I love winter. 
Strange, but true.  I love the
crisp air, the snow and all the fun that goes along with it.  If it means shoveling the walks or scraping
ice off the car—well, that is the price I pay for living in a place where all
the seasons are celebrated to their fullest.

Part of the reason I love winter is the holidays it
brings.  Hanukkah and the glow of the
candles that are lit.  Christmas filled
with music and lights.  Kwanzaa and the celebration
of family and harvest.  And finally the
ringing in of the New Year. 

I will admit that this year I am less prepared for the
holidays than ever and not because I’ve failed to check things off the to-do
list.  The tree is up and there are
gingerbread houses decorated.  I have presents
bought and am getting cards ready to be sent. 
Physically, I am ready for the start of this season that I love.

Emotionally, I am not.

With every day that passes, the calendar grows closer to the
one year anniversary of my father-in-law’s passing.  I miss him. 
I miss his laughter and his support. 
I miss the certainty with which he said I could accomplish anything.  I miss the way he and my son sang songs and
played games.  I miss his shoulder and
his understanding.

And yet, the one thing I know is that he, too, loved the
holidays.  Not the shopping and the card
sending—though he loved giving gifts, he hated the worry of coming up with just
the right thing.  No, the trappings of
the holidays meant little to him.  What
he loved was spending time with his family, setting aside time to reconnect
with friends and celebrating the religious beliefs he followed.

So, while my heart hurts, I will do my best to find the
happiness and joy in each and every day of this holiday season.  When I shed tears, they will serve as a
reminder of the gift of his love that I was given.  And when my son laughs and sings, I will hear
my father-in-law in every joyous sound and smile.  I will remember.  And I will be glad.

This is the season for family and for love.  May the magic of this holiday season bring
you joy and closer in your heart to those you care for no matter how far apart
you might be.