My grandparents' a thousand years ago.

Christmas is always a time for me to think of my lost ones. I have ornaments that were either given to me by some of them or represent them to my mind and I think about them as I dress my tree. While the process can be sad it is also joyful. I think of fun things they did or dreadful as the case may be. So while you can and should think of the sorrowful parts do remind yourself of the good times. While you don't have your loved ones either in fact or how they were you have your memories and as long as you have those they are still with you. My mother hated Christmas after my Papa died. he loved Christmas and made it special. We resisted my mothers aim to make it a season of mourning. All my sibs have passed on that love of the season to their kids. Something to celebrate. Pass it on.

I just lost my mom last month. Christmas was her favorite time of the year. I’m feeling a big hole in my heart. I’m glad to be surrounded by my family but I’m having a hard time getting in the spirit of the holiday.

My precious Mother died on Christmas Day few years back. We celebrated her death as she died on Birthday of Lord she worshipped all her life. But, I still miss and think of her passing during this time. Miss her words of wisdom .

Missing my father and maternal grandparents who have passed, and missing my son and his family who recently moved away. Am depressed and not feeling much of a holiday spirit.

Missing my Mom. Tremendously. She loved Christmas and always made it such a special time.

natesg I'm very sorry you lost your mom. My mother in law died 6 months ago, father in law is still living but has dementia/Alzheimer's. Asks for her constantly, it's awful.

My dad died in 1986, he was only 60! (This really messes with me because DH turned 60 this year and I'll be 60 next year.). My mom died in my arms from an asthma attack in 1998. I still miss them so very much. My dad made Christmas magical for all of us kids growing up.

I'm sorry for everyone who mourns the loss of loved ones. It is a terrible sadness to endure. I do cherish every single memory.

I am missing so very many at this time and all year, my mom, dad, sister and brother. My nephews, my friends. At times it’s overwhelming.

Thirty years ago to this very minute, my father died. This time of year is poignant.

My husband. This will be my 6th Christmas without him, but I am so grateful for my children and my 3 little grandchildren, all born after he was gone. It makes me sad that he never got to be a grandpa.

I think of my mom and dad; they've been gone 9 and 8 years now. But, mostly I think of my brother. He was a New Year's baby and he died two days before his 47th birthday just a couple of months after my dad. MIL died a year later on New Year's Eve. We also lost one of the dogs during that time. Those were a rough couple of years.

I miss my parents all the time. I especially miss my sister now. This will be our first Christmas with out her. And her birthday is the 28th. We will visit the graves while in Louisiana and put flowers on all of them. She was the one who loved making the flower arrangements and putting them at the graves. It's going to be a tough one for me. I haven't been back home since her funeral.

My heart goes out to everyone missing a parent, or sibling, spouse, or child. I wish peace & comfort in this season. I miss my mother, grandmother and grandfather terribly.

We miss our youngest son who died in 1977.

He loved Christmas.

Also miss my parents and my brother.

{{{{{{roy4me}}}}}}}

Not only am I missing those that have died, but those that I can no longer be around that live so far away!

My DH, my Dad and my Mom...all lost in different Decembers. Blessings,

in a way, they were all so sick...but the memories hit hard during the Season.

My entire immediate family is gone as is DH's. We have no children.

It's taken some time to accept the fact that this season will never again be what it was with all the people who were, but we have created new traditions with cousins and their families which keep our house full of people, gladness and busyness, for which I am thankful.

Been thinking of my Mom recently -- is it her I miss, or do I miss the home that she and Dad welcomed us into for so many years? Dad sold the house and moved into a retirement apartment right after she died, almost 15 years ago now. I miss both -- my Mom for herself, all year round; and the way our family celebrated the holidays years ago.

Michele, I 'liked' your comment above. Very comforting. A distant (but loved) family member is very ill, and it's good to believe we'll be happy again, eventually, in due time.

We lost our Dad this summer. He loved Christmas, hosting, and being surrounded by his family and traditions. Our Mom is here, but not here, you know? Both situations are difficult for me to fathom. We are taking lunch to her today, and I hope she is not too agitated which might make things harder on the staff later on. Perhaps this wasn’t such a good idea.

Although my mom and my MIL are still with us, due to health issues neither will be with us for Christmas dinner and that will be the first time in years.

As most of you know my mom has severe dementia but for many years she would always come into town and stay with us for Christmas. Once at my home, she always made the stuffing and the mashed potatoes and brought her delicious Carrot pudding with her that she would make at the beginning of December.

I was thinking of her yesterday as I made the stuffing and mashed potatoes by myself. And I still miss her Carrot Pudding. I tried to duplicate it but it wasn't the same and I decided to just have the warm memories of it.

I always miss my Dad.

