That Much

That Much

Each house has rooms. Down the hall in your house are your walls. The place where you sleep. Your room!

We do these things at night when you go to bed and these words are said.

First we ask, “How much do we love you?” Then we touch a wall and then another. “That much!” From here to there. Wall to wall love.

“How much do we love you?” Jumping to touch the roof up there and reaching to touch the rug down there. “That much!” Roof to rug love.

“How much do we love you?” Knocking on the door and walking over and to tap the window. “That much!” Door to widow love.

“How much do we love you?” Putting pillows under your head, pulling covers close to you, placing stuffed animals by your side, and a prayer whispered in your ear. “That much!” Putting, pulling, placing and praying love.

With a smile we switch off the goodnight light!

bc* – board/block book – #6

My hobby for 2014 is board/block books for kids ages 0-3. These first books are often 6-12 pages in length and have a few words and pictures or illustrations on each page. These books are helps to teach our kids or grandkids. They help them learn and move to the front of the line in their “before school years.” Pictures for the book are attached below.

Hi M,

One great thing about your birthday coming tomorrow is the date will always be linked with two dates. Christmas and New Years. Right in the midst will be your day. Stories about your arrival will be told. Smiling faces will tell the stories. Pictures will come out of albums and be displayed on cameras. And then … more stories will be told. Little one, forever and ever the time of your birth will be told. It has been many, many years and we still tell the Christmas story, the details of His birth. Teasured stories. Parents, grandparents, great grandparents will tell of the day you joined the family. Today a picture of my great, great grandpa was posted for many close to us to see. That was a long time ago. We still remember his days. It will not be long before we are celebrating your first year with us. When you wake up (a dark time, then when it is light time) … it will be your birthday! Trust me … we remember.

Birthday stuff is quite fun. Cake. This cake will have a light stick. (Just one this year.) Their will be a gift or two. (Yep … like Christmas.) And there will be lots of laughs and great big grins. (One of those grins will be mine!)

Day #27. A looking forward to day #28 day!

Love you little one,

gc

Hi M,

After! Day #26. The day after Christmas. (Was that fun or what?) Some stuff is given away. Some stuff is shared with others. Some stuff gets tossed. Stuff that was used as paper for wrapping gifts. (Some the cat played with!) Or used boxes wind up in trash bags. “Days after” are good. Stuff is put where they belong soon. Toys in the toybox. Clothes in the closet or a drawer. Stuffed animals on the bed or on your shelf. Books stacked. Pictures displayed.

“Days after” … days after the day … after Christmas also has another story.  After Christmas a long time ago, the angels went home. The shepherds who had come to the “little” One’s birthday had to go back to their work. The music and the loud noise (shouting) was remembered, but now gone. (M, you may notice the relatives may leave, smiling faces are little more familar.) The lights (the star) moves. The Christmas tree will come down soon. The presents go from “under the tree” to “in your room.” The “day after” is good because Christmas and birthdays come each year! You know what? These “festive” days (smiling days) will come again. May you be blessed with many more little one, many more.

M, speaking of birthdays. Two days till your first birthday! As your birthday approaches and the new year (more on that later) comes closer you will get to do the things you are used to doing. We call those things a “routine.” Getting up, getting ready for the day, getting dressed, eating, going places. Christmas and birthdays are special, fun days! And one more is coming soon.

Lots of love,

gc

Hi M,

The day! What do you think about Christmas? Fun day? Did you get great gifts? Food? Festivities?

Went over to my daughter’s (yep … talk about another fun day coming … the little guy is due in March) house. Pleasant time. Blessed time.

M, just a few Christmas thoughts as the day winds down.

The first Christmas music was angels singing/shouting.

The first gifts were from a few admirers.

The first Christmas light was a “star.”

And joining Mary and Joseph and the “Little One” on that first Christas, a mule, maybe camels and sheep … a few shepherds. Know what they heard? Some pretty good news from the barnyard.

Your first Christmas, many more little one, love,

gc

Hi M,

Day #24! Tomorrow is Christmas. When you wake up in the morning … Christmas! Many people go to church tonight. It is called a Christmas Eve service. It is not unusual to hear Christmas music. (Which is often very beautiful.) The words usually explain again the birth of a baby named Jesus. (Must admit it is quite the story.)

M, there are many fun things about Christmas, but that birth of the baby boy story, is why Christmas is Christmas and why there are some “never changes” things about this time of year.

Happy first Christmas Eve little one, we’re glad you are part of our life!

