With the holidays approaching I always reflect on how lucky I am. For me, family means everything. Although I don't say it enough I have the best family and I am one lucky gal to have them. My family may be small and a bit unconventional in societies standards, but I wouldn't trade them for the world.

I have an incredibly strong single mom, a selfless and protective old brother, and the three most supportive sisters. My mom would do anything to make sure her children are all happy and living a good life. I mean can we just give my mom a round of applause for the outstanding children she has raised? She was able to get four kids through college and give us an opportunity to change our lives. Not everyone gets that lucky.

During this time of year you realize not everybody has a happy family to go home to or they don't have the roof over their head like I have. I don't have to go home and dread being with my family. In fact, it's the exact opposite. I want nothing but time with my family. I love nothing more than running errands with my mom or sitting around with everyone and telling stories.

My mom has done a lot to give us all of these things and with all of the hardships and difficulties we have gone through it has only made my family stronger and closer.

For anyone that doesn't have the family that they particularly enjoy, I hope one day you can create your own family where you can feel the same love and happiness that I enjoy. Because, nothing feels better than the endless support I always feel from my family. I just wish everyone could experience that same feeling.

" If you want to know how rich you are, find out how many things you have that money cannot buy."

I like to live by this quote because at the end of the day, if nothing works out for me I have my family to lean on. I know that whatever choices I make in life they will be able to pick me up when I am down.

Therefore, fellow Gatto fam, you guys rock.