Everyday Lovin: What He Needed Today

I had a plan for my everyday lovin' challenge this week...and I was excited about it. I planned to get up early this morning and make homemade Morning Muffins (my husband and my kids are VERY happy people when they wake up to warm muffins)  And, to be honest, it is rare that I serve anything but instant oatmeal or cold cereal for breakfast.  And to be even more honest most of the time I often don't get the breakfast served at all before my husband leaves for work. So, I thought this would be a nice surprise to show that I was thinking of my hubby and wanted him to have a a good start to the day.

But, as luck would have it he must have eaten something bad yesterday and he spent several hours throwing up in the night (I know, not pleasant, but it's part of the story) I woke up early as planned and made the muffins.  The smell of apple cinnamony goodness filled the house...mmmmm. 

But when I walked into the living room I saw my guy laying on the couch looking completely worn out and miserable.  He said that he was still going to work and was starting to feel better but still didn't think he could stomach much food.  He took a few little nibbles of a muffin and then decided it wasn't going to work for him. 

So, I had to stop and think for a minute.  The point of this challenge that I gave myself was to learn to love my husband more and do more of the little things that matter.  But, today, muffins were not the little thing that he needed.  Today he needed something else....soda and saltine crackers.  But, we didn't have any.  Then it occured to me that really loving someone is not just about planning projects to do for them.  It's about being there to help them with whatever it is that they need today.  It's loving them in ways that you hadn't planned.  So, at six something in the morning I climbed into the car and drove to the nearest gas station to get some Sprite and saltine crackers.

I gave him one bottle of soda and then left some saltines and another bottle in his car with a note telling him that I love him and hope he feels better.  It was almost nothing, really, and yet I knew that I loved him like he needed to be loved this morning.  And that felt good.  I'm still learning.  But for today the challenge is to love your husband in whatever way he needs you to.  Love him by making a nice dinner at the end of a hard day.  Love him by telling him how great he is when he's discouraged or just choose to be patient when you could be irritated.  Love him by leaving him a surprise....OR, if he has food poisoning....leave him some saltines and soda :)

Don't worry, my children ate all the muffins in five minutes so they didn't go to waste.  But since those muffins really do make the morning, tomorrow's post.will be all about....MORNING MUFFINS :)

Now it's your turn.  Tell us what you did or plan to do to show a little extra love this week.

A Package Of Cheer

Sometimes we all have hard times. Times when we feel especially challenged, especially weak, or particularly discouraged for one reason or another. My cousin is going through one of those times right now.

I have thought about her so much lately and wondered what I could do to support her even though we live far away from each other. Then, yesterday, I decided to throw together this little "Package of Cheer" for her. Each of the items in this little care package represents some comfort, cheer, or help that she might be needing right now. It was easy to make, packed into a small box, and it's stuff that she can use or eat (treats, socks, etc.) And, although I know that one little care package can nowhere near solve all the challenges that she currently faces, I also know that a little extra love can never hurt. Do you know someone who's having a rough go right now? Maybe someone who is sick, just moved, having trouble with their kids, suffering with an addiction or a relationship problem? This might even be a fun package for a missionary.

You can't solve their problems but maybe you could make their day by sending them a little package of cheer. Here's what's in the package:

SOCKS:

"To help get you on your feet even when it's tough"

GUM:

 "To help you STICK to your goals and CHEWS the path will bring you happiness"

HOT COCOA:

"To WARM your soul"

LANTERN:

"To light your way on even the darkest of days"

HUGS AND KISSES:

"Because some days you just need extra hugs and kisses to get through"

LAFFY TAFFY:

"To bring SWEETNESS and LAUGHTER to any situation"

I packaged the items in cellophane bags (from the party and wrapping section at the store).  The labels were attached with more of that self sticking laminate (you know I love that stuff).  I just put laminate on the front of each label and cut it out leaving a border of sticky laminate around the edge of the label and then stuck it to the bags.  You could also print the labels directly on to sticky back label paper (I just didn't have any on hand.  Whichever way you choose,

 stick the labels on  BEFORE you fill the bags so that the labels will go on smooth and pretty. 

CLICK HERE TO PRINT THE LABELS FOR THESE BAGS

I included a little note at the top of the package with this poem:

When your spirit starts to sag

Just look inside these little bags.

You'll find things to help you through

To lift, and help, and comfort you.

You are loved!

