Loss any time of year is difficult, but that same loss seems to yell at Christmas. My niece Rachel lost her mom this past June. Today she shares her heart with you as she faces her first Christmas without her beautiful mom.

"Saying goodbye to a loved one is a very strange experience, isn't it? It requires that we let them go whether or not we feel ready. And then life changes - where they were, they are no more. Sometimes its hard to know what we are supposed to think, what we are supposed to feel in light of such ginormous change.

Since my Mom passed away in June, I have thought and felt many different things. One of the things I would like to share with you is the fact that she gave me many gifts (and I don't mean presents wrapped and placed under the tree, although she gave me those as well!). She gave me gifts in teaching me how to be a friend, how to use my imagination, how to teach people and how to be an interested learner. And she was an example to me of someone with deep faith in Jesus. What greater gift could there be? Although there were many hard times, I am thankful for the gifts she gave me. And now that she is no longer here, I will remember that God is still here, and He is with her too. As it reminds us in Hebrews 13:5 - " For God has said: 'Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.' "- Rachel

God Bless each of you. Thank you for visiting my blog throughout this past year. See you again in 2014. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.-Donna