My Christmas Angel

If you know my dad's journey with #scleroderna then you know that for 20 years of my life, I've dealt on-and-off again with anticipatory grief.

The grief is very real, hard hitting, and sporadic. My love for Christmas starts with my parents, and their love for Christ and Moose Deer Point.

Every Christmas Eve we would go to the church and sing Christmas carols. Dad would give a devotion and share whatever was on his heart. Often it was about seeing the people of Moose Deer Point coming to church and serving the Lord... Jesus was born for everyone.

Christmas morning before opening presents my dad would read the Bible to my mom and I, specifically the Christmas story and the three of us would pray together.

One Christmas, I went to Morocco. At that time, it was the hardest thing I had gone through. My parents didn't want to celebrate Christmas that year, but I made them promise me that they would.

To dad: As much as my heart hurts, as anxious as Christmas Eve service leaves me. I'm still celebrating Christ's birth with family, because that's what you taught me. Mom decorated the house beautifully, and Christmas Eve service is still happening.

I'm healing, mom's healing... It's slow but you loved us well. I love you and miss you everyday ❤️