The Christmas Guest - Grandpa Jones

I have loved this 'The Christmas Guest'since I was about nine or ten years old. Then it would give me goosebumps now I just cry. I don't know why but I have seemed to have gotten more weepy as the years have gone by. Oh well, it's a good release. Anyway, the song is by Grandpa ones and all I really know of him is that he was on the American television show 'Hee-Haw' with Buck Owens and Roy Clark and this is the only song I ever remember hearing from him. Anyway, the story of 'The Christmas Guest' is that of a man whose family has died and he is all alone on Christmas until the Lord speaks to him and tells the man to  expect Him as on Christmas. So the man tells his friends and makes his house ready for his special Christmas Guest. He waits all day and three times his door is knocked upon by strangers in need of help, in which the man does help them, but the Lord does not show up. At the end of the day the man kneels and asks the Lord why He did not visit like he had promised... I do not want to spoil the end of it for you so I'll let you watch the video. But you may have it already figured out. But just in case you haven't :

The Christmas Guest

It happened one day near December's end

two neighbors called on an old friend

And they found his shop so meager and lame

Made gay with a thousand bows of green

And Conrad was sitting eith his face ashined

When he suddenly stopped his stitch a twine

And he said "Oh friends at dawn today 

When the cock was crowin the night away

The Lord appeared in a dream to me

And said 'I'm comin' your guest to be.'

So I've been busy with my feet astir

And strewn my shop with branches of fir

The table is spread and the kettle is shined

And over the rafters the holly is twined

Now I'll wait for my Lord to appear

And listen closely so I will hear His step

As he nears my humble place

And I'll open the door and look on His face"

So his friends went home and left Conrad alone

For this was the happiest day he'd  known

For long since his family had passed away

And Conrad spent many a sad Christmas day

But he knew with the Lord as his Christmas guest

This Christmas would be dearest and best

So he listened with only joy in his heart

And with every sound he would rise with a start

And look for the Lord to be at his door

Like the vision he'd had a few hours before

So he rant o the window after hearin' a sound

But all he could see on the snow-covered ground

Was a shabby beggar whose shoes were torn

And all his clothes were ragged and worn

But Conrad was touched and went to the door

And he said "You know, your feet must be frozen and sore

I have some shoes in my shop for you

And a coat that'll keep you warmer too"

So with a grateful heart the man went away

But Conrad noticed the time of day

And wondeed what made the Lord so late

And wondered how much longer he'd have to wait

When he heard a knock he ran to the door

But it was only a stranger once more

A bent ol' lady with a shawl of black

With a bundle of kindlin' piled on her back

She asked only for a place to rest

But that was reserved for Conrad's great guest

But her voice seemed to plead "Don't send me away

Let me rest awhile on Christmas day"

So Conrad brewed her a steamin' cup

And told her to sit at the table and sup

But after she left he was filled with dismay

For he saw that the hours were slippin' away

And the Lord hadn't come as He said He would

And Conrad felt sure he'd misunderstood

When out of the stillness he heard a cry

"Please help me, and tell me whre am I!"

So again he opened his friendly door

And stood disappointed as twice before

It was only a child who'd wandered away

And was lost form her family on Christmas day

Again, Conrad's heart was heavy and sad

But he knew he should make the little girl glad

So he called her ina nd wiped her tears

And quieted all her childish fears

Then he led her back to her home once more

But as he entered his own darkened door 

He knew the Lord was not comin' today

For the hours of Christmas had passed away

So he went to his room and he knealt to pray

And said "Dear Lord why did You delay?

What kept You from callin' on me?

For I wanted so much Your face to see"

When soft in the silence, a voice he heard

"Lift up your head for I kept My word

Three times my shadow crossed your floor

And three times I came to your lonely door

I was the beggar with bruised, cold feet

And the woman you gave somethin' to eat

I was the child on the homeless street.

Three times I knocked and three times I came in

And each time I found the warmth of a friend

Of all the gifts love is the best

And I was honored to be your Christmas guest."

Nativity by Fra. Angelico

Merry Christmas

I  would just like to say that I appreciate everyone who has stopped by and read my blog, it is gratefully appreciated. So, here is wishing you and yours a Peaceful and a Happy Christmas.

Nativity by Italian Renaissance artist, Pietro Perugino, ca. 1504

A Soldier's Christmas Night Before Christmas by Lance Corporal James M. Schmidt

Let us not forget those that will not be able to be here with us because of wars.

This is from the Disabled American Veterans. There is no title but I call it  'A Soldier's Night Before Christmas' and it was written by Lance Corporal James M. Schmidt.

Twas the night before Christmas, he lived all alone,

in a one bedroom house made of plaster and stone.

