The Sound of Your Voice...

For Doc (see you soon!!)

I have gotten so far behind in my blogging... I promise to catch up this week... and I want to start by letting you know about one of my favorite Christmas charities: the USO.

Last night I watched the special "Trace Adkins: X (Ten) Days" which followed the ten-day USO tour he did for troops in Iraq and Afghanistan earlier this year... it might not have been as flashy as the old Bob "Mr. USO" Hope Holiday specials, but the scene of the fiddle player's son jumping on the plane in Afghanistan where he is serving was as touching a scene as I have seen -- until the Dad had to bid his son farewell. The USO does so much more than provide entertainers to our troops around the world - they provide those great respites at our nation's airports... and lounges at military hospitals & facilities (and clothing, DVDs, food... ) through Operation Enduring Care... they send care packages... and one of the most successful and appreciated programs -- Operation Phone Home which provides calling cards to our troops around the world.

All of us who have (or have had) someone we love deployed know the elation and joy and peace of mind that a simple phone call means... No sweeter words than, "Hey, Ma!" or "Hi, honey!" or a child hearing a father's or mother's voice on Christmas morning from a world away... More than 2 million phone cards have been distributed since the inception of this program in 2003. You can help by donating to USO's Operation Phone Home. Just click this link and give:

$15 buys 45 minutes... $20 = 60 minutes, $40 = 120 minutes -- 2 hours!! $60 = 180 minutes and $100 = 300 minutes. You can give any amount ($15 minimum online). The sound of a loved one's voice -- nothing like it. So if you haven't decided on your Christmas or Hanukkah donation, this should be it. Really. If you're stretched Christmas week, think of tax planning the week after -- your donation is tax deductible!!

and lastly, one of "our guys" is having a very hard time right now... pretty serious... prayers would be greatly appreciated for V...