Feliz Navidad! Bonne Noel!

Merry Christmas to all! I am feeling particularly blessed and happy this year, not because I received more or better gifts than in previous years, but rather because today has given me an opportunity to be truly grateful for the people in my life who are closest to me. There is one person missing this year - one person who did not sit among us this morning as we laughed and opened gifts. My grandmother was taken from us just a few weeks ago and I missed her presence keenly in the gaiety today. There are no words to describe the loss or the amazing person she was and I will not attempt it here. However, our loss also reminded me to look around at the people I still have in my life. I have been so blessed with loving parents, crazy siblings, a wonderful aunt, good friends, and an incredibly special boyfriend. Although those present will never replace those absent, today, I am looking around and appreciating those still here. I am blessed, not so much with material things, but with people whom I love.

Merry Christmas!