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