By Justice Westmoreland
September 19, 2018
For my entire life, I have always thought of Christmas as a day for an abundance of presents, warm and fuzzy socks, hot chocolate with Santa shaped marshmallows, and watching Christmas movies while snuggled up in a blanket fort. However, during my first family vacation away from home, my perspective of Christmas changed forever.
“Justice, wake up, it is snowing outside!” my mother exclaimed, her fist pounding on the wooden door of the little cabin we were renting for vacation. I woke with a start, shooting up in bed and clutching my blanket against my throbbing chest. I pulled the curtains back just enough to reveal tiny snowflakes fighting the wind on the other side of the window. I have never really seen snow before, not like this. My smile grew wide as I leapt out of bed, racing down the stairs to witness my nana and my mother sipping coffee by the dimly lit fireplace. The downstairs smelled of burning wood, brewing coffee, and my nana’s warm vanilla scent.
“Nana, will you play in the snow with me?” I pleaded, gathering my warmest coat and mittens.
“Of course I will,” she replied with a loving tone that conveyed her admiration for me.
When opening the door of the cabin, I was met with the cool, crisp Colorado air. I raced outside, my nose tingling as snowflakes attacked my cheeks and ears. In awe, I found myself admiring little details I would have never noticed before. What had once been an evergreen landscape now captured the view of a winter wonderland. Wildlife called to one another in the distance as the fresh, frosty air rustled the leaves in the trees surrounding me. The beautiful view captivated all of my senses with birds singing in the trees, icy water rushing in the streams below, and a sunrise displaying an array of alluring colors. When my cheeks flooded with a rose color and the wind became unwelcoming with a bitterly cold wrath, my mother scooped me up and brought me inside.
As we entered the cabin, my senses were immediately overwhelmed by the aroma of sugar cookies baking in the oven. I dashed into the kitchen, slipping on my tiny apron that matched my mothers, eager to decorate the cookies. I selected the perfect sugar cookie to begin cultivating, one shaped in the form of a candy cane. I diligently painted red frosting along the curves of the candy cane, white stripes draping the edges.
“Mom, this one is for you!” I exclaimed with pride as I handed her my work of art.
“Thank you sweetheart, this is lovely,” she said with a wide smile, wrapping me in her arms to display her appreciation.
After decorating all of the cookies, we snuggled together while watching Christmas movies. When glancing over to the beautifully lit Christmas tree, I noticed presents still neatly wrapped underneath.
Nestled in my nana’s cozy embrace, I realized that it was not the presents under the tree that I craved on Christmas day, but the presence of those I love.
The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Infuse Student Media or Southwest Baptist University.
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