Daddy's Footprints/Linda Stevenson's Poems/ Music for Children

DADDY'S FOOTPRINTS

Check out this beautiful link:  http://www.frontporchinspirations.com/a/Daddys_Footprints.html   

This is a fellow poet who is using Linda J. Stevenson's poetry on her website.  Linda is one of our very own "Heart to Heart" ladies in Virginia! 

POET OF HOPE

Read Linda J. Stevenson's testimony and a few of her many poems at her web site: http://mysite.verizon.net/vzeri2mm/poetofhope/index.html WONDERFUL CHRISTIAN MUSIC FOR CHILDREN "Heart to Heart" (and definitely the Lord) introduced these two "Heart to Heart" subscribers, Linda J. Stevenson in Virginia and Mary Rice Hopkins in California, to each other way back in 2003.  Now Linda (still in Virginia) works for Mary (in California)!  Mary has a Christmas album, featuring songs written by both Mary and Linda. Check out the music, books and curriculum Mary Rice Hopkins has available at her web site: www.maryricehopkins.com

Remembering Senior Citizens Throughout the Year

by Lois Breneman, © 2008, Heart to Heart 

Many of us have aging parents or grandparents who tend to be lonely and in need of a tender loving hug, a phone call, a card or a letter.  When it comes to gifts for an older person, it is difficult to know just what to give an older person to express our love and care for them.  When we ask for ideas, they most often say, "I don't need anything.  I already have all I need."  Many times they are trying to get rid of their extra personal possessions, because of down-sizing their homes and they certainly don't need new appliances or knickknacks.  So just what is a friend or loved one to give them?  Here are a few ideas. 

Give a sturdy decorated box (covered with fabric or gift wrap) filled with fresh fruit and snacks from the grocery store that they enjoy.  A shoe box lined with tissue paper works well.  You might bake muffins, cookies and bread for great additions!   Add a jar of jam made from only fruit.  A nice warm quilt or throw would be a cheery welcome on cold winter evenings as well.

Often elderly people living alone in their homes do not eat well, because they don't feel like cooking for just one or two people, and they will appreciate their favorite foods being ready to eat in an instant.  You could prepare several of their favorite dishes in multiple small portions and give to them already frozen, to use as needed.  Examples might be soups, casseroles, quick breads, muffins, mini meatloaves, chicken, mashed potatoes or mashed sweet potatoes.  Package several of the same food item together in a larger freezer bag. 

Prepare a book of stories, memories and pictures for your parents or grandparents.  They will cherish that for sure!  Have all the grandchildren together to make a musical cassette tape for the grandparents.  They can sing some hymns and other songs.  I know grandparents would appreciate this gift for a long time to come.  Give coupons -- one for each month -- for something you will do for them.  A back rub, foot rub, clean the bathrooms or the entire house, cook a meal in their home, offer to set up and take down some Christmas decorations for them, bake some cookies or muffins while you visit with them, give a piano concert just for them, give a foot massage, watch a Gaither Homecoming video with them, read a book to them, listen to their own childhood stories, help them to write checks and keep records, etc.  Many older people don't get nearly enough hugs and tender touching as they need, so a good back rub would be so appreciated.        

An aquatic garden with a Betta fish or a birdfeeder with black oil sunflower seed would provide hours of entertainment and enjoyment.  Give a "Reacher," or "Grabber," a long-handled instrument used for picking up things from the floor without bending or for reaching things on a high shelf without climbing up on a stool or chair (about $10).  Give a long handled sponge for applying lotion to the back, without the help of another person. (about $6)  How about a heating pad?  The previous three items can be found at most drug stores.

If your loved one is living in an assisted living facility or nursing home, a nice wreath for their door would be a welcome gift.  Be sure to also provide a wreath hanger.  An even better idea would be to change out their wreath to keep it seasonal.  Since they have limited space to store things, offer to store wreaths from other seasons for them in your home.  A good radio / CD player would be a very welcome gift, along with CD's of hymns and music they would enjoy.  A calendar with scripture verses or family pictures would be enjoyed all year long.  Calling cards are wonderful so they can keep in touch with friends and family on their schedule.  Even if they are fed three meals a day in the facility, snacks would be a welcome treat.  Take them a single rose or a few roses in a vase for many fragrant sniffs and smiles of contentment, but since many roses today have no fragrance, be sure the ones you give do.  If you enjoy sewing, ask if you could do any mending or special sewing for their room - make a pillow or dresser scarf. 

Hopefully these ideas will be helpful for a birthday, as well as Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Christmas or any time you want to bring extra happiness and joy to an elderly loved one or friend to let them know how much you care.  Send cheery cards.  If their sight is mostly gone, but their hearing is reasonable, send them a musical card.  Tell them how much you love them and care about them.  Above all else, faithfully pray for them, and let them know that you do.

Father's Day Gift Ideas from the Heart

(Gift Ideas for Your Children to Give Their Daddy)
by Lois Breneman, © 2009, Heart to Heart 

  

Most of us feel it's more difficult to think of gifts for men, but with Father's Day rolling around soon, here are a few ideas your children might enjoy making or doing for their dad, and none of them will break the budget.

  

Design and make a "Father of the Year" banner.  Then after the children have secretly made it, send Dad on an errand for something - maybe a box of ice cream.  All men love ice cream, it seems.  While he's gone display the banner across the front of your house, across your porch or in your front yard to greet him as he returns home!

  

Encourage your children to each write a poem about Dad.  Lend them a hand if necessary.  He will cherish those poems forever!

  

Kids have such vivid imaginations, so why not have your children write a short story about Dad, their hero?  They could do this separately or together. 

  

A Father's Day message could be written using words and small pictures.  If a message is typed on the computer, the Wingdings font offers many fun pictures that can be inserted.  Here are a few more graphics to copy and paste into a message:

SÔ¿ÔN    (©¿©)    °Ô¿Ô°    Ô¿Ô   

>^;;^<   †   *Ü*      <:)))><< 

Ask him if he's got all his ducks in a row.

Some of you moms might be thinking of that child who is always going the opposite way!

 
 __(-)>  __(-)>  __(-)> <(-)__   __(-)> 
  \___)   \___)   \___)    (___/   \___)    

Here's one for a dad who likes to go biking. 

This could also refer to a bumpy road during tough times.

     __o      
        _`\<,_           
       (_)/ (_)          

¸,𤺰`°º¤ð,¸¸,    

Dads work so hard for their families, and sometimes the stress can get them down.  But a foot massage would relax his entire body.  You could make coupons for as many massages as you'd like to give, and he will love it!  Consider back massages too. 

  

Other coupons to offer your services would be so appreciated, such as coupons for washing cars, pulling weeds, watering flowers, mowing the lawn and weed eating, if capable. 

  

Make a business card for him to carry in his wallet, saying something like, "Brad Bartlett, Wonderful Father of Bobby, Ben, Brett, Belinda and Becky."  It's sure to bring many smiles to his face and pride in his heart when he sees that personally designed card throughout the year, knowing it was made with such love.

  

Hide hearts for Dad all around the house and in his car with messages of why you love and appreciate him.  Write "Remember when" memories of special times together.  Punch a hole in each heart and insert a ribbon to tie to various objects for him to find throughout the day.  If more than one person writes notes, be sure to sign each one.