Oh there's no place like home for the holidays

I am thinking about when my littles are all grown up today. So many people I know are so lonely at this time of year. It makes me so sad for them and worried about how I can prevent this for my children. I never remember feeling desperate for a boyfriend or a special someone at the holidays more than other times of the year. As long as I could be home with my mama, that was all that I needed, all that mattered. Family was enough. And it still is. What do I do to prevent my little men from feeling more than normal neediness at this time of year? I hope I am sensitive to their needs, their longings, their gaps and their fulfillments. I hope they can be honest with me, too. I hope they always know that they have a room to sleep in, clean towels and sheets, all their favorite foods at the ready, scones when they wake up in the morning...whatever it is that comforts them, I want it to be here, at home, with me, and Pompey. That was alot of commas...
I wish I could write them each a letter, and show them the wonder in their eyes today as we decked the halls, lit the snow village, got out ALL the bells and Christmas music boxes, made a paper chain to count down the days until Santa comes, how all Notorious can talk about is that he wants slippers. Yes, SLIPPERS, to keep his feet cozy, for Christmas. I want them to never forget how much they love all our Christmas woobies (cozy blankets) and all the nativities. How Tiny loves to find the Baby Jesus and say HO HO HO. I want to bottle and preserve the joy and wonder they feel right now, forever. And then give it back to them when they are 16, and then again about 21, again at 30. When they are waiting to get married, then again when they each have their first baby. Christmas is magical. It always should be. I grieve for people who let that die in their hearts. Can I teach my littles to hold that magic precious, forever? It is all about what you focus on...
Sure there are lots of things I could be sad about this year. And every year. My brother for one. Oh how he loved Christmas more than any other holiday. The last year he was alive, he called and begged me to come over and decorate Christmas cookies with him and his wife. Just come NOW he pleaded. I was in my jammies. PUT ON YOUR COAT. SPEND THE NIGHT!! I am so glad I did! We stayed up way too late laughing and remembering so many great years and Christmas fun. He was always a kid. A month later, he was gone. Forever. At 27. I could be sad about that. Well, I am...but we had a whole childhood of joy and love and magic this time of year. That is what I am thankful for and that is the part of him that is alive and well in my heart and my home. Someday I can tell the littles about their uncle. Oh how he would love them and all their sweetness and joy.
But today, today, today I want to capture that joy and life and give it back to my boys year after year. Even if God forbid we lost one of them, that they could recpature the love and life like I have after losing Eddie. Life goes on...it has to...how do I teach them this? How do I help them not reach for the intangible when all the love and hope and comfort is right here at home for however and whenever they need it? I hope they always know, believe, and choose that there is no place like home...no place like home for the holidays...