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