December 26th

The first thing I saw when I walked into the living room was a glint of tiny gold stars scattered on the rug.  The room was still and empty early in the morning of December 26th--not at all the way it had been the day before.  And there they were--shiny little reminders of the deep joy of a day with family all around.

Santa sprinkles gold stars in at least one little gift that the kids get.  It's part of his magic.  Now that they're grown, the guys usually open carefully, on the lookout for the surprise glitter shower of happy messiness.  But Will's Cecilia is new to the tradition, and so the place on the rug where she sat to open her gifts was still sparkling the next morning.  So was my heart.

Cecilia brings warmth and joy whenever she comes to visit; and when she goes home, a little of it lingers.

She's my role model--she and her sparkly perimeter.

A Christmas Hippy (or Angel)
with ribbon and a glitter star from her Santa gift.