It'll be different this Christmas.

[47of74]

With my Grandma passing back in January that'll be my first Christmas without any of my Grandparents.
Plus my Aunt passed in September.

Planning to have a good Christmas, but will be thinking of them during the holidays.

[orleans]

1. i'm sorry to hear about your grandma and your aunt

...i just hate those "firsts"
but then i didn't like the year of "seconds" either, or thirds, fourths, etc.
this is the seventh christmas without my mom and it's still hard/bad/sad

still waiting for even a bit of that christmas "spirit" to kick in. but i'm not holding my breath.

[auntAgonist]

2. I had such a hard time with the 'firsts' The worst being my Mother's dying in August of '97

I don't think it ever really gets easier but the way we deal with it changes over the years.

My first husband gave me a gorgeous framed photograph of my Mum the first Christmas after she died. His heart was in the right place and I really appreciated it but the timing, .. my god the timing
I was so glad he'd saved it for a private gift exchange between the two of us. I was so touched and so upset at the same time. I think it would have been really difficult to hold my emotions at our large family gathering earlier that day.

I'm so glad to see your positive hopes for having a good Christmas 47of74 and I pray your memories comfort you throughout the holiday and days to follow.

Merry Christmas to you and yours.

kesha