Christmas Eve & Christmas Day

Pictures from Christmas Eve:

Pictures from Christmas Day at Papa & Mama Shows':

This picture says it all...

Happy 20th Birthday, Jeremy!

(…in a sing-song voice…)

Happy birthday to you!
Happy Birthday To You!
Happy Birthday, Dear Jammer!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

I picked up these childhood photos as I was walking out the door. I wanted to share them with you to show you how much you've grown in 20 years. I love you, Son. You are and always will be my baby boy! Happy birthday! I hope you saved the "Betty Crocker Warm Delights" cake to eat today. All our love from Texas to you!

John- age 6; Josh- age 4; Jeremy- age 2:

Jeremy- Pre-Kindergarten, age 4:

Jeremy, Red River, New Mexico Skiing Trip, age 13:

The Wallace Family

Merry Christmas from the Wallace Family!

Front: Rose, Mary, Cathy, Katie

Back: Juan (Rose's husband) Morgan, Carl, Brian (Katie's friend)

Notes From Friends

Dear Jeremy,

It was great to see your name in The Visitor church newsletter and to know where you are. I am Daniel Perry's mother and I remember some good times we had together at church when you boys were younger. Daniel just turned 20 and is majoring in vocal performance at college. He loves to sing. I have just changed careers to become a high school teacher in Food Science. I wonder exactly what your position is in the military and what you do from day to day.

In any case, I pray that something good will happen to you on Christmas Day..that you will receive a special blessing of some sort. I also want you to know you are loved, admired, and fondly remembered by those of us here at home whom you are defending. We appreciate what you are doing for our country and would love to hear from you if ever you have the opportunity to send an update.

Merry Christmas!

Carol Perry

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Thank you so much for the note, Carol. I uploaded it to the blog I created for Jeremy. It's been a great way for us to keep in touch. He does get lonely so far away. Do you have a photo of your family you would like to include? I'm sure Jeremy would love to see you all and see how much Daniel has grown. Jeremy turns 20 on December 27.

Jeremy's rank is Specialist. He works in the motor pool as a mechanic- a somewhat "safe" job. He maintains and repairs the vehicles (jeeps, Hummers, and tanks), mostly air-conditioning during the summer months. He doesn't leave the military base often unless his unit is retrieving a disabled vehicle.

We send packages to him often. I bake LOTS of cookies for him. I enjoy it. I miss him very much and want him to know we think of him often and love him.

Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Mark & Bonnie Shows

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Hi Bonnie,

Thanks for the information and for posting my note. We haven't taken any family pics in awhile since two of our boys are seldom in town. Below is a phote taken of Daniel's and Tony's quartet (VIP) competing at district contest in October. Daniel is on one end and Tony on the other. This is what they do best and enjoy the most. I go wherever they sing as groupy and coach.

http://public.fotki.com/dwwagner/spebsqsa/swd_district_activities/2007-district-conte/semi-finals-quartet/composite-album-the/img4133.html

When I told Daniel about Jeremy in Iraq, he said "If I were there, I would want you to send me lots of books to read to keep me from getting bored." So, my question is...does Jeremy like to read? If so, what type of books does he enjoy. We'd be glad to mail a couple of books to him if you think he'd enjoy them. If you aren't sure what category of books he likes, I could have Daniel pick a couple of his favorites.

Carol

Gary's Christmas Present

This is a Christmas present for my brother, Gary, from his wife and daughter, Debbie & Chloe. Debbie asked me to take pictures of Chloe. Chloe and I had a great time! Lots of fun!!

Carvotta's Baby Girl

Michael Carvotta is a long-time friend of Jeremy's in 101st Airborne Division. Michael married after coming home (from Iraq) in 2006, and he and Megan had a baby girl, Cheyanne Nicole. Jeremy is the godfather to Cheyanne. This is Cheyanne's first picture with Santa. Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

Cedar Chest

Christmas came early! I received a one-of-a-kind, handmade chest from Bobby, er..."Santa". This chest was made from red oak and lined with cedar. Look how the finish matches our bed room furniture perfectly! The workmanship is incredible! It could truly be displayed proudly on any showroom floor. This chest is an heirloom and now holds our family quilts- from our grandmothers, mothers, and myself. This is a piece of property with special value that can and will be handed on from one generation to another.

First Stages of Mark's Media/Game Room

Mark and I are redecorating Jeremy's bedroom. It will be a media/game room (a.k.a."MAN ROOM") for Mark. Here I am adding texture to the walls with joint compound. Aicila decided to help me.


Mark discovered how the ornaments were getting off the Christmas tree...and all this time we thought it was the cat! Eddie said, "Papa, you need to write Aicila a 'sad note'!"

Katelynn's Birthday Party

Today is Katelynn's birthday, but we celebrated yesterday at "Indoor Mini Golf". The kiddos played golf, pool, and video games. It's hard to believe she's eight years old. My how time flies...


