After a week of traveling and business meetings in the south, I returned home grumpy Sunday morning, picking up my annual tradition of cursing myself about Christmas procrastination.

I had mountains of work to catch up on, dozens of presents to purchase (I had only just started my holiday shopping), and I was in desperate need of a nap.

My favorite 5-year-old, a cousin with whom I spend most weekends, had other plans, though.

It was cookie baking time.

I bit my tongue and tried to remain patient as she carefully selected her favorite cookie cutters, hauled out bags of flour and sugar bigger than her head, and carefully lined up the ingredients on the table — the growing list of tasks to complete at the top of my mind.

Nonetheless, I could not resist the smiling face looking up at me, eager to repeat the holiday tradition we have shared the last three years.

For four hours, as we rolled out dough, cut out shapes, baked and frosted cookies, the mountain of work I had been so anxious about melted away.

We chatted about what she hoped Santa would get her, and the magic that would have to help him squeeze through the glass door in her (artificial) fireplace. We sang “Jingle Bells” and “Frosty the Snowman” as she picked out cookies specifically for each reindeer.

She told me about the letter she intended to leave for Santa, detailing the labor of love she put into her cookies for him as thanks for the present he would leave under her tree. She explained to me how she thinks Santa picks out her presents (The Leader ads, of course!), and why she sees so many different Santas this time of year (the elves are disguised so they can tell Santa if the children are naughty or nice).

As children have a way of doing, my little sidekick melted my heart as she reminded me what Christmas is all about.

During the hustle and bustle of the holiday season — especially as we grow older — we so often forget the magic of Christmas. I do not just mean the glimmer in a child’s eye as they meet Santa for the first time, or the legends of hoof prints on our rooftops as Dasher, Dancer and his other six friends transport St. Nick to our chimney tops.

I also mean the magic that draws families together as we celebrate traditions and remember what is important in life: the family and friends who love us 365 days per year.

No matter which traditions you celebrate this time of year, I wish you the peace and happiness that accompanies the holiday season. Merry Christmas!

Ambrosia Neldon is the general manager at Leader Publications. She can be reached by phone at (269) 687-7700, or by email at Ambrosia.neldon@leaderpub.com