Looking back on every Christmas that I was able to spend with my family would have to say last year was by far my favorite Christmas memory. Not only was it my favorite Christmas memory by far but also my very last Christmas spend with my entire family when they all came together and cousin before she passed away 8 months later. We hoped for the best and made it a Christmas that we would never forget and something I’ll never lose memory of.

Christmas time is something that we all look forward too and in my family is a time of gathering where we spend a week together enjoying each other company at a special time in the year. Last year was my favorite holiday because everyone came together for the Christmas program that is held at our church every year followed by a Christmas eve party at my aunt’s house right after where there is eating, gift exchange and trivia games. Usually every Christmas Eve night we stay out real late because we are excited for the next day to come. Words cannot express how much I love being with my family when we all come together and everything goes smoothly. Since we are such a large family there can be heated times where everyone gets fired up and things tend to drift a different way.

Last year was special because it was the last Christmas I was ever able to spend with my cousin Elodia. She was diagnosed with cancer earlier in the year and everyone wanted to make it a holiday special and worth being around for the holiday season. I decided to do a dance at the program with my sister and cousin by my side and she loved when we danced. Elodia would watch us practice, tell us what we could do to better ourselves and loved watching overall. I’ll never forget last year as I finished the dance how she told me I told the story of the song in the dance. Not only did it make me feel good about myself but she loved it along with everyone else. Everyone spent a lot of time with her and she that laugh that you could recognize anywhere. At the Christmas Eve party you could hear her laugh, we would enjoy each other’s company, exchange gifts, and really a time where we spend a lot of time together.

Christmas of 2013 will always be my favorite memory because I know not only will I not be spending Christmas 2014 with her and her family but also have a guardian angel watching over us this year.