Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Happy 100th Birthday to my Dad


Dad with Stan, Jr and Beckii

My sister and her kids with our Dad
Dad with June's kids and Charlie
I'll be adding to this post as time goes on. There is so much to say...


Christmas Break

Christmas break came to an end yesterday for Mikaela and it will come to an end for me tomorrow, hence the posting. I'd like to catch up on some pics and memories before collage brain kicks in.



Christmas break from school for Mikaela and I was a quiet joy. We didn't go to many places physically but we did culturally with our cooking. It has been fun. I often want to try new meals from other countries but the brain power it takes from studying seems too overpowering so I  don't. But guess what!!!!!! We did during the break.

See what we did….

First there was bread, but I guess there is always bread. I love to give it for neighbor gifts.
But then we did something new to go with the cinnamon roll story on my blog. We made cinnamon rolls and delivered them with the story attached. I think it is my new favorite Christmas story because it reminds of the importance of family and keeping track of things to share when our loved ones are gone.


 Notice the two shades of bread? Well here's the deal, they really are different. You see when Michael, our Elder who is on his mission right now in India is home, if I make the bread 100% whole wheat he doesn't eat as much of it. But…if I add half white flour he eats most of the bread up without looking for store bought bread. Well, I simply forgot he wasn't home to eat it anyway and made the first batch with half white. Then the light went on and my taste buds flared up so I made the second batch the way I love it. 100% freshly ground, hard red wheat. Sooooooo yummy! Kind of like a present to myself.

Mmmm, love that honey butter. It is a must with fresh bread.
Then there were the tamales. Mikaela LOVES tamales, no, I mean really LOOOOOVES tamales. So I decided that for her Christmas present I would learn to make them and have her help me so she could eat them during break (which she did, I think I only got 2).
green chili chicken filling for the tamales. but so good just by itself too.
Spreading of the masa
Mixing of the masa
red pork filling, so yummy and spicy HOT!




And then….the India food. I have been wanting to cook Indian style food forever. They have lots of vegan and vegetarian options so even before Mike was called on his mission to India I had purchased a Vegan cookbook. I've only prepared a couple from the book. The three below I pulled from the internet and oh my! are they delicious! I was super impressed with the naan recipe, very airy and EASY to prepare. I was so intimidated by it I didn't think I could make it as yummy as the Indian restaurant we went to, but it was just as good.

Naan
Spicy Dal, basmati rice and garam masala chicken.


Friday, January 2, 2015

Goals 2015

I have big reading desires for this upcoming year.

  • I want to read at least 38 books, including the Book of Mormon again and the New Testament for Sunday School. Oh, and the lesson manual for President Benson for Relief Society.
  • Lose a lot of weight. By eating healthy and walking for 1 hour a day at least 4 days per week.
and
  • Find my happy place of flow. Being in school, even though it is leading towards that happy place of flow…it is sure slowing down the process.

Thursday, December 25, 2014

Christmas Morning - And He Was Born, Luke Chapter 2


Luke Chapter 2

Heavenly messengers herald the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem—He is circumcised, and Simeon and Anna prophesy of His mission—At twelve years of age, He goes about His Father’s business.
 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, unto the city of David, which is calledBethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
 15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
 17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
 18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
 19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
 21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcisingof the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
 22 And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;
 23 (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)
 24 And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.
 25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name wasSimeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.
 26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
 27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,
 28 Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,
 29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:
 30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
 31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
 32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
 33 And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.
 34 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;
 35 (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.
 36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;
 37 And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.
 38 And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
 39 And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.
 40 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.
 41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover.
 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.
 43 And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.
 44 But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.
 45 And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.
 46 And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.
 47 And all that heard him were astonished at his understandingand answers.
 48 And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.
 49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?
 50 And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.
 51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and wassubject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in herheart.
 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favourwith God and man.

