Mrs. Cook and her family just celebrated the birth of her first granddaughter, Payton Brown, and will spend the day enjoying little Payton's presence.
Normally, Mrs. Cook has a traditional sit-down dinner with family and friends, but she decided this year to break that tradition and have hors d'oeuvres available for her family.
For the Waleska resident, Christmas was always synonymous with her father giving her hand-made gifts. She's kept some of those gifts to pass down to Payton as she gets older.
Also, when her children were younger, Mrs. Cook said they would take skiing trips after the family opened presents.
"I guess we're not up to skiing this year," she said with a chuckle.
This Christmas will also be a special year for Chris and Allison Higgins of Harmony on the Lakes.
The Higginses, whose first son, Jackson, was born on Nov. 18, experienced a harrowing ordeal of Jackson being diagnosed with a diaphragmatic hernia, a defect in which there's an abnormal opening in the diaphragm.
After being delivered at Northside Hospital-Cherokee, he was transported to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Pediatric Hospital, where he had surgery to correct the problem. While at Egleston, doctors had to make sure he could eat properly before he was discharged.
On Wednesday, the Higginses learned they were able to take little Jackson home in time for Christmas.
To celebrate the holiday, the Higginses will have family and friends over to welcome them home.
Mrs. Higgins said perhaps her favorite memory of the holiday is of her father, who now is in New York appearing as Santa Claus, when he would read the Christmas story from the Bible on Christmas Eve.
As a child, Mrs. Higgins said Christmas was a time of anticipation of seeing what was under the Christmas tree.
She and her siblings would rush downstairs each Christmas morning to see what Santa brought them.
"Even now as I'm older, I just love getting up and sharing Christmas morning with my family," she said.
Along with celebrating the birth of the Savior, Mrs. Higgins is now taking stock in how important sharing the holiday is with one's family.
She also said she and her husband appreciate the support they've received during their son's battle.
"It has just been touching to our hearts to see the outreach and love and support from our community," she said.
For Woodstock Police Chief David Bores of east Cherokee County, this Christmas will "be quite an adjustment" for him.
Earlier this year, Bores lost his mother and will spend today with his wife's terminally ill brother in South Carolina.
Bores said he typically celebrates the holiday as the birthday of Jesus Christ by going to church and having dinner with family members.
Throughout his childhood and his adulthood, Bores said he has tried not to attach any materialistic meaning to Christmas, but to "remember the true purpose and meaning behind Christmas day."
MUST Cherokee Program Director Kim Loesing is gearing up for her family's annual cookie decorating contest. The tradition has been in Mrs. Loesing's family for years.
On Christmas Eve, Mrs. Loesing of southeast Cherokee County and her family usually go to church and come home and open their presents. On Christmas Day, her mother cooks a big breakfast, and they usually end the day with a nice dinner with her husband's family.
Mrs. Loesing learned the importance of opening doors to others as a child. While growing up in Kansas City, Mo., Mrs. Loesing said her family would often invite neighbors who had family members far away to celebrate Christmas with them.
"That maybe taught me that Christmas is about family, and it's about sharing," she added.
As principal of R.M. Moore Elementary School in Waleska, Keith Bryant of Hickory Flat will use today to take a break from his busy schedule.
Today, he and his wife and three children may see a movie and have dinner with family members.
At their home, the Bryants love to decorate Christmas trees and have 11 in each room.
On Christmas Eve, the Bryants read the Christmas story from the Bible and sit out cookies and milk for Santa.
In the morning, the family usually has brunch together and is paid a visit by their parents and grandparents.
As a child, Bryant said he would always enjoy riding around with his parents to look at Christmas lights.
As one who spends a large amount of time at work, Bryant said Christmas for him is a time to take a break.
"We all have such busy lifestyles, so you have to work at getting quality time in," he said.
After returning from a three-week trip to South America, newly elected Canton City Councilman Bob Rush will welcome his family on Christmas Day.
The Rushes' four sons and six grandchildren will spend the day at the family's Laurel Canyon home. The occasion will be a bittersweet one as one son, who serves in the Air Force Reserves, on Dec. 29 will be deployed to the Middle East.
Traditionally, the Rushes exchange gifts and enjoy a quiet Christmas with their loved ones. When the children were younger, they attended a midnight mass on Christmas Eve.
Rush's fondest memory of Christmas as a child was anticipating a visit from Santa Claus. His uncle Eugene would each year dress up as Kris Kringle and visit his nephew.
With the imminent deployment of his son, Rush said he's reflecting on Christmas as a time to enjoy one's family.
"It's a time when we all get together and reflect on how much everyone means to everybody else," he said.
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