Here are the winners of the giveaways I hosted! If you are one of the winners, please contact me as soon as possible so I can get these great items shipped to you! Please email me at the email address on the left sidebar.
Natasha is Aiden's mom. I'm new to Natasha's story, but I can tell by her blog she is a loving mama and wants to touch the heart of others. When Natasha saw what going going on with all these LOVE posts, she wanted to join in! Be sure to enter her GIVEAWAY while you are there! Natasha's giveaway is sponsored by Kristi at Bugaboo Jewelry.
We are also visiting Melissa. Melissa is mommy to a son here on earth and Mikayla Grace in Heaven. Melissa has just started a project called Mikayla's Grace to reach out to bereaved families. Go visit Melissa and show her some love today as well!
And don't forget to come back here tomorrow to see who won the giveaways I hosted!!!
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And I have two great posts for you to check out today (or tomorrow if you are spending time with the ones you love today ;-)
Kelly at Sufficient Grace Ministries is doing a study on the book, Lies Women Believe and has a great post today about women at a helpmate and some revealing truths. Please go over and see what she has to say.
Also Ann Voskamp at A Holy Experience has a great post about love and a link-up about love. Go over and read some of her beautiful posts!
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I also just wanted to show a little love to my hubs. Seven years ago today we met while decorating a church for the Sweetheart Banquet that would be held there to raise money for missions. My dorm neighbor attended this church and it was my hubs home church. We met that day and one month later started dating and were married a little less than 2 years later.
I love that man with all my heart and feel so blessed to be forever joined with him. He is a wonderful Father to ALL our children.
Today we are visiting Jennifer. Jennifer is mama to three beautiful kids here with her and Eli in Heaven. Jennifer has been so kind to link to the posts in the LoveFest everyday! She is a mama with a heart of gold. Please go by and see what love really means to her as well as show her some love!
To be entered into the giveaway, all you need to do is visit the My Forever Child store and then come back here and leave a comment to what your favorite item in the store is.
Today we are going to go visit Megan at A Story Unfolding. Megan is mommy to three beautiful kids here with her and Savannah in Heaven. Sweet Savannah was born with CDH (Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia). To learn more about CDH click here. Megan also could use a few more hugs right now after just experiencing a chemical pregnancy and the hopes of another baby for right now.
While you are visiting Megan, be sure to enter her GIVEAWAY!
And be sure to enter the other giveaways here on this blog by the 14th and visit again on the 15th to see the list of winners!
Today we are going to see Jill. Jill is mama to Emma and Chase in Heaven and her beautiful rainbow here on earth. Jill has a big heart and reaches out to other loss moms with her project Vermont Angels. Please go visit Jill and read what she has to say about what love really means to her.
Also, be sure to enter her GIVEAWAY!
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I got this email in my inbox the other day about love being a verb and I just wanted to share. The email is from Jill Savage, a speaker from the Hearts at Home organization. She spoke at my church at a MOPS conference a few years ago and really has heart for wives and mothers.
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My friend and I sat across the table chatting over lunch. With February being the "month of love," we began to discuss our plans (or lack of plans at that point) for Valentine's Day weekend. Eventually we moved into sharing some marriage lessons we've learned throughout our combined 45 years of marriage.
Without thinking much of it, I shared that I've learned that love has to mature for a marriage to go the distance. And then I followed that with, "I guess love has to move from being a noun to being a verb."
We both paused and considered the implications of that. My friend said it was one of the most profound things I've ever said. While I'm quite sure it's most likely the only profound thing I've ever said, I've definitely not been able to get the concept out of my head.
Immature love is a noun. A thing we long for. A feeling. An expectation of what someone will do for us.
Mature love is verb. An action we take. A decision. A choice to do something for someone else.
Unfortunately too many of us have yet to mature in our love, and our relationships bear the scars of that fact. But it's never too late to grow up. If we want our love to last a lifetime, we can't afford to keep believing that love is a noun. The feeling of love is short-lived. We have to transition to understanding that long-lasting love is really a verb.
