During the holiday season, you’re bound to encounter people who are feeling extra blessed or feeling down because of various reasons like being away from family during the holidays.

The past four Christmases haven’t been the same since my Lola passed away in 2011. My parents and I either have to make the extra effort to get into the Christmas spirit or skip it all together. This year, we almost made the decision to skip it all together as well. Thankfully we got swept away by others’ Christmas spirit.

This year, we decided to invest in an artificial tree. For as long as I remember, we’ve always bought a fresh Douglass fir tree, but found that it’s a lot of work to upkeep. Mom made it her mission to get the tree up well before Christmas, and I think she did a wonderful job.

So, from my family to yours, Merry Christmas. May your holidays be filled with lots of love and, of course, food.