Twilight

As Ken and I left our Florida home one year ago, I never could've imagined my life as it is right now. I'm still amazed that I'm living in Lake Saint Louis, surrounded by nature, loving neighbors and new friends, without Ken by my side. So much change in such a short time.

We arrived at the apartment in St. Charles (with excitement and trepidation) about this time (5:00) Sunday, December 16th, and were in a race to beat the encroaching dark to unload the Suburban. I walked into the apartment and couldn't believe my eyes -- Ken had gotten us a little Christmas tree, decorated it, added a Santa snow globe to the mantle, and put a few little presents under the tree -- including the pair of slippers I'm wearing right now. They are white ballerina-style with baby blue stripes and little snowmen on the top. On the bottom of one it says "Let It" and the other one says "Snow!"

I had been lamenting because I couldn't decorate the Florida house since we were leaving, and I was feeling blue -- like I was missing Christmas all together. He made sure we had our first Christmas in our new place for the start of our new life together. One more thoughtful act added to the long list of his countless love gestures.

Tonight, I look around my living room; the mantle is decorated with pine boughs and soft white pine cone lights, the Christmas tree is sparkling, Barney is asleep by my side and night is falling. Through the atrium windows I see the snow literally glowing periwinkle blue, the outline of the naked forest is silver, and there is just a hint of peach at the tree-line from the sun saying goodnight. I feel immeasurably blessed.

This time of day and dawn are my favorite -- the sky is a color you can't find in a Crayola box -- it's a cross between cobalt blue, amethyst and platinum. It stays light just a tad longer, as daylight refuses to leave and bounces off the snow. Serenity wraps me in its warmth and I feel Ken's love around me.

All is calm...all is bright...sleep in heavenly peace.