But what does this English lesson of nouns and verbs have to do with real relationships? How do we take this concept and apply it to real life? Maybe these scenarios can help paint the picture.
Love as a noun spent all last week wondering what your spouse was going to do for you for Valentine's Day. Love as a verb spent all last week preparing your expression of love for your spouse.
Love as a noun feels despair when you no longer feel "in love" with the person you are married to. Love as a verb understands the ebb and flow of feelings. It focuses more on expressing love than feeling love.
Love as a noun demands its own way. Love as a verb works to understand differences and is open to new ways of doing things.
Love as a noun finds faults in others. Love as a verb gives grace and forgiveness.
Love as a noun expects others to serve them. Love as a verb serves freely.
Love as a noun expects to always feel warm and fuzzy and "in love." Love as a verb realizes that often we have to choose to love even when we don't feel like it.
The most frequently quoted Bible verse at weddings is I Corinthians 13, which is often referred to as the "love chapter." It says that "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."
It wasn't until just a few weeks ago that I realized that every time love is mentioned in this often quoted verse, it is a verb. Maybe this concept has been right in front of my eyes all along, but I just didn't understand it until recently.
The most interesting thing, however, is a less often quoted part of the verse that says, "When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me."
So love has to grow up. It has to mature. Who knew grammar could reveal so much about love?
Jill
Wife of Mark Mom to Anne, Evan, Erica, Kolya, and Austin Nana to 9-month-old Rilyn
Good Morning! Go over and visit Katy today! Katy is momma to Hannah and rainbow in Heaven as well as a precious little boy and rainbow baby girl here on earth. Katy makes some beautiful creations for loss moms and is part of the group at Anchored by Hope. Anchored by Hope does an online Bible study in relation to loss and has some other great loss resources.
While you're there...be sure to enter her GIVEAWAY!
Today we are visiting Jessica! Jessica is mom to Jonathan and Little One in Heaven and has a beautiful rainbow here with her as well. Jessica creates Forever Remembered Photo Collages in memory of our babies. She does such beautiful work. Please go over and send her some love today!
While you're there, be sure to enter her GIVEAWAY!!!
(And don't forget to enter the giveaways from the last 8 days as well here on this blog!
Today we are going to visit Marie. Marie has two beautiful children in Heaven, Alyssa-Joy and Evan and she is now pregnant with her rainbow! Marie always shares her feelings and has always been so encouraging in her comments. She is standing on God's promise of an expected end after experiencing two losses, IC, having a TAC and a subsequent pregnancy. Please go by and show her some love today!
But first...be sure to enter my GIVEAWAY!!!
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Marriage is a gift and needs to be invested in and protected. Today's giveaway is for something to help you invest a little time into your marriage!
The Love Dare Cards contain 40 daily dares based on the movie and book, Fireproof.
There are three ways to enter this giveaway! Just leave a comment for one each of these...
(1) How you and your significant other met.
(2) What was your first date with your spouse?
(3) How long you have been married.
Thats it! I'll choose a winner randomly on February 15th!
I also wanted to share some great marriage resources...
Fire Proof My Marriage is a great website based on the Fireproof book and movie that has some wonderful links and other things. It has advice for couples, churches and even a marraige help line.
The Five Love Languages Test. This site is where you can take the love language quiz and have your spouse take it too. Find out how your loved ones feel loved so you can love them more fully. There is also a quiz for kids!
Today we are going to go see Kelly at Sufficient Grace Ministries! Kelly is one sweet mama with a love for other mama's, babies, and marriage. I'm very excited that I get to meet Kelly in April at the Women of Faith Conference in Columbus! Kelly has three babies in Heaven. Faith, Grace, and Thomas and has such beautiful words to say about each of them. Please go by and show her some love and see what love means to her!
While you are there...be sure to enter her GIVEAWAY! She is giving away two amazing CD's today. One of them I listen to all the time and is one of my current favorites!
This first 7 days has been love filled and I just can't wait to see what the next 7 hold!
