This is an invite to those who would like to participate in "Mingles Christmas Jingles" all you have to do is post Christmas poems, stories and jokes with a Christmas theme.It would be nicer if we could have original works ( I know there are lots of poets and writers here)I do hope there will lots of participants and in keeping with the meaning of the occasion, let's all share in the good cheer.

A specialThank You to Txs Gal for choosing the title.

What a great idea! I will put some thought into this and post something tomorrow, as I'm getting too tired now. Of course, I've been up for 18 hours already, so I guess that would stand to reason.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WCXnlFWaIY

Hello Mr_Music, I am delighted to see you and will look forward to your musings and stories. For now, take care

!!!!!Happy Holidays Everyone!!!!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!! A WONDERFUL NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE!!!

Compliments and wishes of the season to you

“True Meaning of Christmas Day”


What happen to Faith, Hope and Love?
That was taught from above.
So tell me after all these years.
Did everyone forget all the tears?
That was shed.
While Jesus was on the cross and bleed.
Did we let greed?
Take over our need.
Do you really remember what Christmas means?
It is not all about getting new jeans.
It is about a special Birth.
That happened many years ago on this earth.
It is about a baby that was born.
And many years later placed upon his head were Jerusalem thorn.
As he was forced to carry his own cross.
Still his words came across.
You see all one must do is look.
For his words are in a book.
It contains the words about his life.
What he dealt with and the strife.
Let’s not forget the true meaning of the day.
Read and listen to what others have to say.
What this special day.
Means we all call Christmas Day!


K.L.M
12/21/2007

Happy Holidays from Tom and Merle (a.k.a. Mr. & Mrs. Sharpshooter10)






AND

Alright, I've retold this little personal anecdote before, so I apologize if anyone had already read it, or if it gets too long-winded. I'll try to give you the Reader's Digest version.

I remember my Christmases as a child with great clarity and fondness. Magic permeated the very air. The house I grew up in was located outside of town (at that time), and it was always special to be able to see the colorful lights hanging outside our house from a mile down the road. The lights we used at that time were those big honkin' C-5 kind (the old-fashioned type), so there was pretty much no way to not notice their brightness. I remember my father bringing home a tree. Sometimes I would go with him to pick one out from the woods. They never really looked as big in their natural environment, but once they were in the house, they looked enormous! When trimming the tree commenced, my mother and I would always disagree as to what kind of lights should go on it (she always wanted the boring, plain white lights. I always opted for the colored ones. I always won that argument.). Mom was also most times in favor of using garland as opposed to tinsel, as she "hated having that sh!t dragged all over the house!" Personally, I always liked the tinsel better, but give-and-take, y'know?

When Christmas Eve rolled around, everything was in hurry-up mode in order to get ready to go to church. My dad would go out and warm up the car, and we'd all pile in about 15 minutes later. It never dawned on me how every year when we'd get into the car how my mother would conveniently "forget her gloves inside", or some such. She'd do the "I'll be right back" routine, and then we'd have to wait another 15 minutes or so until she "found them."

Church was always decorated so beautifully, with a gigantic tree on the altar, Christmas poinsettias that seemed to go on forever, and colorful twinkling lights everywhere. Midway through the service, the children were released to their Sunday School classrooms, but not for class. Each child was given a flat box, about 10" long, 6" wide, and 2" deep containing miniature Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.

After church, we'd head home. I would notice the smoke emitting from the chimneys of homes, lending to the warmth held within. When we got home, I'd run into the house, and lo and behold, Santa had been there while we were out! The wrapped packages spilled out from underneath the tree, well past the middle of the room. The anticipation to dive into all those beautiful gifts and start opening them was overwhelming, but we had to wait until Grandma and Grandpa showed up, or anybody else that was due to arrive. When we could finally attack the presents, I would revel in all the wonderful things contained therein. Elvis would be singing "If Every Day Was Like Christmas" on the stereo, the scent of hot coffee and warm cookies wafting from the kitchen, and I knew in my young mind, even if only for one night, that all was right with the world. There was no war, no famine, no pestilence. Save for the joyous celebrations of people across the globe, the world was quiet under a moonlit sky and a thick blanket of snow.

That, my friends, is the magic of my youthful Christmases.

Christmas Blessings

Christmas is a time of joy and leisure
fun filled and happy times abound
upon the ground a winter wonderland
and smells of fragrant pine stirs festive pleasure

Evergreen boughs laden with festive decorations
adorning gateways,doors and drawing rooms
pumpkin pie,roasted ham and sweet potato pie
lovingly prepared in honour of the celebration

But spare a thought,the reason for our happiness
a child born in a humble stable
a gift from our father up above
Christ,our Saviour, the reason we are blessed


23.11.08

Keep Christ in Christmas


Presents wrapped and food aplenty
Christmas festivities can be rather lengthy
Cards exchanged and carolers singing
tired shoppers and tills aringing
Drinks flowing as though from a river
With lots of kisses for the present giver
Overeaten and filled to the brim
drunks wish you "Merry Xmas" with a grin
It is the season when all are supposed to be jolly
yet discord is sown amongst families and friends
The madness of the season seems never to end
Wishing "Glad Tidings" to each other
and a time to remember,brothers,sisters,fathers and mothers
Joy to the world we lustily sing
But; aren't we forgetting the most important thing?
What Christmas means and all it should bring
Peace, joy and happiness to all mankind
Our Saviour was born upon this day
Celebrate it,yes we must
Just remember to keep CHRIST in"CHRIST"-mas

THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
by Clement Clarke Moore
or Henry Livingston

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;



The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;



The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;

And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow

Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,



But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.



More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;

"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!

On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!

Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,

So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,

With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.



And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,

Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;

A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!



His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;

He had a broad face and a little round belly,

That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.


He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.



But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."

Awww, Mr_Music, you made me long to be a child once more

An Ode to Christmas Shopping

Christmas time has come again,
Gifts we'll be a-swapping,
But ere the joys of Christmas morn',
We'll all be busy shopping.

The highstreet shops are full of folk,
It's never been so busy,
The streets are packed, the shelves are stacked,
The noise is making me dizzy.

I walk into a Toys R Us,
To buy gifts for my nieces,
At the sight of all those shoppers,
Anxiety increases.

Just then I spy a Spongebob doll,
The last one on the shelf,
Craftily, I check the aisle,
I have it to myself.

But as I reach to pick it up,
There comes a sneaky swine,
"Excuse me lad" says this dad,
"I think you'll find that's mine."

"Your pardon, sir" I say to him,
"I'm think I saw it first."
An evil glint in my eyes,
I will not be coerced.

Now, I am not a violent man,
Fighting's not my style,
But I was right and he was wrong,
(or so I said at the trial)

I grabbed his arm and bent it back,
And told him to submit,
The bugger then headbutted me,
My bleeding lip he split.

I swept his legs from under him,
And forced him to the floor,
I dropped a knee into his back,
"No more!" he cried "No more!"

"Will you now submit to me,
you greedy little sod?"
"YES!" he yelled, "Just let me go!"
I did and off he trod.

But as I looked upon the shelf,
The Spongebob doll had gone!
In despair I pulled my hair
"Oh that's not fair, COME ON!"

If there's a lesson to be learned,
From all this bother and fuss,
I guess it is that Christmas shopping,
Brings out the worst in us.


P.
23/11/08

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.
This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another,
"Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about. "

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child.