CLICK HERE FOR THE PRINTABLE PDF OF THIS POEM

Hopefully she will smile and, at least for a little while, feel reassured that she is loved and that she can overcome all that stands before her.  Make one for someone you love.  Include a handwritten note expressing how much you care. It will probably make your day as well as theirs.

Lunch Box Love Notes: Scratch Off Cards

For the first day of school I wanted to send a note in my daughter's lunch that would really make her smile.  I wanted something more than just a little slip of paper that said "I love you". I was going for the AWESOME FACTOR. :) So, when I stumbled upon this concept I was pretty darn excited.  (Things like this make me feel like a kid on Christmas morning)  The idea is a scratch off love note.

You've probably seen those "scratch and win" game cards or recieved a coupon in the mail where you could scratch off the little metallic circle with a penny to reveal how much you will save at the sale.  When I get these things in the mail I always scratch every single one of the sections off even though I have no intention of using the game/coupon. Why do I do this?  Because it's so irresistable.  You just want to find out what's hiding behind that little circle and it's so satisfying to scratch it off and find out.  OK, maybe you don't feel the same enthusiasm about scratch off coupons as I do.  But, I guarantee your kids will.

And here's all you have to do to create that excitement combined with a love note in their lunchbox.

STEP 1:

 Print off the card. 

Scratch off Card: Reveal Your Fortune

Here's a blank one if you want to write in your own fortunes or add them in a photo editing program.

STEP 2:

Laminate it (you can use self sticking laminate sheets from your Local Target or Wal-Mart if you don't have access to a laminating machine)

STEP 3: 

 Mix up your paint solution (2 parts gray paint + 1 part dish soap)

NOTE: I tried this without the dish soap and it didn't work nearly as well.  Tempera paint and dish soap= greatness!

I just used CRAYOLA washable tempera paints (a little black mixed with white) that I had on hand

 Paint over the little circles.

STEP 4:

Include a popsicle stick if you like for scratching off and you're ready to treat your little kiddo with a super special love note

Once the paint is dry your card is done.  Send it in thier lunchbox, leave it on their bed, mail it to them, whatever you please.

 

 

Wasn't that fun!?

And since it's just so much fun I made a few other templates too. I included some with blank circles so you can put it in your photo editing program, add your own words, and print! If you don't have a photo editing program ( I just use PICASA, it's a free download) you can also just write in the words before you laminate and that will work just as well.

Click below for the printable version of:

Scratch Off Card-Guess What I Love About You

Click below for the printable version of:

Scratch Off Card-Have a Great Day

P.S.- When my kids saw me making these I got the "AWESOME!" reaction I was hoping for.  It was really hard for them to resist the scratching until they got the notes in their lunches :) 

Two Notes Per Week

My mom went to church with a woman who, if it weren't for this one habit she had, I would never have thought twice about.  She had her weaknesses just like the rest of us but she did something to make the world a little better every week.  She wrote two notes.  Just two notes every week.

I remember hearing her say that she had realized that it was something that she could do to lift people and help them feel a little happier, a little more appreciated, a little more like they were able to handle this crazy life.  Every week she would just look around for people who were doing a good job.  Someone who was patient with their children.  Someone who helped someone else.  Someone who gave an extra effort in their work.  And sometimes she would just look for people who she felt like really needed someone to tell them how great they were....because we all need that sometimes. 

Then, she would write them a little note telling them that great thing about them and how she admired it or appreciated it.  Years and years of doing this every week.  It took only a few minutes and she mailed it off.  But the effects of those little notes lasted more than a few minutes. I imagine that sometimes those notes kept someone going all week.  I imagine that some of those notes saved someone's day.  And I know that that just writing those little notes was a bright spot in the woman's life as well.

So, in my quest to actually do something that matters (not that doing 500 loads of laundry and mopping up orange juice off the floor doesn't matter...but, I'm just saying...)  I decided to try this out.  Who is great and needs to know it?  My mind started to wander....my daughter had been so helpful lately.  I should tell her that.  She has an activity day leader who has gone above and beyond what she needed to and done a fantastic job.  I should tell her.  The more I thought about it the more I realized what good there is the world.  I thought about my son's teachers and my friends who will pick something up at the store for me.  I thought about the patient mom and the devoted leader.  And then I stopped.  It's OK, I don't need to go over board.  Just two notes will be fine for this week.  I'll do two more next week.  It's small but somehow I think it will matter...maybe most of all to me.

Who do you know who needs to know how great they are?