For those who celebrate, I hope all the preparations are nearly done.

I know, traditionally, trees were not put up until Dec. 24 - and in times and cultures when Advent was more strictly celebrated than it is now, many of the preparations for celebration were not done until this day. (Even my father, when he was growing up - they did not put up their tree until the 24th, and the children did not participate! Which always made me sad to think about as a kid, because decorating the tree was one of my favorite things).

And of course, tonight is the big church service. For me, this is when Christmas really 'arrives' - especially at that moment towards the end of the service, where we all have lit candles that have been lit from the Christ candle in the center of the Advent wreath, and we hold them up (symbolizing how, hopefully, we each carry a part of His light with us) and sing Silent Night. And then how quiet it is afterward, and how people hug and even kiss who normally are not that open in their greetings and emotions, and how everyone wishes everyone else a Merry Christmas, and then we all go home. And I have to admit, now, as an adult, the next morning with its presents almost feels a little anticlimactic, after the beauty of the night before. Would that all people knew that sense of togetherness and belonging and being part of something larger that fills that old church every December 24th.