Photo: Erik de Castro, Reuters.



Christmas is a wonderful time of reflection, meant to be spent with family and loved ones. Let's not forget the peacekeepers that allow it to be so for us.

There are many Americans who are duty-bound to be away from their families during this holiday season, and though would not choose it, they do it willingly. This is the job they volunteered for, and they know it is important.

For the many of them with children, it will be a sad day, knowing they can never get that time back, but they still do it willingly. Their children at home will have a second parent, or grandparents hoping to keep their mind away from these same sad thoughts, but they will not be able to help but think about that missing soldier. These American soldiers know all this, but still they do it willingly.

If you offer a prayer on Christmas, remember them and their families, and take a moment to think about what they give you willingly but at great cost.

You can really tell the people who are important to you in their absence.

The Christmas party has come and gone for another year. Thanks, everyone who shared it with us. As usual we had a great time, although we didn't get the shuttle launch we were hoping for. Gretchen puts in a tremendous amount of effort each year to pull it all off, and never seems to get tired of doing it. As promised, here are a few pictures:

See you next year!

p.s. Yes, it was all cleaned up before I went to bed!

So the annual Christmas party is this weekend. Gretchen's got a two-page list of things to do before Saturday night, with a couple of sidebar's for me. It sounds like we're going to have quite a turnout this year, as the RSVP's are rolling in. Temperatures are forecast to be in the low 60's overnight although that could change depending upon what you folks up north throw down our way. Hopefully it will be nice and warm as everyone tends to stay out on the porch where the bar is!

We'll have some pictures to post after the party, so everyone be on your best behavior.