The snow is good for the darkest days. Christmas is the ornament of the year, which is best enjoyed in a white setting. And when the earth is completely covered in white snow, one first begins to believe that, here in the northern hemisphere, Christmas will come on time as it usually does. Then the mind seeks friends more often than it takes time for at other times of the year. The hustle and bustle that accompany our modern, demanding culture strain and take their toll on people’s joy in life, but at Christmas time they let go, give free rein to their childish nature, buy themselves increased joy in the company of good friends without considering the cost, let toil and worries wait for a better time...

In the summer of 1889, we moved north to Winnipeg from North Dakota where my parents had lived for the previous ten years. And now Christmas was approaching. What more could I look forward to? It had been a few weeks since we Sunday school children had begun to learn the Christmas carols that were to be sung on Christmas Eve. Christmas was to be celebrated in church with hymn singing, candlelight, and even a decorated Christmas tree. – The idea really captivated the childlike soul in me, for I had never even imagined such glory. I struggled to learn the verses by heart and never missed singing practice. The excitement and anticipation grew with each passing day until I could think of nothing else and I felt like I would burst.

My father Wayne Brandson and I wanted the full Icelandic experience; we had to find our inner Viking and ride Icelandic horses! June 14, 2010, was a magical day. We were in Iceland and determined that our innate Viking or Icelandic cowboy ability would shine through. The first thing that we had to do on reaching the stables was to wear suitable clothing as it was still overcast, cold, and potentially wet outside. We were dressed in bright orange rain gear. I wondered if this was merely a precautionary measure in case the horse took off – the guide could see an orange meatball disappear over the ridge...