I had come down the chimney with presents to give,

and to see just who in this house did live.

I looked all about, a strange sight I did see,

no tinsel, no presents, not even a tree.

No stocking by mantle,just boots filled with sand,

and on the wall pictures of far distant lands.

With medals and badges, awards of all kinds.a sobering thought came to mind.

For this house was different, so dark and so dreary,

the home of a soldier, now I see clearly.

The soldier lay sleeping, silent, alone,

curled up on the floor in this one bedroom home.

The face was so gentle, the room in such disorder,

not how I pictured a United States soldier.

Was this the hero of whom I just read?

Curled up on a poncho, the floor for a bed?

I realized the families that I saw that night,

owed their lives to these soldiers who are willing to fight.

Soon round the world, the children would play,

and grownups would celebrate a bright Christmas day.

They all enjoyed their freedom each month of the year,

because of the soldiers, like the one lying here.

I couldn't help but wonder how many lay alone,

on a cold Christmas eve in a land far from home.

The very thought brought a tear to my eye,

I dropped to my knees and started to cry.

The soldier awakened and I heard a rough voice,

"Santa don't cry, this life is my choice;

I fight for freedom, I don't ask for more.

my life is my God, my country, my corps." 

The soldier rolled over and soon drifted to sleep,

I couldn't control it, I started to weep.

I kept watch for hours, so silent and still,

and we both shivered from the cold evening's chill.

I didn't want to leave on that cold, dark, night,

this guardian of honor so willing to fight.

Then the soldier rolled over, with a voice soft and pure,

whispered, "Carry on Santa it's Christmas day, all is secure."

One look at my watch, and I knew he ws right.

"Merry Christmas my friends and to all a good night."

_______________________________________

I hope I'm not the only one crying my eyes out.

More Horrible Than the Pelicans

  If you have been following, even in slight passing, the NBA and the New Orleans Hornets then you know that New Orleans is willing to give up the name 'Hornet'. Which in turns leaves them looking for a new team name. The one that first came out was the Pelicans, which is really lame and for three weeks it has been thought by some of us that was the name that the team was going to be stuck with forever. Today, however, news has come out that the New Orleans Hornets has, in fact, registered five trademarks for the new team name. The proposed team name is as follows: Lame and Lamer. Alright, just kidding, even though true. The real proposed names are:

 New Orleans Pelicans

 New Orleans Bullsharks

 New Orleans Rougarou

New Orleans Swamp Dogs 

New Orleans Mosquitoes 

  Now really...these choices are ridiculous. I mean come on get some names with balls. Something fearful, Mosquitoes just don't cut it. I'm from Louisiana and I have never heard of a Rougarou. Loup garou yes but not rougarou. I had to go and look it up and it turns out that loup garou and rougarou are one in the same thing...a werewolf. It just depends on where you live in Louisiana and what you call a werewolf. So to me that is just jumping on the werewolf craze bandwagon. Now if Joe Manganiello is the new mascot for the team I am for calling them the New Orleans Rougarou.

  As for Swamp Dogs and Bullsharks. Swamp Dogs are alligators and bullsharks have been found as far north as Alton, Illinois in 1937. So yes they can be scary but Louisiana and New Orleans do not have exclusive rights to the bull shark. 

  So what's in a name, apparently a lot if you are a fan of basketball and in particularly the New Orleans Hornets.

Well, I have a Christmas tree but the problem getting it decorated are as follows: the base of the tree is too big for the stand no matter how much is shaved away with a hatchet and then one of the stand's legs got bent out of joint and the whole tree now has fallen over. The upside is that the tree is not decorated. Now up in the attic I keep thinking that there is another tree stand. At least I hope so. If not, I'm in a real pickle because I went to look for one at Walmart and Kmart and they have nothing. Kmart I don't know why but Walmart I suspect put them back up in storage and just tell people they  don't have any tree stands. With their reputation that sounds like something they would do. But never fear tomorrow is another day...and it won't end.


  I guess that's what happens when one doesn't have Christmas spirit and for some reason this year I don't have it.

Waking up With Led 12-16-12

  Sunday Morning on CBS had Anthony Mason conduct an interview with the three surviving members of Led Zeppelin: John Paul Jones,Jimmy Page and Robert Plant.

Fashioin Friday Photo - Liv Tyler at the New York Premiere of The Hobbit : An Unexpected Journey

  Liv Tyler wears this elegant and classy shortened jumpsuit ( some may call it a playsuit, but I thought only babies wore those) with a tuxedo suit jacket and Tabitha Simmons Ruby pumps, which I myself have fallen in love with, at the Ziegfeld Theater premier of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey in New York City on December 6,2012.

And the newest love of my life, Tabitha Simmons 'Ruby' Pump: