Wit and Wisdom from Wee Ones

This is a wonderful, fast-reading book by Eileen Rife that you will most certainly enjoy!  I did! Eileen has been receiving the Heart to Heart Newsletter for many years.  Her book is a great read!  As Eileen says, "Kids can take us right to the heart of God, one way or another."

http://www.amazon.com/Wit-Wisdom-Wee-Ones-col…/…/152286010XT

Wit & Wisdom from the Wee Ones: A whimsical collection of endearing quips & quotes

Kids can take us right to the heart of God, one way or another. When they provoke frustration, we breathe a silent prayer for grace. When they incite giggles, we hear…

AMAZON.COM

A Priceless Baby Gift: Precious Gems and More

by Lois Breneman - 2013 - Heart to Heart Newsletter - http://heartfilledhome.blogspot.com

Last weekend I gave a special gift to our youngest son, James, and daughter-in law, Emily, as they await the birth of their first baby very soon.  It was a notebook including our three children's kids' quotes, facts, stories, milestones, vacations, memories, and so much more.  This is a gift I gave our two older children when they were expecting their first child, as well.

This notebook began many years ago when I started recording on scrap paper all the cute, funny and even profound quotes from each of our three children.   Knowing I would forget much of what I didn't write down, I kept scrap paper and a pencil in just about every room to capture any special "gems" the minute they happened.  A dull pencil can preserve what the sharpest mind can not!  So true!  I'd write the child's name, the date, and the "gem" and periodically tuck them away in an envelope for each child.  A few times I took the envelopes on vacation and read the quotes to the family in the car.  We laughed and laughed and they always begged to hear more!  The plan was to someday write out all of these quotes to give to our children.  I was so thankful though to be able to type them out in WORD, rather than write them all out, because there were hundreds!   Each of our children gave me permission to include their personal quotes in this priceless notebook, so the typing began.

The first notebook went to our daughter and son-in-law before they welcomed their first child into the family.  In preparation for a neighborhood baby shower for our daughter that I was unable to attend at the time because of the long distance, I surprised my daughter by mailing this gift to one of her friends to take to the shower for me.  My daughter said all of the guests were having such fun reading the quotes, saying, "Oh, listen to this one!" that she almost didn't get to take it home!  She shared with me how she often enjoyed reading through it while nursing Justin during the quiet night hours.

The first page was a personal handwritten letter by me written on decorative paper to the expectant parents.

But the notebook didn't stop with kids' quotes.  All three of our children's baby book information is included in the notebook, as well.  As a baby grows and develops, a mother often wonders if her little one is on target in growth and development.  A look at how tall Daddy was at various ages, and when he first talked and walked can be quite helpful.  I listed words spoken during the first year or two, which can be a good guide for the new mother in teaching her baby new words and concepts.  The lists of favorite foods can be helpful as a possible guide to follow as well.  Even foods that were disliked are included.  First sentences spoken are given, and their early childhood friends are listed.  Notes for babysitters reveal all kinds of helpful information.

Graduations and certifications are listed with the years.

Family vacations have been documented from the very beginning of our marriage almost forty-five years ago, with dates, locations, names of family members, and activities.  The last vacation entry was last summer when all twelve members of our family members got together.  We are planning our next vacation with a new little one.  The beach seems to be a favorite destination.

My childhood memories are also included in this notebook.  Years ago my sister planned a surprise Tribute for our father, in which family members wrote memories and messages to be compiled in a notebook for him.  Our niece, Diane, wrote and sang a song for Grandpa, as she accompanied herself on the keyboard in the living room.  My sister, brothers, and I, as well as most everyone else, had tears running down our cheeks during this emotional gathering, especially during Diane's song.  My tribute to Daddy was almost five pages of childhood memories, leading not only up to the day I left home to get married, but includes vacations Mother and Daddy shared with our family, as well as those with only Daddy after Mom's graduation to heaven.

