Holidays are supposed to be the most joyous of time of year. Holiday music is playing throughout every store, decorations are hung up, and families make arrangements for their holiday plans.

Although holidays are exciting and filled with joy, I find myself becoming blue.

Often times in the buzz of the holiday season people forget those who are no longer with us.

Those who will no longer be sitting beside us at Thanksgiving dinner. Those who will not be able to see another Christmas tree be hung in their homes. Those who won’t be seeing another year come and go.

It’s difficult sometimes to deal with the absence of a mom, dad, sibling, grandparent, so on and so forth.

I find these times difficult personally and I’m sure others do as well.

My Mom-Mom has been gone for three and a half years now.

My Mom-Mom was a woman who made sure that we were filled with so much joy around these times - from making sure we were so stuffed on Thanksgiving that we could barely move, to making sure each of my families Christmas wishes were met. Holidays were always her thing and she always seemed to be filled with holiday spirit. I remember being truly filled with the magic of the holidays as soon as I walked into her house. As she grew older and became more ill, she became more limited on what she could do for the holidays, but she never once showed that. My Mom-Mom was one of the most selfless people you could have ever met. She would do anything for the people she loved.

Sometimes I find myself thinking about how much I’d give to have one more Thanksgiving or Christmas day with her. I’d do anything for just a little more time, just to give her a hug and talk for a little while.

I know she wouldn’t want me to be sad around these times. She would want me to enjoy everything that the holidays offer. She’d want me to spend time with the family and celebrate the true beauty of the holiday season.

It’s impossible to replace a person like my Mom-Mom. There is no one quite like her.

I know personally during the holiday season, I tend to lean on my family more and I value the time that is spent together. It helps to be surrounded by family who I’m sure misses her just as much as I do. It makes it all a little bit easier.

I hope wherever my Mom-Mom is during this holiday season, that she’s relaxing and watching down on my family and smiling. I hope she still has the holiday spirit in her heart.

For anyone who is struggling the with absence of someone special to them during this time, no matter how long or short they’ve been gone, know that my heart is with you this holiday season.