What's your favorite Christmas gift ever?

I think you knew this question was coming. If there's not just one (answer) in particular that's fine too. Mine is very easy...my second child Asher Michael. He was born on Christmas eve, but probably would have been born on Christmas day if Brandy wasn't induced. I remember that day clearly because it was very bad outside and we didn't want to take the chance of going home and then not making it back to the hospital on time. So mine was easy, how about yours?

The Specialist

This poem is from my "The Dim Light" collection and one of my inspirational ones (which I need more of). I hope you enjoy it.

The Specialist
Nobody can stop you
from loving unconditionally with your heart.
Nobody can stop you
of sometimes yearning and wanting to be apart.
Nobody can stop you
for putting in the time and becoming more wise.
Nobody can stop you
from feeling emotion and consoling your cries.

Nobody can stop you
for helping without a selfish gratuity.
Nobody can stop you
from showing all your candid ingenuity.
Nobody can stop you

from finding excuses to perform a good deed.

Nobody can stop you

from denouncing hate for the love and peace we need.

Nobody can stop you
from making friends inseparable to forget.
Nobody can stop you
from using your life for someone to benefit.
Nobody can stop you
from admiring all the hardships faced in your drive.
Nobody can stop you
for trying your hardest to live and to survive.

Nobody can stop you
from achieving recognition, your gallant shine.
Nobody can stop you
from reaching your faithful riches of the divine.

Nobody can stop you

from being the greatest person that you can be.

Nobody can stop you

from trying, nobody could, certainly not me.

What’s your favorite Christmas activity?

Sticking with the Christmas (or Winterish ie: building snowmen) theme what would be a Christmas activity you cherish doing above anything else? Building snowmen (see), baking (fill in the blank), putting up the Christmas tree/Christmas lights, going Christmas shopping, going to church on Christmas eve, giving/receiving Christmas presents, spending time with family, singing/listening (to) Christmas carols or watching Christmas movies/classic cartoons/Christmas day parade. I didn’t put remembering our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ because that’s a given (I hope). I’ll be honest and say (more like type) I haven’t gone to a Christmas eve service in quite some time (I know, I know) so my favorite activity would be watching my boys (Elijah & Asher) open up their Christmas presents. So how about you?

Darkness

This poem is from my "Open Your Mind" collection...and it's all I see when I drive to work in the morning and when I drive home. I hope you enjoy.

Darkness
The gray sky’s altercation with dusk
The moon’s solitude of the daybreak
The evacuation of nature into the night
The hour in the midst of transformation
The night’s arrival arrives.

Streetlight’s light up the darkness,
A hush coldness crawls across the land.
Day rests; its sleep begins
It’s now night’s turn of duty.

The stars sparkle like a loved one’s eye
The silence always an adequate sign
The crisp breeze inquires its domain.

Grass is showered with condensation
Insects and animals rejoice to the moonlight.

Darkness controls the living…

What's a Christmas smell to you?

What smell triggers it's Christmas time to you? Is it the smell of gingerbread men, pies and cookies baking in the stove, a fresh pine Christmas tree being put up, eggnog, scented candles, cinnamon, hot chocolate or how about the smell of "Jack Frost" mixed with wood burning from a chimney? Whatever it may be I have a feeling that there's a lot of different answers for this question. What's mine? Christmas cookies baking in the oven. How about you?

Christmas Time Again

Keeping with the last theme (question) I actually wrote a song/poem to "Christmas time is here" (there is no plagiarism here!) plus it shows how much I truly do hold the original in my heart. The cool thing about it is you can actually sing this one just like the original, so this is my official homage to the masterpiece of an original. From my "Gray Matters" collection here it is, I hope you enjoy.


Christmas Time Again

Christmas time again

Time for peace my friend

Christmas is the greatest day

I wish it would never end.

Snowfall everywhere

Gifts of love and care

Sleigh rides through the countryside

With family there to share.

Goodwill everywhere

Giving thanks and care

What a special time of year

As we praise the Lord with prayer.

Christmas time again

Hope and bliss my friend

Today is for our savior

Christ was born in Bethlehem.

Today is for our savior

Christ was born in Bethlehem.

Children laugh and sing

Joyous caroling

Building snowmen in the snow

Rejoicing and worshipping.

Warmth replaces chill

Everything is still

Chocolate by the fireplace

Candles line the windowsill.

Tummies are all fed

Almost time for bed

Soon we’ll be in slumbered sleep

While dreams of glee fill our head.

Christmas time again

Trust in faith my friend

Today if for our savior

Christ was born in Bethlehem

Today is for our savior

Christ was born in Bethlehem.

What's a Christmas staple to you?

The time has come upon us again...Christmas!!! The most important holiday ever...and also the most exploited/commercial holiday ever. I won't get started on that (maybe another time) instead I want to ask you what's the one thing, whether it be a movie, cartoon, hearing a Christmas song, reading a Christmas book/poem or putting up a Christmas tree and decorations that gets you in the mood for Christmas? Staples of Christmas time to me are (mostly the same with everyone too I bet) "A Christmas Story", "It's a Wonderful Life", "A Christmas Vacation", "Miracle on 34th Street", Rudolf, Frosty, Charlie Brown, The Grinch, endless Christmas carols and "Twas the Night before Christmas"... Personal favorites to me are "A Christmas Story", "Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer", "Frosty the Snowman", " The Grinch that stole Christmas" and my absolute favorite Christmas song: "Christmas time is here" by the Vince Guaraldi Trio off  "A Charlie Brown Christmas" soundtrack/cartoon. And last, but certainly not least the birth of our loving Savior Jesus Christ. Whether or not he was truly born (or conceived) on December 25th we won't really know until we get the chance to ask him ourselves (God willing). So now I ask you, what's yours?

Also I would like to thank Diane and Karen for your kind words it means a lot. God bless.