Part 10 – Home Sweet Home

For Christmas Break 2019, I went home to my family and friends. This was the first time I saw everyone since August. I was home for 12 days and it was the fastest 12 days. I was so blessed to spend Christmas with my family. Everyday I was visiting family and friends, meeting my newborn niece, play with my nephew, hang out with my brothers/sister in law, and shopping! My family was so excited to see me, when I landed in Des Moines my parents were waiting on my in the airport.

Living in Iowa my whole life, you don’t realize how cold it gets because you are so used to the snow, ice, and negative temps. To put into perspective how cold it was when I was home, it was 10 degrees Fahrenheit with a windshield that made it feel like -5 degrees Fahrenheit. I know most people in Europe don’t know what that means but 10 degrees Fahrenheit is -12 celsius and the windshield self like -20 celsius. So yes, IT WAS VERY COLD! Luckily it only snowed three times (which is good for Iowa “Winters”)

What was the best part about going home, seeing my family, and Christmas day with my family is the fact I got to eat at my favorite Mexican restaurant (THREE TIMES)!!! I have been thinking about eating at the restaurant for 3 months and my parents knew where I wanted to eat when I got into town for dinner. The funniest part was when I sat down with my family for dinner, the waiter came to the table and the first thing she said to me was “Where have you been?”

One thing that is very special on Christmas Day for my family is the food and the games we play. My mom and aunts create teams within our family members of 40 plus people. The games we play are worth a certain number of points, everyone plays, and it gets really serious which team wins every year. This year my team won, so I have bragging right over 30 plus other family members for the next year. It our family tradition for everyone to get together, watch basketball on TV, listen to Christmas music, and spend time with each other.

Being home with my family was very special to me. The countdown is until I see them in May (Only 5 months left so no big deal)!!!!! Nothing is more important to me than being around my family during Christmas!