I realized that these past Christmases, I spent the few days before Christmas stressing out. Shopping for presents and stressing out over gift wrapping, cooking, baking, and running from one gathering to the next.

This is our first Christmas without my mom and it seems that I stopped caring about all the stress. I bought gifts only for the important people in my life. And this Christmas, I'm spending the day with my family and my dad. We don't have to rush off to go to the in-laws' party. My mother-in-law is gone too. Some of in in-laws will understand why we're not there. Others won't and will probably talk about it but... I simply don't care anymore.

I will spend time with the people I love.