Normally I'm not into Winter. Everything is cold and dark, days are short and often the sky is clouded and grey. Mostly the dream of a white Christmas stays a dream. The cats roll up in their favorite places and barely raise the head when I leave the house to ride my bike through the cold and wet weather to the office. I had a rotten year with lots of heavy times, losses and many changes to the worse and if I look back, there is a lot that hurts. But in this unpleasant time, there are a few weeks where I like it how people fight the dark with a lot of little lights. The warm light of the chain of lights which are wrapped around some Shrubs and leafless trees have something inviting and something comforting in a time and a world where selfishness, hatred, oppression, wars, terrorism, disasters, death and fear dominate. It reminds me, that there is still hope, even if it is little and quiet. It reminds me, that even if everything looks so hopeless, there is someone who hasn't abandoned his creation yet and he never will. He did not start a war on us, no matter how stupid we are, but came into this world as a helpless little child, to show us the love, our creator has for us. In his hands I will put all my sorrows, my pain, my fears, my hopelessness and my future for he cares for us, more than we ever realize. I really would have these lights staying until spring time, but unfortunately they mostly will be turned of somewhere in January. So I enjoy it now and look forward, cause there is Hope in front of me and there are better times yet to come. So I wish you all a good Christmas time and a happy new year. Stay safe and be blessed The Render is IRAY and still quite a bit grainy. I suspect, the dim light made it render that long (several hours) and left it still that noisy. As usual, every comment welcome! Credits: Character: Cathy (such a lovely gal! An instant Favorite) Hair: Cathy hair Environment: Winter and Winterland trees, Iray Snow, Ice and Ash Ornaments: A Freebie All above from DAZ3D Dress: Xmas 08 for V4 by EvilInnocence from the Freebie section here at Renderosity (I'm always amazed, how good V4 clothes can be conformed to G3F)