent, because I have been busy. We continue to pack up boxes for Operation Holiday Stockings and are getting started on wrapping them up and labeling them for mailing. I'll have pictures on the next post.

Susan, Cynthia and I are heading over to Edgar's Acres for the weekend. I need to get over there to check out the place after the last storm that came through here. Yes, little Louie is going with me, and Cynthia will be bringing Disney and Bella.

Knitting is the primary theme, of course, along with laughter and a little wine. I already have two knitting projects at Edgar's Acres, and am working on a couple here. What to take, what to plan on working on. And then there are the baby items to work on. Right now my mind is tired so it's hard to think about details in knitting, like what to start next.

Stay warm and dry everyone. Pray for the victims of the recent flooding we have had in SW Washington and NW Oregon.

Catch up with you all later.

Sue

The Stockings Have Been Stuffed

We had the stocking stuffing party at our house yesterday and a good time was had for all. We stuffed about 500 stockings. We also got some more stockings bringing up the total to 770 stockings.

Susan brought three more stockings when she came over yesterday to help.

Bitsy drove up last night to deliver her beautiful stockings, along with a bunch of goodies to stuff them with.

Lynne knit her first stocking and did a beautiful job.

We've got stockings in boxes and had enough of the darling cards the girl scouts did for each box.

All of these stockings are beautiful and will be very appreciated.

Even A.J. got involved inspecting the stockings and making sure they were done correctly.

Chiya knows good help when she see it. Hunter was happy to help out. Note that A.J. is busy supervising in the background. Got to make sure the stockings are done right!

A big thank you to Kari, Mike, Chiya, Susan, Katie, Cindy, Hunter and David for all of your help getting these stockings stuffed.

Tonight David and I went through and counted out the stockings and got them packed for shipping this week. We will be shipping out 16 boxes to ten soldiers in all branches of the military. A job well done.

I wrote the letters that go with the boxes, along with the list of contributors.

Meanwhile, the countdown is continuing. 1489 days or 35,736 hours.

Sue

Thank You Sally!

Today is Saturday, December 1st. Today is pedicure day. Pedicure day means flip-flops. Flip-flops are fine when it is (a) hot and dry, (b) warm and rainy, (c) cold and rainy, but (d) snowy? This is what hit upon us this morning.Well, I left the house with my wool socks and fur lined shoes on ... nice warm feet. I came home in ... you guessed it ... flip flops.

Don't want to ruin the pretty toes.

Cynthia and I went to the grocery store after our pedicures to pick up some food and other items for some housebound sick friends. Yes, we got some looks. In fact, it was a bit funny.

We then went to Weaving Works so Cynthia could pick up the yarn she has been pondering over for the past 5 weeks, and I could pick up some size 6 Addi lace needles, and buttons for some baby sweaters.


We got looks, but we also got questions, which made it fun. Many women there understood entirely why were running around in a snow storm wearing flip flops. (In case you are wondering, we did have boots, socks, and warm clothing with us.)

I love the snow, especially when it falls on a weekend. It makes everything look pristine and serene. It also muffles traffic noise.

Another reason why we headed out this morning for the pedicures was for me to deliver the Baby Albert sweater I knit for Cyn's granddaughter Eva Rose. It has taken about three months because I needed to find the right yarn and then was detoured when Mom died. Cyn's been so patient.

She loved the sweater and assures me that Eva Rose will love it too. Look how nicely it came out. I used Provence, a lovely 100% mercerized Egyptian Cotton, from Classic Elite Yarns. I made the largest size and used size 8 needles. The pattern is from Sally Melville's The Knit Stitch. Thank you Sally for coming up with this darling pattern. I am thrilled with the way it came out. The yarn washed up beautifully, and it should wear really well.

When I took the commission to make this sweater for Eva Rose I quizzed Cyn about the baby's coloring, her personality, and was she a girly girl or not. I also asked about Eva Rose's mother's fashion preferences. After all, it doesn't do any good to knit something for a baby if the mother doesn't like it.


The little buttons are butterflies because Eva Rose loves butterflies. Aren't these precious?

Yesterday we had the stocking stuffing party at work that Deb and Sandra put together. We had a great turnout and lots of stuff for the stockings. The volunteers stuffed about 300 stockings in about an hour. We had secretaries, paralegals, other staff members, and attorneys all lending a hand. It was wonderful to have such support for a project that is so dear to my heart.

Well, the doggies want to go back outside and play in the snow (except for A.J., he's very content on the couch, thank you very much!). Actually, Edgar wants to go bark at the kids outside playing. Once he realizes it's the neighbor kids playing in the snow, he will want to get back inside where it's warm. He loves his couch!

I guess it really is December, isn't it? Glad my Christmas shopping is all done!

Sue