Almost the night before Christmas. . .

Well. . . HO HO HO, it's almost done! The presents wrapped and under the tree. The food shopping done and waiting in fridge for transformation into delicious Christmas fare (I still suffer under that delusion), and now, today, all that remains is to make the little spicey sugar 'cookies' (biscuits) from this magazine clutched in my hand. I'm sure they will look just like the picture.

Last night, Helen and I took Liam out to see the Christmas lights around the neighbourhood - a very pleasant activity entirely apart from commercialism (apart from the odd bucket by the gate), and a simple well-attended family activity which some kind souls have gone out of their way to make possible.

Upon my return I visited Tracey who was spreading Christmas cheer in the form of a funny dangly Christmas headband and some delicious fat Christmas mince pies and hot tea. Delightful.

An evening or two ago the most delightful PINK sunset filled the evening sky - captured here above the garage next door. It drew me from my present wrapping to see it.

Before heading off to make my biscuits, let me go a little deeper and share something of what's really happening inside - surface stuff is all very well, but the real JOY and PEACE of this and every season is something far more real and profound:
"Am I not enough, Mine own? enough,
Mine own, for thee?
Hath the world its palace towers,
Garden glades of magic flowers,
Where thou fain wouldst be?
Fair things and false are there,
False things and fair.
All shalt thou find at last,
Only in Me.
Am I not enough, Mine own? I, for ever
and alone, I, needing thee?
-Gerhard Tersteegen, 1697-1769