TOGETHER CHRISTMAS

Bob, Mary, Mike, Les, Brad, Leslie, and J
Dorothy, Judy, Annaruth, Mary, and Lester
All the grandkids

We ALL made it home for Christmas, all in one place, all at once.

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."

PLEASE, would you do me the kind favor of sending this to as many
people as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our
U.S service men and women for our being able to celebrate these
festivities. Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe. Make people
stop and think of our heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed themselves for us.

LCDR Jeff Giles, SC, USN
30th Naval Constru ction Regiment
OIC, Logistics Cell One
Al Taqqadum, Iraq

Scrap Trip

Back row: Mom (Mary) and Lynnette; front row: Leslie, Janelle, Brooke, and Rosy
Rosy and Mom
Lynette and Janelle
Brooke

Mom and Leslie went on a scrap excursion to Meacham, Oregon. Leslie only went for the day. Thanks, girls, for a fun day!!! Leslie and Mary both did 25 pages.

Some Sousley Boys

Tanner, Timothy, Lincoln, and Christopher. Mom (Mary) is over visiting her grandboys in Western Washington. Aren't they handsome?

BUDDY WALK

October is National Down Syndrome month and we did a Buddy Walk with Mary's neighbor Aidan who is 5 and has the puppy Mary trained. The walk was a mile long and then there were various kid activities including free pizza, Home Depot project zone, face painting, and several raffles. Leslie and kids attended and everyone had a great time and said they wanted to do it again next year.

Dad and His Issues

Dad (Lester) sent this into the Tri-City Herald Newspaper and it was published this past Thursday as a Letter to the Editor. See below:

Thursday, Sep. 25, 2008

Revenue enhancement

Easy ways to increase state revenues:

1. Start taxing "slow" food again (after all, we're still taxing "fast" food). The way to sell this: Every dime we make with every bite you take.

2. When Initiative 1000 passes, charge a $10,000 processing fee. The way to sell this: In spite of all our efforts, you only die once.

3. Require vehicle license plate replacement annually. The way to sell this: Our prisons are so crowded, the "residents" need more work opportunities.

4. While we're at it, require driver's license renewal annually. The way to sell this: Driving is a privilege; get over it.

5. Pass a voters tax. $1 to vote on referendums, $2 to vote on initiatives. Voting for increases in taxes will be free, $100 to vote for governor. The way to sell this: The majority of voters live in King County; they can afford it.

6. Increase gas taxes again. The way to sell this: With gasoline prices so high, cars are driving fewer miles and roads will need less repair.

7. Project a $1 billion windfall for the next biennium. Spend it all. Project a $3 billion shortfall and implement steps 1-6 above. The way to sell this: None needed. It works every time.

LESTER SOUSLEY, Kennewick

Oldies But Goodies

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RODNEY AND BRADLEY

Today and Sid and Rosy's twins 2nd birthday. Happy Birthday Bradley and Rodney!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, J!!!

Today is J Ryan's birthday. Happy Birthday, J!

Mary's (Mom) Been Tagged

Did you know that...
My favorite color is...Purple
My favorite dessert is...Sinful Sidney (Outback)
My favorite Sunday CD is...Hillary Weeks
My favorite anytime CD right now is...Mama Mia
My favorite show is...Bones
My favorite place to be is...on a cruise
My favorite time of day is...morning
My favorite holiday is...Christmas, I love the love
My least favorite thing to do is...empty the dishwasher
My least favorite thing to wear is...anything tight
My least favorite place to be is...the dentist
My secret obsession right now is...reading
I miss...my son Christopher, what would he be like
I have been terrible at keeping in touch with...brother
I have not seen...Australia I like to go there someday
I have the sweetest...husband
At night I...take a hot bath and read
I hate...crowds
I will be sad when...my grandchildren are to old to want to visit me
I look forward to the day that I will...see all by children and their children together again, one big family reunion with all of us there.
I love...my family
I don’t think there is any body left to challengeJ.

Vigil "Auntie" (Get it?)

You cops out there would be really proud of your Aunt Judy. After Caden's baptism, we had cake and ice cream at our place. Judy and Grandma left and a minute later Judy called. She said there was a truck with a horse trailer full of yard waste and he was dumping on the side of the road before you turn onto our private drive. The sheriff has told us that when we see people dumping, to get their license plate and call them. Judy didn't know this but called and asked if what they were doing was legal. I told her no and she gave me the description and license plate number. I ran the info over to my neighbor Ira and he called the police. I got back to the house and Judy called again. She had followed the people to their house about 3 miles away!!!! They lived in this beautiful house with horse arena and all and can go to the city dump for free but were lazy!!!! She gave me their house address and I gave that to Ira as well. He waited for the sheriff and then they went to the address. The sheriff said the people about crapped their pants when he told them that what they did was a felony. They asked if they could go pick it up immediately which they did. Thanks to our Aunt Judy for taking the law into her own hands! Greatly appreciated!

Caden is Baptized

Thanks to all our family that was in attendance for Caden's baptism. Caden felt very loved and special on his special day!

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!!!

We want to wish Mom and Dad a Happy 42nd Anniversary!!!!!

Happy Birthday, Aunt Judy!

Aunt Judy is 57 for the second time! She thought she was already 57. Happy Birthday!

Glacier National Park

Bob and Wendy's daughter Reagan and Mike and Julina's son Lincoln.

Madison (on crutches), Christian, Ken, and Chandler

Julina, Wendy, and Leslie

After our time at the Webber cabin, Mike, Bob, and Leslie's families extended their vacation by going up to Glacier National Park for a few more days. Part of the condition by the wives was that they be able to get Stephenie Meyer's new book Breaking Dawn at midnight when it was released (they were each giving up parties back home). So, on Friday night, Julina, Wendy, and Leslie drove to Kalispel for a rocking party at Borders Book store to get their books.

Montana Family Reunion

In July, Les, Mary, along with J, Leslie, Bob, and Mike's families, went up to Bud and Eileen Weber's cabin in Ronan, Montana with the their kids and their families. We totaled 43 people in all. We had a great week, of fishing, ATVing, shooting, hiking, swimming, and enjoying each other's company. If we didn't wear out our welcome, we'd like to go back!

We Be Jammin'

On the 4th of July, us girls made strawberry jam. This was Leslie's year supply of jam and Isheenlisted all the girls to help. they knocked out 3 flats in 2 hours. Top picture left to right: Julina (Mike's wife), Wendy (Bob's wife), and Leslie. Last picture: Julina and her mom Pam

Mary's 60th Birthday Celebration

Mary turned 60 in May and all the kids were there to help celebrate. On Saturday, we had a family bbq at Judy's house and that evening was an adult only event. This was the surprise. Les had reserved a limo bus and we boarded the bus that would take us to a 7 course dinner event at the Blue Moon. En route, we watched a DVD presentation called "Journey Down Memory Lane" that was a timeline in pictures of Mary's life. There wasn't a dry eye in the place!