I am so sorry to hear of of the passing of your mother-in-law and the sorrows that will certainly dampen your children's spirits during the holiday season. It is always difficult to loose a loved one and even more difficult when that loose coincides with a holiday. It is my belief that the spirit of the deceased is usually the strongest right after the passing so you might want to set an extra place at the table for her and maybe your kids will connect with her energy in the coming days. Just an idea. What was her name? I'd like to mention her in my prayers. As for you, Pseudolus, if you feel up to telling a story about her, I think it would help and at least for me be appreciated. One of my Norwegian friends at Tweedsblues father died recently and he told us wonderful story about his father and some other musicans holding dances on a remote Norwegan bridge during World War II.