The holidays can be occasions for joy, but also sorrow missing loved ones. It’s been six years since Papa passed, then Mama a year and a few months later. Precious memories fill the treasure chest in my heart. My parents loved the holidays and always made Christmas special for us.
When we were growing up in Virginia Beach (before his quadriplegia) Papa would go all out putting trains together to zoom around under our Christmas tree. Still not sure if that was just for us kids, or for him: he loved trains!
Mama pulled out all the stops for meal after meal of holiday favorites and gifts from Santa. The year she received a special bequest from her mother’s estate she gifted each of with something extraordinary for Christmas: brand new musical instruments.
Music was always a big part of our holiday gatherings. We all gathered round the piano singing carols and playing our instruments. In later years as Papa went from a wheelchair to bedfast, he belted out his baritone from his hospital bed as we kept up the tradition of making music after Christmas dinner.
Papa and Mama made music together all year through. How they loved hymns and carols! In their final years they set aside time every Sunday to memorize and sing verses of their favorite hymns that Papa kept in a file on his big computer.
In pain 27/7, those hymns helped Papa get through difficult nights.
So many memories, all so precious. I know many of you, dear readers, also miss loved ones especially at this time of year.
I’m not sure how thick (or thin) the veil that separates us, but I know our precious ones are not far, for their love resides in our hearts as joy that will not diminish.
grace, peace & legacies of love
Virginia : )
Roses in the Rubble 
A different Christmas for sure 😑
Hi Susie, I know this year must have been so hard for you! Sending you lots of love in this New Year… Hugs!!!
Ginny,
You expressed so well my sentiments for Mom and Dad, too … glad we have each other to share the memories. I loved your last paragraph and take great hope in the thought that, “our precious ones are not far, for their love resides in our hearts as joy that will not diminish!”
XO,
Cin
Amen, Cin. It’s hard missing Mama & Papa, not just at the holidays but all throughout the year. So grateful for their love that lives in our hearts collectively and individually… & so grateful for YOU. Hope you are keeping well (as well as can be!) Big big hugs, Gin
Musical instruments for each of you? Wow, what a generous, loving gift! Yes, I do know how much you miss your parents. I’m missing Daddy, who passed almost 13 years ago, and my Sheltie Dallas, gone nearly two years ago. Time passes, and the pain lessens but never fully goes away. Take courage — one day, we’ll meet them again!
Amen to that, Debbie. So sorry for you missing your father — and Dallas!!! Can’t believe it’s been 2 years. The pain never goes away, but you’re right, somehow gratitude for the gift of our loved ones’ lives lifts the sorrow bit by bit. Sending lots of love your way!!
Beautiful
Thank you, Carol-Jo. I know you miss your mom & dad, too. But their love lives in your heart -as Mama & Papa’s love lives in mine. Big hugs & lots of love!
Beautiful memories Virginia. Thank you for sharing and a very merry Christmas to you dear friend!
Thank you, Rene. It’s hard missing Mama & Papa, but their love lives on in our hearts. Wishing you a New Year filled with extra doses of grace, peace & JOY (the enduring kind – think Rosemary!) Much love- Virginia
Yes .. there is a real pain when the ones who made Christmas and our lives so special are no longer with us. My Dad moved on 21 years ago and we learned to build new memories with Mum. Then she moved on to be with her Lord last year. Thankfully Covid stripped Christmas of traditions – yes some things we can be thankful to Covid for … and now this month my beloved little doggie moved on. So pain and void is there and Tears fall at Christmas. (title of a post I wrote). But we have a hope that we will all meet again … and that, and our faith, gives us courage through the tears. Blessed and Holy Christmas to all.
So sorry for all your loss, especially your mother last year! Tears do fall at Christmas missing our loved ones, but the legacy of their lives & love lives on in our hearts