Peace, Joy and Love....

I can hardly believe that Christmas is over already....went so fast this year. In the end, the kids Gave away Christmas so beautifully to those they chose. We really can learn a lot from children and their ability to be humble and real.

Katie showed Grandpa Lohrmann how to find Peace, Joy and Love. She just simply is her and her light is infectious and makes all those around her smile.

Abby's heart grew 3 times this Christmas. The lesson Mike and I learned was it is so important to help our kids grow in their minds and in their hearts. We all need to lead our hearts, with God's help. Abby shared HOPE with Morgan by sending her all kids of activities to do for Christmas. She said prayers for Morgan, and thought about her everyday. She has her last box to give to Morgan when we see her on New Years Eve. Abby wrote a letter about "Love" that was so honest and real it only could have been written by a child.

Ben...on the other hand....just liked to listen to what we all did. This concept was a little difficult for a 5 year old but in the end he shared Hope, Peace, Joy and Love in his one way....by being him and being a good friend and a joy to be around.

Laura...me....well....I have to be honest and say I was truly humbled this Christmas. This has been a hard Christmas and at the same time I have felt more Peace, Joy, Hope and Love from so many people; but mostly from Mike. He has been there to listen, to talk, to just hold me. I miss my Mom, a lot...more than I thought I would at this point. In the end, it is my journey and I am blessed to not be on the journey alone. Thank you Mike, for Hope...for listening and offering guidance in a time I needed it the most. Thank you Mike, for Peace...in knowing that together we can do anything. Thank you Mike, for Joy....for putting my Mom's flag inside a frame for me and displaying it proudly in our home. Thank you Mike, for Love....for the Pandora bracelet...not for the cost or the purchase but for the three charms that are my children, the heart from you, and cross charm from my Dad, and the angel from my mom. As Mike told me Christmas Eve....now you will always have each of us with you. Yes, I will....and I am grateful.

In the end, my week by week of Giving Away Christmas really came as an end gift. I did write and say a prayer with Mike like Katie said. I also started something last March that was completed Dec. 24th. I got the book The Love Dare last March. I bought it to bring my marriage from good to great. I had no idea it would bring us to where we are today. In the course of 40 dares I learned unconditional love. I gave Mike the book on Christmas Eve....filled with my journal writings. It is truly an open book to my heart. I hope that through the pages Mike finds more Hope, Peace, Joy and Love than he has ever felt.

Here is to a meaningful Christmas....one filled with Hope, Peace, Joy and Love.....may 2010 bring us all closer.

HOPE....for Mike

This week has been a busy one. Stopping and slowly has not happened around here yet. I actually have to say I found it easier to find HOPE than to give it. I have found that when I am at a loss for perspective or an answer, my 9 year old usually has a simple and totally appropriate solution for me. And she hit in on the mark once again.

I asked her how she thought I could share HOPE with Daddy this week. She said, "Oh that is easy Mom...say a prayer with him at night before you go to bed and than give him a kiss". She told me she would write the prayer if I needed help. I have to admit...writing a prayer, let alone reading it to Mike would be a new experience for me. However....I loved her idea. Authentic...real...and filled with HOPE.

So, I wrote it. I have it right here next to my bed. I am HOPING I can read it tonight.

Here's to HOPE!

PEACE

HOPE.....

I woke up Friday morning, Dec. 4th to the most beautiful ray of sunshine coming through my window as snow fell from the heavens sparkling off of Lake Macatawa. It was my Mom's birthday. I realized at that moment that HOPE really is put inside you...and you get to chose to see it...to feel it and experience it...to claim it. I get it....Jesus was born to give me HOPE. That is so much more special than any HOPE I can offer.

I then remembered a little devotional book I read with my Mom and Dad last fall...right before Mom really got sick. I remember discussing one reading with them and her answer being "I can answer this way because I think there is always HOPE". We got home tonight from Michigan and I found that devotional to look up what she was referring to. The devotional was on Daring to Dream.

God always rejoices when we dare to dream. In fact, we are much like God when we dream. Night shift shepherds don't usually get to hear angels sing and see God in a stable...but don't tell that to the Bethlehem bunch. -- And the Angels Were Silent

My belief in HOPE has really been tested this year. With so much 'bad' happening in the world...some right before my very eyes...still believing and having HOPE in things and people you never thought you would be in the position to question has seemed almost impossible.

I asked my Mom if she had a dream in her heart that day...and she answered...
"For Peace"......

This week, during the second week of Advent, my family will spend time talking about this word PEACE. I look to this week with a new found HOPE...one that comes from GOD...and HOPE that is in the memory of my Mom and HOPE that comes from me.

PEACE!!!