Dear Nana

Dear Nana,

Thank you for all you have done over the past 73 years. You have lived a full and long life. Apparently this time last year you already knew that you would not be here with us this time around. We found your poem - "My First Christmas in Heaven" - you hand wrote and packed with mom's Christmas decorations from last year. We opened the gifts this morning that you had already purchased for this Christmas season. So prepared yet so much left undone. It was tough to not buy presents for you and felt weird passing out gifts and seeing "from Nana" with no "To Nana."
Mom read the poem outloud and your gifts were the first ones opened. As usual you did great and actually got practical things we needed. Marcus loved his Patrick pillow and even though he doesn't want to admit it to Granny, I think Iron Man was his favorite toy. Thank you for the Pyrex set...I really did need some oven safe dishes!
Just like every year...Mom mislabled gifts and I'm sure she has forgotten some. We'll get a call in a few weeks..."Guess what I found for you in the closet!" Dinner was great...the usual...ham, mashed potatoes, mac-n-cheese, green beans and rolls. Mom did think she put the ham in the oven at 930am and Denver found it in the fridge at 11am. So needless to say we were a little late eating this year. Denver sliced the ham as usual...might was well use his MAN skills for something...lol
I had no salad as it just didn't seem worth it just for me. My salad eatin' family member is gone. I had no one to fight with over who was going to clean up after dinner. I just started cleaning up and washing the dishes in silence.
Everyone is napping as I sit and stare at your memorial table Mom created. It's kinda wierd looking at that black box and sorry but we did not set you on the table while we ate...Denver was wigged out!
I truely hope your first Christmas in Heaven is everything as you had hoped for. You are able to once again spend this season with your mom and dad. I know how happy that has made you. Despite you telling us that you are not far away and we shouldn't have any tears...it's still tough to hold them back knowing that you are not here with us. We miss you and love you lots.