John


Fred



Courtney, Jr., Jerrod, and others

Aicila: "All Tuckered-Out"

Aicila is such a cute little girl. Our grandbabies bring us such joy! The grandbabies stayed with us while John & Cynthia were at work. Eddien & Aicila played games, played with the cats, colored in books, colored the cats, ran through the house, chased the cats...all day! Aicila was worn out! Literally! I bought McDonald's and she took one bite...and still had it in her mouth when she fell asleep in the high chair. She woke up as I was getting her out so I gave her a bath. She loves bubble baths! Just look at those eyelashes!

Papa's Little Helper

Papa worked it the yard mulching leaves...lots and lots of leaves! Nanny used the leaf blower to clean the porch and sidewalk. Eddie wanted to help. He did a good job, but the leaf blower is as big as he is! He blew leaves off the sidewalk, the grass, the cat...

Pictures With Santa Claus

Eddie and Aicila spent the night with Papa and Nanny this weekend. We took them to see Santa. Eddie was SOOO excited to see Santa; he asked Santa for "the biggest, biggest, biggest, biggest Transformer ever!" Aicila loved the lights and all the excitement at the mall. When it was Aicila's turn to sit in Santa's lap, well, she wasn't having any part of that! So I put Eddie back in Santa's lap then put Aicila in Eddie's lap. She was happy then. Afterwards, we stopped at McDonald's for "happy meals" and drove through a couple neighborhoods to look at Christmas lights and decorations with the kiddos. They were asleep before we got home.

Jay's Family Christmas

Merry Christmas, Jeremy, from Uncle Jay and Family! Here are pictures I took this weekend in front of our Christmas Tree.

(Jayde & Kaylie)


(Jay & Glenda)


(Jay & Glenda, Krystal, Nick, Megan)

Pictures From Jeremy

YEA! We finally received pictures from Jeremy! He received the router for his room for Internet connection and was finally able to send pictures to us. Here are a couple pictures of Jeremy:




Here is a pictures of Bret Michaels, lead singer of the band Poison.


Tragically, Jeremy's friend, SPC JERMAINE D. FRANKLIN (a.k.a. Frankie), lost his life in Iraq.

Charlie Wilson VA Clinic Groundbreaking

ALA #113 Press Release:
The groundbreaking of the Charles Wilson VA Outpatient Clinic this morning was great. Here are a few photos taken this morning. The ‘ground breakers’ were from left to right: Dr. Anthony Zollo of the Lufkin VA Clinic, Ms. Gayle Green from Senator John Cornyn’s office, Wes Suitor, Angelina County Judge, U. S. Representative Louis Gohmert, U. S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, Lufkin Mayor Jack Gordon, Jeffy Huffman, Angelina County Chamber of Commerce and Mr. Edgar Tucker, Director of Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston.

Four members of American Legion Auxiliary Unit #113 were present for the groundbreaking. Rita Redd, Unit President, Janet Pavlic, Vice-President and Dual Member, Pat Ligon, Membership Chairman and Theresa Sabin, VA&R Chairman. Unfortunately, Bonnie Shows and Barbara Forsyth could not attend; however, there was a great crowd.

Speeches included Mr. Edgar Tucker, Congressman Louis Gohmert and Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison. Lufkin Mayor Jack Gordon and former Mayor Louis Bronaugh were also in attendance. Numerous representatives from the Michael E. DeBakey Medical Center in Houston and the local Charles Wilson VA Outpatient Clinic, Lufkin Chamber of Commerce, American Legion, VFW, DAV, Order of the Purple Heart and Texas Veteran Land board were also in attendance.

What a most fitting day and time of year to hold this wonderful ceremony...December 7, 2007 will go down in Lufkin, Texas history. This groundbreaking being on Pearl Harbor Day and also just before the release of the movie about Charlie Wilson couldn’t have been planned better.

Callie & Christa

We have the laziest cats! They sleep all day! I tried to catch them cuddling together (it's so cute!), but they woke up when they heard the camera lens focusing. I'll try again soon. It's not hard catching them asleep; difficult taking a picture of them asleep together. I hope this video comes through. This was made for Christa. She (actually Christa is a "he") sits on Mark while he sleeps and touches his face as depicted in the video. At the end...well, that's Callie.

Poem: The Sands of Christmas

I had no Christmas spirit when I breathed a weary sigh,
And looked across the table where the bills were piled too high.
The laundry wasn't finished and the car I had to fix,
My stocks were down another point, the Bears lost by six.

And so with only minutes till my son got home from school
I gave up on the drudgery and grabbed a wooden stool.
The burdens that I carried were about all I could take,
And so I flipped the TV on to catch a little break.

I came upon a desert scene in shades of tan and rust,
No snowflakes hung upon the wind, just clouds of swirling dust.
And where the reindeer should have stood before a laden sleigh,
Eight hummers ran a column right behind an M1A.

A group of boys walked past the tank, not one was past his teens,
Their eyes were hard as polished flint, their faces drawn and lean.
They walked the street in armor with their rifles shouldered tight,
Their dearest wish for Christmas, just to have a silent night.

Other soldiers gathered, hunkered down against the wind,
To share a scrap of mail and dreams of going home again.
There wasn't much at all to put their lonely hearts at ease,
They had no Christmas turkey, just a pack of MREs.

