Count your blessings and make it the best Christmas yet

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Despite the season's hectic pace, Christmas usually is a time of happiness. Why shouldn't it be? Family gatherings, church services, parties and acts of kindness for others engender outward joy and inner peace. For some, however, it's hard to be happy this time of year. Maybe there was a death in the family. It could be the holidays bring back sad memories. Perhaps someone is struggling with a tough personal situation.

Whatever the reason, if you feel a little holiday depression nipping at your nose, think for a moment about Taylor Vock.

We introduced readers to this remarkable 20-year-old from Polo the other day. Taylor's life is a busy one. He's involved in sports activities year round. He's employed by the ABC AmeriCorps program working at Centennial Elementary School in Polo and the Nash Recreation Center in Oregon.

When May arrives, he'll have earned a $1,000 educational award for use at Sauk Valley Community College and a $1,959 stipend that he also hopes to use to advance his education.

In the future, he envisions himself moving to Rockford and living with friends.

Oh, by the way, Taylor is doing all this even though, at 13 months of age, he was diagnosed with Dandy-Walker syndrome, a congenital brain malformation affecting the cerebellum.

Taylor has had to fight every step of the way to get to where he is today - and he's done it with a positive attitude that is absolutely infectious.

"He brings us a lot of joy. He brings a ray of sunshine when he comes into our building," said Luanne Byers, a teacher at Centennial.

Taylor hasn't let his special needs slow him down. In fact, he doesn't see that he has any limits whatsoever.

So there.

If the joy of the Christ child isn't enough to lift you up, if family get-togethers and gift exchanges can't make your spirit bright, think about Taylor Vock and everything he's had to overcome.

If he can do it with joy in his heart, so can you.

All you've got to do is start counting your blessings.