Grace's new playhouse, day after Christmas

It's taken some time to assemble, but now everyone and everything is where it needs to be.

For the moment.

Things will change as time goes by.

Part of the joy of the season is in the hour passing as you watch, without her knowing you're watching, the child move things around, try this and that, experiment; and part of the joy is in the hour that has now become the next hour when she's changed everything again.

Her name is Grace, she's 4 years old and lives with her mommy and daddy and baby sister in Portland, Oregon. And for the moment she has things just right.

Watch Grace work with such joyful diligence, talking to herself, singing as she puts things where she thinks they should be, and even you--old, sad, unbelieving you--might believe that the world really is a child playing, as the ancient philosopher is supposed to have said.