Still loving lights

Lol...I noticed when I recently returned here that one of my last posts was about lights--holiday lights --Christmas lights--white lights ( for the most part during the "non-Christmas / holiday" season )---and how I enjoy seeing more people and businesses with light displays all year round! We now have two indoor trees ( don't like the word "artificial --but not growing --how's that ) --about five feet tall counting the bases ---and we keep them lit --with white lights--all year. The other decorations are changed throughout the year, to keep with the seasons--and are pretty minimal--just enough to accent the lights --and the time of year. Right now --as winter draws slowly ( here in New England, very slowly, as we are experiencing a snow storm today through tomorrow ) to a close--we have a birds nest and pinecones --a few other "woodsy" decorations along with white lights ....and our decorations are always intended to make the trees look natural and lifelike. Beautiful during the day ...warm, bright, peaceful, and comforting at night. During the holiday / Christmas season ( which extends from just prior to Thanksgiving through January ) include deer / reindeer --a Christmas tree--some bushes--and our statue of Mary that is the focus of a spotlight .....the rest of the year the shrine to Mary, next to a three foot tall pine shrub, are lit...and the light pole at the end of the walkway stays lit until mid-April---and will be covered with white lights again in October .... We have noticed even more homes and businesses with light displays year round..and why not? The world seems to be out of control...so much mean-ness and tension...and the world moves so quickly ...way too quickly for many of us....our lights and I suspect the lights left lit throughout the year by others is just an effort to present a welcome..a sense of peace....something to prompt a smile and momentary sliver of calm .....and a reminder that there is more to just life here ..the lights for some of us anyway also reflect the stars in the heavens....a presence beyond what we can see .... As far as I'm concerned, we need more peace, more calm, more smiles ...and more lights....