Howard Teal and his first grandson, Sean Parker, Christmas 1968
This picture speaks to me of Christmas past and Christmas present, even Christmas yet to come. My Daddy is holding our first son. How proud he was! Sean loved his Papa, and already loved books. They are delighting each other with the reading of The Night Before Christmas. Can't you hear "...up the chimney he rose?" With this book, as in most, arriving at the last page meant "again, read it again!"
So, as I bring in the boxes of decorations and begin pulling out all the old familiar ornaments and set up the manger scenes, I am brimming with both tears and smiles, thinking how good it is to do it again. I set up our advent wreath and candles and fill the big basket with all the children's Christmas books read and reread so many times. I stack my Christmas piano music and practice the arrangements of White Christmas and Silent Night that I have played for so many years now. I am thankful that I did most purchases for gifts before Thanksgiving, so that shopping is not on my to do list, and I can spend more time re-calibrating during Advent. I listen to my favorite Christmas CD, James Galway's Christmas Carol. On the way to Bethlehem, again.
