Actually, I think little soaps are cute. Melissa always thought homemade soaps were gross, and never could understand why people would pin them on pinterest. "Better not be planning to give me any of your hodgepodge homemade soap!" I can almost hear her saying it! Now that it's close to Christmas time again, all I can think when I see them on pinterest is how much it offended Melissa's sensibilities. Which I love. I loved her quirks...and we knew each others' quirks so well.
Once we got to Halloween this year, I realized the "holidays" do start right about then, even though I'm mostly strict about giving Thanksgiving it's due and keeping Christmas for Advent and December. Around Halloween is when it started feeling even more empty without her. Not that I don't miss her every single day, but there are certain things that the holiday season makes you miss more. I've heard this goes on for years, but for the moment I'm just trying to take one day at a time. That's so hard, especially when you've got a sweet little family to celebrate for and lots of precious "kid time" to capture and capitalize on. They won't be babies forever, I know!
We made it through Halloween, although it was very hard not having Sissy there to enjoy Captain America and Supergirl, whom she adored so much! Now, we're on to Thanksgiving, and although we do still have so many blessings for which we are thankful, I'm concerned that it will mostly be day with a hole in it. And of course, it will be.
My hubs and I have lots of ways that we are trying to give our children meaningful distraction while still keeping Sissy a part of the conversation. This week, we're making Thanksgiving placemats for our guests (Nana, Stevie, and great-grandmothers Mimi and Memaw). I'm still working on something for Sissy. There are so many ideas but nothing seems right! Or, nothing seems perfect. Which it won't ever be, of course, but I can't help aiming high, especially where my Sissy is concerned.
