For unto us a child is born.

I hope everyone had a blessed holiday weekend. Whether you stayed close to home or traveled elsewhere to spend your break, I hope you enjoyed spending time with your family and friends. Christmas isn't about all the gifts, but it's about being with the ones you love.

I am blessed to have all of these people in my life and I didn't deserve half of the presents I got, but I am so thankful for each and every one of them. The big things I got this year were a crock pot, a Ninja blender, a Chinese garden stool, all new bedding for my room, and a pair of Toms. The presents were nice and all, but the real blessing this Christmas is having a family to come home to. I was on Facebook and I came across someone who posted a status saying he was at home alone and he wished Christmas was over. That's a miserable way to spend the holiday. I'm thankful I have a loving family to spend this season with.

I can't help but to think about what the parents from the Connecticut shooting must have felt like to not have their babies to share the magic of Santa with this year. I'm sure presents were already bought for those children and it must have been hard to watch them go unwrapped. I held my grandparents tight for a good minute or two this past weekend and my nieces and nephews even tighter. You never know if they will be there next year. I was reminded that Christmas is one of those holidays where it sucks really bad when you've lost somebody. Every year, I think of my grandmother who isn't with us anymore. It's been three years, and I miss those goodies she used to give out every year. Thinking about it now, I didn't lose a single (immediate) family member this year. Wow. That's a blessing. For all of those who did lose someone this year, I hope that you found peace this Christmas. I hope that you felt the love and joy that the holidays bring. I hope you set aside the presents and focused on family time. I hope that you felt the comfort of your loved ones looking down on you and I hope that you were able to smile knowing you'd see them again one day all because a child was born on this beautiful night. Happy Birthday, Jesus and Merry Christmas, everyone!

Big thanks to Mommy, Daddy, Jimmy, The Meadows, The McClellans, The Simms, The Osborns, The McCarleys, The Marions, and The (other) Simms for everything you gave me this year. You were all too nice to me and I appreciate you giving me the best Christmas ever! I love you all so much!