Home for Christmas

Guest post by Suzann Darnall

Some things I've seen recently on television and the internet have reminded me of the sacrifice and service given by our military. Sacrifice that goes on 24/7, 365 days a year. Service that does not stop for weather, weekends, or even holidays. So, in their honor and memory, I am going to depart, again, from my political topics and talk about something from my heart and somewhat more fitting to the season. I hope no one minds a little more Christmas spirit. Especially as this is an update of a previous posting. But, I really feel I cannot say it any better now than I did before. It truly did come from my heart and is therefore as true today as it was the first time.

I'll be home for Christmas

You can plan on me

Please have snow and mistletoe

And presents on the tree

Christmas Eve will find me

Where the lovelight gleams

I'll be home for Christmas

If only in my dreams

In many ways this song has become the unofficial Christmas carol of the military. I know it has long signified military holidays to me, although I was lucky to actually have very few Christmases without my father or my husband. Quite a miracle, considering I spent 40 years of my life following Air Force blue as a daughter or wife.

This song was always a favorite of mine. But, it really came to the forefront of my holiday preferences when my father was in Vietnam in 1972. We had word he was coming home for Christmas and that made the song personal. The last line, "If only in my dreams" wasn't important. It was that first line, "I'll be home for Christmas" that mattered. This is something I found, over the years, which is shared by many military members and families. It is all about the hopes and dreams in that first line. We just sort of shove that last line out of the way and ignore its implications.

As we celebrate this holiday season in which many of us honor the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, let us remember some of the most important gifts we have ever been given. Christ Himself was a gift from our Heavenly Father. Christ went on to give us the gift of His sacrifice to atone for our sins. These are gifts immeasurable. But, others have bestowed great gifts upon us as well.

Our American military has been giving us the gifts of sacrifice, freedom, and safety for well over 200 years. They have not just done this for American citizens, but for people around the world. Some have given their all and their graves bear witness of this. Others have given more than we can imagine. We have wounded warriors from coast to coast trying to regain some semblance of normalcy in their lives after having their bodies and/or minds shattered by the horrific wounds and terrors of war.

Winter, war, our military, December, and Christmas are inextricably linked in my mind. From Valley Forge to Pearl Harbor. Whether with or without snow, winter war is harsh.

I lived in both Hawaii and Japan in my years as a military dependent. Sort of the bookends of World War II in the Pacific. While living in Hawaii as a teenager, I remember the radar field on the island of Oahu looking like Christmas angels. The kind of paper angels school kids used to make from doilies. We called them Guardian Angels. Military and their families have long memories about wars.

One thing I always remember about military Christmas times is the generosity. If a father was gone there were always neighbors to help put together bikes. When my husband was on missile crew, where the guys were out for 24 hours at a time, there were often trade-offs during the holidays. The bachelors would pull duty on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, so family and married men could be home. Then, the family guys would do New Year's Eve to reciprocate, so bachelors could celebrate. Not a big thing, I guess, but it mattered to all of us.

I also remember baking lots and lots of Christmas cookies over the years as a military brat and wife. Traditionally, squadron wives would do a cookie swap party in December. We would bring two dozen cookies. One dozen was to eat as refreshments at the party, while the other dozen was to freeze until Christmas, when they would be sent out to all the folks on holiday duties.

I also remember years and years of being Santa and Santa's elf when my father or husband was on TDY (temporary duty) prior to or on Christmas. A TDY is sort of the military equivalent of a business trip and can last two days, two weeks, or two months. So, families learn to cope. And, sometimes this means Mom does ALL the Christmas-ing, while other times it means the older kids learn the real story of Santa a little sooner than expected.

Since my husband retired from the military and our children have grown up, my Christmases have changed quite a bit. But, the holiday happenings still bring to mind those traditions from Air Force life. I think of Christmas cookie swap parties when I bake loaves of quick bread to pass out as gifts. When my firefighter son-in-law has to work Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, I know my oldest daughter has be Santa AND Santa's elf, just like I used to do. And, this year, we especially have the feeling of having someone be home for Christmas, 'cause our youngest daughter and her children have moved in with us.

