As I think about the holidays, my mind forces itself to think about my grandpa. In June 2015 my grandpa passed away, becoming my angel.

I find myself thinking about him more and more each holiday season. This year I found myself thinking about him since November. There is a song by Scotty McCreary that I think of in particular when I think of my grandpa called "Christmas in Heaven."

The lyrics in this song make me think about what Christmas in Heaven would be like. Is my grandfather a part of the beautiful scene that makes Christmas what it is? "Are you singing with angels Silent Night? … Are you part of that glorious Holy Night?"

My grandfather was a Catholic man who loved the holidays because he got to see family. He loved his family, God, and Christmas.

To my angel in heaven,

I love you so much. I miss you every single day. I wish you were here with me to celebrate Christmas like we used to.

Christmas just isn't the same without my Papa to celebrate with me.

I am going to Italy right after Christmas, and I get to go into the Vatican City. I am sure that is a place you had hoped to go one day. Maybe you're there now to be with the Pope.

I will say a prayer for you while I am there.

I am trying to make you proud with all that I do. Make sure you come around to let all of us know you're there every once in a while. I know you are with Grandma always! She misses you so much more than the rest of us.

I hope I am making you proud. I hope you look at your friends up in Heaven and say "That's my granddaughter."

I think about you all the time. I hope you don't miss us too much but know that we miss you like crazy.

Each Veteran's Day I think about you and just how much I miss you. I also think about how lucky I am to have had you as my grandpa. You were the best grandpa I could have ever asked for.

I don't know many people my age who can say that their grandfather served their country in the Korean War. Not many can say that their grandfather was strong enough to survive a prison camp during that war, the way you were and did.

It makes me feel so proud to be your granddaughter. I miss you so much Grandpa, and I hope that you are just as proud to be my grandpa as I am to be your granddaughter.

Merry Christmas, Grandpa. I love you so, so, so much, and I miss you every day.

Love Always,

Your Emma Leigh