“Joy is thankfulness, and when we are joyful, that is the best expression of thanks we can offer the Lord, Who delivers us from sorrow and sin.”
― Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica, Our Thoughts Determine Our Lives: The Life and Teachings of Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica
My posts in December were focused on simple gifts I can give my children as well as myself. My mind began tuning into the simple things I do for myself that I hadn’t realized were really important. They mostly go unseen, unnoticed except for this one….creating fresh floral arrangements. I’ve always loved flowers and gardens. I think part of that stemmed from the fact that I grew up in an apartment and wasn’t able to have a garden of my own. I yearned for one. My mother found a way of making our windowsills mini-gardens filled with potted plants. I adored helping her care for these beauties, watering and deadheading blooms. As I got older, I found that making simple bouquets of fresh flowers was a treat and a way to surround myself with colorful flowers. This gift continues today as I find any reason to create arrangements for my home. It gives me joy, pure and simple. I guess you can call it a hobby or a passion just to create something I love. I have come to gift my arrangements to friends and family for celebrations, surprises for neighbors, and to cheer up homebound seniors from our Church. It is a simple way to spread joy while nurturing my own soul in the process. With Valentine’s Day approaching, think about how your family can give happiness to others, but in a way that hones in on your strengths, interests or hobbies. What do you enjoy doing together? Crafts? Reading? Cooking? Think about curating family favorite books, tie with a bow and gift to a teacher. Put together your favorite family soup recipe with dry ingredients in a jar, and attach a recipe card to gift to a neighbor. Make a fleece-tied blanket for grandparents or elderly friends. Love chocolate? Try making your own for friends! You can add different flavors based on their preferences such as hints of coffee, peppermint or even jalapeno. Creating a gift together to pass on to people you care about will have lasting meaning for all of you. So while the majority of people are stopping at convenience stores to buy last-minute Valentine’s gifts, take time to bond with your family showing the value of using your time, talents and thoughtfulness for those you care about. And when in doubt, flowers do make people smile 🙂
the Essentialist Family 