'Tis the season, am I right? Christmas has been, and always will be, my favorite holiday. It’s the season where it is cold outside, but warm in our hearts. It is the only time of the year where I tolerate snow, and I eat more cookies around Christmas than the rest of the year combined.
Plus, I get to give and receive gifts. And although I am proud of that cool pair of slippers I got for my dad, or incredibly thankful for the coziest sweater ever that my mom gave to me, these gifts seem so small compared to the gifts that you cannot wrap. These are gifts that you could never put a price tag on. These gifts have brought me more joy than Santa Claus could ever fit in his sleigh.
Watching my dog play in the snow.
Meet Payton: the sweetest, happiest, and downright clumsiest dog you will could ever meet. She is getting older, and is not as playful as she once was, but watching the snowfall sure brings out the puppy in her. And let me tell ya, watching her prance around in the snow could put a smile on Jack Frost himself.
The lights.
The warm glow of lights strung around trees and the roofs of houses. They light up the neighborhood, and they light up my life.
Singing along to Christmas songs in the car.
Everywhere I go I am playing Christmas music and singing at the top of my lungs. I don’t mean to brag, but a friend of mine and I have mastered a tremendous duet of the entire "Glee" Christmas album, and to be honest, it’s a treat.
My family comes home.
Now that all of my siblings and I are in college, anytime we get to be together is a time to be cherished. Christmas time is the most special of them all; it is packed with numerous traditions. It is laughing at how bad Dad is at Taboo. It is hiding a secret stash of cut-out cookies, because if you don’t, my brother will eat them all before you get any. It is making homemade pizzas and watching "It's a Wonderful Life" on Christmas Eve. It’s listening to all of the love in the room. I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful family to share the holidays with.
Joy.
“I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11) He’s the reason for the season. There is nothing that could make me happier.
I mean every single year I just realize more and more how lucky I really am. I am so thankful to be able to celebrate this holiday with the people I love most.
Let heaven and nature sing. Happy holidays to all.
