Yesterday was the First Advent: we lit a candle, and next Sunday we’ll light two, then three – and then four candles on the last week before Christmas Eve. These four Advents mark the Christmas holiday season for our family: gingerbread and cookies, snowflakes and slow walks in the park…

This is the first time in four years that I am spending the holidays with my family.

I realize only now how much I have always missed them.

…

Here’s an old video I’ve been saving up all this time:

The Chinese character for family is 家 (jia), and it shows a roof on top and a pig on the bottom.

Pig under roof.

Family.