((((to all and missing loved ones)))

My father and brother's death anniversary are in December. I include all love ones in my holiday, with a candle and a prayers. This song covers my feelings. December hasn't changed

This town looks the same
They still light their tree in the city square

There's red, white, and green shining everywhere
And I wish you were here
And I wonder

Is there snow falling down on the streets of gold
Are the mansions all covered in white

Are you singing with angels silent night
I wonderâ ¦ what Christmas in Heaven is like

There's a little manger scene
Down on third and main
I must've walked right by it a thousand times

But I see it now in a different light
Cause I know you are there
And I wonder

Are you kneeling with shepherds before him now
Can you reach out and touch his face

Are you part of that glorious holy night
I wonderâ ¦ what Christmas in Heaven is like

Is there snow falling down on the streets of gold
Are the mansions all covered in white

Are you singing with angels silent night

I wonderâ ¦ what Christmas in Heaven is likeChristmas in Heaven

I am sorry so many of my friends here are feeling low. I think that it is harder to be positive when a loved one is sick and not themselves than when one is deceased. It is a sort of limbo where our loved one is gone but not. The joys of Christmas past are no longer there for them and we are in the emotional turmoil of caretaking.

I think that it is okay that our memories not only can make us sad but also support us. Not getting stuck with just looking back but bringing the past into the active present and future is the way to go, I think. Definitely missing my parents this time of year, all the time really, I feel longing and happiness. I wish they were here to see how my family has grown and how I carry on and they enjoy traditions that my parents established. As I refer to my mother's recipe cards, I am so grateful and also definitely feel her presence and guidance. I also have developed a profound appreciation and awe at what my parents did. Do I get teary, sure, but the tears are both sadness and gratitude. My grandchildren are old enough now to understand the timelessness of our holiday, enjoy the stories and food, help with the cooking. My mother's nickname at this time of year was Mary Christmas. She is a hard act to follow, but I try.

Wishing you all joy and peace.

Light a candle for your love ones. candle memorial

Sisters...that is a beautiful song..thank you.

My parents have been gone for a number of years now, and although I'm extraordinarily happy in life and blessed beyond the moon, I would love to relive those Christmases with them.

My dad was born on Dec 24th, so I always think of him every year. I lost him on Jan 3, 1988 in a car acident. My dad finally retired at 73 and my parents were driving from Illinos to Florida to move into the new home they had just bought when it happened. Afterwards my mom was in the hospital for months with a broken neck and other injuries. She lived for 23 more years and died in her sleep at 93. So this time of year brings out a lot of mixed feelings.

It has been many years since my sweet husband was killed and every holiday or special event that he should have been a part of, still has pangs of sadness. I know he is with God and I can’t wait to see him again and tell him about his family that he never had an opportunity to be a part of...he will be so proud!

I miss my mother and dad and my brothers and sister. I am the only one left. My siblings were grown when I was born. I regret that I never got to know them very well. I grew up with a niece and nephew my age, and they were as close as a brother and sister, but they have also passed. I also had a very good friend that shared all of my interests...horses, waterlilies, koi, and going to flea markets. She moved to Tennessee and died about 10 years ago. I miss Kenneth. I took care of him the last 8 years of his life, and he has already been gone almost 10 years. We were friends for 24 years, and a very interesting person. I learned a lot from him.

After my dad died in 1968, our family more or less fell apart. My nephew joined the Navy and my niece moved to west Texas to be a nanny. (Years later I found out she was pregnant, and I think she moved into the family that adopted her baby. She never came home after that...and I only saw her once, a few years before she died. She died at only 50 yrs old.)

My mother quit cooking when my dad died. So we no longer had Christmas or Thanksgiving at her house because she started going to my brother's house. My sister, who had a very difficult life, due to some bad choices she made, was sort of the black sheep of the family, so they never invited her....she wouldn't have gone anyway, and neither were we, which was good because I would've had to make an excuse why we couldn't make it. As my mother got older, she liked to stir up trouble and it caused a rift. She seemed oblivious to it all, and continued until she got quite old, and then she relied on me to take care of her. Anyway, I wish I had tried harder to be close to her.

I miss my late husband more each day and it's been 14 1/2 years.

I miss my sister. She died at age 51 of ovarian cancer. That was 26 years ago. There’s so much I’d like to talk to her about.

I'm sorry for all your losses but it does help to know I’m not alone in this boat.

Hugs to everyone who've lost someone close. I've been avoiding this thread. Used to get so depressed when my kids were small and having to spend the day away from them. I now just sign up to work and spend another day celebrating with them. My son is at his father's now but sent me a couple snap chats last night. Daughter is in Rhode Island with her girlfriend and her family. Woke up this morning to snap chats of both of them as elves. ( : My great aunt called two days ago but I was sleeping and then had to run to PT and then work. Didn't get to call her back until yesterday. She reminded me my dad used to call her husband every Christmas and then after her husband passed away my dad called her. I didn't ask if my dad remembered to call the last few years he was alive because he quit calling me for my birthday and Christmas years before he passed away. He simply forgot, dementia. My great aunt is 90 now and I really should go visit her.

My sisters and I have lost both of our parents. Dad has been gone for a long time, but our Mom just passed a couple of years ago. Time might help when it comes to accepting the loss but there’s really nothing that helps to fill the void it leaves. I think of them every day.

My husband as usual

So sorry for those that have lost loved one this special time of year, I too miss many family members and understand how tough it can be. My one suggestion is to go out and help others. It will help both the recipient and you, taking your focus off of your losses. I find I get plenty joy out of volunteering!