Today we are going to visit Heidi. Heidi is one crafty mama! I met Heidi on a baby.center board when we both lost our babies that were due in November of 2009. Heidi's daughter, Jamie Lynn, was diagnosed before birth with a fatal condition. Heidi decided to carry Jamie as long as she could and she met her beautiful daughter in October of 2009. Heidi is also mom to three boys and has her rainbow due this month! Please go over and visit Heidi and see what love means to her. Also check out her beautiful embroidery she can do!
Please also take a look at her outreach to loss mammas. She can embroider your baby's footprints onto a blanket. I think it's really awesome and I plan on sending her a blanket and Shyla's footprints once her baby button is here and things have settled down. Here is her daughter's blanket as an example:
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To go along with Heidi's story of carrying to term, I am giving away a copy of I Will Carry You by Angie Smith!
To enter this giveaway, leave a comment for each of these...
(1) Be a follower of this blog.
(2) Comment on Heidi's post.
(3) Tell me one of the precious things you have to carry your baby's memory.
Today we are going over to see what Lori has to say. Lori is the mommy to Matthew. I love that she and her husband both share their own story of Matthew. You can find Lori's story here and her hubby's here.
Lori also is mommy to her beautiful rainbow Luke who was just born one month ago yesterday! Please go over and show her some love and see what love means to her.
While you're there, be sure to enter her GIVEAWAY!!!
I'm sure feeling the love with all these giveaways, aren't you! Keep coming back because there is more to come!
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I also just checked my reader and saw that there is another giveaway going on today! Go over and wish KK's mom congrats for reaching 100 followers and enter her giveaway!
Today we are going to hop over to Lisette's! Lisette is mom to an adorable little boy here on Earth, her precious Sami and her conjoined twin Faith in Heaven and is carrying her rainbow baby now. Lisette is always so honest in her grief. I love that she shares what's on her heart so openly and I love all the little pink hearts on her blog. She has a beautiful soul and it just shines through!
Love does not boast Love after all Matters the most
Love does not run Love does not hide Love does not keep Locked inside
Love is the river that flows through Love never fails you Love will sustain Love will provide Love will not cease At the end of time Love will protect Love always hopes Love still believes When you don’t
Love is the arms that are holding you Love never fails you
When my heart won’t make a sound When I can’t turn back around When the sky is falling down Nothing is greater than this Greater than this
Love is right here Love is alive Love is the way The truth the life
Love is the river than flows through Love is the arms that are holding you Love is the place you will fly to Love never fails you
Love NEVER fails you. I love the idea that love is the place we will fly to. That's where they are now...love...
Today we are going over to Caroline's blog! Caroline is mom to four children and three step-children on Earth and three beautiful babies in Heaven, Riley, Little Muffin, and Sweet Pea. Caroline is a very special mom and shares her heart very openly on her blog. She, like so many of us balances the grief of our children not with us with the joy of those who are. I was also happy that she is doing a project 365! I started one as well this year and it's great to see another loss mom taking a photo a day to document our year!
The winner of this charm will be chosen at random on February 15th. The winner will also get to choose which color Swarovski Crystal you would like added to the charm!
There are a few ways to enter this giveaway...
(1) Follow this blog
(2) Follow my 365 blog, Love * Joy * Laugh 365
(3) Leave a comment about what color crystal you would like if chosen as the winner.
(4) Copy the button on my sidebar that says "What love really means" and put it on your blog.
(5) "Like" Beauty Will Rise on Face.book
You can do any of these, but please just leave a separate comment for each way to enter!
I hope February is being kind and gentle to you all!
Holly is the mom to two beautiful kids here on Earth and to Carliegh and Jordan in Heaven. Holly's love for her children is so apparent and the scripture on her sidebar above Carleigh's photo has always touched my heart.
I have loved you with a love that lasts forever. I have kept on loving you with faithful love. Jeremiah 31:3
Everlasting love. Beautiful.
Holly's compassion for bereaved mom's glows as her comments always make me smile and she always remembers special dates! I wish I could be as thoughtful as her! Go over and show her some love!
And while you are there, be sure to enter her GIVEAWAY!!!
