Holiday

Just Take The Photos. Content Warning.
Just take the photos. I know it sounds goofy and people hate smiling or doing weird stuff on camera, but just take the pictures. I know she's forcing you to wear matching christmas pajamas, but just take the photos.
By Kayla Lindleyabout a year ago in Families
Silver and Snow. Runner-Up in Tales of Hearth Challenge.
On the first snow of the season, our village gathers beneath the great evergreen. Breath rises in ghostly wisps as we prepare for the ceremony of light, a tradition passed down since our ancestors, the Icelers founded Icelyn. Banished from their homeland, the Icelers followed the stars deep into the Glaciershade Mountains. Here, under the glow of the northern lights, they built a home rooted in love and magic.
By Emmie Falboabout a year ago in Families
Home is where the (___) is
Home is where the (___) is… What would you say here if it was your job to fill in the blank? assuming you wanted to aim for a true and authentic statement….
By Sam Spinelliabout a year ago in Families
How Angels Get Their Wings
“Great,” I muttered, pulling off the side of the road as the snow drifted down around us. The gas gauge showed half a tank. From the sputtering of the engine and a quick calculation of miles driven since the last trip to the station, I was fairly certain the gauge was lying.
By Mary K Brackettabout a year ago in Families
The Warmth We Cannot Feel. Runner-Up in Tales of Hearth Challenge. Content Warning.
Sargent Sonso was better off alone during the holidays. He hated the noises of the season, and the lights, and the cheer.
By Judah LoVatoabout a year ago in Families
The Christmas Call
Thomas Shaw felt that he had earned his winter recess. A budget proposal had seen a resolution that satisfied even the president. Now, everyone on the Senate could finally relax over a well-deserved break.
By Kent Brindleyabout a year ago in Families
The Christmas Guest
“Paul!” Very few people could get away with calling me “Paul.” Grace was (as yet) the only nonfamilial person. “Paul, that was our turn!”
By Kent Brindleyabout a year ago in Families
The Ghosts of Christmas Past. Runner-Up in Tales of Hearth Challenge.
We used our fireplace once a year. It was a rare treat in a city where acrid killer smogs had led to bans on open fires in private homes. The fireplace was in our drawing room, a well-appointed salon, off limits to children most of the time. It was there my parents received their guests. The place where my mother would usher my sister and me to look people directly in the eye. Give them a firm handshake. And ask, “How do you do?”
By Pitt Griffinabout a year ago in Families
I'll be home for Christmas.
On any other day Lara would have enjoyed watching the snowflakes fall from the sky. Especially since it meant a white Christmas. But today was the absolute worst day for it. It wasn’t even suppose to snow today, but she should have known better than to try driving the mountain pass on Christmas Eve.
By Lane Burnsabout a year ago in Families
Jeffrey Koistinen's Journey Through Grief: Finding Strength After Losing His Beloved Son Liam. AI-Generated.
Watertown, SD — In a heartbreaking turn of events, Jeffrey Koistinen & his family mourn the loss of their beloved Liam Jeffrey Koistinen, a vibrant and joyful 17-month-old, who passed away on July 14, 2021, at Sanford Medical Center in Sioux Falls, SD. A bright light extinguished too soon, Liam's passing has left an indelible mark on his family and community, stirring a wave of grief and calls for justice.
By Jeffrey Koistinenabout a year ago in Families
The True Nature of Relationships
The True Nature of Relationships Life is like a flowing river, ever-changing and constantly moving forward. As it flows, it takes numerous twists and turns, at times flowing with a rush of water, and at other times, it appears calm and still, like a tranquil lake. During this journey, we meet countless people. Some feel close, others simply accompany us for a while before drifting away. However, the true people in our lives are those who stand by us selflessly during times of adversity.
By Dipak Pawarabout a year ago in Families
Can Christmas be Special for Lonely People?
Seven days until Christmas, I noticed as I pulled up my google calendar today: Wednesday, December 18th, 2024. I've been waking up around 3 a.m. the past few nights. Maybe it's because I've been going to sleep around 7 or 8 p.m. I guess we could call that a luxury of being retired, though I tend to think of it as an adjustment or a change that I'm still learning to adapt to.
By Shanon Angermeyer Normanabout a year ago in Families