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.