I love and hate this

Christmas is such a happy time, you get to see all of your family and friends and engage in the making merry, but this Christmas has brought upon a host of realizations. Do you ever stop to think that the people you are with won't be with you next Christmas? What brought this on is that my granparents' health is failing, quickly. For the past 19 years, every Christmas, my grandma has told me "I think this will be our last Christmas" and unfortunately I have this awful feeling, that this year, she's going to be right. It's not so much that they have cancer or anything, they're just withering away very slowly. Grandpa told the same story four times in as many minutes today, and you can't do anything but smile and listen. My grandma has trouble recognizing her own kids. You so easily take your family for granted only to have them taken away before you realize what happened. I just want to break down and cry. They say that new life will carry on, and I see my nephews and almost agree, then I look at my grandparents and know nothing could ever replace them. I mean, how many people saw the flag raised on Iwo Jima? In fact, how many people even remember Iwo Jima? How many Americans raise six children in a two bedroom home while the husbands fighting in the biggest war known to man kind? How many 94 year old women do you know that kneel by their bed every night and morning to say their prayers and pray rosaries to pass the endless days. Things like that can't be replaced, and probably won't be remembered. In light of all this I'm going to try and spend as much time as possible with my grandparents, I might try and record my grandfather's war stories, it might make interesting for other people as well. So please pray for me and my grandparents. It's going to be very tough in the coming months and any support from everyone will be greatly appreciated. And most of all don't take anything or anyone for granted, this might be the last Christmas you celebrate with them, forever.