It’s been a tough year and this Christmas will be unlike any others. Many people won’t be able to travel or spend Christmas with their family. Many people have lost loved ones or are hurting. I, along with my immediate family, am one of the lucky ones who has good health, a stable job and a warm roof over my head. In today’s times, that’s all that matters. 

While this will be the first year that I won’t be able to spend Christmas with my extended family, I am more than happy and humble to be afforded the opportunity to share Christmas with my mom and my sister. I invited them over for a small, intimate gathering at my place. It will be the first time I host Christmas. Because things are very different this year, we focused on making this cozy and warm — and at the center of all of this is gratitude. 

To get into the holiday spirit, we made hot chocolate and gingerbread cookies. This time I decided to make the icing. I usually get store-bought icing along with sprinkles and an assortment of little candies to decorate cookies, but I couldn’t pass up the idea of homemade icing — especially since it only took three ingredients to make. Plus, I also secretly enjoy playing with food coloring. Mom, Susanna and I each sat down at the table decorating light bulbs and only light bulbs this year since Mom lost all of the Christmas cookie cutters. Sticky fingers and crumbs on our faces, we managed to decorate a tray full of cookies! 

As the Christmas music played in the background and the living fireplace warmed up the room, I rolled up my sleeves and put on my chef’s hat. On the menu is vegetable pasta with summer squash, red and yellow peppers, onions, sun-dried tomatoes, and capers, and cheesy spinach-stuffed pork chops. With the banging of pots and pans, I was able to plate the pork chops with pasta and sit around the dinner table together. We raised our glasses and toasted to family, health and a better year ahead. 

It wouldn’t be Christmas without presents. Cooper was most eager to open his last day on the Advent Calendar, this time with Grandma and Auntie Susanna. With a hearty treat in his mouth, he was already onto the next, sniffing out his Christmas gifts under the tree. He was eager to get a new set of tennis balls since tend to lose them by the handful. I watched Mom and Susanna open their gifts and tore a few open myself. 

Despite this hellish year, we are so lucky to have each other. From our family to yours, Merry Christmas.