OT Loving those we have and missing those gone...

I felt I needed to post this today, since the holidays are  soon to be behind us. There are so many of us here that have lost  our love ones and didnt have them this year with us during the holidays for whatever the reason. And during  Christmas Day as I had time to sit and go through photo albums and look at the memory's with my father  the tears rolled and I thought what if: So many questions ? I had said I love you more, or I went to visit more , did things w/ him more took more vacations w/ him more etc. you get the picture. We all have these questions after there gone. And as I sat there thinking  well I need to cherish each and everyday I have with my mother  while she's here or  a sibling whatever it maybe. My mother is my life right now and If God forbid something happened to her I just dont know what I would do. I know so many here have lost Mothers, and Fathers and I feel for them and I thought about them and said a little prayer on Christmas knowing they too where sad and missing there family too. I know Im rambleing  I just wanted to stress the importance in us taking care of ourselves, we also need to take a little time out for our  family's  and say I love you more  and that we appriciate them for the little things they do even though we take them for granite. We do this so more than we realize so take the time  to give a hug or pick up the phone and  tell them there loved and  appriciated and  not just  there. They are our parents and  they need to know they are needed and loved and they are special to and not just an object. Just a thought. 

What a wonderful message Melinda.  Our family went through quite a bit of these emotions this season as we thought of those we miss.  I also said a few prayers for you & others that I knew were going through the same thing.  It comforted me to think about how those loved ones live on through our memories and the traditions they established through the family that we pass on to each generation. p.s. love the new pic!!!!!

Miss Prissy you are so right about missing family and friends during the holiday season. We all need to think about how we treat our family and friends so that they feel the love as well as we do. I do not want to see anyone in pain from an accident or from lossing someone close to them. Like I am so glad that I have my friends here on the board and want to take time to say I love you and pray for you all.  Please everyone please say a prayer for all that we can see out way to the Lord and ask him to help us. Have a nice day and enjoy to weather.

Great message Prissy.
 I have been feeling a pang of guilt due to the fact that my parents make a 5+ hour road trip to come here to help us out any time we ask them to, and I cant even find it in me to travel to see them at the holidays. I just like to stay home during the hectic Christmas week. My parents are my life and I cant even imagine what it would be like to loose one of them. I call them on the phone at least 3 times a week, but I only make it up to visit about 2 times a year. I need to do better and your message really hit home for me.
My new years resolution will be to visit my parents more often and not wait for them to visit me.....

Happy New Year!!!! Cath

Thanks for this wonderful post Melinda

Great reminder for all of us Melinda.  I lost my Mom 5 years ago, Dad nearly 31 years. I am ashamed to say that I have not seen my younger brother since Mom's funeral. He is only 5-6 hours away.  Cherish each other, every day.