Jan Goldyn, Author

Ever have that end-of-season slightly downhearted feeling? Christmas is definitely my favorite holiday! Seeing it pass by is my least favorite part ☺ Many traditions, in fact, celebrate the holiday through the Feast of Three Kings on January 6!

Baking favorite goodies, picking out the perfect presents for loved ones and then seeing their faces, cute wrappings, putting up the tree. Its all so magical.

We think about joyful or tender moments of childhood. The favorite Christmas of my youth is when I received the most beautiful baby doll in the world. Maybe I was four years old. I sat and rocked her for what seemed like all day.

Of course, there were the other holiday treasures -- a stocking filled with clear toy candy, a few chocolates and an orange. The house always smelled of oranges Christmas morning!

The other scent my brothers and sisters and I hoped for each Christmas morning was the smell of Lucky Strike cigarettes -- that meant our Grandma Julie had stayed over!

Later we went to the beautifully decorated church and thought about the sweet baby in the manger. We had a wonderful Christmas dinner afterwards, joined by our Grandma Golden.

Now I relish bringing that same magic to my little family.

On this New Year's Eve I'll reflect on Christmases past and try to be fully present in this Christmas season that we're still celebrating -- enjoying it thoroughly while it's here.