Thursday, December 25, 2014

Christmas 1946

My Father served in WWII from 1942 to 1945.  He married my Mom in February of 1946.   December 25th found them celebrating their first Christmas together.  They overcame obstacles and family upheavals to be married.  During the war my Dad had written many beautiful letters to Mom.  I'm hoping to get them from ink to computer one day so they can be preserved and shared with family.  This is a letter my Dad wrote to Mom on their first Christmas.  It shows his ability to write...but more importantly his love for Mom.  I hope everyone can have a love like this in their lifetime...and also a very Merry Christmas, 2014.
                                 
                               A LOVE LETTER TO MARY
                                
Dearest Mary,
     I am going to try and write this before you get home today so I don't know exactly how much time I will have. Not enough I know to wish you the kind of Merry Christmas I would like, but perhaps enough time is mine in which to tell you that this is the best and happiest Christmas I have ever had.
     All the dreams of those dark days long ago, but which I still remember, have been fulfilled.  I can sit here now and look at our first Christmas tree and marvel that all this is mine.  There is no snow as in other years, but I never wished for snow.  I wanted you, a home, and all the little bits of laughter and joy, yes even the unhappiness that comes now and then in every home.  I wanted the chance to love and hold you and now I have every bit of that.  Do you ever feel so quiet and content that it seems the whole world has stopped?  I do.  There is a wonderful warmth that comes from the fact that I can see, feel, and even breathe the little things that are here, that are you.  There is nothing that man could want that is not mine today.   I feel as though all the Christmas carols that are sung and all God's blessings of this day are for us alone.  All the cold, unhappiness, and grief are outside.  We keep them locked out of our hearts for there is no room for anything but the love and peace we have found in doing what our hearts told us was right.
     I guess I'm doing a bum job of this, but I do want you to know that I love you and always will, and that this Christmas is just the first in what I know is going to be a long succession of happy ones.
     Merry Christmas Dearest, and know forever that you have brought the happiest year that I have ever known.  If the world should end tomorrow, I could feel that in loving you it has been worth while.
                                     Love always,
                                        Carl
    

16 comments:

Shady Del Knight said...

This special Christmas post is absolutely wonderful, dear YaYa. Your father was a very lucky man to have experienced that degree of peace, contentment and love. Your mother was lucky to have such a devoted husband and you were lucky to have such a great father. I wish he was still alive today to read this touching tribute on your blog.

I am thinking of my own dad today because he passed away on Christmas day 13 years ago.

Merry Christmas to you and yours, dear friend YaYa!

Kay G. said...

It is a very good thing to read something so full of love on Christmas morning. What a blessing to share this beautiful love letter. (And your Dad could certainly write!!)
Merry Christmas to you and your family!!
Love, Kay

Rick Watson said...

Beautiful post Yaya. Those letters could make a book.
Let me know when you get them down, and I can help you get them on CreateSpace for printing.
Rick

betty said...

Loved the picture of your parents, Yaya! And this letter was so sweet; he thought he was doing a "bad" job expressing his thoughts to your mom, but I thought he did an excellent job of it; I'm sure your mom treasured it then and for always! How sweet too to put the letters together in some form to be preserve for future generations.

Merry Christmas!

betty

Rosaria Williams said...

What a beautiful memento you have! So glad the letters were saved and treasured all these years. Thanks for sharing this one with us.

Willow said...

Such a lovely post YaYa .
Wising you , and your lovely family a very Merry Christmas

MunirGhiasuddin said...

It is very nice of you to save the letters and now post them.
I can see in your blogs the special qualities of your parents.

selvageedge said...

Beautiful letter. Made me cry. Awesome tinsel. Made me laugh. :)
Merry Christmas!

Kerri said...

What a beautiful love letter that your dad wrote to your mom. What a blessing to know that kind of love and what an awesome example they must be to you and your own marriage. Thanks for sharing! I got a little teary as I was reading it. Merry Christmas to you and your family!

rjerdee said...

So sweet, Kathy.

gin said...

So special! Hope you are recovering well from your surgery.

Nonnie said...

What a beautiful expression of his love, joy and contentment in his heart. Great pic of your mom and dad with their icicle laden tree. Such a treasure.

Karen Whittal said...

What an inspiration, how amazing is that so beautiful, pity letter writing is a dying art.

Hilary said...

How beautiful for your family to have these words of love from your father to your mother. A beautiful family foundation.

Julia said...

Wow, your dad could express hi sentiments with such skill. His words comes straight from the heart and it's so beautiful. What a treasure for you and your family.

Thanks for sharing this beautiful love letter.

I was only a month old then when this letter was written.
Hugs,
JB

Unknown said...

That is such a beautiful letter!! Makes me wish we didn't do everything electronically. What a beautiful realist and romantic he was.