Peace is the Gift...

Wishing you the gift of Peace

as this year whispers to a close...

May you find God's arms holding you close,

no matter the noise or grief or hurt,

and bringing calm to your heart.

My Love,

Always,

Jane

Love has a Name...

Even in the midst of grief, the Christmas season holds a magic...

The beauty.  The music.  The expectation shining bright in little one's eyes.

We gather to celebrate, we laugh, we hug, we feast.  All the while feeling the missing deep.  I find myself drawn to the mystery of that manger scene...

Do you think about Mary?  Do you think she knew the grief that would be her son's purpose?  Did she know the sorrow that would crack her heart wide?  I have this hope that she was sheltered from the knowledge, allowed the holy privilege of rocking her newborn son, savoring those precious moments when the baby in her arms was hers alone... before the shadow of the cross covered that blessed manger, pronouncing to all, this... this is the Savior of the world.

Love has a name.  JESUS.

The story... HIS story is still being written in our hearts.

From a simple manger to a crucifixion cross...

Christmas is the story of Love.

May this Christmas offer an everlasting Hope

because of a Saviors overcoming Love

no matter what grief shadows your heart.

Love has a name...

The baby in a manger.

Yes, His name is Jesus.

Praying Blessings of Mercy and Grace to all this day.

My Love,

Always,

Jane

When the Holidays are colored in Loss...

Losing a loved one during the holiday season changes things...

It's been 3 weeks since Leroy's mom passed away.  The missing comes in waves... Christmas will be so very different this year.

She has been the Rock of our family for as long as I can remember, quiet and faithful, the hub around which we gathered.

Yes, Christmas will be different... the beauty of the season somehow feels at odds with the grief we're wading through.

Tonight we spent time reminiscing over faded photographs.  Seeing her smiling face brought back precious memories... and tears... but happy tears because of the love we see shining back at us.

We have been very loved... and blessed.  Very, very Blessed.

Mildred Alice

June 7, 1931 - December 1, 2017

Loved, Cherished, Remembered

Always Loved!

You Never Let Go

Beautiful song. Beautiful lyrics.

Enduring Promise...

There is a house with many rooms Where I'm gonna be with You someday.

'Cause You never let go. You never let go.

You led me by the hand into a land of green and gold

And You never let go, You never let go

Your love endures forever, wherever I go After all these years-

You led me by the hand into a land of green and gold You never let go, You never let go.

When after all the years have gone and I've grown old And You never let go, You never let go I'm gonna go home

That's all that I know To the arms of a Father Who'll never let me go After all these years, Oh, oh, You never let go Oh, oh, You never let go...

When Hearts are Hurting...

Sometimes our Good-byes are long in coming, and yet those final moments still leave cuts razor sharp.

Last Friday we lost a dear mother-in-law after an agonizingly long journey with lung cancer and COPD.

The grief is still raw.  She has been a quiet, steadfast rock in our family, holding us close always despite the miles and the years.

How do you say Good-bye?

Over these past few months we have watched her body grow more and more frail.  The hunger for air dominating every waking moment.  The ache in her lungs more acute with each passing day.

Hospice comforted her... and the family... preparing her... preparing us...

And yet, there is never a preparing for the final good-bye.

The loss cuts keenly, but we could never wish her back.  Her pain and suffering have been lifted, she has found such a well deserved rest.  We could never wish her back... even as we sorrow.

But even in the sorrow we find that love transcends even this boundary.  Millie's faith in the Everlasting God and Christ, the Savior-Son, pave the way to an eternal life that we can't begin to imagine!

She is liberated into a freedom beyond compare, and one day we look forward to the grandest reunion of all time.

Such a grand reunion it will be...

Millie, sweet mom-in-law, you have been a God-given Blessing to me.  I can't begin to see the future without you in it, but know that your deep love and abiding faith will be a legacy to guide us...

"But from everlasting to everlasting

the LORD's love is with those who fear him,

and his righteousness with their children's children."

                                                   ~ Psalm 103:17