Christmas has got to be the most favorite time of year for me. Mostly, of course, for the celebration of our Amazing Lord, but also a time to reflect on the year and look at the good that happened and also the bad that we lived through and survived another day. So much to be grateful for that I wish I could have realized at a younger age, but with age comes wisdom, right? As a child I will forever be grateful for having family for the holidays, for I never had a time that we weren’t with family and a lot of people take that for granted. I always had my mom and dad for Christmas morning, and they always had a spectacular way of making it special no matter how much money they had. Even having multiple Christmas’s because family didn’t get along, because no one has a perfect family, was fine with me, at the time I didn’t even really understand what was going on, I was just happy that I got to spend time with my family. As a parent myself now, I often find myself stressed and understanding of what my parents went through. However, when I see the joy and excitement in my children as they choose gifts for others I begin to worry less about the gifts I need to buy, if I can get a gift for everyone that I want to and weather or not we can get all the bills paid. They are excited to buy gifts weather it be expensive or from the dollar store, their joy in giving a gift shines brighter than their want for a gift and that’s what makes me feel good, like I’m doing something right, I hope. I love that they get excited over beautiful light displays. Every year since my son was born we have gotten them an ornament and I love that they still get excitement in picking out what there’s will be. One year we bought a tree when we visited Portland and I still don’t think they have forgiven us for it, they would rather go up into the surrounding mountain ranges. Two of our children are older, 13 and 10, and they know about Santa, our 4 year old on the other hand still has that belief and wonder of it all, Santa and his reindeer, the movies, the books, the decorations, the tree, the baking and of course, the presents. Although it makes me sad to think it won’t be long until this ends, I remember there always will something they will find the magic in. Our 10 year old still loves baking and making crafts with me and this year was the first year our 13 year old got the chance to cut the tree down. Now I realize that no matter how old they get I hope they hold onto the traditions we have established, I hope they never loose that sense of wonder and magic, I hope they will always realize that giving love is more important than giving gifts.