Precious Moments

Before "Willow Tree" angels became popular, "Precious Moments" figurines were the gifts you gave or collected. They have a title and a story to go with them. I still love the Precious Moments Bible I had when I first started dating Maddy. (Don't judge! I could understand it better and the pictures were cute!) I couldn't afford many figurines, but I got smaller pieces like ornaments and minis. My "Our First Christmas" ornament and both girls' "First Christmas" ornaments are all Precious Moments (PM).

My first regular size PM was a gift from my sister. It was a pregnant girl titled, "The good Lord always delivers". I had a difficult time becoming pregnant, so it was very special to me. It always helped me remember that you have to wait on God's timing.

Maddy knew how much I loved these cute "dust collectors". He also knew how much they cost, which is whyI don't have many. Any time we were near a Hallmark store I would find the section with the PM collection. I would "ooh" and "ahh" over them and tell him the title of each. Over the years I won him over and he began to look for certain pieces and show them to me. I even convinced him to go to the Precious Moments Chapel in Carthage, MO, on our way to Branson one year!

The first figure he bought for me was for Christmas 1995. He'd purchased it a few weeks early because that Christmas was going to be busy. Our second daughter was due on December 18, so all holiday preparations had to be completed before then. Christmas morning that year found me in the hospital with a newly born baby. (I really don't recommend a Christmas Day delivery! She was 9lb. 10oz. with no pain meds. Unfortunately, Santa did not deliver!) After being released the next day, we went home to have our Christmas. Luckily, daughter number 1 was not quite two years old so she didn't mind. That day I unwrapped his gift and couldn't believe my eyes. It was a figurine of two girls, the bigger with longer, blonde hair and the other had shorter brown hair. He had managed to choose one that matched our girls so well before he even saw our new baby.

Over the years he gave me figures for anniversaries, including a special 10 and 25 year edition. One with a swan was titled "Our love will flow eternal". During a trip to Disneyworld I convinced him to get a special one for our anniversary that year. It's called "Happiness is best shared together". It seems sappy, but I love the sentiment.

Probably my favorite Precious Moments gift Maddy gave me was a boy with a girl piggyback on him. I loved it as soon as I opened it. First, he went to the store and chose it himself. He hated shopping, so the effort was appreciated. When I read the title I teared up. It is named "I'll never let you down". Maddy wasn't outwardly romantic, but this was one way he showed his soft side. And in all our years together, he did everything in his power to care for me and make sure I felt loved and cherished. Looking at it makes me smile!

All these are sitting on the shelf of my headboard in my bedroom. I see them every night before I go to sleep. As I glance at one, those "precious moments" come back to me. For just a bit, I remember where I was when I opened it. I think about the occasion and the emotions come back. I feel the love that each one represents. Those simple moments are worth more to me than any expensive gift.

There are many things in my life that I wish I could go back in time and redo, but spending time with those I love is not one of them. I am thankful that I invested in moments. The simple, unassuming things you do are the moments that mean the most. I encourage you to make those moments precious.

I'm currently creating new "precious moments" with my granddaughter. I don't worry about make up or hair, I just have fun!