Have yourself a merry little Christmas.

It’s that time of year for all of us to celebrate the peaceful joys of the Christmas season.

For me it’s an exciting year because my son Alex is old enough to really enjoy the holidays and everything that surrounds it more than he has been in the past. That is something I’ve looked forward to since he was born.

I’ve spent the last two months looking for all the little things that I hope will make his eyes light up Christmas Day and for many days after.

Having him makes the season a lot more fun as any parent knows. His mother and I are blessed with a son that makes life worth living on the worst of days. We are both looking forward to this Christmas.

The other part of life that is enjoyable is some of my family that hasn’t been around for years is in our lives again.

I have four wonderful nieces. Two of them have been in my life for their entire existence on this planet. I wouldn’t trade Hannah or Brooke for anything in this world. They have two of the best hearts of any people I’ve ever known.

Brooke is growing into a beautiful young lady and is already a great athlete. She’s going to be filling these sports pages in the future.

Hannah has a smile that lights up the room. When she sees you coming, she gives as good a hug as anyone ever.

The other two n Sarah and Erin n have not been part of my life like I would have liked. Because of issues between their divorced parents which I won’t go into here, they’ve been in and out of our lives over the years.

For the past year, they have been in and they will stay that way now because they are adults and can make their own decisions.

Sarah was always my heart. For reasons that escape understanding she’s always been so much like me she should have been mine.

She’s funny and entertaining and she makes me smile every minute I’m around her.

Her husband and their daughter are as much family to me as if they were blood kin. Derek and Caitlyn mean the world to me. I’ve accepted Derek as much as my nephew as if he was.

Erin has always been more like my brother, Scott. If Sarah should have been my daughter, Erin should have been his.

She is just as funny and mischievous as my brother. The two of them have a sense of humor that will keep you in stitches and they both have hearts of gold.

Her husband, Adam, won our family over quickly and has been a part of us from day one. He cooks better than anyone except my mother.

Their children are lovely and I think they both are sweet as they can be.

I also have friends and family that I am so thankful for. They are a part of my family too. They mean so much.

Some of them I’m fortunate enough to see on at least a semi-regular basis. They are people I care so much for and I think about so much at this time of year.

Some of the friends are a distance away now, but thoughts of them are never far away. They’re people who have made my life better by being a part of it and will always be a part of me no matter how far away they are physically.

Here’s wishing you and yours all the peaceful joys of a quiet holiday season. Merry Christmas!