Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Little Things Mean A Lot

I love this picture of my mother with Kelli and me. I'm six months old in this photo. I like to take the loving things my mother did for us and repeat them in my own mothering. The sweater she has on is a deep brown soft cashmere. She let us wear it all through high school when we were all old enough to respect it. Now my own girls are asking me for things from my closet and I am letting them wear them ~ if they respect them. My mother let her hair get longer after this and many people said she looked like Jacquie Kennedy; and she did. She had style and grace; and still does. She walked very gracefully and taught us girls to walk across the room gracefully. We practiced in the living room many Saturdays.

When I was about this age, I occasionally found a surprise on my bed after school. Once it was a tiny little brown haired doll; Sharon's was a little blond doll laying on her pillow. Another time we found heart shaped boxes of chocolates for Valentine's Day laying on our pillows after school. I felt extra special and loved by my mother. Thank you Mom, you were so sweet to do that! Over the years I have copied my mother because I know how special I felt and wanted my children to feel that way too. I don't do this too often, because it would not be special if I did. I usually pick something small that I know my children would like. Garrett got this licorice today and was quite happy about it.
That look of surprise and wonder about, "Who put this on my bed?" and then the words, "Thanks Mom!"
Well I got surprised the other night. While we were getting ready for youth group, Victoria asked me, "Mom, what's your favorite candy bar?" Oblivious to what she was planning, I said, "A Butterfingers's." While at church Victoria bought a Butterfingers's candy bar at the youth group store and tucked it into my bag while I was praying with the other mothers.
I was so ecstatic and thrilled when I found it because I knew who gave it to me. I felt loved and surprised all over again. This was so amazing to me and a joyful blessing, that my little girl (nearly 15) would think to surprise me like this. The next day she brought me this flower and set it near the sink for me to find. I thank God for my dear children and the little things like this that mean so much.

On my way home from taking Harrison to school I decided it was time to give a little surprise to my kids again. It's so fun. I hid these Reeses Peanutbutter Cups inside Victoria's book bag. I kept telling her to go into the living room and pick up her books and put them into her bag. She finally did it. It was so much fun to see her surprised face.
While Jessica was away from her desk. I slipped this bottle of Odwalla next to her books.
Jessica loves this drink and was very happy to see it sitting there. Harrison's is waiting for him in his bedroom refrigerator. He bought a tiny fridge for his bedroom recently, and has had fun filling it with fun stuff. He also has a microwave.
Harrison is home from school now since starting this post, but still has not found these, but I look forward to seeing his smile when he does. I found this note in my office. How precious. Little things mean a lot. I thank the Lord for these precious little sweet things. Thank You Jesus, and thanks Mom for being loving to me, which helps me to be loving to my children.
"...a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." Prov. 31:30
Have a happy day dear blogging friends ~ Kathi

23 comments:

A Romantic Porch said...

Kathi, You are so beautiful and I know you are a sweet mother. What a neat thing to do for your children...to leave little tokens of love around. Thank you for the great idea. Love,Rachel

Deb said...

Hi Kathi, very lovely post, and a loving family. I wish you all a good night. Deb

Kelly said...

Oh Kathi I needed a kleenex for this one!!! And I am still crying!! It was beautiful, and when I saw the picture of your Mom and you guys I immediately thought, even before you mentioned it that it looked like a Kennedy picture. These are such sweet sentiments. And just so overwhelming that the kids appreciate it and they return the kindness, it is just beautiful. Your Mom is a great woman and you are also.... and you are passing along all this to your precious children.

Linda said...

I used to do the exact same thing as you have described...leaving little treats on their beds while they were at school.

There really is nothing like a mother's love!

Rose of Sharon said...

What a great post Kathi! Mom did do fun things for us that surprised us! I know I did the same things for my kids too. The little things do mean so much! You do some very sweet things for your kids and it is neat to see it come back! I love that old picture of mom with you and Kelli, our mother was so beautiful and still is! I just love this post!

I like your new fun song!

Have a great day today! Love you! Sharon

Charlotte said...

What a wonderful mother you have and it's great that you're following in her footsteps. I love the first picture of you and your mother. We had similar furniture in our first home where we lived when our kids were born (late 50's early 60's). Your mother is beautiful as are you and your sister. Thanks for sharing.

luvmy4sons said...

You have a such a sweet loving family...now and THEN. What a blessing!

lauralavon said...

Thank you so much for visiting my blog and commenting after Rachel at A Romantic Porch featured my porch. I have enjoyed reading some of your posts now as well. Such great ideas to leave the little surprises for loved-ones. I'll use that one! Thanks and may God bless your family.

nannykim said...

What great ideas and what a blessed post. I wish I had thought of that when my kids were young!! But I suppose I can still mail them little surprises! I love the picture of your mom---really sweet and I love the pixie cut, so cute!! So glad you had some really good memories. Your kids are sweet! (already copying you!)

~~Deby said...

oh these are such great memory makers for your children and prayerfully they too will pass all of this on..and so on and so on...
You will never regret doing stuff like this.
Deby

Stacy said...

This was such a sweet post =D You can really see the impact your mother had on you, and how her kindeness is still being spread through your own children. And WOW when i saw Victoria, at first i thought i was looking at a picture of myself from a few years ago, i see many diffrences now after starring a few seconds =p Pretty girl ;D

Linda said...

Hi Kathi, you are a loving mom as is your mom...little love tokens are like hugs and make you feel very special....I think little surprise are the best. Linda

Liz Harrell said...

What a sweet post Kathi. Your family is precious.

Cottage Contessa said...

I just love this post! What an awesome family you have, and that you came from. Beautiful sweetie.
Amanda (aka Cottage Contessa)

Scooterblu's Whimsy~Rhonda said...

What a beacon of love and light you and your family are! Sweet post! I thought it was so sweet that your daughter left you a surprise...love returned! :) Your mom was beautiful!

Have a great night! Hugs, Rhonda

Anonymous said...

What a sweet post. I now find that I do things the way my mom did. i just love her so much. She has always been the type of mom that I dreamed of being.
Thanks for all the kind words,Brenda

Debbie said...

Oh my goodness. That made me well up. I, too, immediately thought your Mom looked like Jackie O. What a wonderful tradition to pass along, because isn't it always about the simple things? I can only hope to be half the mother you are. I admire your grace, tenderheartedness, and sweet ways that I can feel through the blogosphere. I am closing up my laptop tonight with this precious post as the last one to run through my head.

on the ROCKS said...

What a sweet tradition to keep up. Your mother sounds like a wonderful woman. My husband and I were just talking about one thing that was special that our mothers did. He was so sweet telling how his mother made him and his siblings a picnic to enjoy out in the yard just for fun. I loved him even more while he was telling that story. As mothers we have the ability and duty to make our child feel loved and safe and happy. Your children are very lucky to have you.

Kelli said...

What wonderful and special ways to surprise your children, Kathi! They will treasure these times!
Hugs,
Kelli

Terrie's Lil' Piece of Serenity said...

What a beautiful picture of you with your mother. She does look graceful. Isn't it nice to be able to pass down memories to your own children. You have a very nice family. Your kids are so.. cute!!

Unknown said...

What a wonderful mom you are, Kath...

Anonymous said...

Kathi,
This is one of the greatests posts ever!
Cookie

Trish said...

How very sweet! What great kids! What great parents! God has surely blessed your family!

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