Christmas is a time for family, friends, and loved ones.

It's the time of year when -- no matter what is happening -- we take the time out of our busy lives to spend time with those we love.

Christmas has always been and will always be my favorite holiday.

Growing up, Christmas was the time that all my family got to be together. Now, with as big a family as mine, that really should be some sort of feat. It was the time of year I could always count on seeing distant cousins and catching up on everything we had missed over the last year.

As I got older, Christmas only became more and more important to me. To my grandma, Christmas was the best holiday. It was a time for family and a time for God and in her eyes -- there was nothing better.

I remember as my grandma went through her journey with breast cancer, chemo, and all the various treatments, the only thing she ever talked about was getting to see everyone at Christmas. Despite how hectic her life had become, Christmas still was the best thing to her.

It was October when we lost my grandma. But you never would have known.

Christmas lights hung around the house, fake snow machines showed up to make our caroling seem more realistic. The Christmas tree was up and music filled the house with early holiday cheer.

One last Christmas with the woman who had taught us all how important God, family, and Christmas were.

Now that she's gone, Christmas holds an even more special place in my heart. Christmas is the time that I know she is here the most. It's also the time that I miss her the very most. Something about spending her favorite holiday without her just feels so empty and wrong.

No matter what Christmas will still be my very favorite holiday.

It is a time for giving, caring, and spending time with the people who mean the very most to you. I would do anything to spend my Christmas with the woman who taught me how important it is to begin with.

This Christmas, don't forget the reason why we celebrate the season. Don't forget to hold your family close.

"And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people." - Luke 2:10