Merry Christmas to you all and God bless us everyone. My heart is so full lately. I am thinking not so much of my own family as I am another. I know my own family will be together this year. We will have our celebration as we always do. My girls will get more toys than we possibly have room for. Jason and I will be blessed by gifts and by the love we share. My parents, my sister, her husband and my nephew will all be shown much love and goodness. My extended family will be there to share the holidays with us. I have the extra special blessings of having many precious friends who daily make my whole life seem like Christmas. Every day for the past few weeks has brought many beautiful cards to my door. Some days there have been gifts to open. Each one, precious, special, unique...a part of someone's heart. I am so blessed. So very blessed. It's the gifts I already have that I treasure...not so much the ones that are under my tree.

This year my thoughts are turning each day to another family. A family which has always given us their all. They've given of their time. They've given of their privacy. They've given of their hearts. They've given of their souls. They've given us...their all. Seemingly, they never stop to consider what they give to us. To them, giving is as much a part of what they do as breathing. Somehow, they never seem to feel obligated. They just give, and give, and give. In words, in a touch, in a look, in a song, in a memory. They give.

I said that there were some special people I could not find the proper way to say "Merry Christmas" to yet. I think I can now. Since writing the last column I've listened to "Beyond The Season" almost constantly. Each time, my mind focuses on one song. It's always been my personal holiday favorite, even before Garth chose to record it. Each night, after a long day of teaching preschoolers, preparing for school parties, wrapping gifts, shopping, and trying to cram daily chores in, I have set aside some time for me.

For the last week, each night as I've got everyone down to bed I've turned off all the lights except those on the Christmas trees we have in the house. We have the family tree which displays special family ornaments and where gifts are placed for everyone. The girls also decorate their own tree each year for their ornaments they've made through the years and their gifts to us and each other. As the lights sparkled, I'd find myself reaching for "Beyond The Season" and going straight to "Silent Night."

When all was finally quiet, I've walked into the rooms of my little girls. I've stood and watched them sleeping. I've looked at those innocent faces and thanked my God above. I've crept into the room where my husband sleeps. I've stood and watched as he rested...knowing he was truly my whole world, I again, said thank you to my God above. And, then, my thoughts would turn again to another family. A family who has truly touched my life.

As "Silent Night" played in the background I'd find myself wiping away a tear that was born of grace. I'd find myself thanking my God once again for all the people who have shared a piece of my heart and my life this past year. Those people, that family, who made my world, my life, a much happier place this past year.

To that family I pray I find the words to say to you what my heart wants so badly to say this holiday season.

Taylor, August, and Allie, you are truly three of God's precious angels. To see your Daddy or Mama just mention your names shows the light of love they carry for you in their hearts. I have little girls myself, I know what treasures you can be. You can be the most silly creatures in the world. You can giggle and laugh like no others can. You can smile and have the world at your fingertips. You can bring out a protectiveness that only a Mama and Daddy can feel. You can break a heart with a scratch or hurt feelings. You can be furious at each other and best of friends the next. But, you three...oh the three of you have given so much to people like me. And, you don't even realize it.

You girls will not know for many years yet what treasures you are to the fans of your Daddy. Without you, we'd never had the last year. A year when your Daddy probably needed your sweet smiles and hugs more than he ever has. Thanks to the love in your Mama's heart, you were all there for him. Little girls can do wonders for a Mama or Daddy who needs the love in a child's heart. There is no better medicine for a heart that hurts than a hug from a smiling little angelic girl's face. Your Daddy was faced with something he'd not had to deal with before...something we will all face eventually...and you, no doubt, each of you, helped him through each day. You were his strength, his hope, his heart. In doing so, you ultimately, but not directly, gave to us.

You became our little angels too. Those three little cherubs who look just like their Mama and Daddy. Those little angels who climbed into that bus and looked at each new day as an adventure. Those little angels who made a playground out of an arena. It was your playground by day...ours by night. Thanks for sharing it with us. You were the angels who gave up your nights in your own beds, in your own house so we could have a piece of the music that your Daddy gives to us all.

I hope that this Christmas brings to each of you all those things that your childhood dreams desire. I hope Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are filled with love and laughter that only a child's innocence can understand. I hope and pray that the days ahead are the times that you, your Mama and your Daddy truly find in each other all the simple joys that come from just being home with one another. Taylor, August, Allie, you will grow to be very special young women. You already have within your hearts, a capacity for giving of oneself that few ever comprehend. God bless you little ones. Merry Christmas!

Sandy...where on earth do I begin to say to you what I feel? Happy Holidays to you! You are one of the women in this world I admire the most. I truly believe that the path we travel is one set before us by destiny. The One who chose your path, chose well. You handle your life and the roads it leads you down with such grace and integrity. You are the rock that anchors the man we all have came to love. You are the woman who holds the key to that man's heart. You are that woman but you always...always...share your world with ours.

I can't begin to say that I look at you and think its all a bed of roses. If I had to deal with Garth every day, I'd have to strangle him at least ONCE a week I'm sure. If for no other reason, just general purposes. After all, he IS a man. We all know what they can be like! Seriously, I have thought often of what it must be like to travel every day and maintain that sense of home and family for you and your girls. I admire you so much for keeping them grounded along with yourself. I cannot comprehend what it would be to live the life you lead. You among all others, have my respect, especially as a wife and a mother.

I know the last year has been full of challenges and sometimes heartache. Always you were by Garth's side. As a wife who watched her husband lose his Mama a few years ago, I know what you were facing. I know without you by his side, Garth would not have managed to get through a lot of days...and probably many more nights.