Lots of love,

gc

Hi M,

Day #23! Christmas Eve Eve! The day before Christmas is called Christmas Eve and in “teasing” we have often called the day before Christmas Eve Christmas Eve Eve. (It will make sense one day.) Finishing up preparing for Christmas Day. Can you sense it? The excitement is building! It won’t be long now.

M, not only is this the time of year Christmas comes, but also birthdays as you have heard. We have already celebrated one earlier in the month. You know yours is coming soon! Today is actually the birthday of your great grandfather. (Yep … your grandpa’s father.) He is with God in heaven now, but we pause to celebrate his birth today. M, everybody has a birthday and the life they live, the things they do are worth remembering and smiling as you recall their impact upon your life. You may not always understand one another. What they do, how they act, but in the case of mom’s and dad’s (grandparents and great grandparents) their love is always appreciated. (You learn to embrace that more as the years roll by.) Years ago, (yep … Seattle years) … my father saw my kids. It was a happy time. If he were able to see you … wow … happy times two!

Love you little one, and for your great grandpa … lots of love, Merry Christmas Eve Eve,

gc

Hi M,

Day #22! Three days till Christmas. Today, a second day, another day and then THE day! Tonight, a light time, another night time, one more light time, one more dark time, and then Christmas! As we wait, we enjoy the “countdown” … the preparation. You may notice that there is a lot of activity around you. Going here stuff. Doing that stuff. You will also notice a lot more smiling. Many people just seem a little more happier. It is in large part because of the time of year. (And no small part because this year … you are here!)

Love you little one,

gc

Hi M,

Day #21! Four days … one, two, three, four days till Christmas. Today is also the first day of winter! Cold stuff is coming. (Yep … snowman weather.)

M, there are few places on the planet, better than being near those who love you dear, at Christmas. Hugs. Laughter. Smiles. Meals. The exchange of presents. Even silence. Words allude me in trying to explain the experience of Christmas. The great thing is that Christmas comes every year. This year it is getting close!

Want to see a fun picture?

My little one. (All grown now.) Anticipating the arrival of a “little one.” Extra fun this Christmas!

Love you little one,

gc

Hi M,

Day #20!

One hand, five fingers from Christmas! Bet your place looks and sounds a lot like Christmas! Festive, fun! The feeling is just all around. Early on you’ll be on the receiving side of gifts. Fun, fun, fun. Bet there are some happy ones coming. As you age the fun comes from being on the “giving side” of gifts. Just seeing the “miles of smiles” it worth it’s weight in gold. (There’s a great Christmas phrase.)

Love you little one,

gc

Hi M,

Day #19!

Finally! Went to get my haircut today. (It’s been a few months. Since before the medical adventure. Must say … the hair and the goatee were getting quite long … since you had a great grip on the goatee … decided to keep the length … it is actually more than my fist length down from my chin!)

You know else? In preparation for Christmas … bought a couple of small items for the Christmas boxes. (Including M&Ms!)

Hope you are enjoying fun Christmas music (songs and tunes) this year!

M, this another one of those Christmas thoughts for “one day.”

Tee shirts often have words on them. Sort of like“bumper stickers for humans.” (Another one of those things that will make you laugh one day.) Your grandpa saw one one day that read, “real men sing real loud.” It is nice to hear someone sing well, but it is also is good to hear someone sing loud and enjoy the words of the song they are singing. Some people (like your grandpa) … do not sing well … but can sing loud on occasion. Just “happy to be singing” kind of guy Especially in the company of others. (OK many others.)

There is a great Christmas phrase, “A great company (many) of the heavenly host appeared with the angel praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests.’” (Lk2:13, 14)

The “heavenly hosts” (Curious who they are?) and the angel (Guess this one sang well!) sung/said some amazing stuff.

Since there were a lot of them, a lot of them … bet it was loud. Real angels sing real loud. (Angels … wait until you hear about those …)

In a church setting there is often a balance between “reverence” and “rejoicing?” Too much “reverence” and the music and the message becomes a dirge (very slow, “not a happy” song) and the “Charlie Brown adult voice” … “wah … wah … wah … wah.” Too much rejoicing and you get a circus. (Wonder when the clowns may come in.) A balance between a “holy hush” and a “holy high five” is what we often want. Especially at with Christmas songs.

In the Lk2 story, the “holy high five” (Might want to practice one of those) moment from the “heavenly host” and the “holy hush” (Sssshhhh …) from Mary (and I’m sure Joseph) is a time during the Christmas days that she treasured and pondered these moments in her heart?

Hmmm … “We wish you a Merry Christmas and … a happy Birthday.”

Love you little one,

gc