December 22, 2010

		Dear Friends and Family,    Merry Christmas from Round Rock, Texas.  Time to bore you again with our annual Christmas letter. Pictures to the left were only possible through a special appearance by Jack who we hardly ever see anymore unless he's hungry or needs to do laundry. You can catch up with Jack's latest news below. Last Christmas letter we announced Jillian was taller than Josephine. This time around she's easily four inches taller and now catching up to Tim.    It's Dec 22 today which means Happy Birthday to Josephine (29 again), and Jack who is now 20.  We've had a spectacular 2010 which has flown by as we keep busy with work, school, our Friends and more.  We've again kept our family web page updated throughout the year. Here are just a few of the other things that have kept us active this past year.

   Jack finished up his freshman year at Texas Tech University in May. Shortly afterwards he moved back to Austin for good. For a kid raised in the live music capital of the world he just couldn't bear another year in Lubbock. After taking a month off he quickly found full time work with Starwood Hotels (Westin, Sheraton, etc), where he started in sales then quickly moved into corporate account profile management. With a steady paycheck in hand he then moved into a house with his band where they have turned a huge living room into a studio. He's only about 10 miles away from us but with his work hours we only see him a couple times per month. He gets back into the classroom here in January at Austin Community College. He's about to find out what it's like working and going to college full time. He's actually looking forward to it as he relishes the challenge and can't stand boredom (sometimes spelled as Lubbock, Texas!).

   It's mostly Jillian's fault we keep so busy. Between volleyball, cross country, band, school and the upcoming basketball season she keeps us on our toes. Through it all she manages to still average an "A" in school and that's with accelerated math. She'd like you to know she has a full five point higher average than Jack did at the same time in his middle school years. Some of the highlights for her this past year include running in the McNeil High School Invitational Cross Country meet; performing at the same Band Festival as the famous Texas Longhorn Marching Band; and of course turning 13! She has a great group of girlfriends, many of whom she has known and gone to school with since kindergarten. We like to think she's following in Jack's footsteps as a well rounded kid through academics, sports, music, church and a fun social life.

Snow in Round Rock	Spring Recital	Volleyball	Cross Country	Cross Country	Cross Country
Cross Country	Biking the Trails	Luigi & Pongo	Mario	Boat Trip	My annoying Dad
Fall Performance	Festival of Bands	Fall Recital	I'm 13!	Promise Ring	My Girls

   Couple other highlights for us this year include a visit from Troy & Eva Gray who Tim was stationed with in the Philippines in 1983. They came down from Nashville and got to taste some real BBQ from our backyard kitchen. Troy & Tim are from a group of folks who were all stationed together at a remote Navy Communications Station early to mid 1980's who are planning a 25 year reunion for July 2011.

   As in years past we got in two camping trips which are probably our favorite weekends of the entire year. Our May camping trip included 6 families and was the best one yet.  This summer we got in one tubing trip on the Guadalupe River, couple concerts Asia & Monte Montgomery), and of course in September we went on our annual Lake Travis boat trip.

   We missed a Niece's wedding in Chicago but made it to another Niece's boot camp graduation just down the road from us in San Antonio. Josephine found part time work with the local school district at Jillian's old elementary school. A perfect job, good people we've known for years, right in the neighborhood and she goes to work after Jill takes off for school and before she gets home.

   Tim went over 12 years at Dell and after many years of recession things are looking up for the "tech sector" and that includes Dell. Tim was one of only nine people at Dell to earn his Six Sigma Black Belt this year and that helped lead to a new and exciting role with Dell's Global Operations team. Tim and his colleagues have continued a 6 year tradition of volunteering at the Austin Helping Hand Home for Children this year. In the spring they installed two garden flower beds. Just last month 28 Dell team members did landscaping, vehicle maintenance, window washing and hung Christmas lights. Josephine & Jillian chipped in too by helping Tim rig up all the electrical power the weekend before.

    Life is good here in Round Rock, Texas. We hope the same for you in the coming year and always.

Troy & Eva Gray	On the Guadalupe		Biking		Tim at Work		Boat Trip		Congrats Ali

        

Merry Christmas and Have a Safe & Happy Holiday Season! God Bless America and God Bless Our Troops! Tim, Josephine, Jack & Jillian

A Soldier’s  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, 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."

I had no Christmas spirit when I breathed a weary sigh,
And looked across the table where the bills were piled too high.
The laundry wasn't finished and the car I had to fix,
My stocks were down another point, the Dolphins lost by six.

And so with only minutes till my son got home from school
I gave up on the drudgery and grabbed a wooden stool.
The burdens that I carried were about all I could take,
And so I flipped the TV on to catch a little break.

I came upon a desert scene in shades of tan and rust,
No snowflakes hung upon the wind, just clouds of swirling dust.
And where the reindeer should have stood before a laden sleigh,
Eight Hummers ran a column right behind an M1A.

A group of boys walked past the tank, not one was past his teens.
Their eyes were hard as polished flint, their faces drawn and lean.
They walked the street in armor with their rifles shouldered tight,
Their dearest wish for Christmas, just to have a silent night.

Other soldiers gathered, hunkered down against the wind,
To share a scrap of mail and dreams of going home again.
There wasn't much at all to put their lonely hearts at ease,
They had no Christmas turkey, just a pack of MREs.

They didn't have garland or a stocking I could see,
They didn't need an ornament-- they lacked a Christmas Tree.
They didn't have a present even though it was tradition,
The only boxes I could see were labeled "ammunition."

I felt a little tug and found my son now by my side,
He asked me what it was I feared, and why it was I cried.
I swept him up into my arms and held him oh so near
And kissed him on the forehead as I whispered in his ear.

There's nothing wrong my little son, for safe we sleep tonight,
Our heroes stand on foreign land to give us all the right,
To worry on the things in life that mean nothing at all,
Instead of wondering if we will be the next to fall.

He looked at me as children do and said its always right,
To thank the ones who help us and perhaps that we should write.
And so we pushed aside the bills and sat to draft a note,
To thank the many far from home, and this is what we wrote:

God Bless You all and keep you safe, and speed your way back home.
Remember that we love you so, and that you're not alone.
The gift you give you share with all, a present every day,
You give the gift of liberty and that we can't repay.

(Author Unknown)

T'was 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 Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on 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!

Christmas Music

I'll be Home for Christmas	Jingle Bells	Medley	Noel	O Holy Night
Rudolph	Silver Bells	Twelve Days of Christmas	What Child is This	Winter Wonderland