How Do I Love You?

I read this article in my "Lasting Moments" magazine and thought it was a great story to share. It was written by Creative Memories Consultant Kim Hicks:

"I created a small album for my daughter Paige when she was about 4-years old titled "How Do I Love You?" It was filled with photos of her at different ages and notes I had written about what made me love her. I made it for her right before giving birth to a new baby. I wanted her to have something tangible to remind her that this new baby wouldn't take away my love for her. But I wouldn't realize the real value of that album until much later.

"When Paige was 10 years old, I noticed the album was missing from the shelf where we kept it. I found it on her bed, tucked under her pillow. I was curious about why she was keeping it there. That night, I sat on the side of her bed and told her that I had found the album and asked her why it was under her pillow. Her eyes brimmed with tears as she told me that a group of girls at school had been telling her that she was ugly and stupid and not welcome to be their friend. As you can imagine, this was crushing for a mother to hear. This little girl is brilliant, spunky, talented and beautiful. But most of all, this little girl is gentle and kind to everyone.

"My heart ached to learn that her heart had been broken. And then she told me she knew what they were saying wasn't true but that it hurt so much she was having a hard time keeping that in mind. At night, she would lie in her bed and cry. Then she said, 'Right before I try to go to sleep, I look at the pages and read what you said about me. It helps me remember that someone really loves me and that there isn't anything wrong with me. Then I know that I'm really not all the things they say about me, and I can go to sleep without crying.'

"Up until that night, I had been unaware of her personal struggle. Had I never found the album, I'm sure I would never have known. And if I had never created the album, I'm sure the outcome would have been quite a different story."

In honor of this story, here are two pictures from the beach this weekend, coupled with ideas to turn this story into your own album:


I Love YOU because:
* You're sensitive and sweet
* You love rainbows, hearts, butterflies and flowers
* You kiss your sister good-bye when you leave for school... and if she's still sleeping you tell me to tell her to have a good day
* You dance when you're happy
* Even though you're only 7, you want to make ME happy
* When your cousin was in basic training, you didn't know what it meant, but were worried enough to pray for him every night.
* You hear God.


I Love YOU because:
* You worry the animals in the pet store are lonely
* You love making us all laugh
* We have no idea that you're learning something... until one day when you just spring your new knowledge on us
* You have buckets of stuffed animals, but that's still always what you ask for
* Despite medical issues, you take multiple medications without complaint
* You don't complain that your sister is older and gets to do things before you (...yet)
* You talk to animals... and listen, too.

How do you love yours?