Melody and I want to wish everyone out there, especially our friends and family, a blessed and Merry Christmas.

We celebrated Christmas together a week ago when I was in Japan, so it's a bit lonely right now, but, hey...there are a lot of guys and girls in Afghanistan and Iraq and other far flung places around the globe that won't have the opportunity to see anyone in their family this Christmas, so it could have been much worse.

We had a lay service here yesterday to celebrate Christ's birth, and Melody went to Mass in Yokosuka. We got to talk earlier today, and later today, will talk again...I'm glad we're married now, with all the modern forms of communication...It would really stink to be so far apart at Christmas, and have to rely on snail mail...

Anyhow, may God bless you today. Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men!

A few related stories that may be of interest...

Midnight Mass at St. Peter's Basilica http://www.catholic.org/cathcom/international_story.php?id=11875

http://www.catholic.net/global_catholic_news/template_news.phtml?news_id=63975

http://www.catholic.net/jesusphish/template_channel.phtml?channel_id=11