So, dear mothers, I would encourage each one of you to record all of those "precious gems" from your children - the minute they happen, lest you forget.  Simply scribble them down on scrap paper for now, and store each child's gems in a business envelope.  A lovely journal is not necessary, because you might hesitate scribbling in that, thinking you must use your best handwriting.  I can tell you from experience that I never had time for writing neatly in a nice book in the midst of caring for my home and family!  I had lots more time after the children left home for typing up everything in order, thanks to the dates scribbled down.

The two things you need to get started are few pieces of scrap paper and pencils.  I divided an 81/2' by 11" piece of paper into 4 pieces, and put them in a very safe location.  Oh yes, you need a listening ear so you don't miss those precious moments that your children will provide - moments that may otherwise be gone forever!

This is a priceless baby gift that no amount of money can buy.  You won't find it listed in a gift registry.  It's a precious gift that only the deep love of a mother for her children can make happen!

Recording Precious Gems

A Most Meaningful Gift for Your Children When They Expect Their First Child!

by Lois Breneman, © 2008, Heart to Heart Newsletter

 

Over Christmas I gave our son and daughter-in-law, Jeff and Rachael, the notebook of kids' quotes from our three children, as they are expecting their first child in April!  It's a gift I am giving to each of our children as they await the birth of their first child. 

 

You all probably know by now how much I encourage all mothers to scribble down the cute and profound quotes from their children, as well as the cute things they do.  I know how busy all moms of young children are, because once upon a time, I was one.  So I know it can be done.  Believe me when I tell you, that if you don't write down their quotes now, you won't remember them in the years to come!  The dullest pencil is sharper than the brightest mind.  Some day your children will thank you if you do preserve their cute quotes!  I have even taken my envelopes of "scrap paper scribbles" on trips and read them to our three children on long car trips.  They loved hearing them and we all laughed and laughed!  They kept saying, "Read us some more!" 

 

At first when I attempted to record my children's quotes, I thought I had to write their quotes neatly in a pretty little book, but knew that would never happen - writing neatly when in a big hurry with little ones hanging onto my legs!  You know the feeling!  So I kept scrap paper (8 1/2" x 11" pieces of paper, torn into four pieces) in several strategic rooms of the house - kitchen, nursery, children's rooms, our bedroom, plus in the car - where most of the quotes were heard.  Then when those cute, hilarious, and sometimes profound statements were expressed by my children, I simply scribbled the date, child's name and the quote or situation right when it happened or as soon afterwards.  We even have a few funny quotes from the kids as teenagers. Then I kept each child's quotes in their own separate envelope - in a designated place - with some pictures under the living room sofa, if you must know!  I still have those envelopes of scribbled notes, even though they have since been typed in WORD and put into notebooks.

 

Some examples of our kids' quotes:

Joy at 4 years - She had just learned how to tie her shoes a few days earlier.  She was concentrating so hard on singing a new song she had just learned while tying her shoe. (Multi-tasking - something she does all the time now as a mom!)  When she was finished tying her shoe she exclaimed, "Oh dear!  I forgot to put my foot in!"

 

Jeff at 4 years - We got the game, Parcheesi, for Christmas.  Jeff asked if that was the game where the mouse got caught in a trap!

 

James at five years -- He told me how when Jesus was made to die on a cross, some men sold his clothes at a yard sale.

 

The notebook Jeff and Rachael received also includes every little detail from each child's baby book, notes given to weekend babysitters of words they could say, foods they liked and disliked, as well as instructions.  Fourteen pages of special family events and vacations are listed in some detail.  A few special songs, poems, some scripture verses they knew, and a long list of my childhood memories are also included.  Our daughter recently suggested that I add their son, Justin's quotes as well, so she sent them to me.  I can see the next notebook could be even thicker, possibly with quotes from Ryan Elizabeth and maybe even our third grandchild!  How fun is that?

