I recently watched my son, Declan, decorate for the holidays. It warmed my heart as he laid out each Santa decoration in the way he thought looked best, and then lightly laid the baby Jesus in the manger. Those are the moments that come with the holidays.
For the past few years, my family has started a new tradition: renting a house in Mexico for the week after Christmas and bringing in the New Year. What started as an escape from the Midwest’s brutal cold has become far more meaningful to all of us. It’s not just a getaway somewhere warm; it’s a sanctuary. It’s a time we can all count on to come together, especially after months of being apart. A resort might be nice, but it can’t replace gathering around a big dining room table for meals, having room for our pre-new year’s piñata activities, or battling it out in our annual pickle ball tournament.