This article is written by Karissa Tunis For more on this topic, check out the full Happy Holidays collection

Recently I was having a conversation with one of my relatives who is a father to a little toddler. We were talking about how his little girl will be able to really understand and enjoy Christmas this year. She will have fun diving into presents, Santa, decorating, and the entire experience.

Our conversation than turned into discussing how having kids allows us to re-experience the best parts of our childhood through a new set of eyes. It's like we are re-discovering the magic, the innocence, and the joy all over again.

Don't get me wrong, the holidays are a lot of fun as an adult, but going through it as a child is a completely different experience - especially the second time around! The details are so important, the smallest things become big again, and it's so special to share Christmas with our children. And now that my three really anticipate the holidays with great excitement, it feels more and more special each year!

This Christmas will be a little different as we will be celebrating in our little temporary apartment. I may not have as many decorations as before, but we have a real wood burning fireplace that we are loving and making use of! Our little tiny pre-lit tree beside it reminds me of Charlie Brown, and our cozy tiny family room will soon fill up with gifts and memories!

I love this time of year. It is when we celebrate my birthday, our daughter's birthday, our wedding anniversary, and the true meaning of Christmas! It's a time of giving thanks, reflecting on our blessings, and ending the year as a loving family. It's filled with lots of holiday music, scented candles, cozy blankets, movie classics, endless amounts of cookies and sweets. It's a time filled with so much love, a lot of joy, and uncontrollable laughs.

But it is also a hard month for us as it also brings the anniversary and reminder that our son came within a few inches of losing his life two years ago in the middle of December. It brings along difficult memories, and anxiety as we prepare for more surgeries and treatments. There are lots of "triggers" that can affect any one of us at any given time.

But he is alive and recovering well. We are all here to celebrate together - and that is huge! I'll take the good, the bad, the sad, and the ugly, as long as we can work through it together!

And all of that "yuck" actually makes all of the good that much better! It makes me pause and appreciate the little things. It makes me thankful for each and every one of our blessings. And it makes a night at home snuggled on the couch one of the best experiences of all!

I love a nice holiday party, but even more than that I love spending this time of year with my precious three who make up my entire world! These three have changed me for the better, and I appreciate them, my husband, and our little apartment so incredibly much this year!

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Best Wishes to you and your family! Please remember to take time to pause, appreciate, and enjoy the magic that this time of year truly brings!

For more on this topic, check out the full Happy Holidays collection