Who will you be remembering?

[officepro4u]

With the passing of loved ones and the many men and women we have fighting around the world, many of us will not be able to spend Christmas with everyone in our family. So, I thought it would be nice to have a thread where we can discuss those who we will be remembering this Christmas...

[officepro4u]

I'm sorry Debbie! You do have a lot of remembering to do this year. However, I am glad you are still here! You have been through a lot! I am glad to have "met" you, so I am thankful for you.

Diana

[officepro4u]

I married the one man I fell in love with at age 15. We have been together now for 20 years, married for 16 on Dec. 29th.
Diana

[officepro4u]

Thanks Debbie!!!!!!!!!! I appreciate it more than you know.

[Annette1990]

I will be remembering and thinking of all the men and women who are at war and fighting for our country, I will also be thinking of the less fortunate and homeless people not only in our own country but the world. I will be remembering my mother whom I lost in March of 99' (still feels like yesterday) and all my friends and family who have passed on over the years.. Life is good and we can only take it one day at a time! I count my blessings everyday.

[Maryohki]

Not family, but a friend of mine died last month. She's constantly in my prayers.

[sugarplum fairy]

I will be remembering my father. He died when I was 22 years old. I was pregnant with my daughter. It doesn't seem like it has been that long ago, but I guess it has.

[kelly ann]

I will be remembering my grandfather who passed away two years ago. He was the greatest man I knew. God Bless Him!!

[whychristmas]

I always remember ny nan on Christmas Day - it was the last time I saw her alive.

[xmascrackers]

We remember many people each year at Christmas but this year we include my Mother in our memories, in our hearts and in our display. My Mother died of Cancer in June this year. She was the one who started our Christmas displays in the 1980's, she has designed and built many of the display pieces we have including an angel which hangs at her window, a fairy in our grotto, a six foot high papier mache Reindeer and the Sleigh and Reindeer on our front lawn. Just putting out the decorations this year is hard. We have put a memorial plaque in the garden and have included this in the display. We take donations from visitors to the display which go to the local hospice where my mother spent some of her time and where 6 of our friends are currently using the services. My mother really enjoyed Christmas even when she was very ill last Christmas and could do very little - she still laid in her chair in the lounge threading fishing line on decorations whenever she was able. This year Christmas is for her.

[officepro4u]

Xmascrackers ~ please know that I will keep your family in my thoughts and prayers this Christmas. But you must know that since she had such a love for Christmas you must continue to love it too! She would want you to go all out. So, go ahead!!

Diana

[xmascrackers]

Thanks for that Diana - we are certainly going all out this year - the display is going to be bigger and brighter than ever and my Mothers wish was for her angel to carry a red rose in memory of her this Christmas. So many people who visit have asked why the red rose and when I have explained they have put a red rose into their display too. I dont think she ever knew how many people she reached and how many people want to honour her memory.

[officepro4u]

Most people don't realize how many people they have touched when they are alive. I had a childhood friend commit suicide a few weeks ago. You should have seen the packed church and people who really loved him!! He might never have done such a thing if he knew how much he was loved, how much he is missed, etc.

By the way, I'm adding a red nose to my angel tree topper for your mom.

Diana

[act_as_if]

Wow, this is a good thead.

A great homage(sp?) to those who we have lost. Thanks Diane for coming up with such a great idea!

10 years ago, I lost my grandpa. He always told my mom I was his prettest granddaughter, he already had four. And he always told me I was very pretty, and that I was going to make him proud someday. I have a lot of great memories of him. My grandma recently gave me his 1986 Bronco. My car bit the dust. I think of him everytime I drive that beast of a car.

I will also be thinking of my Uncle. While he is not dead, he is very sick. He is in the hospital with an un-pronounceable heat condition. One side of his heart is larger than the other, and the bottom of his heart is dead. Last week they got two leters of fluid out of one of his lungs.It's scary. Doctors a talking about open heart surgery. Right around christmas too. Merry christmas to me.

[Sunshine73]

This is the heartfelt side of Christmas, isn't it? The part where we all sit around the tree, staring into the lights as they twinkle and not really seeing them at all but looking past them into all the Christmas's that we've had and the people with whom we have shared them.

This year we will be remembering my father-in-law who lost his battle with cancer on October 12 of this year. We will also remember both of my uncles who passed away last year within a few weeks of each other. I will also be remembering my grandmother who always made Christmas so special for me when I was a child.

In addition to those who have left us forever, I will be remembering my brother who is active Air-Force and currently serving in the Middle East. It will be difficult to truly celebrate Christmas with him in the middle of a war zone, but we will do our best to remember him as we celebrate and joyfully anticipate his safe return home sometime in January when there will be celebrating in my crazy family the likes of which has never been seen.

[officepro4u]

I am so sorry Act_as_if!!! Your family will be in my thoughts and prayers.

Diana

P.S. You're welcome for starting the thread.

[act_as_if]

thank you again!

[Head Elf]

I will be remembering my best friend and mother who passed away 3 years ago. She always made Christmas fun no matter what. Even when we had no money, she made a Christmas tree out of a rose cone and the glass ball ornaments. Or the time she used chicken wire and a whole roll of red wrapping paper and gold bows to make a tree. I even named my "elf on a shelf" after her.

[Binger]

For me.. it will be my dad.. who passed away in January at age 84... he was the grand patriarch of the family and someone that I miss terribly. This foruma nd the friends I made here kept me going...

[Binger]

Though at Christmas I also always remember my mother, who passed away 22 years ago. She loved Christmas dearly and I have always vowed to carry on her traditions.

