Home for the Holidays

My mom and me decorating Grandma's tree Thanksgiving 2013

I love Christmas. I imagine not many people don't. Christmas music is filling my car, the stores, and quite a few other places right now. My four-year-old doesn't always like the songs I like, but I am the grown up and I get the final say. Anyway, some of my favorite songs are "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," "Sleigh Ride," "Silver Bells," "I'll Be Home for Christmas," "White Christmas," and "No Place Like Home for the Holidays." Can you tell I like the old ones? The funny thing is, I live in the south, and even though it was snowing yesterday morning, it didn't stick long. It's very unusual to actually have a white Christmas, and definitely not enough snow for a sleigh.
The other funny thing about my favorites is the theme of "home." I know I've talked about this quite a bit, because it really resonates with me. Home. Growing up the way I did, moving every few years, I had two constants. I had my grandparents in Tennessee. And I had my grandparents in Oklahoma. My last grandparent passed on back in May, and my parents have been getting that house ready to sell so they can move on from caregivers to taking care of each other instead. But they're still there, in Oklahoma, the place I consider home.
So, for a few days over the holidays, we'll load up our car and take off for one more visit. But I know it won't be the same. The house is still the same, no doubt. But most of the furniture is gone. And my grandparents are gone. And as we go through this holiday season this year, I'm really missing those who have gone before us. I'm excited about one more Oklahoma Christmas. And sad, too. It's bittersweet. And I guess, in years to come, we'll have to redefine "home" once again. Because there's no place like home for the holidays.
What about you? How do you handle the sad and happy that seem wrapped up together this time of year? Have you come up with new ways of being "home" for Christmas?