The Last Christmas Tree

I saw a truck of Christmas trees

And each one had a tale,

The driver stood them in a row

And put them up for sale.

He strung some twinkly lights

And hung a sign up with a nail;

"FRESH CHRISTMAS TREES"

It said in red

"FRESH CHRISTMAS TREES FOR SALE."

He poured himself hot cocoa

In a steaming thermos cup,

And snowflakes started falling

As a family car pulled up.

A mom, a dad, and one small boy

Who looked no more than three

Jumped out and started searching

For the perfect Christmas tree.

The boy marched up and down the rows,

His nose high in the air;

"It smells like Christmas, mom!

"It smells like Christmas everywhere!"

"Let's get the biggest tree we can!"

A tree that's ten miles high!

"A tree to go right through our roof!"

A tree to touch the sky!"

"A tree SO big"

That Santa Claus"Will stop and stare and say,

"'Now, THAT'S the finest Christmas tree"

'I've seen this Christmas Day!'"

It seemed they looked at every tree

At least three million times;

Dad shook them, pinched them, turned them 'round

To find the perfect pine."I've found it, mom!"

The Christmas tree I like the best of all!"

It's got a little bare spot,

"But we'll turn that to the wall!"

"We'll put great-grandma's angel"

On top the highest bough!"

Oh, can we buy it?"

Please, mom, PLEASE?!"

Oh, can we buy it NOW?"

"How 'bout some nice hot cocoa?"

Asked the man who owned the lot.

He twisted off the thermos top,

"Now, THIS will hit the spot!"

He poured the steaming chocolate

In three tiny paper cups.

They toasted,"Here's to Christmas!"

And they drank the cocoa up.

"Is this your choice?"

The tree man asked,

"This pine's the best one here!

"The boy seemed sad---

"My daddy says"

The price is just too dear."

"Then, Merry Christmas!"

Said the man, who wrapped the tree in twine,

"It's yours for just one promise"

You must keep at Christmas time!"

"On Christmas Eve at bedtime"

As you fold your hands to pray,"

Promise in your heart"To keep the joy of Christmas Day!"

"Now hurry home!This freezy wind"

Is turning your cheeks pink!"

And ask your dad"

To trim that trunk and give that tree a drink!"

And so it went onAll that blustery eve

As the tree man gave

Tree upon tree upon tree

To every last personWho came to the lot---

Who toasted with cocoaIn small paper cups,

Who promised the promise

Of joy in their hearts---

And singing out carols,

Drove off in the dark.

And when it was over

One tree stood alone;

But no one was left thereTo give it a home.

The tree man put on hisRed parka and hood

And dragged the last Christmas tree

Out to the woods.

He left the pine right by a stream

In the cold,So the wood's homeless creatures

Could make it their home.

He smiled as he brushed off

Some snow from his beard,

When out of the thicket

A reindeer appeared.

He scratched that huge reindeer

On top his huge head---

"It looks like we've"Started up Christmas again!"

"There are miles more to travel,"

And much more to do!"

Let's go home, my friend,

"And get started anew!"

He looked to the sky

And heard jingle bells sound---

And then,In a twinkling,

That tree man was gone!

Christmas is Almost Here

Christmas is in nine days I can't believe it. I still need to get Christmas gifts for people. It has come so fast this year. It feels like Christmas is in at least a month. I am really excited though. For part of my Christmas gift we are going to California. I love it there so much. I think I would like to live there, but then I would never get snow. I would not like that at all. Anyways, I am really excited. I haven't decided yet what I want for Christmas. I really want a Burton snowboard. Other then that I don't really know, probably just clothes or something. The things that I know I am getting for Christmas are a trip to Cali, and a season pass the the Park City Ski Resort. I kind of just want a surprise this year, except for a snowboard. I really want that. I am so excited, I can go snowboarding on Wednesday(because of my surgery) if the doctor says. Yay!!! I will probably go on Saturday, because of school. I am way excited though.

A Different Kind of Christmas Story

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.
The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear
.Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,
Then thesure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.
"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"
For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts.
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."
"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at ' Pearl on a day in December,
"Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers.
"My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ' Nam ',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.
I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother.
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."
"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son.
"Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead
,To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."

Grandpa

My Grandpa just turned 69 and about a week earlier my uncle said "You are running out of time." He was referring to his birthday and not his life. So for his birthday we kind of decided to make it a theme. We made him a book that we got off the Internet and it was called "50 ways to beat the Reaper." The first thing that was on the list was to drink 8 ounces of water, so we bought him tons of water bottles. We also got him an iPod nano so that he can exercise and be healthy. We bought him a gift certificate to a spa so that after he works out her can go get a massage. It was pretty funny, because we based his whole birthday on how he doesn't have that much "time" left.

Christmas Anticipation

I love Christmas so much it is probably one of my favorite holidays. I love it because of all the fun traditions and things. My family does some things that make my Christmas unique. On my mom's side of the family we go to brunch on Christmas Eve at this really nice restaurant. It is so fun, because I get to see most of my cousins and family. I don't get to see all of them though, because some of them live in other states. We always have so much fun together. On my dad's side we always have breakfast on Christmas. We also go out to diner at a restaurant with my whole family. We have a great time. With my family we sometimes do a nativity thing and on Christmas we open something like pajamas or a blanket or both and we sleep with them. We usually get up really early, because I have a little sister. We open our presents and things. It is so much fun. The only thing I don't like about Christmas is the anticipation. Everybody is so busy and doing things to get ready for Christmas. The whole month is really, really crazy. It kind of drives me nuts, the month of December seems so long and boring. It is also really hard to get homework finished when you are thinking about Christmas. I am so excited though, because Christmas brings families closer together. I really like how everyone is in a good mood and things. They try to do more service and things to. They like to be together. I just wish it was like that all year than one month or less.