Friday, December 26, 2008

Christmas Dream - Christmas Story 2008

Christmas Dream - Christmas Story 2008


Brand new not even up on my site yet, this years Christmas Story..please let me know if you enjoy it

It had started like a distant rumble of thunder, which had grown into the roaring of a hundred jet engines. The trees, then the whole earth seemed to shake from the full force of the wind.

She had begged her husband to leave before the hurricane hit, to just save them selves. He had told her the wind would die down, the boarded house would be fine, and the water would soon go. That was before the roof began to peal off the top of the house, like a giant pealing back the skin of an orange. That was when the panic had set in.

Looking back, several months later, the images of that night still sent shivers through her body. Like still photos sliding across her mind, the sound, the fear, the destruction all seemed so fresh. Hanging onto each other hoping this was not to be their last moment on earth.

They had been found many hours later in what was left of their home, still in the same position. Numb with shock and the impact of what had happened, the rescuers had taken them to an overnight shelter. That night rolled into days, and days into weeks.

Their whole world had gone, in just a few small hours there was nothing left of what once was their home and their future.When she had eventually been allowed back to the broken timbers of the smashed building where they had planned their future together, it was like a giant hand had taken their lives and emptied them… there was nothing left.

After a few months, a family member had provided a caravan for them to live in.This was parked in what once was their driveway. Her husband’s workplace no longer existed, vanished in that terrible night. After some time, he had found work in another state, many miles away, leaving her to pick amongst the pieces of their lives and wait for whatever would happen next.The alarm woke her from her sleep, she shuddered the cold creeping through the ill fitting windows of the mobile home. At least she had a roof over her head, more than many she thought, reaching for the kettle and hoping there was still water in the tank and she would not have to make the trip to fill the water container again.Lighting the small gas ring she put on the kettle for a hot drink. Looking out the window she could not believe her eyes, it had snowed overnight, the ground was covered in a quilt of white.


A while later she sat sipping her coffee, wondering how her husband was getting on, hoping he might be able to make it home for Christmas. Christmas … some Christmas this was going to be.After clearing up and making her bed… “No excuse for not caring” she had told herself when first they had moved into the caravan. She went outside to see if things looked any better under the curtain of white.At least it hid what was left of their home, broken timbers, the scarred surfaces, all was now smooth and white. Something made her look down.There in front of her was a set of prints in the snow. Too large for a cat, not that of a dog… sort of hoof like. She shrugged “Oh well good luck to them finding any food around here.”

Her mobile phone rang. It was her husband, her mood brightened at the sound of his voice. He had some great news, his company was going to rebuild the factory, and they wanted him to help work on the new design. He was coming home!A silent prayer of thanks was said, he was coming home.Throughout the rest of the morning she worked on what she could do to try and make this Christmas special for her and her husband. Despite everything, they would be together and that was a start. She was in the process of writing a list of items that she needed to try and purchase to turn their mobile accommodation, in a home when there was a knock at the door.


A man stood there, a smile on his face and an envelope offered towards her.“I think this might cheer up your holiday plans” he said handing her the envelope.She went inside and opened the envelope, it was a check, a very large check, the insurance had finally come through. Now, they could get on with their lives, rebuild their future.She tried to contact her husband to let him know the good news, but could get no reply.What a day, first her husband coming home, with a new job, now the insurance money.Her hand brushed a small bell that lay on the table, something they had found amongst the rubble of their home. Christmas, yes, it was all part of Christmas, and this year she would make sure it would be one they would never forget.She rang the bell again, and again, ring… ring.. ring…


She struggled through the tangled web of her dream, only to surface into reality. It had all been a dream, a wonderful dream, but just a dream all the same. She looked out the window, hoping to see the white covering of snow that had been there in her dream. But all she saw was the scarred debris of what had been left after the hurricane had hit.Sighing she put on the kettle and opened the door to greet the day. Her eyes caught site of some prints in the mud in front of her, too large for a cat and not that of a dog, sort of hoof like.
It couldn’t be, could it? And her mobile phone rang.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Xmas new Story - Twas the Night Befor Christmas

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS



I hope Santa brings me cheese

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.




The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that Saint Nicholas soon would be there.




The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of sugarplums danced in their heads.




And Mamma in her kerchief and I in my cap, Had just settled down for a long winter's nap, When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.




  The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below, When what to my wondering eyes should appear, But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,




With a little old driver, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;




"Now, DASHER!  Now, DANCER! Now, PRANCER and VIXEN! On COMET!  On CUPID!  On DONDER and BLITZEN! To the top of the porch!  To the top of the wall! Now dash away!  Dash away!  Dash away all!"


ho, ho, ho!

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, When they meet with an obstacle mount to the sky, So up to the house-top the coursers they flew, With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicolas, too.




  And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof, The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.As I drew in my head and was turning around, Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.




He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot; A bundle of toys he had flung on his back, And he looked like a peddlar just opening his pack.




His eyes- how they twinkled!  His dimples how merry! His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry! His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, And the beard on his chin was as white as the snow;


Ho, ho, ho!

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath; He had a broad face and a round little belly, That shook when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.




  He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself; A wink of an eye and a twist of his head, Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;




He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,


And laying his finger aside of his nose, And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;


Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

New Story - A Brother Like That

A Brother Like That




Paul received an automobile from his brother as a Christmas present. On Christmas Eve when Paul came out of his office, a street urchin was walking around the shiny new car, admiring it.

