The "first" Thanksgiving

Here I am with most of my family.  Good guys do wear black hats, and LeRoy of course is in the center of this photo.  Left to right are Rod, Trina, LeRoy, myself, and Rich.  Missing is daughter Charlotte who was already in South Africa, missionarying. Missioning.  Missing.  Whatever.  The occasion was a party for our 45th anniversary, given by friends, family and LeRoy's staff.  It was even more joyous than the picture reflects!

Today is December first.  First day of Advent.  First day of the last month of the year.  This does not seem possible.

I made it through Thanksgiving, the first without LeRoy physically present, without too much difficulty.  It was indeed an emotional day, but we laughed, cried, reminisced, and ate too much. Also sharing the day with daughter Trina and her family were her husband's parents, my son Rich, and a family who also lost someone to brain cancer -- at the age of 15.  These are bonds we don't ever hope to make, and yet they are precious and strong bonds. I could not ask for a better support group.

Now our thoughts turn toward the birth of our Saviour.  With lovely reminders all around us, it's not hard to look up.  Sometimes the commercialism tries hard to compete, but we will persevere!  Jesus, I read recently, is not the reason for the season.  He IS the season.

I know there will be many poignant reminders of Christmases with the love of my life.  How wonderful that he is still here, inside my heart.  I know I will see him again.  I just sometimes miss the hugs.

Keep looking up, friends.