“I manage a toast to the Christmas tree and one to the sweet absurdity in the miracle of the verb to be. Lucky you, lucky me.” ― Miller Williams

I was going to write a prayer for peace in our Holiday letter this year. I first started quoting “Silent Night,” “Silent night. Holy Night. All is calm. All is bright.” Then, I thought about the song, “Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.” The thought struck me that peace feels like a miracle right now in the middle of all that is. Perhaps this letter is still a prayer for peace in the form of a prayer that we notice miracles. Miracles like everyday blessings. Miracles like connecting with ourselves and others. Miracles like our bodies healing. Miracles like loving-kindness. Indeed, to be is a miracle.

In the spirit of catching our family and friends up on the miracles for Greg and me this year, I want to say “Thank you.” Thank you to the friends and family we visited and visited us. Thank you, Virginia Highland Church. Thank you, Third Thursday Supper Club. Thank you, Ireland, for an amazing two-week adventure in August. Thank you, National Trust for Local News, for Greg’s opportunity there. Thank you, Substack, for my creative exploration there — https://substack.com/katiesteedlycurling. Thank you for 80th birthdays and a 60th wedding anniversary, Judy and Gary Steedly. Thank you for the clean bills of health for several people we hold dear. It is all a miracle.

I still want this letter to be a prayer for peace in the coming year. May we hold each other close. May we know joy deep in our hearts. May good health surround us all. May we seek and find miracles, big and small. Lucky you, lucky me that we travel this journey together.

Love,

Katie