Looking back on my childhood and remembering all of the holiday traditions that I grew up doing, I have come to realize a lot has changed in the past two decades. The same traditions still exist, but as I have gotten older the things that once made me excited have lost that "thrilling" feeling.

Heres how I remember Christmas morning:

It's 6:30 am and I run into my brother's room to meet him standing at the door. We sprint into our parent's room and jump onto their bed. We are so excited about Christmas that we can hardly wait to go downstairs to see what Santa has delivered.

My mom and dad were always the first to go downstairs. They would yell up to us "Oh wow you are going to love this!" Mom would grab the camera and dad would turn on the fireplace. Before my brother and I walked into our living room, we always stood on the stairs and sang "Happy Birthday" to Jesus. This was my favorite part because, after all, Jesus is the reason for the season. We then walked into the room to see overflowing stockings and quickly spotted the Santa gifts with the big bows.

It was a pure Christmas morning. Hot chocolate, family, presents, and laughter filled the room at 6:30 in the morning.

As I have gotten older and the years have passed, the Holidays seem a bit different.

I still get excited at Christmas time because the overflowing love and time with family is priceless. Although, with being in college, the weeks leading up to Christmas is stressful. Finals and homework fill my mind and my "holiday cheer" is limited. Now that I am older, I also have a retail job; so my "winter vacation" is full of long lines and rude customers. I feel as if over the years my love for the holidays has become dull because of the realities of adulthood.

I no longer wake up at 6:30 AM on Christmas day, but, instead, my parents have to wake me and my brother up at 8:00 AM in order to have time to be everywhere we need to be. My mom no longer grabs the camera to take shots-after-shots of our smiling faces. Cookies aren't left out on Christmas Eve anymore and the reindeer food is nonexistent.

I wish I could go back to when times were easier. When Santa ate all the cookies on his plate and the reindeer smashed their food up in the driveway. When the family would all sit around the tree Christmas morning laughing and having a joyous time.

Not when work, school, and money was a worry, not when we only put up one Christmas tree compared to four or five, and not when family members are missing because of work schedules.

Although the holidays have changed as I have gotten older, the feeling of Christmas still lingers. Family and friends will always be the best part of the holiday season and I am blessed to spend the holiday season with them.

Merry Christmas! Enjoy the holidays, and even if they are a bit different, embrace it.