Growing up, I always enjoyed the time between Christmas and my birthday in early February. During that five-and-a-half week stretch, I would enjoy the Christmas holidays while out of school, followed by New Year’s. Then, I would start planning my birthday party and birthday wish list based on what I didn’t get on my Christmas list.
It was always a time of hope and new beginnings: A new year — and then a month later, a new year for me.
This year — well, it was different. Time froze during this former happy stretch of time as we prayed for my dad’s recovery from acute respiratory distress syndrome.
This year, my dad was placed into the hospital two days after Christmas. And this year, we held his memorial two days before my birthday.
The day my dad died, knowing when memorial plans would take place, I sobbed and screamed on the phone to my husband that, “Christmas is RUINED. My birthday is RUINED.”
It sounds childish, but what I was feeling was the shattering of the innocence of my former happy stretch. I thought that from now on, it would be a sad and grief-ridden stretch; all happy memories gone forever.
The day of my dad’s memorial, as it turns out, was my husband’s birthday. Mine was two days later. My chef husband catered lunch after my dad’s viewing, and dinner after his memorial service. As he was serving dessert, my brother-in-law brought out a surprise birthday cake for the two of us. And as we simultaneously blew out the candles, I realized that I can choose to still make it a happy stretch.
Every Christmas, I can remember my last Christmas with my dad, and all the ones before.
And every birthday, I can remember every year I shared with my dad, and know that I am one year closer to seeing him again.
I love you, Dad.
Digital Kristen 
THIS is one of the most important realizations after you’ve lost someone — that you can still CHOOSE to be happy. Love this post. ❤
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