I've not been a big fan of Christmas for many years now, but this year my sister and I spent the day with her flatmates family, and it was easily the best Christmas I've had in the 8 years since I last got together with my extended family.
It just reminded me exactly of what my family is like at Christmas, just relaxed and having a laugh and no stress, just playing games and joking around.
When we can't be with your own family it's cool that we can spend time with someone elses family, and just be accepted, and treated as if we are just part of their family - even tho I've only met most of them a couple of times over the years.
I left at midnight because I had a long walk home, but I still didn't feel like I'd outstayed my welcome.
I'd never really appreciated how much I miss getting together with all of my extended family at this time of year.

If there's any real point to that it's probably this: whether you believe in God, or commercialism or not, it's spending time with your family that matters. And if you don't get on with yours, and think that's a load of rubbish, try living twelve thousand miles away from them all for nearly a decade...

much love to the Payne family for taking us in.