It is proper to state, that your loved ones never left.
A part them has stayed with you, interacting with you as much as you will allow and watching your life unfold.

On that side of the veil, time does not have its meaning.
You can be in several places at the same time... which is not quite correct, because you are in each place, fully, experiencing it all. But you are also in heaven experiencing that.

If you will, there is more time. There is three of you, there is three times as much time. But, that is just a crude analogy.

The point is, your loved ones never left.
And were entwined in your life before you were born, and will be after you croak.