Dear Nathan,

We decorated the house today for Christmas. I can hardly believe it’s that time of year already, since Christmas was the last time I saw you. I don’t think we’ve ever gone a year without seeing each other. Even when I was gone to China, I saw you after about six or seven months.

I unpacked your decorations box and got out the boys’ stockings. I also found yours, and it brought a smile to my face. I remember when we made them as kids, printing our names in glue and then shaking glitter all over it. I hope you don’t mind, but I hung it on the curio cabinet. I just wanted to see it. I explained to the boys that your stocking wouldn’t have anything in it on Christmas morning, but I thought it would be nice to include it with our other decorations. They didn’t seem to mind.

I also found your brass baby ornament with your name and birthdate engraved on it. I held it and traced my fingers across your name a couple of times. I will hang it next to mine on the tree. Speaking of sorting through your decorations, I can’t believe you – Mr. Organizer – had two large candles just thrown in the box, unwrapped. They had melted and ruined a couple of figurines. Thankfully, they weren’t sentimental, so I threw them away when the boys weren’t looking.

Thanksgiving was nice, but I sure did miss you. Mama made Grannyfanny’s cornbread dressing, and it was scrumptious. I’ve always said that her dressing is probably on the banquet table in heaven. I guess you’ll have to vouch for that, but I reckon it might be true. I made eggnog cookies, and the icing had rum in it! Stop laughing; yes, there is still plenty of rum left … No, I didn’t drink it all! This is the part where you bump me with your shoulder and call me a lush, right? I know you would, you silly goose. I can hear you joking now: “Aww, lookie my prude sister, ‘cooking’ with rum. A little rum for the icing, a little rum for her … a little rum for the icing …” and then I smack you on the shoulder and tell you to stop being a brat.

I miss you like crazy, Nathan. Christmas is going to be hard without you here.