Savor the Love

Angry, red flames shot from our upstairs and downstairs windows. As I watched in horror from my front lawn, I never imagined that this traumatic event would inspire a book. We lost nearly everything in that fire, but three journals I had filled with memorable moments of what my children said and did as they grew up, miraculously survived--a bit sooty, but still legible.

Once we had rebuilt, moved back in and settled down again, I kept thinking about these journals and how they had been spared. I knew it had to be for a reason. Then one day, I picked up one of the journals and read a few entries to my children, then 9 and 11. They smiled or laughed out loud, but did not remember saying and doing most of what I had written. As our musings and reminiscing filled the afternoon, I was thankful that I had chosen to record these precious stories, more valued than gold. How could I influence other parents to capture those fleeting years like I had done? Savor the Love was born.

As a young mother of two small children, I barely had time to shower, but I still made time to write. When the kids were asleep and the house was quiet, I would make a cup of tea and open the page of a journal. I would record the remarkable things my children had said and done, sometimes laughing to myself and sometimes wiping a tear or two. I had started doing this as soon as they began talking. How many times have we, as parents, heard or seen our young children say or do something cute or poignant and we tell ourselves, "I've got to remember that." But, do we? Not only had my children forgotten some of the things I had recorded, but I had too!

Though scrapbooking is very popular these days, visual images capture only one part of the story. What about the purity and magic of a young child’s mind? What about all of the questions and comments our children throw at us as they try to make sense of the world. I especially remember my son asking me, "Does God have a wife?" and my daughter's plea, "Stay here by me, Momma, for weeks and days and months" because I captured them in my journal.

Many of the stories and quotes in Savor the Love are spiritual in nature and mention God directly. You, the reader, can feel our family's faith woven into the questions and stories. In addition, Bible verses are sprinkled throughout the book as a reminder of our Christian faith.

It's easy for you to capture the sparkling moments of your children's childhood in this journal -- just keep it handy and grab a pen. Keep it in your purse, in the car, wherever you will remember to savor the love. Be in the present with your children, and keep your eyes and ears open. Put down your cell phone and your laptop and focus on the moments right in front of you. Childhood is so precious and fleeting. These special moments will be gone quickly, and you'll wish you had taken just a moment here and there to capture them. So, grab a pen, be in the moment and savor the love!