"Is this your car, Mister?" he asked.


Paul nodded. "My brother gave it to me for Christmas." The boy was astounded. "You mean your brother gave it to you and it didn't cost you nothing? Boy, I wish..." He hesitated. Of course Paul knew what he was going to wish for. He was going to wish he had a brother like that. But what the lad said jarred Paul all the way down to his heels.


"I wish," the boy went on, "that I could be a brother like that."


Paul looked at the boy in astonishment, then impulsively he added, "Would you like to take a ride in my automobile?"


"Oh yes, I'd love that."


After a short ride, the boy turned and with his eyes aglow, said, "Mister, would you mind driving in front of my house?" Paul smiled a little. He thought he knew what the lad wanted. He wanted to show his neighbors that he could ride home in a big automobile. But Paul was wrong again.


"Will you stop where those two steps are?" the boy asked. He ran up the steps. Then in a little while Paul heard him coming back, but he was not coming fast. He was carrying his little crippled brother. He sat him down on the bottom step, then sort of squeezed up against him and pointed to the car. "There she is, Buddy, just like I told you upstairs. His brother gave it to him for Christmas and it didn't cost him a cent. And some day I'm gonna give you one just like it...then you can see for yourself all the pretty things in the Christmas windows that I've been trying to tell you about."


Paul got out and lifted the lad to the front seat of his car. The shining-eyed older brother climbed in beside him and the three of them began a memorable holiday ride.


That Christmas Eve, Paul learned what Jesus meant when he had said: "It is more blessed to give..."


My Holiday Wish for the World Is That
We all Could Be Brothers Like That.

Thursday, December 4, 2008

History of Christmas


Christmas is for joy, for giving and sharing, for laughter, for coming together with family and friends, for tinsel and brightly decorated packages... But mostly, Christmas is for love.It was this love for which Jesus came to this world and sacrificed his life.

Thus Christmas is a celebration of love and mirth symbolized by the Nativity, the Santa, the caribou, the poinsettia and the evergreens. All that bring home the spirit of love and life.And this is the spirit that makes Christmas so popular throughout the world.

Though originated by the Roman Catholics who commemorate the December 25th as the day of birth of Christ Child, it has gradually come to be celebrated by the
non-Catholics as well. As far as the United States goes, the celebration of X'mas is comparatively of recent origin. Much of the world was already well into Christmas celebrations by the time the United States began to wake up.In the first half of the 19th century the Sunday schools in America held Christmas celebrations. And the celebration of Christmas in America owes its origin to these schools. Alabama was the first state to grant legal recognition to X-mas in 1836. The DC did it in 1870. By 1893 all the states and territories had made similar acknowledgements.

So be it the United States or in other parts of the world Christmas is
celebrated as the commemoration of the birth of Christ Child -- very likely the holiest event ever to take place anywhere on the Earth, and an entirely worthy occasion to celebrate. But don't we often wonder if we've got these things about it right? And why is
the difference of opinion (however immaterial) regarding the date of
birth? Is it even on the right date?

We bring to you a story of the Birth of Christ Child along and offer
you a short tour across the world to know the way Christmas is
celebrated in different parts. But before doing this please don't forget
to brush up some historical trivia regarding Jesus' birth.
Click here to know the answers to some simple yet vulnerable questions.


There are a number of characters and icons associated with Christmas and
history of Christmas. Here we give a brief outline of all such Christmas
icons:




Santa Claus   Xmas Tree or the Christmas tree   Mistletoe

Holly and the Prickly    Glastonbury Thorn   The Poinsettia as the Christmas flower

Rudolf, the red nose Reindeer   The Christmas Star   Christmas Ornaments, Traditions, history and procurement

Christmas elves   Some Light on the Date of Christmas, Jesus, and Christianity   Birth Of Jesus Christ

Tradition of gifts and gifts giving

Origin of the notion of Chimney Sweep


In the good old times, Chimney Sweeps used to go from door to door on New Years day to wish people Good Luck. Ever since, they are considered as 'The ultimate bringer of Good Luck'.

A Chimney Sweep is a sign of good luck, wealth and happiness. There are several legends why a Chimney Sweep is said to be "The" harbinger of good luck. One version of the legend has it's origins in old England, where King George was riding horseback in a royal procession. A dog ran from the crowd, barking and nipping at the King's horse. The horse reared, and to the horror of the crowd, almost threw the King! A lone figure, shabbily dressed and filthy, stepped into the road. He caught the horse's halter and calmed the animal.

As quickly as he appeared, the man faded back into crowd. The King, wanting to reward the man, asked his name. No-one knew the man's name, but many told the King that he is just a Chimney Sweep. The King declared that from that day that Chimney Sweeps should be regarded as Lucky!

The chimney has been a part of family life since the early Romans first realized that it was better to live in a nice, fire-warmed home than in a chilly one. They needed a way to funnel off the smoke the fires caused. Centuries later, in medieval times, fireplaces were invented to heat individual rooms and provide a safe place for indoor cooking. They soon learned that fireplaces and their chimneys needed a cleaning as a house full of soot and fumes is unhealthy. And so, chimney sweeping developed into a necessary profession. People liked having the chimney sweep pay a visit as he brought clean, fresh air back to the home. Sweeps are associated with hearth and home, and thus domestic bliss. Chimney Sweeps became a sign of good health and prosperity.