I was blessed to always be home for Christmas, 'cause home has sorta always been where I was. I am a nester, apparently by nature and nurture. Even when we were travelling for the holidays, I was home 'cause I had family with me and we were usually at one of my favorite places to be anyway, like grandparents.

But, I also know that not everyone is like me. For many folks, home is a very specific location. And, many military folks are far away from that much loved place. A place that makes them want to get home for the holidays.

I understand that better now that we have a permanent place to call home. So, now, when I sing the words, "I'll be home for Christmas", I know exactly where it is talking about. I know a little better what everyone else has felt all those years. And, I know more sympathy for those who are far from home. Especially those serving in hazardous duty spots.

I hope for all the military families that they get to experience the joy of having that song come true for their military member. I know many are coming home this Christmas season from war zones, but others will still be deployed in far away places, some of which are dangerous. Let us each say a little prayer this season for peace. For the sake of all our people going in harm's way. May God bless our American military . . . and their families. May everyone someday be home for Christmas!

© Suzann C. Darnall, DECEMBER 2013 UPDATED

All I Want for Christmas . . .

Guest post by Suzann Darnall

. . . Is the strength to face what is coming in the midterm election battles. But, what I will settle for is the joy I know I will see in the faces of my loved ones. I know there will be numerous opportunities for sharing love and laughter along with some traditions and tears.

I look forward to the new traditions that are cropping up as my family expands and we add new experiences that suit both younger and older members. I look forward to the sorta kinda new, yet old, experience of having kids living in the home expecting Santa to visit and the joy we will see on their faces when they awaken Christmas morning to see presents under the tree. I also look forward to old traditions, like going to view the Windcrest Christmas light tour, down in San Antonio, with our children and grandchildren. Then, we do dessert afterwards at one of the nearby restaurants. Or, getting together on Christmas Eve to open family gifts. Or, gathering on Christmas Day to have a family feast. Or doing one of the dozens of little things that make it Christmas at my home or with my family.

I will once again tally these small blessings, cherish them, and use the joy they bring as a shield against the things which would bring unhappiness into my soul. And, unfortunately, I think 2014, like each year since Obama's election, will carry a big load of unhappy. The kind of unhappy that ain't gonna get better quick. In fact, I am pretty sure we will all be suffering for as many years as the Progressives hold the upper-hand in government. .

But, we cannot give up. We must bolster ourselves to keep fighting those who would oppress us. We must use the good things in our lives to give us strength to resist the bad things. We must join together with like-minded family, friends, and members of our communities to spread the word that bigger government, higher taxation, and increased regulation are not the solution, they just acerbate the problems our country currently faces.

As we celebrate this holiday season, let us remember with each Christmas bell we hear that America is the place on earth where we should always and forever let freedom ring! Not just the freedoms that people on the Left like Barack Obama, George Soros, or Hillary Clinton happen to approve of, but ALL of the freedoms to which we are entitled under our Constitution and Bill of Rights.

So, I ask all Conservatives to enjoy whatever holiday they celebrate this season. I will be celebrating an oh so traditional Christmas. But, I have friends who will celebrate Hanukkah and some who will celebrate both. It does not matter. One of the freedoms we are supposed to enjoy and support is the freedom to worship as we will . . . and to allow that freedom to others. A tolerance I fear is being trampled further down into the dust every day.

Store up the good memories of this coming month. Use them as an impetus to fight to preserve our way of life so that we can have more good times in the coming years and so there will be good times for our posterity in the coming decades.

May I wish to all y'all a happy holiday, whichever one you may celebrate! I, of course, will be hoping for a very merry Christmas. Not exactly holding my breath for that Happy New Year, though. I think that got deep-sixed with the implementation of the ever-expanding ObamaCare disaster.

© Suzann C. Darnall, DECEMBER 2013 UPDATED