[officepro4u]

Good for you Binger!! I know she would want you to!

Diana:wiggy:

[xmascrackers]

Diane and Debbie - thank you very much for your tribute to Mum. It has really moved me. This year will be so special and when I get some photos of our display and then figure out how to post them I will put them up for you to see.
May the light of Christmas be with you both over this festive season and through the coming year.
Lisa.

[Amanda Elf]

Lately, we have lost a lot of people in our community and surrounding area (some days apart), while all of them haven't been family, it has been a very sad year.

This year we will be missing my brother, who passed 26yrs ago (I was 5) and my sister who passed Feb. of this year. She was Christmas at my Mom's house. She always came home to wrap her presents. We'd all go to Mom's to help. It's going to be very hard this year.

Also, my husbands brother who passed at age 13 (33 yrs ago). As well as his Dad who he lost a year later when he was 13.

We have an ornament we hang that has in memory of for our brothers, I will get one this year for my sister.

[MarthaK]

I will be remembering my last remaining grandparent, my Grandmother, who passed away on October 12...6 hours before her 100th birthday.

Also, my boyfriend is deployed with the Army. He's traveling a bit doing temporary assignments through Iraq and Afghanistan. The temporary duties make it really hard this time of year since his mobility prevents him from sending me a mailing address. It's hard to be separated, but not being able to send mail and Christmas goodies makes it almost unbearable.

[clarebear]

Great thread!

I will be remembering my dad and my 2 nans, that i miss terribly and think of everyday.

[xmascrackers]

Lately, we have lost a lot of people in our community, it has been a very sad year.

We have an ornament we hang that has in memory of for our brothers, I will get one this year for my sister.

Its a wonderful tribute to your family that you hang an ornament for them as it makes them forever a part of your Christmas celebrations. Here in Blenheim we have a memory tree in the middle of a mall where we can place a bauble for people we have lost. It started about 5 years ago - last year they needed two trees and this year they expect to need 4 trees to hang all the baubles. Its good to know that even though they have died - they remain in the hearts and minds of family and friends even at the busiest time of the year.

[novelist]

AS much as I love the holidays, this year will be a hard one. My father passed away on Oct 30th. He would have been 90 years old DEc 11th. His health went downhill the year and a half, and he had a massive stroke on Oct 27th. My mom died 35 years ago, I was only 14 at the time. Even though it's been so many years, I miss her so much during the holidays. My husband lost both his parents too, and he has been very supportive during the difficult time me and my sisters are gong through.

[officepro4u]

I'm sorry Novelist! My mom is the one who passed her Christmas spirit on to me. I know that one day when she passes, Christmas will be extremely hard on me. She made me promise that after she goes, I will continue to love Christmas and really do it up in her honor.

Diana

[xmascrackers]

Novelist - my sympathies - Was there one thing your father loved about Christmas more than anything else, a food, a type of decoration? If so then incorporating that into your Christmas will make the memories even more special. Over the last few days We have decided to incorporate one aspect of each of us in our Christmas celebrations from this year on so that no matter where we are, in a way we will be together over Christmas.

[libbybelle]

Hi Diana,:celebrate:
I will be remembering those who are fighting overseas and who won't be able to spend Christmas with their families and friends. I pray that God looks after them and keeps them safe.

I will be also remembering my dog, Honey, who we had to put down earlier this year due to dermatitis. Unfortunately she was allergic to many things around her and she didn't respond to the treatment the vet gave us. I know it's not the same as losing a loved one, but it's still grieve. My dog was 10 years old, and that's pretty good for a large dog. But I know it's nothing compared to losing a loved one - meaning a person.

I hope God can help those who are grieving and are in pain. He would be able to comfort them.

God Bless,
Elizabeth.:!!

[novelist]

Novelist - my sympathies - Was there one thing your father loved about Christmas more than anything else, a food, a type of decoration? If so then incorporating that into your Christmas will make the memories even more special. Over the last few days We have decided to incorporate one aspect of each of us in our Christmas celebrations from this year on so that no matter where we are, in a way we will be together over Christmas.
Thanks for the kind words everyone! It means so much to me. Some of the traditions my father loved, that we still try is do are. On THanksgiving he always brought champagne for a special toast when we are having Thanksgiving at my sister's house. he also made a special soup-barley with fresh kilbassi. This year I brought the champagne, and my brother in law made the soup. For Christmas, my father always brought his children and grandchildren a box of Whitman's chocolates. With so much to eat during the holidays, I'm not sure if anyone will have the candy this year. When my ather stopped driving, my husband and I would go to a store and buy the candy. I felt so silly, buying 16 boxes of chocolates!!! It was for my father though, and my husband and I would do anything for him!

[xmascrackers]

Dont feel alone - in the last 2 years of my Mothers life I too went to the sore to buy boxes of Chocolates (Cadbury Roses in my case) for my mother to give all her friends - I used to do it in 3 trips 8 at a time and I would go on different days and different times so that I got a different checkout operator.

[act_as_if]

I have sad news.

The uncle I mentioned in my previous post, died. Yesterday morning. The doctors had just givin him medicine. They were planning on putting in a trach. He just, died right there on the table. The doctor said they tried to revive him several times, but I was like, he just was tired of being in the hospital and gave up. We all knew he probrably wouldnt come back from the hospital, but it was still a shock. He has two daughters, six almost seven grandkids. Five brothers and sisters, mom, and other family. His oldest grandson is nine. He was very close to him, he screamed and cried to two hours when his mom told him. I just cannot believe it.