 

Book of Precious Gems as a Baby Gift for Your Adult Child

Begin Now for Priceless Memories that Money Can't Buy

by Lois Breneman, © April, 2003, Heart to Heart

I encourage each of you very busy moms to stop everything and take a minute to record your kids' quotes on paper, the moment they are said. No parent will be able to save all those treasures in their minds, so get out a pencil. The dullest pencil is still sharper than the sharpest mind. Forget the pretty journal, because it may never happen that way. I felt I would have had to write or print neatly if I were to use a journal, but scrap paper is not very intimidating! Scribbling is fine on that!

Simply keep small pieces of scrap paper handy with a pencil at several locations in your house. Then when you catch a precious gemcoming from the mouth of your babe, simply write the date and the first name of the child about whom you are writing, along with the quote or cute act. Be brief. Slip the priceless scrap paper into an envelope for safe keeping. Don't worry about neatness now. Just gather the cute quotes and information for now.

Then after twenty years or more, you can compile them all as you finalize your project. Put all the dates in order for each child's quotes and turn them into a priceless notebook to give to your sons and daughters as they are expecting their first child. It will be the best gift they could receive - a testimony of your love and commitment to them through the years as your precious children!

Recently before the birth of our daughter and son-in-law's first child, I gave them a book of the quotes out of the mouths of our babes - quotes by our daughter and her two brothers, with their permission, which I had typed out in Microsoft Word, after all those years. I also typed all the information from their baby books, including when each tooth came in, when they turned over, sat up, crawled, walked, and listed their favorite things, and so forth. All the words each child could say at a certain age were listed, along with many other fun facts and short stories about each child.

The educational record for each child, along with names of their teachers and friends were listed, from preschool through college graduation. All this was done in bits and pieces through the years though, and it was really a wonderful trip down Memory Lane as I typed this book!

After all the typing was completed, I made a title page on card stock for each child's quotes and baby book information, punched holes in all the pages and inserted them all in a half-inch notebook binder.

Colorful scrap paper (an 8 1/2 x 11" paper torn into fourths) was inserted into the inside back pocket for the expectant mother, our daughter, to record her own child's quotes, with a possible future example: 11-23-04 - Justin Daniel - "I wuv ew, Mommy!" Some day our two sons and daughters-in-law will receive a copy.

During the first month our daughter spent a lot of enjoyable time reading that book while nursing her baby late at night. While her dad and I spent a week with them, she and I also had fun reading and laughing about some of the things she and her brothers said, as she nursed her baby. She told me last week how much she really likes that book because she can see some things she did at Justin's age, and know more what to expect of him.

Examples of Kids' Quotes:

One evening as 3-year-old Joy was ready for bed:

Joy ~ "Mommy, why are the lights all off in the family room and your bedroom?"
Mommy ~ "Because we don't need to be in those rooms right now."
Joy ~~ "Well, Jesus doesn't like that! It's all dark!"
Mommy ~ "Why doesn't Jesus like that?"
Joy ~ Because Jesus is God and God is everywhere and He wants to see!"
(We had been teaching some simple Bible doctrine in our family devotions.)

Jeff at 4 years ~ Jeff was playing with Legos and made a nice, rather unique car. Mom asked, "Did you design that car by yourself or did you copy one of the pictures?"
Jeff said, "I just thinked it up and made it!"
(Today he works as a mechanical engineer, in design, so Moms, encourage creativity.  That potential often shows up early.)

Jamie at 4 years ~ We had a small stream in our back yard (still do) with frogs every spring. One day Jamie excitedly came to me after close observations down by the stream and asked, "Do you know how frogs make their eggs? They shigger their feet and eggs come out, and they are black!"

So Moms, you could give your children this very treasured gift some day when they are about to become a parent themselves.  Grandmas can help keep track of their grandchildren's quotes as well.  While talking with your children, always ask about the latest quotes from the mouths of your grandchildren, and of course, record those you hear yourselves.