Jack Frost decorated as only he can in preparation for this, the shortest day of the year.

“And so the Shortest Day came and the year died

And everywhere down the centuries of the snow-white world

Came people singing, dancing,

To drive the dark away.

They lighted candles in the winter trees;

They hung their homes with evergreen;

They burned beseeching fires all night long

To keep the year alive.

And when the new year's sunshine blazed awake

They shouted, revelling.

Through all the frosty ages you can hear them

Echoing behind us - listen!

All the long echoes, sing the same delight,

This Shortest Day,

As promise wakens in the sleeping land:

They carol, feast, give thanks,

And dearly love their friends,

And hope for peace.

And now so do we, here, now,

This year and every year.”

~Susan Cooper

We are in the midst of Christmas preparations.

I just lit the Christmas tree,

some candles,

and I sit in anticipation of the arrival

of my daughter and her children.

We plan to "drive the dark away"

by eating pizza,

visiting the Broadmoor to ohh and ahh

over the fancy decorations

and beautiful lights.

We'll drink a bit of hot chocolate, I'm sure.

Maybe, when we get home,

we'll make a few cookies.

Tonight,

we will give thanks,

and hope for peace

as we celebrate this, the shortest day of the year.

I hope all is well with you and yours as Christmas fast approaches.

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Winter Soltice