thinking about the holidays

my dad loved a good thanksgiving meal and he loved gift giving at Christmas. . . thinking of the holidays without him just makes me so sad tonight. I remember visiting him two years ago in the hospital over Thanksgiving. He couldn't be at home with us to share in the meal. He had some bad infection and we were supposed to wear masks and gowns covering our clothes. Our contact was supposed to be limited. We saw him for such a short time and then went home. That meal without dad was strange. Over the ham dinner, we talked about how he was supposed to come home soon. . . in a matter of days. We saved a piece of pumpkin pie for him and my sister took it to him when she visited again. Then one month later for Christmas he was home. I remember him sitting in that big chair of his with each of his granddaughters on a different knee. He was smiling and he was home. This year we can save him a piece of delicious pumpkin pie with cool-whip, but we can't deliver it to him later. He won't be home for Christmas here on earth. I've got to just find peace with him being at home in the best place to be for Christmas . . . with Christ.