Handmade Valentines

Today we spent time making Valentines. The girls have parties this upcoming week at school to celebrate the holiday.

They started off with a specific plan and then quickly threw it out the window and just did whatever felt good :)

I resisted any urge to try to fix their artwork or make it 'better'. It was theirs and I needed to let them do it the way they wanted to. I was there to help if asked... otherwise, I bit my lip and enjoyed their buzz.

They truly amaze me with their creativity. I decided I should step back more often :)

Who do you love? How do you show them your love? Do you?... often enough?

I know many times I let the stress of my day consume me and spoil my ability to show the people around me how much I love them. Afterward, I often catch myself and go back and show a sign of affection - but with feelings of regret for allowing daily life to take me away from my center and the love inside of me.

So I try again the next day. And usually I do better... usually but not always ;)

One year I made Brian a cute little jar filled with 100 hearts reading 'why I love him'. He still has that jar and doesn't hesitate to pull those little hearts out once in awhile when I'm angry to remind me of how I really feel.

I think we could all use a little jar of reminders.

Children have the ability to move in and out of their moments, accepting them as they are. When they hurt, they scream. When they are mad, they yell. When they are sad, they cry. Happy, laugh. Tired, sleep.

They find joy in the simple things... they love us unconditionally... they live fully...and rarely, do they look back...and not often too far ahead - just right where they are, now.

We have so much to re-learn from them...

I hope one day we will.

I know, I will keep trying.

xoxo