Ornaments

Cool, huh? Aaron's Aunt Robbie sent me the USMC ornament last year. It has Aaron's name on the other side. The ornament up and to the right a little is the Christmas in Heaven ornament I discussed earlier, which is somewhere on the end now. Isn't it strange how blogs run? It's so backwards. Sometimes I remember--other times, not so much. Then there's the Texas ornament (a story in itself on that one), and of course, candy canes, which if Aaron were here would be diminished in number considerably.

Our tree is real. It doesn't look real, does it? Greg and Steve did a good job picking it out. But, yes, Greg and I always get a real tree. I love the smell of them.

Another shot of the tree. Here you can see the flag cases and photo which I discuss in another post, another thing of first being last, so closer to the bottom. Don't know why I brought it up there instead of here. I'm an idiot with too many pictures, that's what. One end of the fireplace. 536th Engineer Bn. (C) (H) stocking, Kayla's, mine that Mom made me when I was a wee one, Weston's elf stocking slash cap, and Greg and Steve's stockings are underneath. I guess nobody's been good this year. Christmas is here and they still are as flat as the day they were hung. I'm pathetic. Oh, well. That's okay too. I might put something in them before the day is out. Probably not. But I'm not upset about it. As I've said, I just haven't had the energy or drive for it this year. The last 2 years I did the same things we always did, but it's just not the same.

The last two years I was also able to have my wine, which I love. And as it turned out, loved too much. I haven't had any alcohol since July 8, 2006. I hope that doesn't upset anyone with me saying that right here. I've wanted to before, but never quite knew how, so here, let's just throw it in here with our pictures of our empty stockings!

But I have wanted to say something, because there may be others who are worried about a new occurence or habit in their life during times of grief. Hold on, it'll be okay, and probably is rather common in bereaved parents or widows.

When we first started Gunz Up, I posted a photo of Cpl. Aldesperger, USMC. He was killed in Al Anbar and has been nominated for the Medal of Honor. He was from Albuquerque and Greg and I had met his dad at one event. He was the nicest kindest man. The newspaper told of him having trouble with alcohol abuse and holding a job. I had asked for prayer for him; the newspaper said he was doing better. I remember how impressed I was with that man. And when I learned of his problem, I was all the more impressed. I thought it was admirable for him to openly discuss that he was having a great many problems. He supports the troops, does volunteer work for many of the military functions there in Albuquerque, and of course, was extremely proud of his son.

It doesn't matter if you're patriotic, a model Christian, the most together person in this world ... this kind of pain is going to reach out and touch you in places you've never been touched before.

I can only imagine the hurt within our troops. I don't think we should ever become complacent about what a combat veteran suffers. I'm not saying it's not to be expected. Of course it is! That's just it. It is expected. That is part of their forever sacrifice and these people need to be respected and honored for that the rest of their natural lives because nobody can ever possibly give back to them what they've lost out on the battlefield. They drive on. They are rugged. But honey, they are human.

When they come home, love that human warrior as much as possible. Give something to him or her. They've given everything for you.