Tomorrow we leave to travel to Pennsylvania to be with my sister-in-law, and all my nieces and nephews and grand nieces and nephews. Lots of kids and noise and chaos … a perfect, joyous family Christmas.

 

It will be the first Christmas without my brother, who was always the Oak Tree with all his scattered beautiful acorns around him. It will be bittersweet for me in many ways. But my heart wants to carry on the traditions he so dearly loved, and the many joyous times we had together. Denny taught me that family was sacred, a truth passed down from our parents. He taught me to always find the joy, and the wonder, and revel in the craziness of the season. He taught me unconditional love.

 

And so I leave with those intentions … to honor all that he taught me. To go with an open heart, and a heart full of fun and laughter. To BE the joy and love and acceptance in the shadow of his great Oak Tree. To toast him and remember stories to share and keep his light alive in the family, now and for eternity.

 

He loved Christmas. We loved Christmas together. He will be with me, this Christmas and always.

 

Blessings,

DEE