What is a Missionary Christmas?

Christmas to a missionary is unlike any other Christmas. Christmas is learning to love December even when it isn't cold outside. Christmas is focusing on the reason for the season and trying to remind others to remember Jesus Christ. Christmas is going caroling and representing the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints while doing so. Christmas is calling my family for the first time in 7 months. Christmas is reading the 12 days of Christmas in my scriptures each morning. Christmas is having a tiny little tree that sits in our study. Christmas is attending the mission-wide Christmas devotional and feeling the Spirit through scripture and song. Christmas is getting up early to exercise and study. Christmas is getting new socks and actually being excited about it. Christmas is spending the holiday in a "strange land" and among people who I have only known a few short months but love with all my heart. Christmas is treasuring the Biblical and Book of Mormon account of the Savior's birth. Christmas is realizing how grateful I am for the birth of my Savior Jesus Christ. Christmas is taking an extra opportunity to think of CHRIST.