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

#1 The Other Wise Man


The Other Wise Man by Henry Van Dyke
          The other wise man’s name was Artaban.  He was one of the Magi and he lived in Persia.  He was a man of great wealth, great learning, and great faith.  With his learned companions he had searched the scriptures as to the time that the Savior should be born.  They knew that a new star would appear and it was agreed between them that Artaban would watch from Persia and the others would observe the sky from Babylon.
          On the night he believed the sign was to be given, Artaban went out on this roof to watch the night sky.  “If the star appears, they will wait for me ten days, then we will all set out for Jerusalem.  I have made ready for the journey by selling all of my possessions and have bought three jewels–a sapphire, a ruby, and a pearl.  I intend to present them as my tribute to the king.”
          As he watched an azure spark was born out of the darkness, rounding itself with splendor into a crimson sphere.  Artaban bowed his head.  “It is the sign,” he said.  “The King is coming, and I will go to meet him.”
          The swiftest of Artaban’s horses had been waiting saddled and bridled in her stall,  pawing the ground impatiently.  She shared the eagerness of her master’s purpose.
          As Artaban placed himself upon her back, he said, “God bless us both from falling and our souls from death.”
          They began their journey.  Each day his faithful horse measured off the allotted proportion of the distance, and at nightfall on the tenth day, they approached the outskirts of Babylon.  In a little island of desert palm trees, Artaban’s horse scented difficulty and slackened her pace.  Then she stood still, quivering in every muscle.
          Artaban dismounted.  The dim starlight revealed the from of a man lying in the roadway.  His skin bore the mark of a deadly fever.  The chill of death was in his lean hand.  As Artaban turned to go, a sigh came from the sick man’s lips.
          Artaban felt sorry that he could not stay to minister to this dying stranger, but this was the hour toward which his entire life and been directed.  He could not forfeit the reward of his years of study and faith to do a single deed of human mercy.  But then, how could he leave his fellow man alone to die?
          “God of truth and mercy,” prayed Artaban, “direct me in the path of wisdom which only thou knowest.”  Then he knew that he could not go on.  The Magi were physicians as well as astronomers.  He took off his robe and began his work of healing.  Several hours later the patient regained consciousness.  Artaban gave him all that was left of his bread and wine.  He left a potion of healing herbs and instructions for his care.
          Though Artaban rode with the greatest haste the rest of the way, it was after dawn that he arrived at the designated meeting place.  His friends were nowhere to be seen.  Finally his eyes caught a piece of parchment arranged to attract his attention.  It said, “We have waited till past midnight, and can delay no longer.  We go to find the King.  Follow us across the desert.”
          Artaban sat down in despair and covered his face with his hands.  “How can I cross the desert with no food and with a spent horse?  I must return to Babylon, sell my sapphire and buy camels and
provisions for the journey.  I may never overtake my friends.  Only the merciful God knows whether or not I shall lose my purpose because I tarried to show mercy.”
          Several days later when Artaban arrived at Bethlehem, the streets were deserted.  It was rumored that Herod was sending soldiers, presumably to enforce some new tax, and the men of the city had taken their flocks into the hills beyond his reach.
          The door of one dwelling was open, and Artaban could hear a mother singing a lullaby to her child.  He entered and introduced himself.  The woman told him that it was now the third day since the three wise men had appeared in Bethlehem.  They had found Joseph and Mary and the young child, and had laid their gifts at His feet.  Then they had gone as mysteriously as they had come.  Joseph had taken his wife and babe that same night and had secretly fled.  It was whispered that they were going far away into Egypt.
          As Artaban listened, the baby reached up its dimpled hand and touched his cheek and smiled.  His heart warmed at the touch.  Then suddenly, outside there arose a wild confusion of sounds.  Women were shrieking.  Then a desperate cry was heard, “The soldiers of Herod are killing the children.”
          Artaban went to the doorway.  A band of soldiers came hurrying down the street.  The captain approached the door to thrust Artaban aside, but Artaban did not stir.  His face was as calm as though he were still watching the stars.  Finally his out-stretched hand revealed the giant ruby.  He said,  “I am waiting to give this jewel to the prudent captain who will go on his way and leave this house alone.”
