Lord, You know that I went into the Thanksgiving week with a good bit of tears. Both of our boys and their wives were spending the holiday with their in-laws and my mind was filled with last year’s memories when the whole Goldsmith crew was together in Atlanta.

It was such a happy, hopeful time, with Daddy having finished his radiation treatment and everyone enjoying his jokes and delight at having the whole ‘famdamly’ (as he put it) together. He was especially happy to have all the grandkids and great grandkids with him.

There was laughter and delicious food and lots and lots of photos.

Everyone was entertained by wonderful little Lena and we were all eagerly anticipating Baby #5’s arrival, set for January.

There was the annual ultimate frisbee game with all the cousins participating and Daddy wearing his Georgia Tech stocking hat.

It was the ultimate joyful Thanksgiving. This holiday had always been the specialty of my parents. Family and friends and anyone who would otherwise be alone on Thanksgiving were invited to our home on Nancy Creek Road.

In fact, I had never spent a Thanksgiving in America without celebrating with my family. Paul’s family’s big celebration was usually at Christmas and the 4th of July.

But even as I anticipated a very hard first Thanksgiving without my beloved father, I was very excited that Paul and I were going to spend the week with his mother, our beloved ‘Mamaw’, in Louisville, KY.

And it was indeed wonderful.

Mamaw is one of the most delightful people in the world and the best ‘bonus mom’ I could have ever asked for. She’s also quite a cut-up, always filled with a combination of godly wisdom and fun.

On Friday, we drove with Mamaw to Cincinnati to celebrate with more of the Musser crew.

Ten of Mamaw’s twenty-six great-grands were present and eager to dress up as super heroes and listen to ‘Uncle Scot’ tell his tall tales.

And of course, we watched the World Cup soccer games. Go, France!

As with the Goldsmith gathering last year, there was much laughter and games and a few quiet conversations, sharing our hearts and hurts and joys.

And Mamaw, who has numerous health challenges, kept up with it all.

Our tummies and hearts were full of gratitude as we gathered together to honor our God and enjoy our extended family.

Yes, I had some tears over the past week. I miss my father so much.

But Jesus showed us how to mourn with those who mourn and rejoice with those who rejoice. I love the many paradoxes in the Christian life, and I find that the bitter and the sweet of bittersweet perfectly describe how I’m navigating this year of ‘firsts’ without my father.

I am sure many of you are also living in those ‘bittersweet’ moments that celebrating the holidays without a loved one brings. My prayer is that you will feel the comfort and love of God’s family here on earth while cherishing the memories and looking forward to what is ‘not yet’.

ELIZABETH MUSSER writes ‘entertainment with a soul’ from her writing chalet—tool shed—outside Lyon, France (and sometimes at her childhood desk in Flintstone, Georgia). Find more about Elizabeth’s novels at www.elizabethmusser.com and on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and her blog, Letters to the Lord.