This is such a magical time of year

There’s something magical about the month of December that I’ve always held close. I know, I know — plenty of people groan the moment the sun dips below the horizon a little earlier each day.

The darkness settles over our Valley like a heavy blanket, stretching itself across the late afternoons and swallowing up the evenings before we’re even ready. But me? I love it.

I can’t quite explain it, except to say that this season brings a comfort that feels almost ancient — like it’s woven into the way my bones grew up learning the world. And listen, I’m someone who loves brightness. My home is dressed in white and light gray walls, anything that reflects rather than absorbs. I want the lights on, the shadows gone, nothing lurking around the edges to distort my view or distract my focus. But D