Casey is a junior at Samford University, where she is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Spanish. She is a member of Word Players drama group, as well as the Samford Ministries Choir. When Casey is not studying, writing papers, or performing, she likes to read, play the piano and spend time with family and friends.

As I am an only child, my immediate family is very small. Before 2000, my family always celebrated Christmas in the same mundane manner: I get up early in the morning (earlier than I ever do), wake my parents, and then rush to the living room to open my gifts. After everyone opened their gifts, I would spend the rest of the day playing with whatever new toys and gadgets I had received. There was no real tradition; Christmas was nothing special. But the events of 1999 changed everything.

The 1999 Christmas season brought an extra challenge to the normally hectic pre-Christmas preparation as my grandfather was hospitalized about a week before the holiday. My entire family, both immediate and extended, spent the days visiting the hospital, the nights staying with my grandmother, and any extra time in between getting ready for Christmas.

My grandfather had been hospitalized for chest pains and breathing difficulties, and after many tests the doctors diagnosed him with bronchitis. They planned to keep him in the hospital for few days in order to help him recover quicker, and in turn, my family planned to have him home soon.

Christmas day came, and this time it was different. Since my grandfather was still in the hospital, I had to rush to open my presents so that my family and I could go to the hospital. I remember giving his present to him on Christmas day. Before my family left, I hugged him and told him we would have a real Christmas when he came home. That was the last time I spoke to him. He died the next day, December 26, 1999, of a massive heart attack.

Although that was the worst Christmas ever, the next year’s holiday was difficult as well. My entire family lamented our loss. We spent Christmas day without the typical joy of the season. But we spent it together.

Now, each year my entire family comes together on Christmas day—my grandmother; her 4 children and their spouses; 5 grandchildren, 3 with spouses; and 8 great-grandchildren. We all go to grandmother’s house, where we eat a massive potluck lunch and then open the huge pile of gifts that surround my grandmother’s tiny tree. Together, we celebrate faith and family, Jesus’ birth and our loss. We have done this for 8 years, and we will continue to do it in the future. It’s our family tradition.

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