Oh my word, man. It just comes to life for you as a parent. My goodness, no wonder Christmas has hung in there all these years, 'cause all these parents dig it.

I wonder if anyone will ever know the emptiness of my life. Personal Diary -- Last entry "Oh what's the point?"

Christmas is a stocking stuffed with sugary goodness.

Why wouldn't she say, 'For goodness sake, the cavalry is here. Here's what happened. Here's what this man just did to me.' She didn't do that.

He said that on four occasions between Christmas and New Year's Eve he went to strip wire out of the base housing.

This year alone, Karen has used Kristi's Christmas to organize relief efforts for the tsunami and hurricane victims. She gathered up frequent-flyer miles for Katrina victims so they could come up here to get back on their feet.