I sat on Santa’s lap
And I whispered in his ear
Everything I hoped to get
Then I slipped and I pulled his beard
It was an accident
as I fell from his knee
But he was quite mad
I said Santa I’m so sorry
I didn’t get a ho ho ho
He didn’t even say that’s quite all right
So I slowly walked away
And when I went to sleep that night
I couldn’t help but wonder
Even though I was good all year
If I would be forgotten on Christmas Eve
All because I pulled Santa’s beard
‘Twas the week before Christmas
And there was trouble at the North Pole
Several of Santa’s reindeer wanted out of the business
They said working every Christmas Eve is getting old
They told Santa they wouldn’t be flying this year
Led by Donner but followed by Comet, Vixen, and Prancer
Donner tried to organize all the reindeer
But Cupid, Blitzen, Dasher, and Dancer
Those four said no, we enjoy traveling around the globe
We only work one day a year
We love seeing the children and bringing hope
Bringing wonders, gifts, and cheer
We have 364 days of rest and that is just one perk
We can train and relax and take long vacations
You are silly for protesting one night of work
There is no reason for you four to have this frustration
The arguing and bickering was causing more of a division
Both sides believed they were right
Cupid, Blitzen, Dasher, and Dancer made a difficult decision
They agreed right there and then on that fateful night
They had been friends and worked together for years
But the time had come and they could no longer be friends
Donner, Comet, Vixen, and Prancer changed too much it appears
The stress and the fighting seemed to never end
They were sad but they knew they had to go their own way
If they stayed friends Santa would think they revolted too
They liked their jobs and knew there was nothing else they could say
So they severed all ties, it wasn’t easy but it was the wisest thing to do
Santa came and saw the division that had taken place
He saw how Cupid, Blitzen, Dasher, and Dancer had to decide
To not associate with the others that would bring them disgrace
Santa knew he had to find four new reindeer for his sleigh ride
Cupid, Blitzen, Dasher, and Dancer would persevere
They were joined by Cinnamon, Gumdrop, Sparkles, and Peppermint
So listen up my friends and learn from these reindeer
If you hang with the wrong crowd it is only imminent
That you too will find yourself in a sticky situation
And in trouble you will find yourself likely
To have a sturdy house you must have a strong foundation
Listen to your heart and choose your friends wisely
You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen, you know Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen, but do you know Cinnamon, Gumdrop, Sparkles, and Peppermint? Of course you don’t, because most of you have not heard of the great reindeer revolt.
It was December 17, 1938. Exactly seven days before Christmas Eve. As you would expect, the North Pole was extremely busy getting everything ready for the big night. All the elves were making the last of the toys for all the good girls and boys. Santa was checking his list, then checking it twice just to be sure no one was missed. Mrs. Claus was busy making snacks for everyone. The reindeer were finishing up the last of their training exercises.
Maybe it was because the reindeer were tired or maybe they felt they weren’t being respected enough but for whatever the reason, some of the reindeer decided they had had enough. Cinnamon, Gumdrop, Sparkles, and Peppermint had enough and decided they were no longer going to work on Christmas Eve. “We work every Christmas Eve and we are tired of it. We want to stay home and enjoy the evening with our families. All of us should join together and tell Santa no more.”
Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, and Vixen all said no. “We are not going to revolt against Santa. How can you do this? Think of all the children. We work one night a year. We have 364 days to relax and take vacations and do whatever we want. We enjoy our job and traveling all over the world and seeing all the decorations and the children eagerly awaiting our visit.”
This was not the first time that Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, and Vixen had seen a bad attitude from Cinnamon, Gumdrop, Sparkles, and Peppermint. In fact, over the last six months they had seen many warning signs. They tried talking to them, but never seemed to get anywhere. Cinnamon, Gumdrop, Sparkles, and Peppermint had even started calling Rudolph names and would not let him play in any reindeer games.
All the reindeer argued and fought for several days. We are right and this is what we are going to do. No, you are not right, we are right and we will stand our ground. Back and forth, back and forth it went.
Finally, Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, and Vixen decided that this could not go on. They made a very difficult decision, one that did not come easily and one that made them very sad. These reindeer have been friends their entire lives but they no longer saw eye to eye. They told Cinnamon, Gumdrop, Sparkles, and Peppermint that they could no longer be friends. They didn’t want Santa to think they were revolting too, just because of who they were friends with.