          The captain, amazed at the splendor of the gem, took it and said to his men, “March on, there are no children here.”
          Then Artaban prayed, “Oh, God, forgive me my sin, I have spent for men that which was meant for God.  Shall I ever be worthy to see the face of the King?”
          But the voice of the woman, weeping for joy in the shadows behind him said softly, “Thou hast saved the life of my little one.  May the Lord bless thee and keep thee and give thee peace.”
          Artaban, still following the King, went on into Egypt seeking everywhere for traces of the little family that had fled before him.  For many years we follow Artaban in his search.  We see him at the pyramids.  We see him in Alexandria taking counsel with a Hebrew rabbi who told him to seek the King not among the rich but among the poor.
          He passed through countries where famine lay heavy upon the land, and the poor were crying for bread.  He made his dwelling in plague-stricken cities.  He visited the oppressed and the afflicted in prisons.  He searched the crowded slave-markets.  Though he found no one to worship, he found many to serve.  As the years passed he fed the hungry, clothed the naked, healed the sick and comforted the captive.
          Thirty-three years had now passed away since Artaban began his search.  His hair was white as snow.  He knew his life’s end was near, but he was still desperate with hope that he would find the King.  He had come for the last time to Jerusalem.
          It was the season of the Passover and the city was thronged with strangers.  Artaban inquired where they were going.  One answered, “We are going to the execution on Golgotha outside the city walls.  Two robbers are going to be crucified, and with them another called Jesus of Nazareth, a man
who has done many wonderful works among the people.  He claims to be the Son of God and the priests and elders have said that he must die.  Pilate sent him to the cross.”
          How strangely these familiar words fell upon the tired heart of Artaban.  They had led him for a lifetime over land and sea.  And now they came to him like a message of despair.  The King had been denied and cast out.  Perhaps he was already dying.  Could he be the same one for whom the star had appeared thirty-three long years ago?
          Artaban’s heart beat loudly within him.  He thought, “It may be that I shall yet find the King and be able to ransom him from death by giving my treasure to his enemies.”
          But as Artaban started toward Calgary, he saw a troop of soldiers coming down the street, dragging a sobbing young woman.  As Artaban paused, she broke away from her tormentors and threw herself at his feet, her arms clasped around his knees.
          “Have pity on me,” she cried.  “And save me.  My father was also of the Magi, but he is dead.  I am to be sold as a slave to pay his debts.”
          Artaban trembled as he again felt the conflict arising in his soul.  It was the same he had experienced in the palm grove of Babylon and in the cottage at Bethlehem.  Twice the gift which he had consecrated to the King had been drawn from his hand to the service of humanity.  Would he now fail again?  One thing was clear, he must rescue this helpless child from evil.
          He took the pearl and laid it in the hand of the girl and said, “Daughter, this is the ransom.  It is the last of my treasures which I had hoped to keep for the King.”
          While he spoke, the darkness of the sky thickened and the shuddering tremors of an earthquake ran through the ground.  The houses rocked.  The soldiers fled in terror.  Artaban sank beside a protecting wall.  What had he to fear?  What had he to hope for?  He had given away the last of his tribute to the King.  The quest was over and he had failed.  What else mattered?
          The earthquake quivered beneath him.  A heavy tile, shaken from a roof, fell and struck him.  He lay breathless and pale.  Then there came a still small voice through the twilight.  It was like distant music.  The rescued girl leaned over him and heard him say, “Not so, my Lord; for when saw I thee hungered and fed thee.  Or thirsty and gave thee drink?  When saw I thee sick or in prison and came unto thee?  Thirty-three years have I looked for thee; but I have never seen thy face, nor ministered unto thee, my King.”
          The sweet voice came again, “Verily I say unto thee, that inasmuch as thou hast done it unto done of the least of these my brethren, thou hast done it unto me.”
          A calm radiance of wonder and joy lighted the face of Artaban as one long, last breath exhaled gently from his lips.  His journey was ended.  His treasure accepted.  The Other Wise Man had found the King.

