A Partridge in a Pear Tree...

The lighted crib glowed in the shadowy chancel like the star of Bethlehem itself, and the aromatic smell of the evergreens added to the spirit of Christmas.  Later, the bells would ring out and the winter sunshine would touch the flowers and silver on the altar with brightness.  All would be glory and rejoicing, but there was something particularly lovely and holy about these quiet early morning devotions, and the two sisters prefered to  attend then, knowing that the rest of the morning would be taken up with the cheerful ritual of Christmas Day cooking."

Village Christmas

Miss Read 

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Christ is Born!  Glorify Him!

I hope that you had a very happy Christmas Day!  We had a lovely one.  Father John and I woke the children early in the morning before Liturgy to open stockings as a family and it was so sweet to watch them start pulling out the first little treasures with sleepy eyes and by the end, a few minutes later, be bright and bushy-tailed with excitement!

We feasted late in the day with some of our extended family which was 'perfection,' as Button would say.  Dinner was happy and good with no cooking mishaps (phew!).  Look at the flowers on the table!  They are silver dollar eucalyptus and Mikado spray roses and, in combination with the silver vase and beeswax candles, are exactly what I was hoping for.  

I am ending this first day of Christmas with a little toasted Christmas bread with loads of butter and a viewing of Little Women.  I am already dreaming of our breakfast of bacon and eggs with the lights of the tree glowing nearby!