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SurfLola, You just beat me! I was going to get on here and say... "we have our first set of cards that arrived". Well, they didn't arrive, I made them last night. :p Just wanted to get past that "zero" status.
So, the second round of cards for the military has begun and we're sitting at 5!!
I know, not a big number, but at least it's a start. LOL
We have a new card total! A lady in Edmonton dropped off a stack of cards at my brother's, which got dropped off at my parent's, to get picked up by me! So, we now sit at 69!! Slow but steady win the race...
This is a lengthy post, but I think it's appropriate to put on our military thread:
The Night Before Christmas
T'was 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 the 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 Canadian 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.'
This poem was written by a peace keeping soldier stationed overseas.
The following is his request. I think it is reasonable.
PLEASE. Would you do me the kind favor of sending this to as many
People as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our Canadian service men and women for our being able to celebrate these
festivities. Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe. Make
people stop and think of our heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed themselves
For us.
Just giving a little update on my dad's surgery that he had today. We're still waiting to actually hear from the doctor, but as of Monday it didn't look like they would need to remove the jaw bone, just the tissue. My mom said he looked like he'd been in a pretty brutal fight - all bruised and swollen. No bandages on the incisions so she said it looked pretty nasty. They had his leg all wrapped up where they took the skin graft from, though. The nurse that's taking care of him said that the surgery went very well.
I'm going in tomorrow to pick up my mom and spend the day with both of them. The roads were pretty nasty tonight, so the less she has to drive on them the better.
Thanks for all your thoughts are prayers. They are appreciated.
Thanks Carolyn for sharing that with us. My surgery was postponed until Monday so trying to get tons done before then. Take care and we will be thinking about you and your family.
JAcqueline
__________________ If it's to be, it's up to me!!!!
Thanks, Jacqueline for updating me on your delay for surgery. I was thinking about you yesterday, too.
Went and spent the day with my mom and dad. I walked into his room expecting ALOT worse, but he actually doesn't look too bad - yes beat up, but not as bad as I what I had envisioned. He started miming (he can't talk due to the trach) and we couldn't figure out what he wanted. He finally wrote down.... "picture". He wanted me to take a picture of him!! Fortunately I carry a camera in my purse so I was able to do that for him. I showed it to him, but his eyes are blurry from the swelling and anesthetic so I'll have to print one off so he can see it when he's ready.
Normat: your cards arrived today! They are beautiful - thank you. Now I can do a new card total: 95!!
On a side note, my dad is doing very well. His incision is healing up nicely and he communicates either by miming or writing. He has another surgery on Wednesday to remove the wires in his mouth. His disposition is great, and was actually cracking jokes on Saturday. Totally amazes me when someone has a major operation like that and they become the encourager!
Location: The West Coast, Canada's outdoor playground
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Glad you got them Carolyn. And I'm pleased to hear that your dad
is so accepting of the situation. I wish him well after his Wednesday
operation and also for a speedy recovery too. Will he be able to go
home for Christmas do you think?
Will he be able to go home for Christmas do you think?
He is determined to be home on the 22nd. We'll wait and see how the surgery goes on Wednesday and how he does for oxygen levels and dealing with the trach being removed. Yesterday they tried putting the oxygen thingie on his nose, but he didn't feel like he was getting enough air, so today they had him back on the big hose leading to his trach. It'll come...slowly but it'll come.
Hi Carolyn!! I have a big package being sent out tomorrow - hopefully about 100 or more cards!! Glad to hear your dad is doing well. They have put off my surgery until Jan. 4th after cancelling it twice then wanting me to have it on the 19th so I would be in the hospital for Christmas. I have a 7 yo and he was soooo upset so they said it would be ok to put it to the New Year!! Now I have more time to get stuff together and not stress about Christmas!!! Enjoy the time with your family!!!
Jacqueline
__________________ If it's to be, it's up to me!!!!
I will look for the cards in the new year (I don't have high hopes for Canada Post getting them here between Christmas and New Years!:p ) Thanks for sending them in the midst of everything else going on.
I can't believe they were actually going to do your surgery and then have you stay in over Christmas! I understand your son being upset - I would be upset! Hope all goes well in the new year for you and that your surgery goes ahead as scheduled.
Location: The West Coast, Canada's outdoor playground
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Except for last minute tidy up and washing my kitchen and bathroom floors,
and wrapping my gifts, I am as ready as I am going to be. It is kind of nice o be able to look forward to a couple of days quiet time before the guests start coming in.
Hope everyone has a wonderful holiday. Be back online after Christmas.-norma-
Hi Carolyn - hope your dad is home for Christmas!!!
