An Angel To Watch Over

Can you believe it is December already? Hallmark and Fox Family's Christmas movie extravaganza is in full swing, there is snow on the ground, and Christmas carols play on all the radio stations throughout the day. Many have started, or finished, their Christmas shopping and bubble over with excitement with each new gift bought, each batch of cookies baked, and with each Christmas card sent. 

Christmas is first and foremost about the birth of Jesus Christ. J.A. Zilske and Paula Davis have a couple new Christmas reads out this year to help us remember this very fact. In addition  to it being Jesus' birth, it is also a time for family and friends to come together and celebrate. Christmas parties, games of Secret Santa, and cookie exchanges are only a few.

Celebrations, shopping, and busyness have the ability to energize, motivate, and consume us. Of course, to be energized and motivated are positive but if we let these things consume us then we are in trouble. 

Shortly after Heidi's kidnapping our community rallied again to design and build the Heidi Allen Community Remembrance Garden. It is located at the intersection of State Routes 104 and 104b in the town of New Haven, New York. On the other side of the garden is the same convenience store my beautiful sister was kidnapped from in 1994. 

In my book, Where's Heidi? One Sister's Journey, to be released on April 3, 2013, I detail the significance of this garden as it relates to my cover. It is a beautiful garden of hope in spite of the tragedy that occurred. A powerful reminder to us all, especially at this time of year.

If you have lost a loved one then you know there is more to the holidays, especially Christmas than all the joy and excitement. To some grieving the loss of a loved one, this can be the most depressing and dark holiday of the year. Isn't this terrible? A holiday full of hope because the "Light of the World" was born in Bethlehem to save us doesn't illuminate everyone's life BUT it can. 

It takes others who know the peace, healing, hope, and love of Jesus Christ to encourage, uplift, and listen to the hurting at this most precious time of year. There is hope for happy holidays, it started on Christmas morning, when God let His Only Son be born a babe in the manger. This year's Christmas display at the Heidi Remembrance Garden is a reminder to us all. There is hope in spite of tragedy.

Who do you know this year that needs a little hope, encouragement, compassion, and love? Will you share Jesus with them? 

If you are out after dark, be sure to visit the Heidi Allen Remembrance Garden this year, there is a large angel and star of lights to remind us - there is hope. 

May each twinkling light...light our missing loved ones home.

---

"I haven't been back to the store since your sister's kidnapping. I saw the angel on my way home and cried. If an angel is at the store, then it can't be bad. I stopped and went in the store. It was the first time in over eighteen years. There is hope." 
~ A woman who saw the angel last week ~

"I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along
unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into
light before them and make the rough places smooth.
These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them."
Isaiah 42:16

A special thanks to John and Valero for the electricity!!