Christmas will be extra special for me this year.

My husband will be at home after four months in Canada, my best friend, Rachelle, and her daughter will be here - they moved out to live in Canada just over a year ago and last year was the first Christmas we have not spent together for ten years. Just before Christmas Rachelle's husband will also be here, he is working in Afghanistan at the moment.
Also just before Christmas my husband, sister and I are flying to Spain to meet my nephew and niece - they were given up for adoption 23 years ago and I finally managed to trace them and contact them earlier this year. They were 4 and 1 when I last saw them and I was 8 years old. We are all VERY happy to be back in contact with them and VERY excited about seeing each other. They have only been in contact with each other for the last two years and had almost given up hope of finding any more family.
Magic, or what....?