"Home is where the heart is" has become an overused expression, but, for me, it is a powerful statement that I will never take for granted. Certainly, most homes include a brother or sister, a mom and dad, and material possessions. But not all homes shelter a tightly bonded family that makes memories together. As family members, we sometimes undervalue the simple pleasure of togetherness, the certain aroma inside our homes, and the glowing fireplace that somehow takes away worries and fears. My family's home is a small, ranch style, brick house with blue shutters, certainly an unimposing dwelling. However, there will never be another place that can replace the importance of the aroma of cookies baking at Christmas, the celestial glow of a beautifully decorated tree, and the loving bond of a family.
             Childhood memories of Christmas make me smile, as I recall the colorful lights dancing merrily in the bushes of a neighbor's house. Snow clinging to the windshields of passing cars, and the scent of pine needles filling our house as the tree is dragged through the front door.
             And while I enjoyed the Christmas holiday, I now anticipate something surprisingly original, the smell of fresh baked cookies that tend to linger in the air long after they've been baked. My mother always performed the traditional Christmas ritual of baking candy cane cookies. The cookies resembled candy canes with twisted red and white dough, and sprinkled crushed candy canes on top. She also made Christmas wreath cookies, using crispy corn flakes, green food coloring, and "red-hots." While my mother continued to carry out the traditional cookie baking process, my brother and I played Christmas carols and Dad sang along with the words from our best-loved holiday tunes. Sometimes, I just closed my eyes and breathed in the aroma, and I listened to the sounds of Christmas, while waiting until we could decorate the tree.
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