They didn't have a garland or a stocking I could see,
They didn't need an ornament—they lacked a Christmas Tree.
They didn't have a present even though it was tradition,
The only boxes I could see were labeled “ammunition.”

I felt a little tug and found my son now by my side,
He asked me what it was I feared, and why it was I cried.
I swept him up into my arms and held him oh so near
And kissed him on the forehead as I whispered in his ear.

There's nothing wrong my little son, for safe we sleep tonight,
Our heroes stand on foreign land to give us all the right,
To worry on the things in life that mean nothing at all,
Instead of wondering if we will be the next to fall.

He looked at me as children do and said, “It’s always right
To thank the ones who help us”, and perhaps that we should write.
And so we pushed aside the bills and sat to draft a note,
To thank the many far from home, and this is what we wrote:

God Bless You all and keep you safe, and speed your way back home.
Remember that we love you so, and that you're not alone.
The gift you give you share with all, a present every day,
You give the gift of liberty and that we can not repay.

~Author Unknown

E-mail from Jeremy

Hey! We just got off a 3-day blackout thing. Thanks for all the gifts. Someone from yalls church sent me a package. Tell them "thank you" if you see them.
I should get the power cord today. I can't wait; I've been waiting long enough.
Tell Momma & Papa Shows I got their package, too, and it was really good, and I'm wearing the Tomy Hilfiger underwear right now!
Anyway, talk to you soon.
Love,
Jeremy

Christmas Tea at the First Presbyterian Church

(This is from a friend that sent this to me on Jeremy's behalf.)

Bonnie --
I thought that you might enjoy this -- I went to the annual Christmas Tea at the First Presbyterian Church yesterday with my mother-in-law as guests of Woody's aunt and cousin. They had decorated the table at which we sat. The theme this year was the songs of Christmas. Woody's aunt decided that they needed to do "I'll be home for Christmas," so they did a two part diorama of the Iraq war, with GI Joe with a Hummer under a palm tree in the desert reading a letter, and his wife back home also reading a letter with a Christmas tree decorated with yellow ribbons. I thought it was so neat! It made me think of Jeremy and his new wife, so I asked Woody's cousin to take a picture of the table and email it to me so that I could share it with you, and maybe you could share it with them, if you want to.
Let him know that our thoughts and prayers are with him, and with his wife also.
Tina

Christmas Tree

The Christmas Tree is up and decorated with favorite family ornaments. Each of my children and grandchildren have their own special decorations. Our tree has evolved into a scrapbook of sorts over the years from Mother's Day cards with my sons' pictures as the flower's center to clothes pin reindeers and popsicle stick nativities to Christmas wreaths made from green and red construction paper. These last few years I've opted to store the school-day crafts/ornaments to pass to the boys someday and started a new tradition of finding unique or personal ornaments for each family member to hang on the tree. Eddie and Aicila love seeing their pictures framed in the ornaments. We mailed Jeremy two boxes of "supplies"(a.k.a. cookies), one box marked "Do NOT open till Christmas", and another marked, "Do NOT open till December 27" (his 20th birthday). Like he's gonna wait- RIGHT!

Revision Operation of Total Hip Replacement

I've been experiencing an incredible amount of pain in my left hip for some time now. I finally went to the doctor with a pinched sciatic nerve in my leg. I have two total hip replacements--1994 and 1995. My orthopedic surgeon says I got a good 13 years out of the joint and should get twice that out of the new one. I am having what is called a Revision Operation of a Total Hip Replacement. The attached is my x-rays from the doctor. I color-coded and labeled a transparency over the x-ray to better help you under stand what is happening and why. I've included excerpts of information I received and researched. The movements in the total hip are creating a large volume of very small polyethylene particles. Note also that the ball component is no longer in the center of the cup, it moved upward. The ball dug a hole in the polyethylene cup, and moved upwards in this tract. This is a sign of increased wear of the polyethylene liner. Every step is creating yet more polyethylene particles.

The Cole Family

Bobby & Melenda could not have been more thankful—their son was home for Thanksgiving! Joe Dee flew in from Illinois for the Thanksgiving weekend. What a wonderful surprise for the whole family. This is the first time Joe Dee's been home since he left for his tour of duty in England last year. The Air Force truly agrees with him. He has become a handsome, well-rounded man with a lot of new adventures and exciting experiences! The Coles stopped by our house for pictures in front of the Christmas tree before heading to the airport. Here are a few of the pictures:

The Morgans and Vandivers

Momma & Papa Shows, Mark & me, John & Cynthia and Eddie and Aicila enjoyed Thanksgiving Day dinner at Steve and Tiffany's house. Wayne and Marlene were there as were Kerry & Karen and their family. Tiffany's friend from Japan ate her first Thanksgiving dinner with us. Tiffany stayed with this young lady when Tiffany was an exchange student in Japan. Tiffany is now teaching a culinary arts class; she says she has about 70 students in three classes. Donna and Matt and their family celebrated Thanksgiving in Arkansas with Matt's family.