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

#2 Big Wheel Truckstop

Big Wheel Truckstop
In September 1960, I woke up one morning with six hungry babies and just 75 cents in my pocket. Their father was gone. The boys ranged from three months to seven years; their sister was two. Their Dad had never been much more than a presence they feared. Whenever they heard his tires crunch on the gravel driveway they would scramble to hide under their beds. He did manage to leave $15 a week to buy groceries.
Now that he had decided to leave, there would be no more beatings, but no food either. If there was a welfare system in effect in southern Indiana at that time, I certainly knew nothing about it. I scrubbed the kids until they looked brand new and then put on my best homemade dress. I loaded them into the rusty old 51 Chevy and drove off to find a job.
The seven of us went to every factory, store and restaurant in our small town. No luck. The kids stayed crammed into the car and tried to be quiet while I tried to convince whomever would listen that I was willing to learn or do anything. I had to have a job.. Still no luck.
The last place we went to, just a few miles out of town, was an old Root Beer Barrel drive-in that had been converted to a truck stop. It was called the Big Wheel.
An old lady named Granny owned the place and she peeked out of the window from time to time at all those kids. She needed someone on the graveyard shift, 11 at night until seven in the morning. She paid 65 cents an hour and I could start that night. I raced home and called the teenager down the street that baby-sat for people. I bargained with her to come and sleep on my sofa for a dollar a night. She could arrive with her pajamas on and the kids would already be asleep. This seemed like a good arrangement to her, so we made a deal.
That night when the little ones and I knelt to say our prayers we all thanked God for finding Mommy a job. And so I started at the Big Wheel. When I got home in the mornings I woke the baby-sitter up and sent her home with one dollar of my tip money – fully half of what I averaged every night.
As the weeks went by, heating bills added a strain to my meager wage. The tires on the old Chevy had the consistency of penny balloons and began to leak. I had to fill them with air on the way to work and again every morning before I could go home. One bleak fall morning, I dragged myself to the car to go home and found four tires in the back seat. New tires! There was no note, no nothing, just those beautiful brand new tires. Had angels taken up residence in Indiana? I wondered.
I made a deal with the local service station. In exchange for his mounting the new tires, I would clean up his office. I remember it took me a lot longer to scrub his floor than it did for him to do the tires.
I was now working six nights instead of five and it still wasn’t enough. Christmas was coming and I knew there would be no money for toys for the kids. I found a can of red paint and started repairing and painting some old toys. Then I hid them in the basement so there would be something for Santa to deliver on Christmas morning. Clothes were a worry too. I was sewing patches on top of patches on the boys pants and soon they would be too far gone to repair.
On Christmas Eve the usual customers were drinking coffee in the Big Wheel. These were the truckers, Les, Frank, and Jim, and a state trooper named Joe. A few musicians were hanging around after a gig at the Legion and were dropping nickels in the pinball machine. The regulars all just sat around and talked through the wee hours of the morning and then left to get home before the sun came up.
When it was time for me to go home at seven o’clock on Christmas morning I hurried to the car. I was hoping the kids wouldn’t wake up before I managed to get home and get the presents from the basement and place them under the tree. (We had cut down a small cedar tree by the side of the road down by the dump.)  It was still dark and I couldn’t see much, but there appeared to be some dark shadows in the car – or was that just a trick of the night? Something certainly looked different, but it was hard to tell what.
When I reached the car I peered warily into one of the side windows. Then my jaw dropped in amazement. My old battered Chevy was filled full to the top with boxes of all shapes and sizes. I quickly opened the driver’s side door, scrambled inside and knelt in the front facing the back seat.

Reaching back, I pulled off the lid of the top box. Inside was whole case of little blue jeans, sizes 2-10! I looked inside another box: It was full of shirts to go with the jeans. Then I peeked inside some of the other boxes: There was candy and nuts and bananas and bags of groceries. There was an enormous ham for baking, and canned vegetables and potatoes. There was pudding and Jell-O and cookies, pie filling and flour. There was a whole bag of laundry supplies and cleaning items. And there were five toy trucks and one beautiful little doll.
As I drove back through empty streets as the sun slowly rose on the most amazing Christmas Day of my life, I was sobbing with gratitude. And I will never forget the joy on the faces of my little ones that precious morning.
Yes, there were angels in Indiana that long-ago December. And they all hung out at the Big Wheel truck stop.

