Merry Christmas from My Family to Yours [VIDEO]

Christmas is my favorite holiday, and it's not because of the presents or decadent food. It's about much, much more.

I can say with absolute certainty that Christmas has always been my favorite holiday. I am one of four kids, and the times I spent with my family are among my most treasured memories. We would be so hyped about Santa that we couldn't focus on anything else, and my mom put our restless energy to use in the kitchen. We would spend all day Christmas Eve making snack foods and appetizers which we had for supper that night--we called it our "Silly Little Supper," and we'd always eat as soon as Daddy came home from work. We'd stuff ourselves and then open our presents to each other before going to bed. My sisters and I would pass out watching TBS' A Christmas Story marathon.

If I am being honest--and I always try to be--thinking about those memories is bittersweet. My parents are not together anymore. My siblings and I are all grown up. I miss the times that we all spent with each other, but the changes have brought a lot of great things into my life. Our family has gotten even bigger, and I've made new memories with people I love and cherish.

My daughter was born in 2012, and Christmas has never been more wonderful. Christmas used to be hard--I'd see parents taking their children to see Santa Claus and think why can't that be me?  I never thought I'd have a child of my own; Dolores is my little miracle. I remember her first Christmas, cuddling that sweet tiny baby by the tree at my grandmother's house--I just cried and cried. I was so happy.

I am so blessed.

I watch Dolly now, and I feel the same way. She's been bursting at the seams with Christmas cheer. She loves to sing Christmas songs. She's obsessed with our Christmas tree. She calls ornaments "baubles" because that's what they're called in the U.K., the home of her favorite TV show, Sarah & Duck. She'll pick the baubles off the tree and cuddle with them before proclaiming, "Mommy! I wuv our tree so much!"

She can't get enough of Christmas specials. She's seen Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer ten times already, and we have to watch Noel (it's a cute little animated special about a magical ornament) almost every day. She even has a pink polka-dotted elephant just like the one from the Island of Misfit Toys. She has to sleep with it every night, and when I tuck her in at night, she wants me to sing "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas."

I am crying right now. I know it's silly, but I get so emotional about it. My daughter is the answer to so many years of prayer, and celebrating Christmas with her fills my heart with more joy than I ever thought possible.

I hope that your Christmas is merry and bright. Cherish every moment that you get to spend with your families this year.