The fire is built, it's jumping and leaping
Christmas is near, do you feel that feeling?
Stockings are hanging in different sizes
Waiting to be filled with all sorts of surprises.

Tall and green the tree stands bare
The decorations placed with love and care
They shine, and sparkle, they twinkle like new
How proud it stands and dreams with you.

Look at the gifts all wrapped so bright
Secretly placed during the night
Colors of red, green, silver, and gold
All securely fastened with ribbons and bows.

Lights that twinkle, ***** that shine
All these things for yours and mine
You laugh and cry from stories of old
As you listen carefully while they are told.

You look and you listen and hope to see
That little old man in his flying machine
Up above in the sky so high
When he makes his pass morning is nigh.

So off to bed the children go
And under the blankets, they sink so low
When morning comes they'll rise with smiles
And all the gifts they will open in a little while.

Christmas has meaning this we all know
The birth of our Lord Jesus Christ here below
Our Lord and Savior who forgives our sins
Now and forever he shall always be our King.
                                                By Connie Hopkins

Up so high, we see stars with our eyes
Like sparkling blankets that cover our skies
This way and that they shoot so fast
We strain to watch each one go past

Don't you know there are stories to be told?
Of things that happened long ago
Under the same stars, we now behold.
                                        By Connie Hopkins

The playful memories I hold in my heart
Of my dear sweet father whose death tore at our hearts
I know daddy would want me to be strong
And go through life as he did with God's song in our hearts
Daddy's faith held strong all through the years
He sang it out till it rang in our ears
I pray it sinks in and stays with me
So one day I can sit high next to him.
                                         By Connie Hopkins

By her side, he was always there
What will become of his wife left here
She misses his presence that was always near
Sometimes his voice she will here
The memories of their life she will hold dear
Her family and friends will be close
But, they don't take the place of  the husband she lost
The house will seem empty, but time will soon pass
And she can be with him happy at last.
                                        By Connie Hopkins

Dad's hand I held, his shoulders so strong
A mind of wisdom, his memories unknown
Daddy's face so familiar, his voice I can hear
He's gone from this life my father so dear
We loved him so much this figure so strong
He touched our hearts and soul with his song
The end came fast almost without pain
I know his life was not lived in vain
He left behind the children he loved
And his wife so dear he's waiting for above.
                                 By Connie Hopkins
Dedicated to
Audie Lee Hopkins

When you love someone
And they don't do right
You have to stand by them
And help them fight
Be there to listen and talk
Then be ready to put your two cents in
It might take a lot of time
But, sooner or later things will shine
It seems so hopeless this talking you do
You know in your hearts
It will be just between you two
The tide will turn and roll your way
And, there will be a brighter day.
                                    By Connie Hopkins

Here on this earth, we are now
After our birth for a little while
For we do not know how long we can stay
Already numbered are our days
Compared to before and after one's birth
The time we have is very short on the earth
Death comes eventually to every man
We can't see the future
For it is not in our hands.
                              By Connie Hopkins