So I sat here itching to write but had no idea where to start with all the ideas swirling around in my head. And then it was time for me to tuck the munchkins in.  Our night time ritual is pretty generic: we read some books, have some quiet reading or playing time and then I tuck them in with a song I’ve sung to them since they were born and that my dad sang to me when I was little.  But then, oh then, we take a little detour from generic, it’s time for the finger warmers!

Now, you say, what in the world are the finger warmers.  I’ll give you a minute to figure it out . . . 1, 2, 3 . . .

Ok, I’ll give you a hint.  Where do you put your fingers when they are freezing cold??  That is the area we call the finger warmers.  And it also happens to be a ticklish spot for both of my munchkins.  So right before I kiss them and hug them one final time, mom has to pry the finger warmers open and warm my fingers.

Every night, my little ones go to bed in a fit of giggles and laughter from our nighttime ritual and I typically go back to my office with a smile on my face and ready for at least a couple more hours of work to do.  Can you think of a better way to say goodnight to your loved ones?  No, I thought not.

So here as we approach the holidays, find your finger warmer equivalent and make it a tradition in your life.  It may not be everynight with some, but find a way an action that will tell those you care about that you love them and they are important to you.

With my couple of hours of work ahead of me, I will leave with this smile making situation from my own life:

One morning last week, Cade wandered into my room blurry eyed and hours before I even thought of rolling out of bed.  As I settled him next to me and asked him to go back to sleep, my four year old son asked one last question before he shut his eyes and drifted back to sleep: “Mom, can you buy me a vacuum because I need to keep the floor clean.”  What joy he brings me every day.

~hope