Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all of my readers. I hope you enjoy God's blessing upon yourselves and your families. Remember our military people serving overseas, most especially those in war zones away from their families, and remember the police, firefighters and EMT's who will be watching over us all during this special night.

I'll be taking tomorrow off from posting. Posting will resume Wednesday morning.

Bob Evans
Matthews, NC




CAROL

Villagers all, this frosty tide,
Let your doors swing open wide,
Though wind may follow, and snow beside,
Yet draw us in by your fire to bide;
Joy shall be yours in the morning!

Here we stand in the cold and the sleet,
Blowing fingers and stamping feet,
Come from far away you to greet--
You by the fire and we in the street--
Bidding you joy in the morning!

For ere one half of the night was gone,
Sudden a star has led us on,
Raining bliss and benison--
Bliss to-morrow and more anon,
Joy for every morning!

Goodman Joseph toiled through the snow--
Saw the star o'er a stable low;
Mary she might not further go--
Welcome thatch, and litter below!
Joy was hers in the morning!

And then they heard the angels tell
`Who were the first to cry NOWELL?
Animals all, as it befell,
In the stable where they did dwell!
Joy shall be theirs in the morning!'

(Kenneth Grahame, The Wind In the Willows, Chapter 5.)