Dear Kathy,
I once read in a book that it takes one year and one day to fully understand that someone has'gone'. Before that time I believe that on the special days (the person's birthday, the first Christmas without them, the first mothers day without them etc) we are still expecting that person to ring or to walk through the door. Although I won't say it gets easier, apparently it does make a difference after that one year and one day... So here's to you and your family getting through that time together.

Tammy