Dear Tyler,

Hi my sweet son. How are you doing on this Tuesday late afternoon? Today is 24th of December and it is the day and night that every child waits for each year with anticipation for Santa to come and visit their home while they are sleeping. It is a day and night that Mom had dreaded since I lost you. It has been the 7th Christmas without you. The holidays are not always cheerful for everyone unfortunately. Like I said on my letter yesterday to you, not all children will have presents under the tree. Some are homeless, some are missing their parent (s) or in some cases there is just not enough money for their families to enjoy the Christmas season like most can. Like Mom, some families are grieving the loss of a child, parent, spouse. Mom knows a few families that are experiencing this first hand and I wish that on no one, ever! Mom will be saying extra prayers for all the families that are in need of ones tonight and every day after. Mom wonders what it is like for you in Heaven? Do you celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ or is there no celebrating at all and it is like every other day/night where you are? Mom would like to believe that you have a huge celebration with all the Angels and God. Please give all our family, pets and friends that are with you a big hug and kiss from Mom. Tonight I will light a candle in memory of you and everyone. Know that it will be burning bright for you my sweet precious son. 
 Today has been pretty fast. Mom was up at 6 am and Mark and Mom went down to feed the pups at 6:45 am. After that Mom relaxed for all of 30 minutes and then came upstairs and made the bed and got ready. After that Meme and I went to the grocery store. We picked up a few things for dinner tomorrow. We put everything away when we got home, had some lunch and then Mom made a potato salad. When that was all finished and the dishes were done, Mom vacuumed the upstairs while Meme was mopping the floor downstairs. Mark was working and Bob was sitting outside. The sun had finally come out for awhile but it went back in. It is so dark and cloudy now. I sure hope that we don't get more rain. That will be day 4 in a row.....ugh! Guess time will tell for that. Tonight we will have dinner and then Meme and I will watch a Christmas movie for a couple hours while Mark is playing his game with his brothers for a bit. That made Mom mad because Mark wanted to do that instead of spending time with me and making new traditions in our new home but he got mad at me. I don't think he gets it at all. I finally told him to do what he wanted to do but I was hurt. Hearing that didn't bother him at all. Like I said, some don't have the traditional Christmas Eve or Christmas Day like others. Mark better not want to play the game tomorrow night or on New Years Eve or New Years Day....Mom will be furious. It is not my fault that his brother doesn't have a life at all other then working and playing video games with his GF. Anyways..... enough of that subject as it gets Mom more upset.
 I heard a song earlier and boy did the tears flow as I was listening to the lyrics and looking at your picture. I whispered to you and told you that Mom misses you so much and I love you. I hope you heard me. I know you saw me crying but know that I have to from time to time so that I don't keep it all bottled up inside. I will whisper to you later this evening as well. Be listening out for my voice and smile again for Mom and I will smile back to you. I will write to you later tomorrow after we have our dinner and everyone is doing their own thing. We will be making calls to everyone in the morning. What I wouldn't give to be able to call you and hear your voice. That would be the greatest gift ever. I miss you and love you to the moon and back and all the way around the world. You are my hero and the wind beneath my wings. Forever you live inside my heart, mind, body and soul. I hope you have fun tonight doing all the things needed of you and maybe a few things that you would like to do. Come visit Mom in my dreams if you can. I sure would love that. Right now, Mom needs to get going because it is after 5 pm and the pups need feeding and I need to make dinner for Mark and I. Until tomorrow comes...good night and sweet dreams, Tyler.
 Always, Mommy xoxoxo. Muah!

Here is the prayer for the day:

But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord"...Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." Luke 2:10–11, 13–14, NIV

Lord God, our Father in heaven, you have sent us the Savior, who was born to bring great joy to all people. Glorify your name, we pray. Give the world the peace you alone can give, the peace that wells up in our hearts. Let your favor rest on us so that we may hold out under our sufferings on earth. We need your loving help to remain inwardly steadfast until everyone can be reached by the message, "Be strong in the grace of Jesus Christ." Amen.