And a good morning to you too... // December 24, 2005

I was sleeping…hard…dead to the world kinda stuff. It had been a great Christmas Eve. I had seen most everyone, planned and executed a Traditional Protestant Candlelight and Carols service (only here there are rules against open flames so instead of using candles we used red chemlights – yeah, I thought it was a little weird at first too but it turned out really well! At any rate, I was a little worried that the service was not going to go well…I had planned it well but I get worried like that – I happen to be the world’s worst “second-guesser” I am good about overcoming my insecurities and driving on but I still worry about it. Anyway, it ended up being a great service, everyone had a blast and just as the service was starting out, a large group of Romanian Soldiers walked in and in the middle of the service they sang about six traditional Romanian Christmas carols. We ended with “We wish you a merry Christmas” (Which they knew so we could do that together). It was amazing. I stood there on stage, my guitar slung around my neck, thinking about how amazing it was that here we were, American soldiers celebrating Christmas with Cold War enemies singing Christmas Carols in Iraq. We were Christian brothers and sisters celebrating the birth of Christ.

In the shadow of the birthplace of Abraham, live the soldiers from many countries. We live and work here to bring freedom and liberty to a people that could not bring it to themselves. At home, thousands of miles away, our families will be getting up soon to open presents without us, they will eat dinner without us, they will have all that has become the American tradition of Christmas without us – but they will know that we are here. They will think of us as we think of them. We are there, we are. In the cool night air that flows around you, we are there. In the songs of children, bringing warmth to your hearts – that is the song of our hearts in this place. We miss you and our hearts swell with the thought of you. We will see you all soon.

I awoke from my exhausted slumber with the sound of singing outside my door…in Spanish!! My first disjointed thought was the panic that somehow I had slept in and it was church and I had missed!! I jumped out of bed and pulled some pants on and turned on the light. I expected to see some guys out in the main area singing but when I opened the door there were a whole group of soldiers from 1-295 (Puerto Rico) S1, S3, and the LTC all standing outside my door, caroling…me! It was awesome!! They sang several songs, the guitar and various other percussion instruments playing – the only one I recognized of course was “Feliz Navidad” and I stood on the step and just smiled. They came to sing for me. It seems that I was last on the list. After we talked a bit and everyone went home, I went back into my room and typed this essay. Tonight was a great night. A night that I will remember for all my life.

I love you all this Christmas.

Blessings and Peace to you in Christ.