The Christmas music is playing in the background, as it has been since December 1st. The tree was up a few days afterward and now stands prominently giving off its light. Baking for the season began very early on and today I popped another pan of shortbread in the oven. Scents of this season have been reminding us of this wondrous time of year. We’re even graced with a lovely bed of snow as I write to you, not usual for this part of the country. Christmas cards sent from family and friends dominate one of the book shelves so I can admire them and be delighted in the messages written within. Yes, you could say I’m ‘rocking around the Christmas tree’ jingling all the way.

As I busy myself in the kitchen I often find music sings me back to the happy and nearly carefree days of Christmases past. “On every street corner you hear, silver bells …” “Rudolf won’t you guide my sleigh tonight” “oh hear the angel voices, oh night divine” “… with a corn cob pipe and a button nose and two eyes made out of coal” and “pretty paper, pretty ribbons of blue.” These and many others remind me of coming in from tobogganing to the house filled with the warm fragrance of turkey in the oven; sweet mandarin oranges wrapped in tissue; sticky, striped candy canes on the tree; mom’s many Christmas squares and jewel-like Christmas fruit cake; mistletoe hanging above the front door; and posing in our Sunday-best for pictures.

And speaking of those photos, it’s really all the special moments that make up the most treasured memories. 

Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy
Do you hear what I hear?
Ringing through the sky, shepherd boy
Do you hear what I hear?
A song, a song, high above the trees
With a voice as big as the sea
With a voice as big as the sea

As the lyrics to this song go on to implore, “Pray for peace, people everywhere” and perhaps instead of waiting for ‘the Child’ to bring us “goodness and light” we could do what we can to bring goodness and light this year.

And so this is likely the ideal time to tell each of you how grateful I am for your visits here, for the times you’ve shared your own stories, for the lovely thoughts left in your notes, and quite simply for being you. Do you hear it now? Yes, there is “a song, a song, high above the trees with a voice as big as the sea” sending my message to you for all that you have meant to me.

Wishing each of you peace, joy, goodness and light. — Diane

5 thoughts on “Do You Hear What I Hear?”

  1. i hope your Christmas was good. love this view into some of your surroundings during this time. you captured the bells just right.

  3. Lovely memories—old and new! Wishing you joy and peace and much laughter over over the holiday season.

  4. A wonderful post for the most cherished time of the year! What I like is that your post puts the reader at ease to not be subject to the “hustle and bustle” of the season, but the “reason for the season”. Thought-provoking with beautiful photos. I am excited that we are expecting a few inches of snow before Christmas. That will be a first in almost a decade. Christmas will not be like many Christmas pasts. First there is the loss of a loved one, and now that the family is growing exponentially, we’ve got the younger generations doing the hosting and cooking. So the Christmas smell of the season is only provided by candles. Well. . . . some cooking. 🙂 Merry Christmas to you and your family!

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