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Christmas All Year

I had a wonderful Christmas, and I hope that you all did as well. Not only did I "survive" the holidays(hate hearing people say that), I thrived! I enjoyed them to the fullest, yummy treats and all, and I wouldn't have it any other way! 
 
We had a fun time this year watching Celeste open all her presents at Mom's house Christmas Eve.
 
Here are some of our annual family photos!
I'm so thankful to have a family to spend the holidays with. I'm thankful that I have my "real" sister back and that Jesse isn't such a little meanie anymore. ;) 2 years ago we spent Christmas in the hospital not knowing if Mom was gonna make it, so I'm also thankful that she is alive and doing great!
My sister and Celeste with her boyfriend and his daugter

We couldn't get a good one with Celeste looking at the camera!

Brother and sister! :)
 
My LOVE!
 The day after Christmas is hard for me. I normally feel a little down and depressed, and even more so when I have to take my decorations down. But this year I got to thinking about how it shouldn't be like that! Yeah, I think it's normal to feel a little sad that the family parties are over and the pretty Christmas tree is gone, but really, the spirit of Christmas is something that should last all year long!

When I get depressed it shows that I'm getting my happiness from the lights and the decorations and the parties....and not the true meaning of Christmas. Christmas isn't about the decorations or the food or presents-it's about the gift of Christ. Christmas is the celebration of what God did for us by sending Jesus to the world, but we have his presence with us ALL year long! That celebration and gratitude for what God did for us is something that should never end!

The spirit of Christmas, which is the joy and hope and LOVE of Christ, is something that we should carry with us all through the year and try to spread to those around us. So many people nowadays are sad, mad, anxious, and depressed, and as Christians our job is to spread the love and hope of Christ to a hurting world. Not just at Christmas, but always! Because that is really what Christmas is all about.
 
So this year I'm not going to get depressed about the holidays being over. Instead, I'm going to focus on all of the blessings that I have, the JOY that I have within me because of my relationship with Christ, and how LOVED I am by Him that he would come to earth to save ME! If that doesn't make you happy...nothing will!

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