Noël... and "there and back again"

Noël: Middle English noel, from Old French, variant of nael, from Latin nātālis (diēs), (day) of birth, from nātus, past participle of nāscī, to be born. Romeocat talks about births of more than one kind in today's Advent Meditation. I have some thoughts forming in response. What are yours? (Ahhh... share 'em over there.) And in "Rest easy, sleep well" she points to a post at Freedom Folks that, well, if it doesn't move you then you have a heart of stone, and I don't want to know you. After your visit there, just click here, please. And as long as you're still in the mood, click here, too. Moving tributes to our service men and women. Then go and send an email to a soldier serving overseas. If you don't have one in your email addressbook, go here and have one delivered for Christmas. (Note: broadband issues today, so intermittant connectiviry; Santa's gonna put some coal in an ISP's stocking if they don't watch out... I'll try to update whenever 1.) I have the time and 2.) that coincides with DNS servers being "up" *sigh* IOW: short shrift day, folks.) There's lots more around and about... Rich's Surprise Chocolate Fudge is something I need to try this weekend, as are Christines Jingle Balls. heh. This in email from my old (yes, OLD: we're both geezers) college roomie: Yeh. Merry Christmas to you too, Dave (yes, another David. Long story.) Usually I'm very glad I'm out of the "put the children on display as if they were singing dogs" Christmas program thing_*_, and then something like this comes along (from a librarians' email list)... "One of my first graders was working on memorizing some scriptures for his Wed. night children's program. He stated the scripture and then asked if it was in the New or the Old Testicle" The old one, definitely the old one, child... Not satisfied with Three Stooges, The Florida Masochist digs up four: The Knucklehead of the Day award The Co-Knucklehead of the Day award Part One The Co-Knucklehead of the Day award Part Two The Knucklehead of the Year awards- Judiciary [I'm confused, FM. Is that KotD part none, part 1 and part deux? ;-) ] freedom folks: Christianity & Democracy and Smearing the Chicago Minuteman Project Do NOT miss this one from Woody's News & Views: 9 Out Of 10 Terrorists Prefer The NY Times Conservative Cat: Happy Holidays to All. [Well, as I said in comments, it offended me that he didn't offend me with his post. :-) Some people! heh] Customerservant.com has juuuust the right lyrics for The Twelve Days Of Critmus. Oh. My. :-) Wanna sing along? Here: (best with Roland patches. Just sayin') The Real Ugly American: The Left is loosing it again with the NSA story. [sic ;-) ] Liberal Common Sense: Speicher and Maupin Families Deserve Answers... [Indeed] TMH's Bacon Bits with a fitting tribute to a great woman: Maggie: A Lady of Dignity. [God bless Maggie.] Diane, you don't wanna know the image this evoked... Barefoot n' Packing :-) And just to follow up on yesterday's "Comfort ye" here's "Ev'ry Valley": Also sung out at TMH's Bacon Bits