*Drum Roll*

Ok, so I am a little excited about Christmas.

I am also a little depressed.

The holidays are bittersweet for me personally. There are so many people who made it so special. I did not see my family often, but I appreciate the time they took to create a wonderland. Then, there are the days when I got older and it took on a whole new meaning. It was not the whole "I should get presents, no matter what age I am" thing either.

It is the joy of the season. It is the lack of appreciation and love. It is the anniversary of the birth of a great man, they say. Yet, there are those who make an excuse to be nice just this time of the year. All of these things conflict so much with what Christmas truly means.

*DRUM ROLL*

What does Christmas mean to you?

Is it stressful, tiring and unbearable? Is it joyous, happy and unforgettable? Or is it a mix of the two?

If you asked me today...both. I am beyond excited about giving my son his presents this year. I cannot wait until my husband sees what I got him (and yes, it is more than clothes). At the same time, we are missing so many people. There are ghosts that stand at the empty chairs. There are images of a past that cannot be for the now.

Be grateful. Always.