Dear Mother:

It's been nine months, ten days, and however many hours since you earned your angel wings and flew away home. It's going to be Christmas soon, and I know you will be celebrating this time with Jesus, your mother and father, Aunt Cleo, Uncle Walter, Aunt Wilma, Uncle Clyde, and little baby Helen Ruth, sweet Bobby Jim, Alvin and Eugene Hamilton, and so many more who've gone before us.

I know you will be our Christmas angel this year. Words cannot even begin to tell you, though, how many tears have fallen because you had to leave us. It will never be the same. The days are not filled with joy and laughter like they once were. I feel so bad because I let you down in so many different ways by being selfish and thinking only of myself. I am sorry. It's just that when your dementia became so complicated, I panicked and couldn't deal with it properly because I didn't really know how to. Looking back now, I still don't know what I could have done to have dealt with it better. But I loved you no matter what. I'm so happy that you don't suffer any more. I know you're able to walk again and breathe without having to have help, and that's better for you. No more pain and sorrow. I know you are not lonely any longer, either.

I wish you the most joyous, happiest, fulfilling Christmas ever. My Christmas wish for you is that you reconnected with Eugene and that you had your dream wedding in the clouds, with Jesus performing your ceremony. Be happy most of all. All of your children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchild send all their love to you and know that we will never forget you because you live in our hearts forever. See you at Christmas...in spirit. 

Love always and forever,

Your dedicated daughter, Penni