On the Eleventh Day of Christmas… A few years ago one of my co-workers gave her husband an amazingly simple, and yet deeply meaningful, gift. He enjoyed reading so she made him a bookmark, but it wasn’t just any old bookmark. She made him a book mark filled with pictures and beneath each picture she listed reasons why she respected him. She laminated it and gave it to her manly husband for his birthday. Although I don’t think he wept openly, it was clear that he was deeply touched by it. We all need to know how our loved ones feel about us. We are never promised another moment with them … [Read more...]

On the Ninth Day of Christmas… Not everyone feels this way, but I LOVE looking through old photo albums. It’s especially fun looking through photo albums filled with black and white pictures while listening to a grandparent or special older person talk about where the pictures were taken, who is in them, and what was going on in their lives during the time of the picture. We have so many moments on this Earth that we would love to remember, but so often we don’t think about recording them. Maybe we think we’ll remember them all forever. One time, a friend and I made a list of over fifty … [Read more...]

On the Seventh Day of Christmas… There is nothing in this world like giving to someone with no thought of return. Depression often sets in when people don’t have something outside of themselves to pour their lives into – even if they are unable to pour their lives into something (e.g., illness, etc.). We all need to be needed and we all need something to push toward. Most of us have to work to pay bills, but there is that little extra we can all do to make a difference in the life of someone who will never repay us. It does the heart and soul good to give. If you really want to make this … [Read more...]

On the Fifth Day of Christmas… Hugs are great! I love them! I can’t get enough bear hugs in a day. However, this gift can be tricky if you are not yet married. If you are dating and find that hugs bring you and your sweetheart too much temptation, then it’s a good idea to substitute something else for this gift. ~smile~ Eric and I are both physical touch people, so we feel the most loved when we are snuggling. It’s not easy to unwrap a hug (unless someone wraps you and you honey together while you are in mid-embrace), but you can express your love for each other by being extra cuddly on … [Read more...]

On the Third day of Christmas… Recently, I was out to lunch with a friend and she told me that she and her husband don’t exchange gifts anymore. They experience something new together for holidays. Whether your sweetheart loves opening actual gifts or not, adding new experiences to your holiday plans can be a great way to build memories. Think about something your sweetheart wants to do (e.g., horseback riding, skiing, a concert, etc.) and make a way for it to happen. You can either surprise him or her with the experience on the day it’s happening (if he or she is into surprises), or you … [Read more...]