It must have been the mistletoe, the lazy fire, the falling snow

The snow is softly falling. And the world seems so quiet and peaceful when it snows. I just finished writing my family's Christmas cards and I'm laying here, reflecting on how different today was than last year. And how different Christmas will be. 

We went to my Uncle's house for Christmas Eve dinner, and I spent the holiday with family I have never spent any holiday with. And it was refreshing, and perfectly perfect. There was laughter, and gratitude, and love. And when I came home, I chatted with my Grandma, who decided to stay with us for Christmas. I've never spent a Christmas with her in my entire life. And it makes me so grateful for my family...and to have them here. 

Tyler came over late tonight. It was snowing hard, but he drove to my house anyway. And it is so difficult for me to put into words how much joy I find in his mere presence. We laughed and laughed. And I've missed that with him. There's a comfort there, a knowingness, and a peace that comes from that. It started to snow harder and he left just a little after midnight. I wrapped gifts and then I've just been laying here since, thinking about my life and the difference a year can make. 

And I don't know if it's the snow...but I'm starting to feel the magic of Christmas creeping back into my heart. Sweet dreams, sugarplums.