A quiet Christmas....

It's true that the magic and mystery of the season is strongest in the hearts of children. The excitement and anticipation are less tangible without the children in the house, dancing around a Christmas tree soon to be surrounded by gifts.

So we're thinking about the years we were embraced by the warmth of family and traditions and are now sharing our holidays with friends, old and new.  There are many gifts to be found in change: the gift for us here is a deeper appreciation for beauty of Christmas and how it opens us to gratitude.

We send along our wishes for a beautiful holiday filled with God's Peace and Joy, and a Happy and Hopeful New Year.

We've just returned to Portland after two and a half weeks in Maryland and Virginia to celebrate Thanksgiving, birthdays, family and friendship.  Thank you to all who's hospitality made this such a lovely visit: quiet relaxing days at my mom's house (Molly Baker also known as Gigi to her greatgranddaughters) in Southern Maryland, my sister Marilyn Baker in Laurel, Maryland, my daughter Blaire (also called Liz) and her husband James in Richmond, Virginia, with their daughters Eva and Mimi, and our friends in Fredericksburg, the Hansons, the Craigs, the Semieas, and Matareses.