51: The two shall become one

My fiftieth Christmas and my second Solstice. I never knew I'd be able to say that this was the best holiday of my life, to date. Exceeded my expectations and fulfilled a deep place in me. Thankful that new beginnings are possible and that both old and new holidays can provide the right mix of sentiment and imagination. Candles are out, but the memories linger.

50: The best night of the year: Solstice!

We celebrated Solstice on the 26th in order to make sure all the kids could participate. The young woman next to Jacob is his best friend, Jano. We exchanged handmade gifts, decorated cupcakes, made candles and tossed regrets and wishes into a fire. The most meaningful event of our year, we all agreed.