This post from 2 years ago popped up in my news feed a few days ago.  As I read it, I was reminded all that I had gone through in 2015.  I didn't get emotional... I just remembered.

2016 Christmas was spent much the same.  I woke up Christmas morning by myself and enjoyed some quiet coffee time until I was reunited with the kids later that evening.

Christmas lately hasn't been about Christmas Day specifically.  My family has celebrated Christmas on every other day but Christmas for many many years due to my dad's job, siblings traveling and spouse's families.  As long as we had time together, we didn't really care if it was December 20th or January 2nd.

So while I learned a lot and learned to enjoy the past couple Christmases "solo", I became even more grateful for 2017... and how it wrapped up the year in a way I never would've imagined.

My entire family was in town... at my parent's house... all 4 siblings, their significant others and kids, my parents on Christmas Eve. We are a close family and it was so nice (and side splittingly hilarious) to have everyone back together again.

If you read Christian's log, you'll see his perspective on spending Christmas Eve with my family. That in and of itself was very special to me. And then.... to also have him there with me Christmas morning was an even greater gift.

We exchanged gifts as we sipped on coffee.  We took our time and enjoyed each gift and moment. In the end, this year was about being surrounded by people I love... and those that give me love.

 In that post from two years ago, I wrote a few thoughts, and one specifically stood out to me again this year:

Unconditional love is probably the greatest give you can give and receive.

I had a conversation with a friend a few months ago regarding a quote I saw.  It said, "Relationships are conditional.  Love is not."

She likened it to someone needing an intervention... their families don't stop loving them, but they can't maintain healthy relationships with them unless they give tough love to provide what's best for everyone... but the relationship may not always be maintainable.

READ THAT AGAIN.....

It applies to many different scenarios. If you don't take the time to grow together... People change... everyone changes, so you can't say "You're not the person you were back then... and therefore I don't love you anymore."  Hopefully you aren't the same either (because you changed for the better), but you have to grow and accept change together.

Thank you, dear friend, for talking those words out with me.