The Season of Advent

Each year about this time, Southwestern University, in Georgetown, Texas, becomes magical when their Lois Perkins Chapel  is filled with the soft light created by  hundreds of candles at  their annual Candlelight Service celebrating the Season of Advent.   The first year I attended this for the Williamson County Sun, I asked a person in charge if there was anything they didn’t want me to do.   The lady quickly said “No flash photography.”   Not wanting to be obtuse,  I smiled and said, “Of course.”   Sometimes, it’s not worth explaining to someone that a flash won’t carry very far in a huge chapel, anyway.  With so much natural light, there is no need to detract in any way.   At any rate, this year’s service was, as usual, beautiful and moving as hundreds joined together singing “Silent Night” and others.    One little lady that particularly charmed me was 4-year-old Gaia Crenshaw, pictured in the opening photo (and several more times here).  She was enchanted by all the lovely light.  Freya, her 5-month-old sister, is shown with their mom, Molly.  Also along was daddy, Marshal Crenshaw.   Both mom and dad are Southwestern graduates.   At events like this, it’s not uncommon for my visual attentions to focus on the children.   They’re always amazing.