There is no place like home for the holidays....

This statement has never meant so much or made so much sense to me, but now living on the opposite side of the world and knowing no one from the first 30 years of my life... there really is no place to be for Christmas than home with friends and family.

The familiarity of home. The smell of home. The feeling of fitting right back in where I left off. It is all here and it is all the same (for the most part). Little things you notice when you return home are the little things you missed when you are away.

Haley with her cute Nutcracker and Christmas decor put up with such love and care in her house. Mandy, the problem solver. Melanie, the good sister who drives to dallas to see me for one night. Mom with her 50 hours of recorded television saved just for me (as if I have time to watch it all). Dad who can't sit still. Good friends, plenty of wine and terrific food at Molly and Chuck's Christmas party.



All these things would be the same if I wasn't here, but being able to notice that I miss them and being able to appreciate that I miss them, makes them all the more wonderful.

Only on Day 4 of my trip home, but I am so happy to be here and thankful to be surrounded by almost everyone I love. If only Aaron could be in Texas too... this Christmas would be perfect.