Christmas is one of my most favorite holidays to document. Every year, I look for different opportunities to create memories with our family. This year was different… Christmas during a pandemic. No group activities, no special events, no visits with
Santa, and no joy to be had. Or was there? 

We set out to discover the best local Christmas light displays, and found a new world of wonder right at our fingertips. We discovered the Messengers, a family whose long tradition of creating elaborate Christmas displays that has brought joy to generations of children. Their displays are like walking back through time, offering a glimpse into their past. A family whose joy for the holiday draws families back year after year.

For a brief moment we lost track of the world around us, and all the sorrows of this year. The displays brought instant joy to our hearts and minds, and I realized that this year is not one that should be written off the books. It might just be a year of growth, one that takes us out of our comfort zones and forces us to dig deeper. To look for joy even when it seems that there is none to be had. 
And I say thank you to The Messengers for carrying on this tradition. It is ray of light in a dark time. And so, I encourage everyone to explore their local community this season. You might just have a new story to tell.

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