She never liked Christmas. As a child, as soon as gifts were opened, mostly from charity organizations which her mother greedily took advantage of, the tree was disassembled and put away, in wait for the next year. Rarely allowed to see her father, who was the only one that seemed to have true love for her, and held captive by an abusive mother and her influx of abusive boy friends, she retreated to a shell that became her only protection from the so called family she hadn't been blessed with. Once taken from her home after a report of abuse from her mothers next husband, Christmas became just one bad memory after another. Then years of foster care were no help either, and even after marriage and the birth of her daughters, mustering up any enthusiasm for the holiday was almost and impossibility. This year, she wanted things to be different, but it wasn't coming easily.
Then today, while at work, she
received the
devastating news that her dear father, whom as a young adult out of the grips of her mother was finally able to see and regain her beautiful relationship with, had died, his surgery for cancer just days away.
The grief and despair are more than she can handle. How do you tell this beautiful young woman, that things will be
OK? Such empty shallow words. How do you comfort someone who's bitterness for the years taken from her and her father that can never be replaced and now their journey is over? How does she celebrate with her husband and two young daughters, when now Christmas holds another bad memory, another heartache?
My heart is breaking for her. I have had this beautiful young woman in my life for 22 years. She has been like a daughter to me, and I her mother, starting when she was 4 until she was taken away at age 11, and when a foster mother allowed her back into our lives 6 years later. You see, she is my husbands niece. We are the ones that reported the abuse, for which his side of the family never forgave us. She is my life. She is my daughter in every sense of the word. All I can do is hold her, cry with her, and listen. But it doesn't seem like enough. Please pray for her, pray that God comfort her in some way, that she be able to feel His love and
presence, and somehow put this awful past behind her and move forward. And finally, please pray for me and Robyn, that we know what to say and do that will bring her some kind of comfort during the most difficult time in her life. To all of you, hold a love one, let them know how special they are to you and how valuable they are. Life is so precious.
Gods' Love to all of you,
Laurie
I have been a decorating fiend this year, always thinking there is one more thing I can do. Well today I declare I am officially done. I have added, tweaked, and re-arranged. Now satisfied, here are the final pictures of my holiday home! Click on pictures to enlarge.
I love snow babies, and filled my curio with as many as I could.
This stool sat at my husbands' family homestead for several generations.
I added a tea light to the wreath. I love these, they are little battery operated ones that through off the nicest glow, and no worry about it catching anything on fire.
