What do you want?

I always knew growing up when Thanksgiving was drawing near. The closer it got, the more advertisements for this that and the other would come in the mail. As a kid I would go through these advertisements over and over again. Circling and, often times, recircling all the many things I wanted from Santa that year. Just the thought of all the new toys is enough to make the naughtiest of little boys yearn to be placed on the good list, and mom's have a gift of leveraging their correspondence with Santa to whip these naughty boys into shape. As time passed, I found myself asking for fewer and fewer gifts. That didn't seem to matter as much anymore. What I've come to realize is that being able to spend quality time with my family is a far better gift than anything than can be bought at Wal-Mart (probably one of the few things left in this world that can't be bought there). I don't get to see my family very often but it's always special when I do. As my love for toys has dwindled the love for my family has grown. Every passing year I seem to love them just a little bit more than the year before. As much as I love my family, my love for them is surpassed by the love for my nieces and my nephew. They brighten my life. Nothing has ever been able to put so big a smile on my face. And then I realized what I want this Christmas... My family.