This was our first Christmas without my mom — and Christmas is officially over. Letting the First Christmas Without My Mom Be What It Was This was our first Christmas without my mom, and it was the holiday we worried about the most. She gained her wings in June, and somehow it feels like she planned this Christmas in a way she knew we could manage. Still, Christmas showed up anyway. The day felt warm and easy. Laughter came naturally, without forcing itself, and the food followed — plentiful, comforting, and shared without rushing. The gifts felt thoughtful, and joy found its way in right when we needed it. Then,…