Santa saw what was going on and felt very sad for the reindeer. But, he too, had to make a very difficult decision. If Cinnamon, Gumdrop, Sparkles, and Peppermint did not want to fly on Christmas Eve, then he was not going to force them. But he knew he needed eight reindeer to fly.
He held tryouts and four reindeer stood out amongst the rest. They were Comet, Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen. They joined forces with Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, and Vixen and became the eight famous reindeer you know today. Minus Rudolph of course, he would join the team a little later.
That is why you have never heard of Cinnamon, Gumdrop, Sparkles, and Peppermint. That is why a year later that Johnny Marks wrote Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer with its famous opening lines of which you know. You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen, you know Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen, and the rest is history.
That is also why you should be wise and choose your friends wisely. You will be known by the company you keep.
Friends by Blake Shelton – [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2tzzDtDw-k&w=560&h=315]
I’ve Got Friends That Do by Tim McGraw- [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NW5kWTaTXYw&w=560&h=315]
Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer by – [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0byH9h1ClBY&w=560&h=315]
I post this every year around this time. It is crazy how many views it gets throughout the year. I guess people search for snowflakes or something. Hope you enjoy.
This is a story of a snowflake. A unique and one of a kind snowflake. All snowflakes are made that way by their creator.
The snowflake in our story was filled with joy. He loved being a one of a kind snowflake. He has his own personality and demeanor. He truly enjoyed being a snowflake.
When it was his time to go and fall to the ground he was ready. He remembered everything he had been taught. He remembered how much he was loved. The most important of these was to spread the word of love. To teach others what a true, sincere, and unique kind of love looks like.
As he was falling to the ground he looked around at all of the other snowflakes. He could see they all were different than him, but they all had the same smile that he did. They were all so happy to finally being on their way to fulfill their destiny.
Then they all hit the ground and stopped. They were all piling on top of each other. Many were not happy. They started to complain. How easily they forgot the joy they had just a few minutes ago.
Some of the angry snowflakes were getting so angry that they were starting to melt. Their anger was also affecting other snowflakes around them because they started to get angry also. Even the ones that were not getting angry were being affected because they started to melt also. They were unable to get themselves out of the situation they were in. They needed help.
Meanwhile, other snowflakes saw what was going on and turned their hearts away from the snowflakes that needed help. Their hearts grew so cold that they started to turn to ice. As their icy hearts expanded, they affected other snowflakes around them. The snowflakes that were filled with joy a few minutes ago were now filled with icy hearts and turning other joy filled hearts to ice also. They needed help.
Our snowflake saw all that was going on and remembered what he was taught. He started talking about their creator and his love for them. He talked about the joy that should be in their hearts. The joy they had just a few minutes ago. He reminded them how they all felt just a few minutes ago and not to let their circumstance affect how they feel.
They should be joyful. Look at the children coming out to play. All with smiles on their faces. Look at how happy we have made them. All by just being who we were created to be.
Oh, how the snowflakes loved the children. It was a love with no end. They loved to hear the giggles and to see all the smiles. They even loved to hear the joys of screams as the children rode their sleds over them. It reminded our snowflake about how much the creator loved him. He remembered how much he loved talking and laughing with the creator. He remembered everything he was taught and he knew changes were coming.
Warmer weather will come and our snowflakes circumstances changed again. Our snowflake and his friends changed from unique snowflakes to drops of rain but their purpose was still the same. They will nourish the earth and provide the people with water to drink and water to grow their food. This is what we they were made to do.
They enjoyed many things in their lives, especially the children, but they each knew that they were brought here for a purpose. Sometimes they found themselves in unbearable situations but those that remembered their purpose never faulted. They stayed strong when others grumbled. They loved when others hated. Some had to change from snow to rain to fulfill their purpose but they did so with love. They knew that not all people would listen to them when they were snowflakes. Not all people cared for the snow. They had to adapt to the world around them and changed to rain so that others would hear the message of love, taught to them by their creator.
