Two years feels like an eternity when you are missing someone you love.  Two years is just a mere breath when you get to actually spend eternity with all those you love.

This life has so many ups and downs in it that sometimes we forget that our blessings always and completely outweigh our disappointments.  God in His infinite mercy sent His one and only Son as a sacrifice for all of my sin.  He loves me unconditionally and forever and nothing I have done or can do will ever even put a small dent in that love.  Not my doubt, my lack of faith, my raging disappointment in circumstances, my failures at kindness, my unrelenting complaining, or even my refusal to extend grace to someone who is struggling in their own right can change how much God loves me.

It is most often the clearest to me how much I need His arms to rest in when I struggle with understanding.  His plans are always perfect...His Word declares that promise.   This season of rejoicing over the birth of our Savior will forever be a time of reflection on the life and walk of a mere 13 year old little girl who gave of herself endlessly and selflessly because she believed in the miracle of rebirth through Jesus Christ and had accepted Him as Her Lord and Savior.  The short life she lived impacted so many for the Kingdom in ways we will never even know about until we all see Him face to face in Glory but I do know that she is forever in His loving arms breathing perfect pure air and is perfectly content.

Although it will always be a sad time for my family because we miss her amazing blue eyes and sweet spirit every single day of our lives, we can rest assured that we know she is with the One who loves her far better than we will ever understand.

I love and miss you to the moon and back Lauren Elizabeth Swann.  You were a gift from God and we are all changed by your life and death.