This time of year for me becomes magical. Not because I have children and they are in the spirit, but because it's a time when life slows down for a short period of time when the focus is on family ONLY!

I grew up in a family that celebrated EVERYTHING! Every school accomplishment, every goal, every home run, report cards (the good, not so good and the great ones), birthdays were, and are, a BIG DEAL...but the best time of year was always Christmas for us. It was a time when our family and close friends all got together to laugh, to sing traditional Christmas songs and to crash the neighbors houses with kazoos! More importantly, it was a time to reflect on relationships and celebrate the people in your life.

Life used to slow down during Christmas week and this year, it will again. It will slow down so that we can take in every moment with our families. Board games will not be rushed through because its "a school night", dance parties with our disco ball won't be cut short, the neighborhood kids can stay an hour or 2 longer, dinners will be slower, conversations will be better and there will always be a second glass of wine!

Time with my immediate family and my husbands family this Christmas will once again bring us all closer together! This closeness is necessary after all of the tragedy this year,especially the families who lost young loved ones and the illnesses that have been heavy on our hearts recently.

Wishing that everyone finds the balance in their lives this holiday season and that you look into the eyes of those you love and feel their love back.

Cheers to a happy, healthy and magical holiday season!