Sheesh...reading that that you all were crying almost made me cry. Try to think often on the blessings you have in your life right now and hopefully that will brighten up the rest of the holiday for you.
A far as the letter....honestly i think what you sent her (basically ignoring her jabs and getting straight to the point and ending w/ the happy holidays) stings much more and causes one to take note far more than sharing your feelings and rebuttling piece by piece. And your long letter was not from the school of Dobson....it was much more Kdog inspired then what Dobson suggests in "Tough Love".
Hope you are able to sleep better tonight!
me: 30 H:30 tgthr:7 m:4 no kids 5 counseling sessions initiated by H as a LR: Oct 2012 long distance marriage b/c of work since Nov 2012 official BD: July 2013 nothing filed 1/1/14 I dropped the rope