I looked out the window as I was finishing up the dishes from supper. It was just beginning to snow. Huge white flakes were falling down fast and covering the barren ground with a blanket of fresh white glistening snow. In the background, I could hear the sounds of “Silent Night” playing on the old phonograph. It was a peaceful scene. I hadn’t heard or seen a car all evening. But that wasn’t unusual since we didn’t get much traffic back here in the hollow.

“Steve, you and Tommy better bring in some extra firewood for the stove tonight,” mom shouted from the living room.

Steve and Tommy put on their coat and gloves and headed outside to get more firewood as Debby and Betty played by the fire.

Mom and grandma went into the kitchen to begin the candy making process.

The house was already a flur of activity since Uncle Bob was visiting for the Holiday.

Papa Mack was in the living room telling one of his “tall tales” to anyone that would listen.

The cedar Christmas tree was standing tall in the corner of the room, sparkling and twinkling with it’s lights all lit up and heavy with ornaments lovingly placed there earlier by all of us as we sang Christmas Carols. It gave off a lovely aroma that filled the house with that special smell of Christmas in the air.

I came into the living room and grabbed a bag of walnuts to crack for the fudge that mom was getting ready to prepare. Grandma had already started on the nuts and had the job well under way.

“And if you children are good, ” Papa Mack said, ” we will all go to the barn at midnight to see if all of the farm animals fall down on their knees to worship the Christ Child.”

“Really?” asked little Debby with her eyes wide. She was eating an orange, and she was so excited the juice dropped from her chin.

“Well, now, I’ve never seen it for myself, mind you, but they tell me that at midnight on Christmas Eve, all of the farm animals will fall down on their knees to worship the baby Jesus that was born in a manger.”

Just as he was speaking Steve and Tommy finished stacking the firewood, and grabbed an apple from the bowl on the table and started munching.

We sat by the warm fire and watched the snow fall outside. We ate hard candy and joked with each other and listened to Christmas Carols.

When I reflect back on that night, I really don’t know what made it so magical and special except for the fact that maybe because it was still a time of innocence and the hard realities of life hadn’t yet touched my innocent life, and sitting there in the safety and warmth of our little house surrounded by all of my family, I still could get excited about the thought of tomorrow and all of the  joy and excitement of what treasures lay in store for the morning. It was the true “Spirit of Christmas.”

Winter has definitely came early here in our “neck of the woods”.  We have had several inches of the white stuff and it has caused me to be “housebound” for the last couple of days. But I must say it does look like a picture post card around here.

 A gifted photographer could have gotten some great shots of our winter wonderland. I myself didn’t venture outside. But had I had a means of safe travel, I think I would have enjoyed getting out and finding some hidden treasures in the snow. There were plenty to be had as evidenced on the local news; as a lot of people sent in shots of their local scenes. 

Since winter doesn’t officially start until next week, I am sure there will be plenty of more opportunities to get that great shot. Or maybe I will just sit in the comfort of my living room with my hot chocolate, and enjoy the efforts of others.

Stay safe and warm and enjoy this most wonderful season!!!

Francis Van Landing-ham has a new book out called, “A Man’s Word was his Bond”. I haven’t had the opportunity to read it yet, but I know it will be well worth the time spent.

Francis, along with myself, will be at the Johnson County Library on December the 7 Th for a book signing from 5:00 until 7:00 PM.

I think this book is well timed. In a time when people seem to have forgotten how important honesty and character are, Francis reminds us of a time when that is all some men had. Their good name and the ability to work hard and try to make an honest living. Their word was their bond, and if they told you they would do something, you could “take it to the bank”. I honestly don’t know what some young men’s values are today. One young man I heard recently was bragging on his virtues which included, and I am quoting him, ” I can lie really well”. How far we have come from that time when if a man shook your hand, that was all the “collateral” you needed!

Yes, I am a little old fashioned, and as one young man told me recently, I am “old school”. But if honesty and hard work has gone the way of the hand shake, I fear to see what they have been replaced by.

Good luck, Francis, on your new book. And congratulations!!

Well, I guess all good things must eventually come to an end, and it appears that our weather has taken a turn to the North, and brought snow along with it. Although we didn’t get much accumulation from it, the cold temperatures made up for it. We went from the seventies to the thirties pretty quickly. And the  cold wind reminds me of that old song, “If we make it through December”. But now that it is here, we will adjust to it. But we don’t have to like it!!