Nothing beats the warmth and love I felt last night. To top it off, I was finally able to speak with my dad and sisters to make my Christmas complete. I love my family, and I just wish they were here to spend the Christmas season with us! The togetherness and the good company surpasses and lifts the burdens that we’ve carried as a family throughout the year. Just being surrounded with so much joy gives me enough reason to wake up everyday knowing how blessed I am to have all these things in life. My life, my family — some of the things you just can’t replace, and I’m thankful for it.

I’m quite aware that today isn’t the real birthday of Jesus, but today is powerful enough to bring people together and to celebrate the lives we live with joy, laughter, and love because of Him. Aside from the hustle of the season, I think one thing we take so loosely as Christians on this day is the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Today, we should surround our hearts and our homes with the joy of His coming, the glory of His resurrection, and the peace of His presence. Because of Him, in my beliefs, we are given this one life on earth to live our lives in such way that one day we will be entering His Kingdom. Because of Him, this life is filled with the love of friends and family, near or far. He laid his life for me, thus I owe my life to him, and for that I am very grateful. Merry Christmas everyone! Cherish the time you spend with your family and friends not only this day, but everyday of every year.

(Now off to catch some shut eye! Finally got back to the hotel! Disneyland day 1 done! Gotta wake up in a couple more hours to the smell of Disneyland morning magic! I LOVE IT!)