WHO LOVES YOU?

It’s my birthday and I’m having the time of my life.

Woke up about 9a. Cup of coffee brought to me by my favorite man. A “not until I wanted it” breakfast of toasted apple cinnamon bagels from Carolina Cafe, where I saw paintings by the lovely Bonnie Goldberg displayed on the walls while I waited. The thought of her always makes me smile.

Especially in the Food Lion strip mall.

Yep, I’m right here. Home in West Columbia, SC.

Where hugs from a certain nine year old abound. Dinner can be purchased for me at Palmetto Seafood, fried Lenten allowed delight. And artvarkcreative will bring me Trader Joe’s macarons for dessert – not because I can’t afford them any day of the year, but because I never do treat myself – and somehow, they say YUM to me. PURE YUM.

I’m lounging on this really long couch, that I vowed would never make it into our marriage home because its print said “Big Lots bachelor purchase” to me, but here it is still, some almost twelve years later, not even slip covered.

And yes, I’m checking facebook.

Because – IT’S MY BIRTHDAY. AND EVERYONE LOVES ME ON FACEBOOK. ON MY BIRTHDAY.

I know, seriously, it takes little effort. I’m convinced that some people have some sort of automated app that sends it without them even having to lift a finger and tap. And I say that I don’t care about all that stuff.

BUT REALLY, I probably will compare how many facebook birthday wishes I get to how many someone else gets on their birthday. 

DOESN’T EVERYONE?

DOESN’T EVERYONE AT SOME POINT TAKE A TALLY OF HOW MANY PEOPLE LOVE THEM?

Enough confessions. Let me get to the point of this post.

As we’re (well, some of us,) looking at the story of JESUS AND THE CHILDREN this week, I wanted to look at that concept of love. Yeah, I think that those who brought the children to Jesus loved them. And, I think Jesus loved them. And I think that knowing that we are loved is important.

And fun.

I set out to suggest a great at-home craft idea for folks to do with their children this week. I remembered this idea of a simple scrapbook with photos of family and friends. One photo per page. Each page with the child’s name and the lover’s name inserted.

_________ loves ____________ .

This was not an original idea. So I went searching for a great link with directions and photos to show you. I googled. I pinterest’ed. Nothing.

What? The simple scrapbook’s so old of an idea that whatever link I might have seen one day is now relegated to screen page who knows what of search engine…

I. AM. SO OLD.

Nevertheless. I’m going to tell you right now how and why I think this is an absolute wonderful idea for a child’s treasure.

• Children love photos of people that they recognize.
• Children love to hear their name.
• Children cannot see God and need a way to qualify who and what he is.
• God is love.
• Gather photos of friends and family that love your child.
• Insert them on a page in some computer program. One per page. Microsoft Word works fine.
• Along with the photo, add the caption (words) that say _______ loves _______ .
• On the last page write “God loves ______.”
• Print out the pages.
• Staple them together.
• Read them over and over to your child who cannot yet read.
• Save the “book.”
• When your child hits the yucky years – adolescent years, teen years, college years, post graduation years, heck: third grade? – and feels they have no friends one day – LEAVE THE BOOK ON THE NIGHTSTAND.

I’ve gone through a few mentoring sessions with high school kids in the last few years. A few times when the young man or young woman have seemed particularly down, I’ve asked them –

“Tell me someone who loves you”

I’ve experienced a bit of depression every now and then. Knowing the truth is grounding when you don’t feel the truth. Ground that truth into them. It matters.

And if the above instructions sound too simple. Too mundane. Too ugly. Congrats! You’re craftier than me. And your scrapbook will look SO MUCH BETTER.

And if you’re a new mom and even those simple insert, type, print, and staple instructions sound too difficult – then you’re in luck.

IT’S MY BIRTHDAY. IT’S MY TREAT. COMMENT BELOW TO BE ENTERED FOR A CHANCE TO HAVE ME MAKE YOUR OWN who loves you? SCRAPBOOK. Comment must say “I want one for —–” and include your contact info!

WINNER ANNOUNCED ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24TH! 

At 9a!

Good luck!

And blessings to all.

OH HOW HE LOVES YOU AND ME