I’m lying in a hotel bed, wide awake, listening to New York City slowly come to life. The steady hum of traffic begins first, followed by delivery trucks idling below our window. The clang and bang of trash trucks making their rounds, and eventually the unmistakable sound of horns beginning to honk with purpose. It is only a few right now, nothing like the overwhelming cacophony of yesterday’s arrival, but it is unmistakably New York.

I’m here with my mom and two of my dearest friends in the world, my college roommate and her sister. This trip is a Christmas gift for my mom, and all three of us absolutely adore this woman. We are celebrating her by taking her to Radio City Music Hall to see the Rockettes Christmas Spectacular (during their 100th anniversary season), something she has never gotten to experience. Watching her excitement reminds me that the very best gifts are never things. They are moments, memories, and time together.

In just a few short weeks, this city will be packed wall to wall with people ringing in another new year. The famous ball will drop, and crowds will gather shoulder to shoulder in the cold. Compared to that, the Christmas crowds we have already navigated will seem mild. There is something electric about it all, and I do love visiting New York. It energizes me and reminds me just how big the world really is.

But every time I’m here, it also does something else. It makes me deeply thankful for our sweet corner of the world back home. For quieter mornings. For familiar faces. For community events where you know the people standing beside you. We may watch the ball drop, but I will be more than happy to do it from the warmth and comfort of my own home.

As we step into a new year, I hope we all find time to appreciate both the excitement of the world beyond us and the beauty of the place we call home. Here’s to a fresh start, meaningful moments, and another year of community, connection, and gratitude.

Happy New Year.