Trying to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas

Talked to my brother today and he said that yesterday was very dfficult for him. Commented that with the busyness of chores for our mother's funeral, he didn't have time to grieve. He mentioned that he was glad that Thanksgiving dinner was at my sister's house. He told me that my cousin had passed away. We are waiting on memorial arrangements for her. Dinner at our house was just what we needed, relaxing, good food and company. I took the dogs for a long walk before dinner, through the loop trail, around the marsh, through the neighborhood, across the soccer field and back home. They enjoyed it, since they did not walk the day before. It was rainy and bone chilling cold. My daughter and her husband are expecting their first baby the first of June. Excited and sad becauuse Mother will not see the baby. Exactly as when our youngest daughter was born and my husband's mother had passed away just six weeks prior. I am trying to enjoy the Christmas season (although grief comes in waves), to make it special in the wake of my mother's death.