As the year draws to a close, our home is filled with the glow of lights, the shimmer of cherished ornaments, and the spirit of the season. Each decoration holds a memory, from angels watching over us to the Nativity scene that reminds us of the humble birth of Christ, our Savior.
This Christmas, we celebrate the greatest gift of all: God’s love made manifest through the birth of Jesus Christ. May the peace of His presence fill your hearts and homes, bringing comfort, joy, and hope that transcends all seasons.
As we gather with loved ones, let us remember the message of the angels: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.”
From our family to yours, may this holy season be a time of deep gratitude, boundless love, and renewed faith in the light that shines in the darkness.
Pam’s Christmas Decorations 2024
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Copyright 2024 All Rights Reserved Michael Stephen Wills
Here, on the playground, the morning stretches wide— a sky so blue it swallows you whole. And you, a small figure, climbing the red pillar, moving hand over hand up the ropes that knot and twist like veins, like lifelines.
I watch from below, the ground a familiar place where footsteps fall and scatter— but you, you are ascending, breath held in the still air. Nothing is simple in this moment, yet everything is—
the cord that bends beneath you, the thrill in your chest, the boots pressed firm against braided paths.
If I could speak, if words were clear as the day, I’d tell you how these small victories— climbing high, standing above— are etched into the bones of memory. Someday, you’ll look back and wonder at the web of ropes, the pillar red against autumn’s burn, and the vastness that carried you up, into light, into air,
where fear gave way to joy, and the sky leaned close, just to watch you rise.
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Copyright 2024 All Rights Reserved Michael Stephen Wills
Discover the charm of Cocoa Beach’s enchanted sunset where Olaf, the endearing snowman from “Frozen,” joins athletes in a celebration of imagination and sport on Florida’s magical Space Coast.
Olaf, with his carrot nose and coal-button smile, is the epitome of the whimsy and innocence that fills the hearts of those who dare to dream. He’s the spark of childlike wonder that persists even as the day gives way to night. As the sun dips below the horizon at Cocoa Beach, the playful contrast of a snowman who loves warm hugs stands out against the backdrop of Florida’s Space Coast—a place known for its rocket launches as much as its sun-soaked shores. It’s here, on this stretch of sand, that imagination and reality dance in the twilight, blurring the lines between a tale from the silver screen and the tangible joy of a beach evening.
The presence of Olaf in this coastal setting is an unexpected delight, akin to the wonder of snowflakes in summer. He is more than a snowman; he is the manifestation of Elsa’s magic, a symbol of enduring friendship and the embodiment of the happiness that comes from simply being alive. His creation, a whimsical result of Elsa’s ice powers, speaks to the capacity we all have for creation and transformation. The Olaf suit, worn by a young athlete, represents not just a beloved character, but a beacon of joy and the power of sportsmanship that enlivens the USSSA National All State Championship.
Don DeDonatis, CEO of USSSA, speaks of the excitement of hosting a tournament that is a “celebration of talented softball players from around the country.” Indeed, it’s a parallel to the celebration of life that Olaf represents—where each athlete, like each snow crystal, is unique and contributes to the beauty of the whole. The tournament at the Space Coast Complex in Viera, Florida, is a tribute to the hard work and dreams of young athletes, much like the dream that brought Olaf to life.
The sunset photograph of Cocoa Beach, snapped in December 2023, is not just a capture of a moment in time, but a timeless reminder of the enchantments that life offers. The beach becomes a stage where each footprint tells a story, and each wave sings a song. It’s a place where memories are made, where the spirit of characters like Olaf can leap out of their fictional realms and into our world, if only for an evening.
Brevard County’s Space Coast is a junction where the vastness of space meets the intimacy of earth, where shuttles launch into the cosmos while children build sandcastles, and where a snowman can stand on a beach without melting, embraced by the warmth of the setting sun rather than the chill of winter. It’s a testament to the human spirit’s boundless creativity and our ability to find joy in the juxtaposition of opposites.
This enchanted evening is a tapestry woven from the threads of fantasy and reality, sport and art, the cosmos and the coastline. It’s where the horizon kisses the sea, where the sky becomes a canvas for the sun’s parting masterpiece, and where Olaf, our friend from “Frozen,” reminds us that magic is not just in the realm of fairytales but all around us, in every grain of sand, in every sunset, and in every heart that believes in the wonder of one enchanted evening.
Copyright 2024 Michael Stephen Wills All Rights Reserved
Michael Stephen Wills Photography 