Gratitude Box and a Splash of Yellow

There are still a few days left if you would like your family to do a Valentine Gratitude Box (or jar or basket). It's one of my favorite family traditions.

I love having that little pink box brighten up our kitchen on the sometimes chilly, dreary days leading up to V Day.

And speaking of cheering up. Do you see that little bit of yellow peeking out there?

I found a small café chair at the thrift store for $2.50 and gave it a (kind of sloppy) coat of spray paint this week to add more color to the kitchen. I ran out of paint, so don't look too closely.

Here's the before:

And here's the after.

Want to join me for a mug of tea?

Valentine's Gratitude Box Time!

It's time to get out that Valentine's Gratitude Box again.

Tim, Margaret, and I will write down little things we appreciate about each other (and Shadow!) and put them in the box, reading them aloud on Valentine's Day. I like saving the slips from previous years so we can read those too, like these hilarious ones from Margaret the first year we did it.

Want to join me this year?

Valentine's Gratitude Box Round-up

I hope you've had a good week. On Valentine's morning, we opened our Gratitude Box and read the contents aloud. Here are some highlights:

Bear (hamster): I love how you eat right out of my hands. Dad

Anna: I love how you get all the words in the crossword puzzle that I don't know. Tim

Mom: I liked talking to you last night. Margaret

Dad: Thanks 4 helping me get my tongue unstuck from my popsicle! -- M

Anna: I love how you care about other people. Tim

Tim: Thank you for taking over the bill paying for me! -- Anna

Shadow: I love how your ears perk up when you are waiting for a banana-- Dad

Mom: If you don't finish writing your book, I'll be MAD. Margz

Tim: Your haircut looks nice! Anna

Margaret: I love it when you sing all around the house! Mom

Margaret: I love your creative mind! Dad

Margz: You will do great things in life! Mom

Mom: Even though you're BAD at math, I still like u. Margz

Tim: Thanks for helping Margz with math! Anna

Margz: I love your sense of humor! Dad

Anna: I'm grateful for your blog. Tim

Shadow: Your ears are the softest ears ever! Mom

Grammar: I love you! (exclamatory sentence) Margz

Margz: God loves you and so do I! Mom

STUD

Margaret: I love how you use emoticons and taught me how to use them. Dad


There were more, including some written to Jack.

I'm glad we continued this tradition.

Much love to you today!

Valentine's Gratitude Box

We've gotten out our Valentine's gratitude box again this year.

Over the next two weeks we'll write down things we love about our family members, pets included, and pop them in the box. We'll read them on Valentine's Day. Margaret didn't want to do it last year, without Jack, but we did it any way and I'm glad because this year she's excited again. Please read these short posts to check out what some past notes said, remembering that I used to call Jack Jake on this blog, and Margaret Molly. I know I could/should change that, but I'm lazy. Regardless of what we call her, that Margaret/Molly cracks me up!

And while I'll never know why Jack didn't participate in our gratitude box that first year (lazy like his mom?) when he had the chance, I did find two special things while cleaning out my bedroom closet this week. Thank you to whatever teacher probably forced Jack to write these gems:

Undated Valentine to Mom from Jack:

"Dear Mom,
I love you because you aren't to (sic) strict.
I'm thankful you help me with stuff.
I love it when you be nice."

And to Tim and Anna, an undated thank you note, which was probably assigned as a paragraph, but ended up as one long sentence instead:

"Thank you, my loving, gracious, perfect, wonderful, spectacular, amazing, supporting, instructive, caring, great, outstanding, remarkable, swell, marvy, groovy, kind, superb, glorious parents, for being my parents. Love, Jack"

On the front is a stick figure farmer saying "Farm," (?) a stick figure Ninja saying "Hi-Ya" (?) and a stick figure pirate saying "Argh" because all of that makes so much sense.

And while we're talking gratitude, I could fill a gratitude box with what YOU have done for me by reading this blog, leaving kind words, praying, allowing what has happened to affect your lives in some way, and stepping right into our story with us, even when it's hard.

You really be nice.

Valentine Gratitude Box

For the week or so before Valentine's Day we have been writing down things we love and appreciate about our family members on slips of paper and putting them in this little heart shaped box (.99 at Michael's)

We will read them out loud on Valentine's Day.

...at least I hope the other members of the family are doing it too. Mama wants some love.