Here it is, not quite four-thirty in the afternoon and the lights outside are on, the Christmas tree is lit, and the desk lamp is on in the livingroom. I look out my window by the desk and the lights are glowing from neighborhood windows against a quickly darkening sky.
There is just a dusting of snow clinging to the lawns and fir trees. Just enough to know that it is winter beyond the window. It's icy cold too, yet so warm and cozy here inside.
The hypnotic drone of the dishwasher lulled my body into relaxation and set my mind to drift back to childhood and to days very much like this one. The small mill town street filled with children all bundled up in woolen coats, hats and mittens. Outside play would have ended with the lighting of the street lights which served as a signal that it was time to be inside for supper.
My Mother would be in the kitchen with her apron on cooking dinner to be ready for five o'clock. I'd set my mittens and hat on the register to dry, hang up my coat and wash up before setting the kitchen table.
The television wouldn't go on until six o'clock when my Father would watch the news after supper. Children in the first and second grade didn't have homework after school, like today, so I would go into my room and play while my Mother cleaned the kitchen. When the dishes were done and food put away, I would take my bath and brush my teeth before watching TV myself before going to bed.
About this time of year, channel nine in New Hampshire would broadcast Santa Clause from the North Pole. I always listened close to hear the names he would call and the letters to Santa he would read. I would keep my fingers crossed, hoping he would read my letter. It was hard to see sometimes because of the snow. Little did I know at that young age that it was the bad reception that was causing that problem!
When Santa was over it was time for me to be in bed. I would kiss my parents goodnight, they would turn of my light and I would snuggle down into the bedding to dream of the things I wanted Santa to bring me.
The ringing of the phone brings me back to the reality of the present and I sigh with contentment, my grateful heart filled with joy for my special memories.
May we all enjoy the warmth of this Christmas season, the love of family and friends and for the perfect love of the atonement, Jesus gave us with his birth.
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