What matters most

People laughing. Cold noses and numb fingers. Hot chocolate. Candy flying through the air. Christmas music. Marching bands & old friends. Family laughing, oh, lots of family laughing. Mostly though, what made the night so touching, was watching my kids faces as they experienced all the tiny joys that if not for them, I'm afraid I wouldn't even notice. I may have been more focused on my freezing fingers than the memories being eternally etched in my mind. As the kids sat in anticipation waiting for their hot cocoa. As they jumped and smiled, hoping to get someones attention and get just one more candy. Carelessly dancing to the holiday music. Hitting each other with the noise makers. This is living. These are great memories.