Merry Christmas

As our family approaches Christmas, we are reminded of our Heather and miss her so much. She loved Christmas more than anyone else. She would have played Christmas Carols all year long if she could have gotten by with it. Our family has had a lot of Christmas traditions over the years. Some were intentional, some were not. The town of Waynesville has had a manger scene on the bluff since we moved here the year Heather was born. When she was almost 2 her Grandmother passed away. When she asked where Gammy Hemmy was, we told her that she had gone to heaven to paint rainbows for God. Well, that Christmas, when the manger scene on the bluff was lit, Heather exclaimed, "There she is!" I said, " Who?" She said, "Gammy Hemmy. She's with baby Jesus".

On another occasion, Nelson and I decided to decorate the house for Christmas after Heather and Skylor went to bed. When they woke the next morning, they asked there all of the decorations had come from. Without thinking of the consequences, Nelson replied, "The elves came". Well, from then on. Heather always asked when the elves were coming to decorate for Christmas. When she was a senior in high
school and Skylor was a freshmen, Nelson and I decided to decorate while they went to a basketball game. Unfortunately, they came home early. Nelson and I dove behind the kitchen counter to hide when they came in the door. We were caught lying on the floor laughing.

Many memories are special to us. We always sang together in the Christmas cantata, attended Christmas concerts at school, had our own special homemade Christmas stocking, attended Christmas Eve services, decorated sugar cookies, opened Christmas gifts on Christmas morning (never Christmas Eve), had Christmas dinner with family, and of course always believed in Santa Claus. We never sat down and had the talk about Santa. One year Nelson and I noticed special little gifts in our stockings that we hadn't purchased. With a wink from Heather, we knew she had figured out that Christmas was more about giving than getting. She soon led Skylor down the same path. Santa was alive and well.

Merry Christmas Heather. You are in our hearts forever.

Love
Mom and Dad