Fun fact, find the answer at the bottom of this email.

This song is written with Chris Sligh, a Nashville-based, singer, songwriter, pianist, and song producer. Chris had his break through in 2007 on what TV show?

I value the powerful lesson, of finding peace on earth while you are in heaven

For those who want to remember

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Read time: 5 minutes

For this beautiful time of the year I started thinking about love songs that are also Christmas songs. My first thought was this song. I hesitated to share with you here because it was never my intention to share my own music. This newsletter is about appreciating love songs and the best relationship advice from them. This song takes me personally into the heart of my own heart. Talk about being vulnerable. For that reason, I decided I would share with you because I believe many of you can relate. I wrote every line of lyric and know this measure of profound loss & pain, as well as profound love & joy.

If you would like to hear the song before I break it down, here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvPj3arYmSw

Lyrics

My favorite mug is still warm

Sipping on memories of you

Looking back on all of that 

we’ve been through

Flipping through photos of us

I can’t help but smile

You brought out the best

Never settled for less

That’s something I still admire

Like most of my grief, it starts out sweet and simple. I love the kind of grief that makes me smile.

Lyrics

For me your legacy will remain

Every time I hear and speak your name

These are the first lyrics I wrote for this song. I had shared a photo of my late husband, Mark, on social media with the caption “Oh, how I love to hear and speak your name”. It stuck with me. It is so true!

Lyrics

The only light in the room is the evergreen tree

As I hold you ever close to me

Remembering, healing, trusting

and leaning into the moment,

making it last

Celebrating the love of Christmas past

This chorus takes my heart and wrings it out with the tightest squeeze. I enjoy ‘leaning into the moment, making it last’, I hope you appreciate the whirlwind of emotions during an experience like this. It’s dizzying. It’s healing. It’s overwhelming.

Lyrics

I spend time with you as I live on

Blazing this trail where I belong

I value the powerful lesson

Of finding peace on Earth

While you are in Heaven

This sacred path of grief is full of opportunities for self-reflection and growth. If you believe in Heaven or not, finding peace without your loved one, is incredibly challenging at times! I still seek Mark’s validation to this day. I want him to be able to nudge the angel next to him and say “That’s my wife!”

Now that I’m remarried, some of you might ask how does that work with balancing my love for my late husband along with my love for my now husband. My husband Paul also knows profound loss. He lost his only son to cancer (KC was only 24 years old). We respect one another’s loved ones. We treasure our lives, past, present and future.

In the music video I created for this song, I share many photos of Mark, but also of KC, and others who are close to us. This song is literally meant for carving out time to appreciate the love and memories of those who have gone before us.

Thank you for letting me share with you something so unbelievably close to my heart.

May you all find peace, joy and love this holiday season.

Think about this…

Are you missing someone this holiday season?

Are you carving out time to feel peace?

Are you appreciating your loved ones by enjoying memories and making new ones?

It’s not always easy to know what to say to generate deeper conversations and intimacy with your sweetheart. That’s why I’ve created 4 conversation starters to strengthen your romance. You can get your free guide, as well as the details to the Remarkable Romance Program available now.

Key Take Aways

• Be honest and patient with yourself as you handle grief

• We love to hear and speak the names of our loved ones who have died

Fun Fact Trivia:

This song is written with Chris Sligh, a Nashville-based, singer, songwriter, pianist, and song producer. Chris had his break through in 2007 on what TV show?

Answer: Chris appeared on American Idol and made it to the top 10 finalists! In his audition he sang “Kiss from a rose” by Seal earning him a standing ovation by judge Paula Abdul.

Love is the greatest adventure!

~LaDena, Your Romance Fulfillment Leader

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