Almost nine years ago my son was murdered two weeks after Christmas. Christmas was the last time we had seen him. His birthday was December 22. That first Christmas season after I just wanted to take a trip somewhere and forget the holidays but my husband said we couldn't do that, we had to be there for the others. So, we did all the normal things but it was so sad and hard to do. Then, last year on December 20th my husband died after a long battle with cancer. Again, we went ahead with it but we put pictures of him and our son in a prominent spot and lit a candle for them. I always put an ornament on the tree with my son's picture on it and I have another one with an eagle on it that I hang for him because he loved eagles and collected them and I always take a small decorated tree and place on his grave. I'm actually looking forward to the holidays this year because the house feels so empty and all the family will come for the holidays. Mary