Like the snowflake, we are a community all made by our creator with one purpose and we will fulfill that purpose one way or the other. We each have our own unique blend of personalities, demeanor, and gifts. We also have to learn to adapt to our situations. What we talk about God to someone today might not work with the person we meet tomorrow. We have to speak love in a language our recipients want to hear. Do not judge, only love. We need to keep doing what we were put here by our creator to do and let Him, through us, open the eyes and hearts of those around us.
Limitless by Colton Dixon –
Hands and Feet by The Brilliance –
According To His Word by Jared Anderson –
That’s How You Change The World by Newsboys –
With Every Act Of Love by Jason Gray –
Ready Set Go by Royal Tailor –
Save Me by Jason Lancaster –
Living Word by Jeremy Camp –
Love Alone Is Worth The Fight by Switchfoot –
Living Word of God by Chris McClarney –
Hands and Feet by Audio Adrenaline –
I apologize for not reading as many posts as I usually do or by writing much but the holidays are a busy time in the trucking industry.
Some of you may know I run operations for a trucking company and the holidays are always the worst time of year for me. Customers want their loads picked up and delivered, while drivers want to take time, extended time in a lot of cases, and 1 + 1 does not equal 2. But, I love my job. It is like putting a puzzle together every day, just hope I do not lose a piece of the puzzle.
In honor of all those drivers that are out there working hard, being away from family, long, irregular hours, delivering at 0200 one day and 1400 the next, I wanted to post this article I read.
Thank a truck driver, a delivery driver today because without them, our nation would shutdown.
One Month without Trucks
Within the first 12 hours
Within 1 day
Within 2 to 3 days
Within a week of trucks no longer operating
Within 2 weeks
Within 4 weeks
The population was booming
Santa’s sleigh was zooming
More and more people were being added to the naughty list
But Santa knew there were still a lot of good that couldn’t be missed
He worked extra minutes into the long night
He barely finished before the sun’s first light
Then he thought, next year I must do something else
I can’t keep working like this, doing this to myself
Then right before his tired and sleepy body hit the bed
A crazy idea, too crazy he thought, popped into his head
I need to find some magical helpers to help me
Magical helpers who could even deliver before Christmas Eve
He smiled at the thought, presents delivered every day
He could just feel the weight coming off his sleigh
He wondered what the world would think of his wonderful scheme
Then he went to sleep and had the most wonderful dream
He put his plan together all year long
There was no way his plan could go wrong
He put it into action well before October’s last day
Christmas was here before trick or treat the kids could say
Sale, sale, sale, the biggest sale of the year
He flooded your inbox with emails disguised as cheer
Buy now, order now before you run out of time
Trust me, kids, there’s no reason to wait in line
You see, Santa’s elves had finished their making by June
Santa worked them so hard that the North Pole ran out of room
So they shipped everything and everything was gone
They sent all their gifts to a magical place called Amazon
Santa’s idea was going as planned and working perfectly
This year, he wouldn’t have to go down one single chimney
Santa called all his magical helpers headquarters
They said they were ready and awaited their orders
Then the orders came in and they hit the roads
Delivering Santa’s gifts in sun, rain, sleet, and snow
You know them as Amazon, UPS, USPS, and FedEx
Delivering Santa’s gifts right to your doorstep
Be sure to thank those who deliver near and far
Because now you know who they truly are
They are more than just drivers, they are Santa’s magical helpers
I sure hope they don’t bring me an ugly Christmas sweater
So if Christmas Eve comes and Santa’s sleigh and reindeer aren’t in sight
Thank his magical helpers who already brought your gifts before tonight
From the time she was a small sapling she knew what she was born for. She was born and raised on a Christmas tree farm. She heard stories from her family and friends about how one day she would be picked to go be inside someone’s house
Each year she grew a little bigger but each year she kept hearing people say the same thing. “She isn’t big enough.” “Her branches are still too weak.” “Her needles are too thin.”
She would wonder the same thing each year. “What’s wrong with me? Why doesn’t anyone want me? ”
Another year passed and she thought for sure this would be the year. She was almost as big as all the other trees but it was the same old story for our Christmas tree. “She isn’t quite there yet.” “She’s almost full enough but not as full as we want.” “Her branches still aren’t strong enough.”
