Merry Christmas and Happy Hearth's Warming/Holidays! · 6:42pm Dec 25th, 2018

It's that time of year again, folks!

Yes, it's Christmas once again. And of course, that means different things to different people. For some it's simply a time of giving and receiving gifts, for some it's a time of helping those less fortunate than others, for others still it's a time to spend with friends and family while stuffing your face full and watching Christmas movies and specials.

Yet for some (such as myself) Christmas is a time of year marked by holy religious significance. It is the day when Jesus Christ was born, becoming man so as to save the world from sin and death, while also carrying out God's work and teaching the ways of God in a world led astray. We remember not only Mary, who gave birth to her first born son in a manger when there was no room at the local inn, and her bethrothed husband Joseph who was by her side the whole time. But also the wisemen, the three kings of old, who followed a star in the night sky that signaled a savior had been born. Not to mention the sheppards who while tending to their flock in the fields, were greeted by a heavenly angel in all its glory and were told that the day was a day of great joy for all men.

There's no denying that 2018 has been a turbulent year for many. We lost a lot of good men and women, some expected and some unexpected. Politics became even more bitter and nasty, to the point where it could no longer be counted as fact that the differences would be settled at the ballot box. Global conflicts and human rights violations seem to be on the rise as countries the world over question their leadership and whether the policies of old still work in this age of instant information. And of course, in the show, we had the leakiest of all seasons and a season that for many was marked by great change but also massive disappointment.

But we must hold out hope that even when things are looking their bleakest for the first time in decades, there is still light at the end of the tunnel. That we will come out of this stronger than ever, filled with a new sense of purpose and duty, and an understanding once again of our mission, to bring about peace on earth and ensure goodwill toward all. I want to thank all of you following me, particularly for those of you who I've been blessed to work with on various projects. And I hope I will continue to do you all proud in 2019 and beyond. Even if the show wraps up next year, I for one intend to stick around and keep writing. Just because the show ends doesn't mean the fandom has to.

So let me end this blog post with some songs to get you all in the Christmas spirit. First up is this wonderful little comedic gem:

Then something to show off the fandom's talent (and a song I think could work wonders for Gallusstream):

And finally, on this the year that marked the one hundredth anniversary of the armstice that ended World War I, I present a song inspired by the famous Christmas Truce of 1914: