Easter Sunday, Shawn, my family, some friends and I were all sitting around playing a board game, laughing and having a great time. The phone rang, and it was my brother calling from Afghanistan. He was calling to tell us that we, as Canadians, had lost six soldiers that day, and that a couple of them had been his men. You could have heard a pin drop.

After we hung up the phone, we all sat there totally stunned and speechless, until my Dad, in all his wisdom, said, “Well, before we started playing this game he was over there, and now that we know he is safe, we can sit here quietly or keep playing.” Somebody picked up the dice, rolled them, and we kept playing.

Yesterday, Shawn and I were driving home from Victoria, BC. We were feeling great having had facilitated a program, and I was happily practicing my speech for that evening when the phone rang again. This time it was Andrea, our daughter, calling to let us know that the reports had come in to say that, two more soldiers had been killed in Afghanistan. The two soldiers were both from Petawawa, Ontario, which is where my brother is based. For a few minutes, I was afraid and not able to focus on anything. Then my husband lovingly asked to hear my speech once again.

The speech was about how I have fallen down over and over in my life, and always had it in me to get back up and keep going.

I wonder how many of those Canadian Soldiers are currently packing their bags to come home, or are they working even harder to honour those that have lost their lives? I would bet that they are determined to do the job that they set out to do, with even more resolve than yesterday or last week.

Those men know what they’re there to do, and day by day, they will do their job. Victory or defeat, every day they carry on.

How many of us give up too soon? How many of us don’t really know what we are fighting for, when we are struggling to turn our lives around? I know that when I was in a treatment centre and early in my recovery, I wanted to give up over and over again, but I couldn’t. I had a young child at home waiting for me to get better… for that promise of a better life.

It is in those times of trouble, that I have had my greatest awareness, that I have now seen every one of those situations as the gifts that they were. You see, I know why I am here; therefore, I have an anchor to hold onto each and every time I am faced with adversity.

My brother was born to be a soldier. He wore a helmet to bed at the age of two and played soldiers day in and day out from a very young age and joined the forces shortly after graduating from high school.

How many of us tell ourselves that we are going to follow our big dream and quickly give up because the going gets tough? How many of us know what that big dream is? Anyone that knows me will have heard me say over and over again:

Shawn and I have committed our lives to empowering others to follow their dreams and to create great relationships everywhere in their lives.

Speaking of rolling, the Are You Addicted…to Love World Tour starts in May. Click Here on the red letters for more information or to register!!! Nanaimo – May 12. Maple Ridge – May 19. Victoria – May 26. Hope to see you there. And seating is limited, so register soon!!!

April was Shawn’s month for Date Night. The title of the date is, “Twice in One Night.” It goes something like this: I blocked out an evening in Lorraine's daytimer - I just wrote, "Busy," in there, so, of course she knows that this is probably her date night for April. And it turned out that it was.

She questioned it, as she usually does, about what to wear, where to meet at, all those logistical questions. I told her to get dressed up in black and be ready to go by 6:30pm. Click here for more…

The questions keep coming in. We find it very interesting how similar in nature they are. Click on Dear Lorraine or Dear Shawn for April’s questions.

Lorraine’s, “It’s All About Me,” teleclass is rocking along. The next free introductory session is April 30. Just email us at info@OliveJuiceForever.com and type Free Session in the subject line, and we’ll send you the phone number and passcode. Just click right there on the orange email address. It’s that easy!

Based on the feedback we’ve received, especially from Rachel Franklin, we’ve made some significant changes to our site. Check out the new Home Page and links.

And of course, Lorraine has an Article to make us all think about who we really are in relation to everyone else out there. It’s named, “The Mirror.” Very, very good.

Here’s how it goes: I used to wonder how come I really like some people, some just are, and others drive me round the bend, grate me to the core, and keep me awake at night… You know the ones that you pretend not to see as they approach you in the mall… come on, we’ve all done it. Click Here for more…

And for some great news. We have been sending books to different celebrities and speakers over the last month, and we’ve been approached by Katie and Gay Hendricks, the world’s most renowned love-guiding couple, to be guests on their show May 24. The Hendricks’ are the best in the world at what we are doing today. We are honoured and privileged to be considered by them.

Thank you very much to all of you who have supported us over these last 6 months. There are too many to list here, and you know who you are. We are very, very grateful. Have a wonderful day, and Love is the Answer.