When It Rains, It Pours

I'm sure you've heard the expression, "When it rains, it pours," and yesterday was one of those days — both weather wise here in Vicksburg, and with my family. We had some upsetting news about my 87-year-old dad and about our son Benjamin, and I would appreciate your keeping them both in your prayers. My dad had a biopsy procedure done and will find out the results tomorrow. Hopefully, he will receive good news and his doctor will be able to correct the problem by performing out-patient surgery. Benjamin, who lives near Nashville (about six hours away from us), was involved in an accident over the weekend and seriously injured his knee. The initial diagnosis is a torn ACL (which will require surgery to repair), but we will know more when he gets the result of an MRI, which will be performed tomorrow. I pray God will watch over Daddy and Benjamin and bring them both good news tomorrow. I would be deeply grateful if you would remember them in your prayers, too.

Only in Their Dreams

As we anticipate sharing the magic and joy of the holidays with our families and friends, let us take time out from our Christmas celebrations to remember, with sincere gratitude, our servicemen and women who are risking their lives every day to keep America out of harm's way.

I recently received the following picture in some mail from the USO, requesting donations, and was so moved by it, I want to share it.

Talk about a picture being worth a thousand words! — that pretty much says it all, doesn't it.

I pray there will soon be more scenes like the one shown in the heartwarming video below, in which a little girl is surprised at school by her dad who had just returned from Afghanistan. Be sure you have some tissues handy before you click on the link ...

Soldier Dad Surprises Daughter at School

Have you ever seen such pure joy on a little girl's face!

May God protect our troops as they protect us, and bless them and their families for the sacrifices they make for us, especially at Christmastime, when they'll be home for Christmas ... only in their dreams.