Dear Reader:

In a perfect world…every baby should arrive with banners whipping in the breeze, balloons bearing personal inscriptions and well wishes, thousands of people waiting outside the delivery room and cheering…all chanting the same thing:

“Welcome to the World Little One… Always Remember… Along Your Journey: “YOU ARE LOVED! YOU ARE LOVED!”

Wouldn’t it be wonderful, if along our life journey, stickers, notes, or cards would suddenly appear with these three most important words for life on it: YOU ARE LOVED!

NO matter where you travel or how far you roam…you would never be too far away…to  not be able to find a “You are Loved” direction clue.

Don’t we all need reminders in our daily lives that we are loved? We all rush around, living our busyness, until we suddenly find ourselves adrift from others and even our inner selves. We no longer feel loved…we are simply living life “doing” and we have forgotten how to live life “being.”

The amazing thing about birth is …no matter all the busyness leading up to it…when newborns arrive and mothers take the first look at their baby… time stops and a “kairos” moment, (those eternal moments we only get a glimpse of on this earth) begins. These are the moments that stayed locked up in the most important treasure chests of our minds and memories.

I now keep “You are Loved” cards with me and give them out randomly…the startled looks on people’s faces when I hand someone (in the grocery line or shopping line) the sticker card is always amazing.

Recipients usually read it twice… as if they can’t believe they are love-able enough to deserve one. But then a big smile spreads over their faces…and they mumble “Thank you”…a little embarrassed… but also secretly delighted I believe.

Isn’t that what every soul longs for…to be recognized and loved for the sake of love? I think so and certainly every newborn deserves to know and sense this from all of us…that no matter how tough life gets…they are loved! It is really all we need to know.

You Are Loved

When the road seems too long
When darkness sets in
When everything turns out wrong
And you can’t find a friend
Remember ~ you are loved

When smiles are hard to come by
And you’re feeling down
When you spread your wings to fly
And can’t get off the ground
Remember ~ you are loved.

When time runs out before you’re through
And it’s over before you begin
When little things get to you
And you just can’t win
Remember ~ you are loved.

When your loved ones are far away
And you are on your own
When you don’t know what to say
When you’re afraid of being alone
Remember ~ you are loved.

When your sadness comes to an end
And everything is going right
May you think of your family and friends
And keep their love in sight
A thank-you for being loved.

May you see the love around you
In everything you do
And when troubles seem to surround you
May all the love shine through
You are blessed ~ you are loved.

by Roger Pinches

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So until tomorrow…Let us never get too busy to lose sight of the fact that God packed a special message in each of our hearts before arriving in this world… “Remember…You are Loved.” God.

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

* Anne just realized that today is PI Day (we could always remember the baby’s birth with chocolate pies, lemon pies, sweet potato pies)….am loving this idea…what you think Little Dingle….or are you still holding out for St. Patrick’s Day?

It IS all about love, isn’t it? BTW, wouldn’t Pi Day (3.1415), 3/14/15 be a great day to be born?

* Libby (Tima) revised the following message to her daughter Betsy and Keely (her son Robby’s wife) when they were both expecting ….she said she would be glad to share it now with Mollie and anyone else somebody might be thinking of….it is so poignant!

These Last Few Hours

It is important to me that I spend a part of the next few hours

   here alone with you in the darkness.

You and I will never be this close again….by morning you will be a tiny person all your own!

No longer the kicking precious bulge in my body that I have grown to love so very much!

I pray God will safely guide us on our journey and I ask Him for the strength to help you all I can!

Again, I feel you signal your impatience to be free……Time to wake up your Daddy!!!!

Love, Tima

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You might remember that for Christmas Mandy and John decided to give each other a family gift that will keep on giving…a pool. The landscapers just finished up….and….! (All the extended family is delighted, too….Pool Party!!!!)