I LOVE CHRISTMAS!

Seriously, I love EVERYTHING about Christmas time. The food, the decorations…the music (Oh how I LOVE the music!)….I really believe that with December comes the most wonderful time of the year! There’s such a spirit of pure joy and peace that just swells in people’s hearts!!

I honestly can’t believe how quickly December came this year. It feels like just yesterday I was at my church’s New Year’s Eve party wearing neon. But here we are with just a few weeks left in 2015 and Christmastime is here!!

Because I love birthdays, it’s no shock that I LOVE Christmas! To celebrate the birth of Jesus…I mean seriously, how could you NOT be joyful?!? Growing up in a home with my mom, two sisters and our dogs, allowed for house to never be dull. Sure it may have gotten a little loud and yea, I may have gotten yelled at once or twice for trying to sneak multiple tastes of dinner before it was time to eat, but every memory I have of Christmas is just…magical.

When I think of Christmas, three words come to mind: faith, hope and love.  A faith that brings me comfort because with it, I know that God watches over us each and every day and ALWAYS has our backs. A hope that regardless of all the negativity that we are witnessing in today’s culture, whether overseas or in our own backyards, that today is going to be a lovely day and brighter tomorrows are in our future because there is still good in the world. And finally the love…the love of family and good friends gathering to celebrate the birth of a King. The love that can be seen between strangers and felt between loved ones. These three emotions are three of the many reasons that this particular time of year fills my heart with pure glee.

One of my favorite memories is my mom making us sing “Happy Birthday” to baby Jesus. As a child, it didn’t really hit me, but as I’ve gotten older I often in my quiet time marvel at that memory. A child born unto the world to serve as our savior….that’s HUGE.  I am now mindful of what Christmas meant then and what it means today.  What once was a holiday filled with the excitement of seeing the lights on the tree and stockings hanging from the chimney, is now a sparkly reminder of it’s truest meaning. oNw that many many years have gone by,  I know it’s not about me. It’s not about the our wish lists. It’s about giving and how I now receive more of a joy from that than I do from actually receivin. It’s about sharing the good news with any and everyone who will listen. It’s about celebrating the birth of the one that saves me from myself on a daily basis.

In this lifetime, I have learned that magic of Christmas is powerful, but the power of Jesus is even more magical.  Our ability to love one another, to renew our faith and bring hope into our lives and the lives of others, are the greatest of gifts to bestow and receive.  And while Christmas is a time to give amazing gifts, the greatest gifts of all can’t be found under any tree. It can’t be wrapped in pretty paper. It can only be experienced…felt in a joyful heart.

It’s the LOVE of CHRISTmas and I hope that we all feel it this month and every month after.

Cheers to the MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR and to JESUS…THE TRUE REASON FOR THE SEASON!!!!