It's the cinnamon simmering on the stove, its aroma filling in all of the empty spaces that her love hadn't quite reached yet... Joy is in the garlands, glimmering in the lights, smiling through the snowmen.
holiday traditions
My Gift List Had Two Equal Columns—His World and Mine Still Haven’t Merged
Tangled in silver ribbon, I saw it: two columns of gifts, one for my people, one for Charming's. Thirty-five years of Bible study bonds at his parents' party made me sob for what I lost in Nashville. I wrap presents for new people, gambling they'll still be here next Christmas.
Half My Christmas Lights Keep Dying—Just Like My First Marriage Did
Charming hung and rehung icicle lights three times this weekend. I kept thinking of my ex-husband and how we got better at fixing Christmas lights than our marriage. Some relationships have too many broken strands. But this little house still glows like a beacon—reminding me I'm never alone.
Writer's Growth 