Look, mom Santa Claus! Squeals of excitement come from the back seat as we drive around town looking at Christmas lights. The simple thrill and excitement of a child's wonder around Christmas time is absolutely refreshing. Personally, my favorite way to enjoy Christmas lights is at home when I turn down the other lights throughout the house and turn on the Christmas lights on the tree. I cozy up with a cup of hot chocolate, warm covers and a good book. This is a great way to unwind from the busy pre-holiday hussle and bussle!

What a wonderful time of year. Right after Thanksgiving when all the fun of the Christmas season begins. Granted, it can be stressful buying a list of holiday gifts but the kid in me still reigns at this time of year. I remember the best things about Christmas time. Making tons of Christmas cookies, decorating them, and passing them out to family and friends throughout the neighborhood. Spending hours composing the perfect Christmas wish list and of course the Christmas lights that shined from house to house at this time of year.

The excitement of newly wrapped gifts, the warmth of being inside as the snow is falling and yes even shorter and shorter days accompany this time of the year. As the days grow shorter and darker, Christmas lights add a touch of light, warmth, and fun.

As we share memories of childhood fun at Christmas time, my husband's stories make me smile and laugh. For years as a child he would decorate the ceilings and walls of his room with Christmas lights. I guess they are not just for tree and outdoor decorations. He would enjoy turning off all the lights in his room and watching them glow.

As we grow up, we tend to forget some of these magic moments. They drift away under a list of pressures and goals we have created around this time of year. As an adult, I understand the constraints of money and the lack of time that often accompanies Christmas time. However, even in the busiest of schedules, it is beneficial to make a few minutes to unwind, set back and enjoy the warm glow of the Christmas season. Whether it is at your home and you are snuggled near the tree or if you pack up your kids and go for a relaxing drive around the neighborhood to see the Christmas lights. It is important not to forget the magic of the Christmas season.

Whether you are one year of age or ninety one years old, I hope you take a moment and enjoy the Christmas season. May the bright lights of the Christmas season shine nearby, may you and those you love keep safe and warm as the snow falls outside, and may you always keep special memories of Christmas. Merry Christmas!