Chet's New Toy

I thought I would update you on some of Chet's activities. This is his new 2007 Chevy Silverado. After spending 4 years in a company truck, he's happy to be back in a Chevy

Update on Vic's Tractor

Remember Vic's tractor? Well this is what it looks like now. Chet thought he had an engine for it - but it didn't work, so he took it back. The guy he got it from had another, so he is going to try that one. The good thing is he only has to pay for the parts he can make work - which of course eventually Vic will be paying for. Repairing old tractors is nothing like fixing your car! Once he has it complete, I will do before and after pictures.

In exchange for fixing this
and one other tractor:

Chet received these tractors. We are now the proud owners of 6 tractors, 3 of which actually run. I'm not sure why the last one is yellow - but it is an IH (You'll have to ask Chet which one). It is one of the tractors that work and will be mowing our grass next summer. If Chet ever gets them all up and running, I will have him line them up so I can take photos of all of them

Thank you Santa

What a great Christmas. Chet was master of ceremonies and everyone got way more than we deserved. A very nice day all around.

Wow Carl - its a wrapped package inside a bag - no - there's a duck taped box inside the wrapping - well - no - there's another box inside the box - Is there a present in here? Someone has to be the smart alec, and Carl does it so well!

What in the world? Carl gave Grandmaw & Grandpaw a railing for the steps outside their back porch - here they are opening the posts.

David opens his "Corn Picker" ornament I got in Iowa, and Carl shows that food is always a good idea for guys out on their own

Grandma Shallenberger's Card

"Dear Chet & Gini,

Have a Merry Christmas....

We'll miss you out here, but that's our problem - not yours. Think you are so smart to stay in you own home on Xmas - "All children should be in their own homes on Xmas" - and that goes for adults, too. (See Survival - written by A. K. Shallenberger)

Love Grandma & Grandpa S."

I hope you all have a joyous and blessed Christmas and a safe and fun New Year

This is our tree - It might not be as large as Mom & Dad's, but I think it is beautiful. I started collecting ornaments when I was working at the garden store in High School - they had a Christmas shop this time of year. Now I have so many that they don't all fit on the tree - though we work at it! I haven't put the boys ornaments on the tree for several years. Neither one had a tree this year. One of my favorites? Chet's grandmother used to have the big family get together. The year Carl was born, I wasn't allowed to travel, though Carl was. Chet's sister thought he should bring Carl down to see the family. We got a Christmas card from his Grandmother stating how fathers should be in their homes at Christmas time. I laminated that card and we hang it on the tree every year. What does your tree look like? Do you have a favorite ornament?

I hadn't taken a picture of the completed tree when we were decorating, so I had David take one the night of Mom and Dad's party - he had to lie down to get this shot. The party was as always a great success, but I was so busy visiting that I didn't remember to take pictures. Hopefully cousins Pam and Christy will send me some of theirs

Trimming the Tree

Saturday we put up and decorated Mom and Dad's Tree to get it ready for their Christmas Party. This is always a major production as this live, cut tree is 2-stories tall. This year we had help from Jen, Bub, Eric and Clayton. That's Eric leaning over the balcony to decorate the top, and Clayton working on the bottom. I gave Mom some new "cow" lights - I think they really add something

Friday night was Chet's office Christmas party. Roger, who Chet works closely with everyday, is fighting cancer, so the party was turned into a fundraiser to help him and his family out. Chet did an excellant job getting items to be auctioned off. The District manager, Gordon, opened his house for the event and his wife Peggy did a wonderful job creating an inviting atmosphere with everything you could want at a party. Everyone from the office turned out with a generous spirit - not only buying things, but bringing items to be auctioned. The office was able to raise $7500.00 for Roger - I think they should all be proud of themselves

This is our front yard - it's a little hard to tell from these pictures, but it would make a great sledding hill. We didn't have enough snow last year for sledding - but your welcome to come sledding anytime you want! The first picture is looking up at the house from the street.

Let it Snow!

We got some real snow last night so I took some pictures this am - so pretty. This is our "Bird Station"

Molly and Sassy

The girls said I have been ignoring them in the blog and their feelings are hurt. We had our first dusting of snow Tuesday night and we went out to play - they just love the snow. I tried to get a picture of them actually playing, but I couldn't manage the camera, the ropes and them all at once. We've always kept Sassy on a rope at the end of which is a wooden block - she thinks she's tied up but can still move around. We used to be able to let Molly run free. Her greatest joy is to run away from me as fast as she can, and then run back as fast as she can - whether she's chancing a ball, a squirrel or a doe. About 4 weeks ago she tore the ligament in her back leg, so we have to keep her somewhat restrained - she is doing better though. They were gracious enough to pose for this photo, though

People join the Police Force, Fire Department and the Military for many different reasons - but ultimately they all are willing to put themselves between us and danger. So, even though they may make mistakes, or we may not always agree with where our leaders put them or what they ask of them, we should be eternally grateful they are willing to do what they do.

A Different Christmas Poem

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 the sure 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.