Many more years passed and she still wasn’t being picked. She was really starting to wonder what was wrong with her. She was bigger than almost all the other trees. Her branches were fuller and stronger than the other trees. Other trees that were born after her were being picked but she still wasn’t. “Why doesn’t anyone want me?” “When will my time come?”
Another year passed and she was a full ten feet taller than any other tree. She had beautiful branches but she still wasn’t being picked. Now she heard things likes she’s too big, she can’t fit in our house, we don’t have enough lights and decorations to complete her.
Our Christmas tree was so sad. No one wanted her when she was young and small and no one wanted her when she was old and tall. She was thinking she will never know what it’s like to be decorated and look so lovely.
Our Christmas tree continued to grow and by the next year she was seventy-five feet tall. She could see the entire farm. That was when she saw this big truck coming on the farm. They came right up to her. One guy got out and looked at her and said “this tree is what we have been looking for. She will look beautiful at Rockefeller Center. We will decorate her and have so many lights on her. Millions of people will see her and admire how beautiful she is!”
Moral of the story is God will use you in His time. Be faithful and trust in Him and He will use you in ways you would never believe. We just have to be patient and wait for our calling.
Just Like Me by Vanessa Williams –
O Christmas Tree by Bobs and Lolo –
One Little Christmas Tree by Stevie Wonder –
The Little Christmas Tree by Nat King Cole –
While I’m Waiting by John Waller –
Use Me by All Things New –
I Will Wait by Aaron Shust –
I Will Wait by Darlene Zschech –
This is a story about a turkey. However, this was not an ordinary turkey. This turkey did not want to be a turkey. He wanted to be an eagle.
He often thought to himself, “self, I do not like myself. Self, this is one boring life I live.” Day after day he would trot around the yard with all his turkey friends gobbling gobbling and gobbling. He would eat all the food that was given to him and he would watch himself getting fatter and fatter.
He would look to the sky and see the eagles flying around. Soaring above the trees. “So beautiful,” he thought. “I want to be like that. I want to be majestic. I want to be an icon. I want people to look at me with awe. I want to be a national symbol and for people to look at with me with thanksgiving in their hearts.”
As much as he flapped his wings he could not get off the ground. It wasn’t that he did not practice, because he did. Some days that was all he did. He would run around the yard flapping his wings, never to get more than a foot or so off the ground. “God, why would you give me wings but not let me fly very well? Why would you let me see the eagles soar but not let me join them?”
Many of his less ambitious friends would talk behind his back. “Who does he think he is?” “Look at that fool trying to fly like an eagle!” “Doesn’t he realize he will never be anything other than what he is?”
Many days and months passed by and nothing ever changed for the turkey. Every day it was the same thing. Wake up, eat, walk around the yard, eat, try to fly. Every day he would ask the same questions. “Why God why? I want to be more than this. I want people to look at me in awe and be thankful that I am here. I want people to love me.”
Soon the weather started to get colder. Many days people would come and grab some of his friends and he would never see them again. The turkey continued to eat and grew bigger and bigger. One day a family came and walked around the yard looking for the perfect turkey. They found one in the turkey of our story.
The father looked at his family and said, “This turkey is beautiful. He will be the perfect symbol for our thanksgiving dinner .” The little girl looked at the turkey and said “I love you turkey. You are so beautiful.”
The turkey gobbled and gobbled. He was so happy. “Finally,” he thought, ” I am being appreciated. I may not be flying like an eagle yet but at least people are seeing me as special.”
The turkey was taken to the family’s home where he was promptly killed and cooked for dinner. Before they ate the family prayed. “Thank you God for this wonderful meal. Especially this beautiful turkey. We will forever remember this turkey in our hearts on this national holiday.”
You see, God gave the turkey everything he asked for. He was looked at with awe and beauty. He was a national symbol. The people gave thanks from their hearts for the turkey. He was made exactly how God wanted him to be and exactly how he wanted to be seen. He just didn’t realize that who he was was exactly who he was made to be.
What do you ask God for? Have you ever asked for a pure heart? Have you ever asked God to show you the way to be more like Him? Or are all of your asks and wants more about you? Have you ever thanked God for who you are, for who He made you to be?
I watched her clinging to life. The last leaf on the tree. I didn’t know if I should feel sad for her or if I should admire her.
Should I feel sad for her? I mean, she is the last leaf. All the other leaves are gone. Her husband, her kids, her close friends, her distant relatives. All of them were gone. Why was she still clinging to life? Why would she want to hang on?
It was then that I thought I should admire her. She was strong. She had more to say. Yes, she longed to be with her friends and family but she wasn’t done with this life yet.
She gave me hope. She gave me a reason to continue. The cold winds blew, she held on. The rains came, she held on. The snow came, she held on. I knew if she could do it that I could do it too. There wasn’t anything that could take me down. I had a story to tell. I had a reason to hold on.
Every day I looked at that leaf. I wondered how she could do it. Some days were worse than others. At least that’s how I felt. I swear that she smiled at me. Even in the worst conditions I felt like she was smiling. I wondered what she was up to. I wondered what did she know that I didn’t know. Where did she find her joy?
Winter faded to spring. The warmer weather brought the green buds to life. The leaf held on. The new leaves overtook the tree. I had to look hard to find her but she was still there.
Then one day she was gone. I saw her on the ground. I imagined she stayed long enough to teach the new leaves what she knew. I could see her looking around with a smile on her face. I could see her saying it’s okay. I could see her saying it is now my time and then letting go of the branch.
I had to pick her up and take her home. I put her in my scrapbook along with the picture of my grandma. She reminded me a lot of my grandma. Tenacious, stubborn, lived longer than most of the people she knew, and she passed down her words of wisdom. She passed down her Bible, with all her underlined and highlighted passages. Words that spoke to her.
I know it may be silly, since she was just a leaf, but she taught me a lot. She helped me to remember a lot. She helped me to be thankful for what I have. She taught me to cling to life. It is precious.
I am thankful for that leaf. I am thankful for my grandmas and grandpas. I am thankful for my parents. I am thankful for my teachers. I am thankful for all the military. I am thankful for all those that have come before me, that have paved the way for me. The ones who gave me words of wisdom and taught me lessons. The ones that encouraged me, that gave me life, that gave my dreams life. To all of you I say thank you.
In The Time That You Gave Me by Bradley Walker feat Joey Feek –
My Last Breath Here (Joey’s Song) by JK Nick Nichols –
Tears Of Joy by Phil Wickham –
See You There by Joey Feek –
To Say Goodbye by Joey & Rory –
Live On by Olivia Newton John –
After You’re Gone by Iris Dement –
Love, Me by Collin Raye –
Sing Me To Heaven by Bradley Walker –
The Last Leaf by Blackmore’s Night –
Last Leaf by Tom Waits –
Last Leaf by Ok Go –
Last Leaf On The Tree poem spoken by Dr. James Dobson –
The wife and I flew to New York City Friday for her to run the New York City Marathon 11/3/19. As some of you may recall, she ran this race four years ago and was highly disappointed in her time because she hurt her hip half way into it. At mile 16 when I saw her, she was limping and was in pain but she still finished.
This was her revenge race and she did awesome, but was hurt again. Here is a video and pic of her at mile 16.2 this year, smiling and waving. Much different than four years ago. This is called Thunder Alley because the runners come off Queensborough Bridge where it is frighteningly quiet and then hit the crowd of noise. 
Her goal was to be under 3 hours and 30 minutes. She just set a personal record at Boston earlier this year at 3:32:28. She was on pace to be under 3:30 until mile 21 when her upper thigh/groin started to hurt.
She had to stop and walk/run the last four and a half miles but still finished at 3:34:31. She did a great job and was not disappointed even though she wishes her leg would not have started hurting so she could have pr’d. Look at her finish results, she was 3329 place out of 28465 USA runners and 7173 out of 53508 overall runners. Top 14% of all runners. Can you believe there were 25043 runners from other countries? That is crazy.
We had a great time being alone together for more than a dinner date for the first time in forever. It was nice to have some one on one time. Very proud of her.
Saturday she did not want to site see so I took the subway to see Yankee Stadium and do a little site seeing on my own. I wanted to see places we did not see four years ago.
Here are the pics of the leading push rim and women and men runners.
Here are some more pics. Enjoy.
My God, My Music, My Life 