Hello everyone this is officer Coop From Chestnut Ridge Volunteer wishing you and yours all the warmth joy and love this special season. For years since I was a little boy I have always got what I have always wanted and would be happy but to be truthful deep down inside me a few months later I would grow bored sail it or either have it tore up. Nothing seemed to satisfy me, yeah it kept me happy but those were just things, life is not always about things, its more than that its putting yourself aside to see the real picture by helping others,
My grandpa was a true Veteran and loved everyone but wouldnt say much of anything, but if he didnt pick on you or talk to you you had something to worry about but when he needed something done I would do it and if that person didnt do it they would either have to answer to Grandma or him.
But I love my Grandpa very much and even though he is gone he still remains in my heart and memories, when I was little Grandpa always said this
I would be standing there making snow cream with Grandpa and helping him stirr the bowl, and Grandpa would look at me and say " Steve Son Can I tell you something?" I would look at Grandpa with a humble heart and a smile on my face, he said " Have you ever helped someone pick apples off of the tree?" I said yeah Grandpa I did it with Mamaw once, he said okay " Did you enjoy it?" I said yes Grandpa I did.
Grandpa said you love your Grandma very much dont you? " I quoted yes Grandpa very much. I asked Grandpa what was he trying to tell me? He quoted this at me " Well son when you help get the wheel barrel and go to an apple tree you push it down hill and you just stand there and watch them pick it it doesnt solve one problem but that person doing all the work, but if you help that person out and work as a team you can get allot of things done. He said and told me that pushing the wheel barrel was one thing but helping them get the apples down is another. He said if you work as a team you can accomplish all your goals and what you need accomplished.
Well I listened to those words my Grandpa told me but didnt let it sink in much now I am. I have learned to set myself aside even if it means what I want, I sacrifice that to help others, Please Im not bragging on myself and dont give me any credit or call me a hero, December 15th at 3:30pm it was a cloudy and windy day and my Dad decided to go to Clarkrange, I was going to stay home that was my choice but Dad looked at me and said Son your a firefighter, your life can grow short at anytime and I want you to go with me. I said okay Dad, so away we go to Clarkrange inside our little white beat down Chevy Van and man it runs pretty good. We stop at the pawn shop so Dad could scrape out what little bit he had to buy him some Cigarette Papers, very little change is what he had left, he barely paid it off.
So while I am standing there, I decided to call my Buddy and Father Figure Clint Woodson to get some money, I needed 20.00$ but I had very little time left. So I asked the lady at the pawn shop could I use the phone, the lady said sure you can son is it local?
I said yes mam, it is. I dialed the number and got a hold of Clint Woodson and asked him if I could get some money and If I can I would deeply aprreciate it.
Clint was excited to hear from me because he hadnt heard from me in a long time, so he calls Angie his wife and then he calls the Pawn shop I got approved to pick up 20.00$. So when I got my 20.00$. I thought Oboy I can buy some things now and burn that money on a phone card to see what eveyone is upto call my woman and then Vickki, and then buy some presents and some tobacco. You figured I would have done it, my plans were builiding and building on what I can do but instead I just let myself go, you can call me stupid ediotic or whatever thats fine but I sacrificed allot by the time I got to the Doller General Store, when I walked into the store I started to look around and I ended up going to the back and seen this woman with tears in her eyes lookin at some heating air and unit tape and shaking her head.
I asked her, " Mam whats wrong?" She told me that she had some Grandkids at the house and was tired of getting cold and freezing to death inside their house and needed some tape to block the cold air but she didnt have the money to get it because she was worried about her Grandkids.
So I just looked at it and then I walked away and started lookin at something else, but then I got to thinking about the Grandkids and the woman freezing, so I went up to her and I said mam come this way please, I took her to the tape and asked her what type of color tape she wanted and what size, she pointed to it and I didnt hesitate I picked it up and said follow me, I took her to the cashier and asked how much the tape was and told her to ring it up" that will come to 6.00$ sir. I said okay, I pulled out my 20 as quick as possible and paid the cashier for the tape so the woman could be happy and she was tickled to death. She said sir if it wasnt for you my Grand Kids would have froze and so would I thank you and what your name, I said Steve I replied and I said Merry Christmas mam, she said thank you son the same to you. So away I went to lookin at what I was going to get and then I realized I hadnt got mom and Dad something for Chirstmas I got Dad a 69 Dodge Charger model car telephone and then I picked up my adopted daughter something, and then I was on my way until I ran into Billy Haze, that was a blessing, I said Billy whats going on? he said not much Steve Im just trying to find some Velcro to fix my door to keep from cold air coming in and to keep the door shut, he said I dont know nothing about this store this is my second time being here, so I just said well let me help you look for it and so I did Billy and I couldnt find it and Billy said thanks Steve I appreciate it, ill just go to another store and buy some Velcro. So no we didnt find the velcro but at least I helped out.
As I brought my things to the counter I was going to pay for my stuff and saw these elderly people there standing with some medicine and stuff and then I saw a woman with two kids I let them all go ahead of me at this point the last was the first and the first was the last. I stood there in the store for a solid hour helping people out and then paying for my stuff last. By the time I got out I only had 7 dollars to my name, that would still by the phone card but I went to rolettas and bought my woman something for Christmas and then my new member of the family, I was 59 cents in the hole but it didnt matter to me.
When I got home the wheel chair that Mom and Dad tried to order and get approved was a not happening situation and you had to have good credit for it to buy it. The insurance didnt hardly at all cover it. My mom has had muscular Sclerosis for years and still and getting sicker by the moment, one day mom could be here and the next could be gone so Im spending what time I have with her.
As soon as we got home an ansering message was on the machinne saying mom had got approved for her Wheel Chair and was getting it probably before Christmas, Mom was tickled to death and so was Dad he as a matter of fact said something to the woman he had never said to anyone, You have a Merry Christmas mam.
Mom looked at me with tears in her eyes and said son if you hadnt done what you did I would not have heard about my wheelchair. She said thanks son, I said your welcome mom. Karen even called me and said my nims and ics papers were printed off and ready. Couldnt been happy more.
Well now here I am again only this time I got blessed with my Job Back working on the farm as a matter of fact I went to work today out in the rain. Me and Kyle Austin my boss and I are going to go in halfards tomorrow with cans and metal taking it off and were even taking Dads garbage off tomorrow, man I am happy. I got my Job back and Im just not a sitting duck anymore, Im a helper and a caregiver to everyone being what I can be but most importantly being myself.
The house we had for a long time out here on 62 have been the best house ever but now its falling apart and a living hazzard. So now I called the Habitat for Humanity today and they are sending in an application of what needs done and then they are going to work on it. I may not can do much but I do the best I can. So if you ask me what I want for Christmas, do me a favor and transfer that question to others, as a matter of fact what do you want for Christmas can I help you with anything yons are my family here on Nation and I love yons very much and my family. Im just not me anymore its not about me when I now look in the mirror I see the people that loves me and have been there for me through thick and thin. I dont see me anymore, I love my woman and my family and you guys to death and if yall need anything let me know. You see it doesnt matter about gifts or the Christmas green spruced and ready tree its about caring for others and showing them you really love them and are there for them. I believe I finally know what the true Chistmas is really all about.

So if you ever get a chance let someone you know and love that you care and your there for them even if it means letting them in your home to eat Christmas dinner together. Because sooner or later if we dont act now chances are they are going to push you away or you push them away or something is going to wind up happening.

Merry Christmas all and love joy and peace I send your way.
Let your family know I said hi and love them and you do the same.