It’s Christmas day, and as the kids grumble about the gifts they didn’t receive, you’re in the kitchen, surrounded by the sharp aroma of minced onions while completing the repetitive task of removing the thick, robust skin of the potatoes. The kitchen is filled with the pungent and sweet fragrance of herbs as the flavors ...

Crisp white flakes pour down They paint earth’s brown canvas bright They bring forth new life

Louise tossed on her bed and turned onto her back. She twisted a blond curl splayed out on the pillow. The lights strung on the bushes outside her window took turns glowing red and green on her ceiling. In the predawn hours, Louise rose and pulled on a flannel shirt and jeans. She slid on ...

days start to feel longerexcitement slowly buildingChristmas holidays lurk on the horizonenjoying the sharing of joymaking families happy bearing gifts and loveearning smiles each timerepeating every year

“Are you sure all the presents are wrapped?” “Yes.” “Positive?” Paul laughed, placing a hand on his wife’s knee to prevent her from getting off the couch. “Dani. I’m sure. All the presents are wrapped and accounted for.” “I’m just checking! You know if Noah ends up with more presents than Penny, it’s going to ...