"Let There Be Peace On Earth"

Hello Family and Friends,

I so cannot believe that Christmas is almost a week away!  It is crazy how fast the holidays go by!  I am finished with the little Christmas shopping that I have done for this year.  I love the feelings that Christmas brings, I wish we had them all year long.

I have laughed my head off these past couple of weeks.  I love my family.  They all have such great sense of humors.  My sister Katie and I are pretty much twins only separated by a couple of years.  I love being able to laugh with her and plan on seeing her and baby Richard soon!  It is awesome to be so close to someone that we actually can finish each other's sentences... I wish she lived closer!

My niece's and nephews are great!  I love celebrating the holidays with them.  I cannot believe some of them are teenagers... Time goes by so fast.

I miss my Dad so much right now.  This is the time of year (11 years ago) that he was terminally ill with cancer.  It is strange to think how long ago it was, it some ways it seems like it was just yesterday.  I remember the flights up to see him and the emotions of not knowing when he would pass away or knowing there was nothing I could do to fix what the future held.  I loved his sense of humor, even when he was really sick he made me laugh.  I miss him.  I miss being able to pick up the phone and hear his voice.  I am thankful however that he is out of pain and resting with our Heavenly Father.

I love the song "Let there be peace on Earth"  it is so fitting this time of year.  This season for people I love, I wish this for them.  I have several close friends that are struggling right now, I wish so much that they could find peace.  I have so much in my life that I thankful for, I am so lucky and my heart aches for the pain that I see others going through.

I have a friend who just lost a son.  His funeral is four days before Christmas.  Her heart is breaking and I can't fix it for her.  If I could I would trade hearts with her, to give hers a rest.
Another friend is in the hospital with mental problems.  She is struggling so much to make it day by day, I wish I could ease the pain that she has in her heart.  I have a friend who is struggling spiritually, he feels alone and lost in this world, I wish he could believe in himself like I believe in him and yet he chooses to pull away, I pray everyday for him.  I know of families that will have little or no Christmas this year.  I wish I could afford to help them financially feel confident that things will be okay.  I have friends that are sad because the holidays are stressful for them for many different reasons.  I wish I could wrap my arms around them and tell them everything will be okay.

On my way home tonight I heard the song "Let there be peace on Earth"  I teared up.  The second line in the song states "and let it begin with me"  My prayer for the holiday season is simple.  I pray that each one of us can find peace and that each one of us can "let it begin with me".  That we can each find ways of serving those around us.  For that is the true spirit of Christmas.

In a world full of turmoil and heartache, let's look out for each other.  Comfort each other, pray for each other, go the extra mile and remember that tiny baby who made it possible for us to do.

Have a great weekend.  I love you all!

Karley