A Twinkling of Lights

Fireflies, or glitter, something is sparkling in the pines.
Dancing on the branch tips that sway in the breeze.
Our lights are twinkling in the trees.
I've waited quite a while to have lights up for Christmas. Some years I have wrestled with a few strings, standing precariously on the tallest step stool, making haphazard due with my limited light-hanging skills. But Geoff found a way to make it up to me, a thousand-thousand times. We love our engineer-magician, and the clever way he turns something simple into something simply wonderful!

While Geoff installed his creation, Max and Maria found a hidden space, deep in the mock orange and pine needle beds. And even before actual sunset, Max could already detect the appearance of our twinkling lights.

It is a delicate effect. The tiniest points of light that spread out and up, illuminating the trees... it looks full of fireflies. It looks like a celestial wonderland!

In October, Max and Alex began reading the Harry Potter series to Maria. Now they are on book six! Some days, taking turns, they read nonstop for four or five hours. And Maria, lucky girl, takes it all in, attentively, eagerly. Max and Alex pause to guide her imagination through critical plot points, asking her leading questions, and it's a sight to see when she exclaims in delight over twists and shocks!

The darker the sky, the brighter our lights, and the tiny points of light shimmer and sway when any wind goes through the branches.

Walking along our dark street at night, we love the house lights the neighbors put up. The bright strings of colored lights, the cheery brightness of white lights that sparkle, the trees full of classic large bulbs, and now we too enjoy a festive sight, our own Christmas trees lit up for the night.