I’m lying in bed at my folks, Rudi asleep at my side. All our presents are wrapped and under the tree, and I have Christmas Eve on Sesame Street playing on the VCR. But my eyes keep closing, so it will be a challenge to get to the end.

Here are three beautiful things from the past week:

1. Driving north, so late at night that it’s nearing morning, Rudi and I see a meteor fall through the sky.

2. Two feet of snow blanket the District. Rudi, John, and I spend the afternoon out playing in it. We throw snowballs, make snow angels (okay, that might just have been me), and laugh until we’re exhausted. It’s a rare treat for the mid-Atlantic.

3. On the way home from church tonight, Dad and I see fireworks light up the horrizon. I like to think of it as someone expressing their joy to the world.

What beautiful things have you noticed lately?

Wishing you a very merry Christmas!