Before Christmas

"One Christmas was so much like another, in those years around the sea-town corner now and out of all sound except the distant speaking of the voices I sometimes hear a moment before sleep, that I can never remember wether it snowed for six days and six nights when I was twelve or whether it snowed for twelve days and twelve nights when I was six."

--A Child's Christmas in Wales, by Dylan Thomas

festooning with decorations and festivity,

sprucing and lighting my room for the season..

conspiring, planning, wrapping

watching A Child's Christmas in Wales,

and Christmas episodes of NCIS,

listening to The Dark is Rising,

and to Christmas carols..

'Come thou long expected Jesus

Born to set thy people free

From our fears and sins release us

Let us find our rest in thee

Israel's strength and consolation

Hope of all the earth though art

Dear desire of every nation

Joy of every longing heart

Born thy people to deliver

Born a child and yet a king

Born to reign in us forever

Now thy gracious kingdom bring

By thine own eternal spirit

Reign in all our hearts alone

By thine all sufficient merit

Raise us to thy glorious throne'

baking and pasting and making lists

shopping,
laughing,
talking,
sharing,



Anticipating with great joy, the celebration of our Great Light. The Child born poor and low. Our Prince of Peace. Messiah. GOD WITH US.

For unto us a child is born
Unto us a son is given
And the government shall be
Upon his shoulders
And his name shall be called:
Wonderful Counselor
Almighty God
Everlasting Father
Prince of Peace
Of the increase of His government
And of Peace
There will be No End.