Hey, how can it be only four days from Christmas? Each year I tell myself I’ll buy little gifts early, when I see them in my daily travels. But each year, I don’t. In that moment in July or August when I stumble upon, say, the perfect hand-painted scarf for one of my sisters in a out-of-the way book store, or a buttery-soft leather jacket for my husband on sale, half off, or one-of-a-kind letter openers for my co-workers at a street fair, I think, I should get these now, but then I think, oh no, no, it’s way too early to be thinking of Christmas. Besides, I say, I’ll probably stick this stuff in a drawer somewhere and forget that I ever bought it, which does actually happen sometimes. Once, years after their purchase, I found beaded bracelets tucked in a box high on a closet shelf while looking for something else. So, I always wait until December to shop and end up darting through the rain, list in hand, coming home hours later, exhausted. And then there’s all the wrapping to do. Oh, but the tree is lovely, the music is sweet, Jesus’ message is powerful, the memories of seasons past are rich, tonight’s fire is warm, my husband is kind and the anticipation of gathering with loved ones over the next few days fills me with happiness. When Christmas comes, I’ll be ready, maybe even relaxed. And this is as good a place as any to end this post; my computer’s battery is running low, and I’m too cozy to get up, walk to the other room and plug it in.