I have a package ready to go on the 27th - 140 cards!!! I am hoping to get together with a friend in the new year and make some cards with French greetings.
Hope you have a wonderful Christmas!!!
Jacqueline
__________________ If it's to be, it's up to me!!!!
Hi Carolyn - hope your dad is home for Christmas!!!
I have a package ready to go on the 27th - 140 cards!!! I am hoping to get together with a friend in the new year and make some cards with French greetings.
Hope you have a wonderful Christmas!!!
Jacqueline
My dad got a pass to be out Christmas eve and Christmas day but has to be back in Wednesday morning. He's having a hard time swallowing and therefore getting food into him (he still has the feeding tube). He's getting there, though.
Thanks for the cards! I look forward to seeing them when they arrive (I'll let you know when they do get here).
Later on today, I'm hoping to post a military swap (hostess set will go to this project). As soon as I can figure out how to edit my signature - so far, no luck, and I've had several people help me! I think the best suggestion is "clear it all out and start from scratch".
Happy New Year everyone! Anybody have big plans? My son wants to watch a movie and my DH will go to bed like usual - he sees no point in staying up to midnight!
Hi Jacqueline, Was just looking back in the thread a bit and saw that your surgery is tomorrow. Hope all goes well and best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Hi Carolyn - yes, I go in for my heart surgery tomorrow!! We spent most of the holidays in Montreal and Ottawa and had loads of family fun time so it was a great distraction!! Hopefully no phone call today so the surgery is still on. This is the 4th time it has been changed so I don't think they would cancel again!! I just sent my package today. I had it with me in Ottawa but forgot to take your address and no computer!!! Oh well, it should be there in about a week!! It is about 150 or so and I am going to sign up on the swap thread too!!! How was your Christmas with your dad? Is at home now or back in the hospital? Maybe you posted that on a few threads back but I did not read them!!!!
Jacqueline
__________________ If it's to be, it's up to me!!!!
Hi Carolyn - yes, I go in for my heart surgery tomorrow!! We spent most of the holidays in Montreal and Ottawa and had loads of family fun time so it was a great distraction!! Hopefully no phone call today so the surgery is still on. This is the 4th time it has been changed so I don't think they would cancel again!! I just sent my package today. I had it with me in Ottawa but forgot to take your address and no computer!!! Oh well, it should be there in about a week!! It is about 150 or so and I am going to sign up on the swap thread too!!! How was your Christmas with your dad? Is at home now or back in the hospital? Maybe you posted that on a few threads back but I did not read them!!!!
Jacqueline
Jacqueline - I hope they don't do anything major to your heart tomorrow, because I can't believe that you are sending me a stack of cards plus signing up for the swap. You have a big heart! Thank you.
My dad is home now (got out on a 2 day pass over Christmas then home for good on the 29th). It's going to be a long road to recovery but he's getting there one step at a time.
You will be in my thoughts and prayers tomorrow. I don't suppose your hubby would know how to sign onto here to let us know how the surgery went? ;)
On a different note, I got a stack of envelopes from Carlton and Hallmark, so if you are sending cards, don't send envelopes - save your postage!
Have you done swaps before with a Canadian destination? I'm just not sure how the postage works. If you know what to do and can explain it to me, then I'll "let" you join. ;)
I've never done any swap before but I was thinking of joining yours and realized, the postage would not work. :(
That's ok though because I would like to send you cards for overseas anyway.
I've never done any swap before but I was thinking of joining yours and realized, the postage would not work. :(
That's ok though because I would like to send you cards for overseas anyway.
That's too bad...maybe if I do another swap I'll do more research on how to get swaps done through the States (I know it's done all the time) and we can hook up then.
Thanks for sending cards, anyway. Your last ones were gorgeous, so I look forward to having some for this deployment.
What is your deadline on these cards to the soldiers?
My first deadline is January 23, and then February 29. We'll see how we're at for number of cards at that point. Obviously anything that comes after the January deadline will be included in the February batch.
Hello Carolyn - out of hospital on Tuesday and all went well. Now, to get over feeling I just went 10 rounds with Mike Tyson!!! Thought I would just pop in and say hi!! Hopefully you will have my package by the end of this week!!! Take care and talk soon.
JC
__________________ If it's to be, it's up to me!!!!
Jacqueline! It was so good to hear that things went well. Hope you recover quickly. I've been thinking about you all week. Your package hasn't arrived yet - got two parcel notices yesterday so I was hoping one of them was yours...but it wasn't. Instead, they were from LoisLee and TNewhook - thanks ladies! The cards are beautiful.
So...our new card total is 136. I know that number will go up more in the next few days because two of my family members have received packages of cards through other sources, and more are coming in the mail.