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The 2nd is very special to me because it's Shyla's day. Today has been 17 months since we held her in our arms. Wishing you and yours much Creative Joy today!
Happy February! Today begins what I hope to be a very encouraging 14 days. Some very great bloggers have agreed to share with us what love really means to them!
Franchesca from Smallbird Studio has agreed to share with us today. Please go show her some love!
I'm sure most of you know Fran and the story of her beautiful Jenna Belle and her handsome rainbow she sweetly refers to as "Bubby". Franchesca is the face behind the design of my blog (and so many others) and she also makes the most beautiful flourishes she sells at her shop! She has a great big heart and has found ways to give back to the loss community by creating Hope Collages and giving backto the NICU with some very creative NICU projects. One of her NICU projects is collecting journals for parents whose baby is spending time in NICU. She hopes to donate 100 journals to NICU in honor of Jenna's 2nd birthday! And I have to mention the very amazing canvas art inspired by her daughter called, Jenna's Alphabet! Franchesca has shared so much of herself through these projects I hope everyone will take the time and send her love today ans she shares her heart with all of us.
If you want to learn more about how you can help with Jenna's Journal Drive, click here.
GIVEAWAY!!!
Also go visit Tiffany today and enter her awesome giveaway that is sponsored by who else...Franchesca!
One more thing...
I also wanted to share with you the inspiration behind titling this series of blog posts "What Love Really Means". It comes from the JJ Heller song by the same name. The chorus says:
Who will love me for me?
Not for what I have done or what I'll become. Who will love me for me? 'Cause no one has shown me what love, love really means.
She is answered in the last chorus by our Heavenly Father...
I will love you for you. Not for what you have done or what you will become. I will love you for you. I will give you the love, the love that you never knew.
It is my hope that you will be encouraged by the lovely posts by these lovely women who have so graciously agreed to show us their hearts through their blogs. I pray you are inspired to recieve love more openly, love others more deeply and are just blessed!
If you want to spread the love and let your readers know about these lovely women, just copy the code in the sidebar!
Be sure to check back everyday from now until the 14th to see who is sharing with us! There will be lots of giveaways going on as well!
Love for our children.
Love for our spouses.
Love for God.
God's love for us.
Love.
So many of us feel to insufficient or unworthy when it comes to this area of our lives. We feel we don't show our kids love enough, especially the ones who aren't here with us. It's unnatural, therefore we always feel failing. We may feel like we are a bad wife or partner, feeling unworthy of the love they share with us. Or feel like they are unworthy of our love due to past hurts. Some may feel like their faith, their love for God, is imperfect or lacking. I'm pretty sure at some point in time everyone wonders why God would care so much to send his son to die for us. I know I do at times.
So, eventhough it may sound a little cliche, some other bloggers and I have gotten together and are going to be posting about all about love in February.
All kinds of love.
Everyday I will post here on where to visit that day. Our hopes are as you hop around our blogs you feel more loved and are encourage to love more deeply.
I know not everyone who reads this blog is married, has kids, or even a Christian...and that's OK! There are going to be all kinds of LOVEly posts from some very LOVEly women! I hope you will join us as we all walk together and talk about What Love Really Means!
I can't wait to read some of these ladies posts!
In addition, I will be having several giveaways between February 1st and 14th! If you are planning on hosting a giveaway in this time frame, let me know and I will direct people to your blog as well. I have been so blessed by these blogging community and I think it's time we Spread the Love!!! If you are interested in being part of this Lovefest, just leave me a comment telling me so with your email address!
![I Will Carry You: The Sacred Dance of Grief and Joy [Book]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_sruJHd1_toiQ0Qv-kWTIZo9JQOebIp4AWV3ENIBO_KfHgGg2-sOmO_8s7yI63UM3RH4ZYDZQ0SeXvFIRONnZIA7rPzzBoZIfe0kzpu7wc22DwXcUTahwkI2u1mlPP8SdOujjK2ewPkoe7q-rZe6zFfq6MeiD6a=s0-d "I Will Carry You: The Sacred Dance of Grief and Joy [Book]")
