I am a HUGE fan of Christmastime. You will most likely find me decorating my Christmas trees with candy canes and ornaments that hold dear memories, stopping only to decorate the freshly baked sugar cookies, and either listening to holiday music or watching a Christmas movie. I truly love the warm feeling that comes with Christmas, even despite the not-so-warm weather that comes with the season.

Beyond the tacky sweaters, endless cups of hot chocolate, and the hues red and green everywhere I look, I see Christmas as more than just a season of holly and jolly and snow-covered views. I've heard many thoughts about how people wish that the spirit of Christmas would carry over all year long- but I do not necessarily believe that there is a spirit of Christmas. In time of love and light, such as this, there is also space for darkness and doom to lurk. Because we put such grand holiday emphasis on giving instead of receiving, we become individual beacons of light to people who need it most. This isn't just a Christmas spirit- being a beacon of light is an every day necessity! I especially love Christmas because the world seizes this goodness for all it is worth, but its the conscious choice to be a beacon of light to the world that makes Christmas last all year. I think the spirit we adopt at Christmastime is the spirit we should adopt all year round. That is Christmas to me.

Christmas is a song that sets my world alight. There is joy in knowing that we are celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. In the spirit of Christ, our world seems to turn its back on hate for a while, and a great emphasis is placed on the gift of giving- with a charge as open-ended as this, there is not telling what beauty can come out of a compassionate and generous heart. My heart floods in warm happiness as I watch the world turn to doing good things for the sake of goodness itself. That is Christmas to me.

There is a quote out there from an unknown source that says: "I think as you grow older, your Christmas list gets smaller- and things you really want for the holidays can't be bought." I could not agree more with this statement. As much as receiving the presents I wish for is wonderful- everyone loves to open gifts on Christmas- there are many other things that I hope and pray I will find on and between Christmas each year.

Finding joy in the most ordinary of situations.

A renewed trust in God and his master plan for my life, especially as it lies on the precipice of great unknowns.

To actively seek out ways to give with no expectation of receiving, and to love every second of it.

To bless others as much as I have been blessed, and to forever seek and identify the good and the potential in people.

The warmth and happiness of spending time with family.

To find serenity in moments that we wait a lifetime for... and spend a lifetime remembering.

To never take for granted the grand opportunities that I have been blessed with...

... And continue to seek out even more opportunities and bless others because of it.

To always remain humble.

Having enough gratitude to see what I have to be enough.

To forever do good things for the sake of goodness. To ALWAYS be that beacon of light to the world.

That- that is Christmas to me.