December 2023

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house,Not a creature was stirring EXCEPT that darn mouse.It chewed and it rustled so to honor my spouse,I set out some traps for that darn pesky mouse.We don’t have a chimney, or mantle or pokerAnd the nearest we own to a fireplace is a smoker.Our stockings were all holey and strewn under the bed,So our old hunting boots hung by the smoker instead.Our puppy was nestled all snug in her bedUnder the laundry room table with her stuffed toy named Fred.She quivered and whimpered; to watch her was funnyAs she dreamed she would finally corral that ol’ bunny.My pj’s were long johns, all cozy and whiteAnd I crawled into bed and turned out the light.Deer season had ended with no deer in the shedSo visions of deer jerky danced in my head.My wife lay beside me in jammies of redShe was already dreaming of Claus and his sled,When out in the drive there arose such a ruckusI sprang from my bed to see what had struck us.I should have known not to “spring” from my bedCause I busted my big toe and clobbered my head.As I limped up the hallway I grabbed my deer rifleI’d show them I was someone with whom not to trifle!I peered out the window and what did I see?Why old Santa himself, alive as could be.And there stood old Rudolf in all of his glory,With his nose shining brightly just like in the story.But all I could see was his head on my wall .With that bright red nose twinkling to brighten my hall.His rack was enormous, at least twenty points,The thought of its score made me weak in my jointsI wanted that rack, whether legal or not,So I eased out the door to line up my shot.I clicked off the safety and steadied myselfSo I wouldn’t endanger the Jolly Old Elf.Now remember those traps I’d set out before?Well there happened to be one right by the door.While I tried to be sneaky so no one would know,That trap clamped its jaws around my sore big toe.I jerked on the trigger and the shot went astrayAnd ended up lodged in the front of the sleigh.The reindeer all spooked and yanked on the sledDumping St Nick on the floor on his head.They shot out the drive as slick as a whistleAnd away they all flew like the down of a thistle,But I heard him exclaim as they drove out of sightRudolph you blockhead; no more deer hunters tonight!

Recently I read an article on hazing that had resulted in a young man’s death.

Last week I wrote about how I dealt with getting sick while in a truck.

‘Twas the night before Christmas in this creaky old place!‘Twas the night before Christmas in this creaky old place!With just two of us to rattle up this ole house!It’s much more quiet than days gone before ,When the kids were all home and with noise galore!The TV is playing an old Christmas movie,The mice are so quiet it seems kinda spooky!And tho times are changing what can I say;There’s still a message for this Christmas Day!There was no place for Him when the savior was born.But a place was given to Him on a hill so forlorn.Now Christ is preparing a place for you and I !By His blood we’ve forgiveness to live in His place on high!dbs.