This past year has had to take some toil on you. I pray in the coming year that you will find those things within yourself that you might have lost along the way. You are a woman full of promise and possibility. I feel strongly that in Mrs. Sandy Mahl Brooks there is still so much the world has yet to see. I hope that the days ahead bring quiet times where you can nestle your family close to you away from everything. I hope it brings you moments alone with your husband away from phones, people, and obligations.

May this Christmas give you cherished memories with your beautiful girls, with your husband, and with your family. God bless you Sandy for what you've done for us all, for what you've given to us all, for what you are to us all. Merry Christmas!

As the song "Silent Night" again starts I find the part in this Christmas wish to write about Garth. Oh, there are so many things I wish for you my friend.

Garth, this year at Christmas my heart is especially full. It's not the presents under my tree. It's not the gifts that I will receive. It is a gift I know you will be given that is making my heart smile. You deserve it so. Finally, you will be given back a little of what you have given to so many. Knowing that, is the most precious of all gifts I will have this year. Finally, maybe that big ole heart of yours will be able to accept and understand what a difference you have made in so many lives. For that difference, for giving of yourself unendingly, for always making us feel loved, special, and that we matter...I thank you.

Your energy, that boundless sense of energy and passion for what you do always amazes me. It inspires me. It kindles a fire in my soul. It unleashes in me something that I never want to lose again. You never forget a face, a name, a time, or a place. Always you are there for us. Be it with the music, the magic, the memories, the miles, you are there for us.

But, now, its your time. And, I have warned you...relax...or I will come to G'ville with a BIG tube of SuperGlue and glue your butt to your tractor seat. I have help too, so don't make us resort to that! Let some things go. Please...make time for YOU. There is so much within you that has yet to be found. Take this time to find it. The possibilities are endless as to what you can do, what you can be, what you can accomplish in this world.

Garth, I pray that this Christmas is your most special ever. I hope the joy that you feel as you watch your little girls truly overwhelms you. I hope the love that you feel as you hold Sandy close totally engulfs your heart. I hope that the peace that you feel as you watch your Mama and Daddy surrounded by your family completely fills your soul. I know you had to have questioned at times, if this Christmas would ever be...thank God, it is. Cherish each moment like you have never done so before. Merry Christmas!

Now, there's a part in "Silent Night" that always makes me cry. Garth stops singing and he starts talking. He is talking about a Christmas when he and Sandy were traveling back to Oklahoma. The weather was really bad with snow and ice. They were not sure they would make it home to see their families. At one point, the weather broke and Sandy looked at Garth and said, "You're gonna see your Mama for Christmas aren't you?" As he says it, you can hear the smile in his voice. It breaks my heart and makes it smile all at the same time. As one of my little preschoolers says, "It makes it go tick-tock."

This year, a year of miracles for this family. A year of prayer, of hope, of faith, a year of blessings. Bless your heart Garth...this year...one more time...you get to see your Mama for Christmas. There are no words to tell you how this makes me feel. For you all, that gift is from God above. I thank Him for giving that gift to you...to us all.

Mrs. Colleen Carroll "Mama" Brooks is truly an angel on God's earth. Her courage, her unrelenting will and passion to live profoundly amaze me. Her strength, her compassion, and her intense devotion to those she loves inspires me. Mama Brooks what more can I wish for you than continued health and happiness?

You will never know the life lessons you have taught me. You are the epitome of grace and beauty in my eyes. I see such a fire in you that radiates to all those whose lives you touch. Your ability to still laugh, to still face each day with a smile...despite what you've dealt with in the last year, will forever hold an impression on my heart.

You've always given of yourself to me. There is not a fan who's met you who has not walked away touched by you. You never had to come out and join that fast paced ride that your son was on, but it was just you to do so. His fans, became your fans. You greeted us all with the same open heart and arms that he always has. We truly all came to love you. The signs that were seen along the way when you became ill that said, "God bless Mama Brooks" were truly a testament to what you mean to us all. You were never far from our thoughts, our prayers, and our hearts.

To you, I can only wish you joy as you sit around watching those grandbabies open presents. I can only wish you smiles as you spend moments with your children that are truly God-given. I can only wish you love as look into the eyes of your husband who has been by your side every step of the way. I know he is so proud of you. We all are. You did it Mama Brooks...you did it! Merry Christmas!

Mr. Troyal Raymond Brooks, you have became such a treasure to me in the past few months. I know, you don't care for all this public stuff so I won't go on and on. I just want to wish you a holiday full of love. I have come to appreciate so much more the man in Garth...that part of him that I see in you. That part that is compassion for those he loves, belief in those he cares for, trust that what is meant to be...will be.

You have been so good to me and so sweet. I can never begin to tell you what it meant to me. But, I suspect, somehow, you know. You gave of your time, your family, your heart when you really had no obligations to do so. Again, like the rest of your family...it seems to be just what you do...just what you people are.

I can truly say I just wish for you days spent with those you love the most. Days full of health, happiness and smiles. You've spoken things to my heart that really helped me. I wish you a holiday full of grandchildren hugs and relaxing times with your children. Most of all, I wish you a time of quiet reflection when you can just sit and watch Mama Brooks as she enjoys being with those who you all hold closest to your hearts. That will be the most precious of all. Merry Christmas Mr. Brooks!

Now, I think my heart has found that last gift it wanted to give this year. It was a gift of words to the Brooks' family. I didn't fully understand it, I just knew it there. I wasn't sure what form it would take. I didn't think it could be wrapped up in shiny paper with a bow. But, like so many times before on this precious journey of my life, the music helped me to find the gifts within my heart. Your music Garth...your music. Your words...give me my words. Your open heart...your family's open hearts...opened up my heart.

God bless you all. It truly is the joy of giving that is the most precious gift of all. Thank you for showing that to me, time and time again. Merry Christmas!