Monday, December 22, 2014

#3 Silent Night, Holy Night

Link to book on Goodreads :)
Silent Night, Holy Night As told by Walter Cronkite
The 1900’s, the final century of the recent millennium, brought unprecedented possibilities and promise.
The children of these hundred years would see more improvement in the human condition than ever before in the world’s history.
Advances in medicine, science, and industry would all but eradicate disease, extend human life, open a dialogue among the peoples of the earth, and lift them into the vast reaches of space.
But these hardly seemed like possibilities as the Christmas of 1914 drew near.
The nations of Europe were at war. Anxious to expand and defend their borders, they summoned their best and brightest to the battlefront. Young men answered by the millions.
A nineteen-year-old German boy left his job in London to enlist in the German army. English boys working and studying in Hamburg and Paris returned to London, put on their uniforms, and went back to fire upon former friends.
Secretary of War, Lord Kirchener, expanded the British army overnight by allowing schoolmates to enlist together.
The tragedy of these battalions was no more evident than at Somme, France. Hundreds of villages on both sides lost almost all their young men in a single battle. The little paybook that every British soldier carried included a last will and testament. Thousands of these booklets were collected from the bodies of young boys, many reading simply, “I leave everything to my mother.”
With hardly a backward glance, the promise of youth was poured into the blind and futile aggression known as the Great War, World War 1.
The new century brought a new kind of warfare. Field commanders quickly realized that digging in was the only way to survive the sweep of machine-gun fire.
The German army had marched across Belgium before being stopped at Flanders Field. Some sixty yards away, British, French and Belgian troops languished in trenches infested with rats and lice; pelted with freezing rain and shrapnel. As temperatures dropped, disease took hold. Snipers picked off any who raised their heads above the earthen wall. The war was but four months old, each side losing thousands a day, both to bullets and that silent, common enemy: influenza.
Between the opposing trenches was an area about the width of a football field: No Man’s Land. Littered with barbed wire and frozen corpses, it was a sobering reminder of what the future might bring. Soldiers who survived later recalled their dead brothers being gathered up and stacked like cords of wood. By war’s end, over ten million would be lost.
Not surprisingly, given the circumstances, most of the soldiers were religious; and many were Christian. On Sundays, communion was passed in trenches on both sides, often to the sound of church bells ringing in nearby villages. The occasional hymn was sung, and youthful voices were heard across enemy lines.
By December, the war slowed and hopes for a quick resolution faded away. As the soldiers contemplated their desperate situation, nights grew long and hearts yearned for peace.
December twenty-third. A group of German soldiers quietly moved to the ruins of a bombed-out monastery. There, they held their Christmas service.
Later on that night, a few Christmas trees, Tannenbaums as they were called, began to appear along the German fortifications, their tiny candles flickering in the night.
Across the way, British soldiers took an interest in those lights as they sang together the carols of their youth. Word spread, and heads peeked cautiously over sandbags at the now thousands of Tannenbaums glowing like Christmas stars.
Two British officers ventured over to the German line and, against orders, arranged a Christmas truce. But the negotiation was a mere formality by then. Up and down the trenches men from both sides already had begun crossing the line to join the celebration.
Lieutenant Sir Edward Hulse “assaulted” the enemy with music. In a letter to his mother he wrote, “We are going to give the enemy every conceivable song…from carols to Tipperary.”
The Germans responded with a Christmas concert of their own. It was not long before the cold air rang with everything from “Good King Wenceslas” to “Auld Lang Syne.”
For the next two days, those tidings continued to spring from the hearts of common men who shared the common bond of Christmas.
Further down the line, a German violinist stood atop his parapet, framed against the skeletons of bare trees and shattered fortifications. Delicately perched in this desolate landscape, his cold fingers conveyed the poignant beauty of Handel’s Largo.
Whatever the spirit of Christmas had been before that hour, it was now, above all, the spirit of hope, of peace.
A British war correspondent reported that later the soldiers heard a clear voice singing the beloved French carol, “O Holy Night.” The singer: Victor Granier of the Paris Opera. The night watch must have lifted their eyes toward the heavens as they heard his plaintive call.
Christmas Day dawned over the muddy fields, and both sides cautiously picked their way through the barbed wire. Side by side they buried their dead.
A German officer known only as Thomas gave Lieutenant Hulse a Christmas gift, a Victoria cross and letter which had belonged to an English captain. Lieutenant Hulse responded by giving the German officer his silk scarf. One German retrieved a photograph of himself in uniform and asked his former enemies to post it to his sister in Liverpool.
Men who had shot at each other only days before gathered in a sacred service for their fallen brothers. Prayers were offered, and the twenty-third Psalm was read:
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
          He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
          Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
          Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
          Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
Nineteen-year-old Arthur Pelham-Burn, who hoped to study for the ministry after the war ended, remembered: “The Germans formed up on one side, the English on the other, the officers standing in front, every head bared. Yes, I think it is a sight one will never see again.”
As the Christmas of 1914 drew to a close, soldiers who had sung together, played together, and prayed together, returned to their trenches. They must have felt reluctant to let the common ground between them become No Man’s Land again. But as the darkness fell around them, a lone voice floated across the few yards of earth on which they had stood together. In the true spirit of Christmas, one voice, then another, joined in. Soon, the whole world seemed to be singing. And, for a brief moment, the sound of peace was a carol every soul knew by heart.
Silent night! Holy night!
          All is calm, all is bright
          Round you virgin mother and child.
          Holy infant, so tender and mild,
          Sleep in heavenly peace;
          Sleep in heavenly peace.

          Silent night! Holy night!
          Shepherds quake at the sight!
          Glories stream from heaven afar;
          Heav’nly hosts sing Alleluia!
          Christ, the Savior, is born!
          Christ, the Savior is born!
          Silent night! Holy night!
          Son of God, love’s pure light
          Radiant beams from thy holy face,
          With the dawn of redeeming grace,
          Jesus, Lord, at thy birth;
          Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.
And that’s the way it was, one silent night almost a hundred years ago; and that’s the way it can be as each of us embrace the message of that silent, holy night.

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More here
and more about the song Silent Night below, just for fun.


Here is the true life story of the writing of the song Silent Night