While I have many wonderful memories of Christmases past, some were memorable for different reasons. When I was 8 my Grandmother died on 12/21. Christmas of 68 had my brother home on leave from the Air Force. Christmas of 74 we got engaged. Christmas of 83 my son (3 YO) had been sick and had a terrible reaction to medication he'd been given and was hospitalized. DH's Grandmother died 12/24/89. Many Christmases evoke warm, happy memories of family and friends gathering. Each event pulls us together, makes us stronger and realize how much we have to be thankful for, and allows us to truly appreciate Christmas.