After a long, long first semester, there is nothing better than going home for break. Thanksgiving break or winter break, it doesn't matter. Nothing beats the feeling of walking into your house after a long, boring drive, and being welcomed home by your pets that you probably haven't seen in months.

The icing on the top of the cake is seeing your parents. Hugging your mom, actually hugging her, is probably the best feeling in the world. Then relaxing with Dad and catching up on the basics of school, work, and, of course, football.

You're used to living in an apartment or dorm with no food, dirty laundry, and binge watching your latest obsession on Netflix. You come home to freshly washed sheets, a full fridge, and all of those movies you've been missing. Not to mention you get to sleep in your own bed. YOUR OWN BED! I know, it's really exciting. There's nothing like sleeping in your bed in your old room.

Reuniting with your high school friends is like stepping into a time machine. It's amazing that once the group is reunited, it's like none of us even moved away. It's the perfect time to forget all about those horrible finals you have to study for when you get back to campus, or the finals you just finished taking.

Visiting your favorite restaurants that only exist in your hometown is such a treat. You've been craving this hometown favorite for months, and now it's only a 15 minute drive away, not three hours. Plus, going back to your favorite spots from high school is always fun trip down memory lane.

But nothing quite beats the time you get to spend with your family. If your family is anything like mine, everyone has crazy schedules and it's next to impossible to get everyone in the same place for very long. This Thanksgiving, we will all be spending the holiday together for the first time in years.

The continuing of family traditions that we now get to share with my niece and nephew is the greatest blessing.